The Nerdist

Quick Take

• The Carrie series finale comes with some major changes to the story we all know and introduces some interesting questions.
• It is not clear if Carrie will get a second season or not, but the end of this season certainly opens the door for more story.
• Nerdist’s Take: Carrie takes some bold swings and introduces the idea of a world full of powerful girls and women.

Mike Flanagan’s Carrie series puts a completely different spin on the classic Stephen King tale. The Prime Video show dropped all eight of its episodes for fans to devour quickly as they dove deeper into Carrie White’s world. It allowed time to really flesh out Carrie’s home life as well as the heartbreaking challenges she faced with trying to integrate into school after spending her entire life sheltered at home.

Her surviving parent, Margaret White, is a paranoid religious zealot whom Carrie soon discovers painful truths about. Things all come to a bloody and fiery ending in Carrie’s finale where her vengeance spills over, and this ending is very different from anything we’ve ever seen before. So, let’s get into the finale of Carrie and explain exactly what goes down in the series’ eighth episode. 

Robert Falconer/Prime The Carrie Finale Puts a Fresh Twist on the Classic Prom Massacre Scene

At the end of episode seven, in classic Carrie fashion, her shining moment onstage as the prom queen is quickly doused in pig’s blood, thanks to Chris and Billy. Honestly, it further speaks to Carrie’s general naivete and their principal’s baffling stupidity because how would she possibly be crowned prom queen when she’s a sophomore who only got to go because a senior Tommy invited her. But I digress…

Carrie is standing on stage in complete shock as blood covers her body and a bunch of cell phones are pointed at her. Some students, like Sue and Tina, are genuinely horrified and shocked for her while others are laughing at her expense. It doesn’t matter to Carrie because righteous rage has taken over after she feels betrayed by her peers. 

RELATED ARTICLE

Mike Flanagan Set to Remake Stephen King’s THE MIST

Carrie becomes incensed and causes everyone’s phones to explode in their hands and, for some, in their faces. She also spots Chris and Billy above her head and makes the catwalk they are on fall, which kills Tommy. Emaline appears and tells Carrie to let her “take the wheel,” and that’s when things get incredibly dark. This is a huge departure from what we’ve seen from Carrie in the original book as well as live-action films before, where she acts completely alone. King’s novel did touch on the concept of other young girls and women with these types of gifts, but Carrie never connected with any of them. However, this series allows her to bond with Emaline to cause pure chaos.

Carrie’s Prom Massacre Comes With More Help From Three Mystery Girls

A fallen light sparks a major fire, the doors of the gym are locked, and fires spread in the bleachers. Amanda attempts to kill Carrie, but is telekinetically stopped by two mysterious girls who obviously don’t go to the school. We later see a third girl, whom we recognize as the girl sitting in the interview room with Sue. Her name is Caitlin and she is the one who put Sue’s microphone on.

So, these three girls are all tied to this woman, and they certainly helped Carrie to NOT die and leave to finish her revenge. Carrie watches a host of her classmates get electrocuted, and then doesn’t waste time tracking down Chris and Billy to crush them to death. Outside of Billy driving instead of Chris, this isn’t too different from most previous versions of their deaths, which usually involve her telekinetic powers causing a crash.

Who Is the Woman Interviewing Sue, Tina, and Margaret in the Carrie Finale? Robert Falconer/Prime

Episode eight brings us full circle to the series’ opening interviews. We see a drained-looking Sue Snell sitting in front of a camera and, for the first time, we see the woman who is behind the camera. It is not completely clear if she’s the unseen woman from episode one who was alerted about Carrie or not, but we do know that she’s not with the police nor a real investigator.

She starts asking a lot of questions about Carrie, including what happened on her very first day of school, and Sue just maintains that she was kind. The woman also shows Sue a picture of Amanda, the lady who was trying to convince Carrie’s mom Margaret that she should kill Carrie to stop her from joining other people with special powers. Sue doesn’t know Amanda and begins to recall prom night, which is how we get back into the action. 

This woman has her own powers to get into a person’s mind and manipulate them, which we see when she convinces Sue that she wasn’t sure about seeing the other girls at the prom. This action makes sense, especially if they are a group or coven that does not want to attract the attention of the government or people like Amanda who think they are better off dead.

Margaret White Dies in Carrie, But in a Completely Different Way… And She Has Telekinetic Powers, Too Robert Falconer/Prime

This woman also talks to Margaret, who dies at the hands of Carrie in their home in other versions. Prior to the prom, the last time we saw Margaret, she stormed out of the gym meeting where Carrie’s speech bested her pleas to not have the prom. Tina and others were live-streaming, and Amanda likely saw those or read online in general that the high school’s prom would happen, especially if she knew that Carrie was going to be there. It doesn’t feel likely that Margaret sent Amanda there to kill Carrie because she’d rather do it herself in a way that felt less scary and violent, as wild as that seems. 

When Carrie comes home, she gives her mom a hug while still covered in blood. Margaret puts her in the bathtub and eventually tells her that she can repent in their prayer closet. She holds a huge knitting needle and attempts to stab Carrie in the head, but Carrie catches on and defends herself. She stabs her mother in the back and caves the house down on both of them in an attempt to end their lives. However, Carrie is saved by Emaline, who actually shows up in the flesh, and we discover that Margaret is able to keep herself alive by holding a piece of the house up without touching it. Carrie’s mom has never had powers before, so this is yet another major change.

Carrie Begins to Reveal More About Emaline, an Astral Projector

Of course, Carrie leaves with Emaline and gets to survive. Emaline tells her that she’s taking her somewhere safe with others to protect her and says that the world belongs to Carrie. The woman and Caitlin interview Margaret, who is upset that she doesn’t know who Emaline is nor where she took her daughter. She tells Margaret that Emaline is dangerous, but doesn’t mention who she’s with nor what she knows about her other than her being an astral projector.

And, to a degree, she’s not wrong. Emaline got into Carrie’s head figuratively and her body literally to drive her to some pretty horrific acts of violence and murder. Again, many signs point to Emaline possibly being Amanda’s daughter. We didn’t see Amanda escape that gym, so she’s presumably dead, but she is a part of a larger group of regular people who aim to find and kill girls with these kinds of powers.

After Caitlin gathers what’s necessary for Margaret’s mind, and with everyone knowing that Margaret will continue to be a meddling presence, the woman causes Margaret’s heart to slowly come to a crawl until it stops. The other two girls from the prom come in and the woman tells them to put Margaret in her hotel room and people will believe she had heart failure. 

What Does This Woman Want With Carrie and Why Does She Think Emaline Is Dangerous?  Robert Falconer/Prime

The answer to this two-part question is not clear at all, and the Carrie finale certainly leaves the doors wide open for a season two. We don’t know who this woman is, why she wants to find Carrie, and if she’s really an antagonist or not. She’s certainly not a “good person” in the traditional sense, as we see through her manipulation of Sue and murder of Margaret White. She’s certainly not aligned with Amanda nor others like her considering those girls came to help Carrie and not harm her. But we don’t know what the beef is between the group is that Emaline is taking Carrie to and them.

It is possible that Emaline’s group wants to hone and use Carrie like a weapon for some larger purpose and this woman wants to stop that. It could be the other way around. One thing is for sure: this is only the beginning of what Mike Flanagan wants for Carrie White’s future story. Sadly, Carrie makes the perfect weapon as someone who wants to feel valuable, powerful, and like she has some autonomy in life. Without normal friends and family, Carrie could be going down a dangerous path… or maybe one towards freedom.

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.

The post CARRIE Series Finale, Explained: All the Major Revelations and Changes appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Will Mike Flanagan’s Carrie series return for season 2?
• The season finale certainly suggests that this story is ripe for expansion and far from over.
• Nerdist’s Take: We want to see what’s next because things are far too open-ended to leave the story this way!

Mike Flanagan’s Carrie series is finally here and it didn’t take Stephen King fans long to devour all eight of its episodes. It is indeed the perfect way to get into the full swing of spooky season with a show that puts an inventive swing on a story that we are all familiar with. The finale of Carrie ends things in a very open way that suggests there will be a season two, so hopefully we will get confirmation from Prime Video in the near future. 

The end of Carrie opens the door for a new level of exploration with Carrie White. In other versions of her story, Carrie ends up tragically dying. But she gets to live in the Carrie series and leaves her small town for parts unknown with Emaline, the astral projector who befriended her just as her powers were starting to take shape. It is not clear if Emaline and whomever is a part of her group will mean to elevate Carrie or to use her. The last we see is the duo driving into the sun, far away from the destruction that Carrie left in her wake.

We know that the woman who killed Carrie’s mom is on the hunt for Carrie, and that there are people like Amanda who want to find and kill other people with her powers. Carrie season two would certainly explore what Carrie gets into next and how she will connect with others like her. And, we could possibly also see what happens next with surviving characters like Sue Snell. Does she still end up going to Duke? Will she ever see Carrie again? There are a lot of questions that we’d love answers to. 

Robert Falconer/Prime

Flanagan himself doesn’t see this season of Carrie as the end, even though he doesn’t know what the future could hold. “The beauty of not really being beholden to the book or to any of the previous adaptations is that the potential of the characters and of the greater world that she belongs to does allow to look at it not as a finite story,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “I don’t speculate as to what it could be or what Amazon may want to do with it down the line. My priority is to make these eight episodes as great as I can from start to finish.”

Nerdist‘s Take: Carrie Needs a Season 2 Because Things Are Too Up in the Air

Hopefully, Prime Video won’t pull the plug on Carrie before its story really gets a chance to start, because we need season two ASAP. There’s so much more to answer, from the identity and motivations of the woman who conducted those interviews to Carrie’s next chapter.

RELATED ARTICLE

IT: WELCOME TO DERRY Gets Season 2 Renewal, Heads Back to 1935

And, perhaps we will finally get to truly see the fallout behind what happened in Chamberlain and maybe even make some connections to other King characters and lore, too.

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.

The post Will CARRIE Return for Season 2? The Finale Suggests It Will appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Mike Flanagan’s series adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie holds true to the source material, while updating Carrie and Margaret white for 2026.
• In this modern take, Margaret White is (slightly) less extreme than in King’s version or the 1976 film. She also has secret powers, just as her daughter does.
• Unlike Stephen King’s book or the movies, Carrie White survives the brutal events of prom night.
• Nerdist’s Take: The series implies that Carrie White gets her powers from her mother’s side of the family, which we think is important in a series almost entirely about women.

Mike Flanagan’s excellent series adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie keeps a lot of the story beats you’d expect. It’s still about an outcast girl (Summer H. Howell) who is bullied in school. She’s still a psychic prodigy who takes her telekinetic revenge on her classmates at the prom. It also features an overbearing religious mother (Samantha Sloyan) who is often the true villain of the piece. But Flanagan chose to reinvent both Carrieta and Margaret White for the modern day in this Carrie series, and it works far better than it probably should. Some elements came directly from King’s novel, and were not used in any previous versions. Here’s what Flanagan changed to Carrie and Margaret White’s stories for this modern update.

Prime Video

In Stephen King’s original 1974 novel Carrie, his first published book, Carrie and Margaret White lived alone from the start. Her father, Ralph White, was never in the picture. King explains that he died in a grisly construction accident seven months before she was born. Like Margaret, he was a hardcore Christian fundamentalist, who believed that sex was sinful in all its forms.

But one night, he went out drinking, and King’s text heavily implies that Ralph assaulted Margaret, resulting in her pregnancy. In the 1976 film, it seems as if Ralph White didn’t die at all. Carrie suggests that he ran away with another woman, leaving his family behind. But both narratives imply that Carrie’s telekinetic powers comes from her father’s side of the family. The maligned sequel The Rage: Carrie 2 doubles down on this theory.

Carrie 2026 Reinserts Ralph White Into the Narrative Prime Video

For the new version, Mike Flanagan reimagined Ralph White. He now was not a deadbeat dad, but an military veteran. However, he was still a Christian fundamentalist and paranoid conspiracy theorist. The series implies it was his call to hide Carrie’s birth and entire existence from the community. He did this so he could raise her away from the “evils of the outside world.”

However, as in the novel, he dies in an accident on a construction site, which leads local authorities to discover his wife and daughter. But he remained with his family until his death when Carrie is a teen. This results in Carrie forcibly attending public school, something she had never done until she was 16. In the novel, she always attended public school.

Margaret White Is (Slightly) Less Extreme Than Stephen King’s Version Prime Video

Margaret White in the novel worked at a laundromat to pay for her and Carrie’s life after Ralph died. In the series, Margaret finds work at a big box store instead after Ralph’s untimely passing. She’s still hyper religious and overbearing, but doesn’t seem to hate Carrie in the way she does in the novel and original film. This is probably because Carrie doesn’t represent a sexual assault to her or a deadbeat husband who ran off and left them. It’s perhaps the biggest change to her character from King’s original text, except for the change revealed in the final episode, which truly shifts her narrative.

Margaret White Has Powers Like Her Daughter in the 2026 Carrie Robert Falconer/Prime

In the finale episode, after the Carrie’s rampage resulting in hundreds of deaths, she confronts her mother like she does in the novel. As their home collapses in on them, we see that Margaret White herself has telekinetic powers, and is holding part of the house up from crushing her. This is a big change from the novel and films, where Margaret dies after attempting to kill Carrie. In Mike Flanagan’s take, it’s clear that the power Carrie wields comes via her mother’s side of the family, not her father’s. Margaret is taken by the group of psychically powered women and interrogated about what happened. She confesses that she believes this little bit of power only happened this one time, and she doesn’t believe she can summon it again. Knowing that, these women execute Margaret, as they see her as an impediment to Carrie coming into her power.

Mike Flanagan’s Carrie White Lives to See Another Day (Or Another Season) Prime Video

Of course, the other big change to King’s story happens to Carrie herself. Unlike the novel and most adaptations, Carrie survives the massacre in her hometown that she caused. Or, as we learn, partially caused. It seems the worst acts in town, including all the deliberate murders of her classmates, were caused by astral projecter Emaline (Thalia Dudek) who befriends Carrie in the series. She mentally “took the wheel” during the worst parts of Carrie’s massacre.

We’re not even sure if Carrie remembers how much of a role she played in these events. All of this is leading to a potential second season, which would be completely off-book, as Carrie dies in almost every previous iteration. But Stephen King has given Mike Flanagan high praise for his adaptation of Carrie, so if he’s ok with it, how mad can we get? It cetainly leads to interesting possibilites going forward.

All eight episodes of Carrie are now streaming on Prime Video.

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 How Does the CARRIE Series Change Carrie and Margaret White’s Story? appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Just in time for spooky season, the official Scooby-Doo Instagram account has released several parody posters of horror films, both modern hits and classics.
• Among the posters are goofs on films like Weapons, Obsession, Backrooms, The Shining, and more.
• Nerdist’s take: These posters make us want an official cartoon where Scooby and the Mystery Inc. gang run from famous horror slashers and monsters.

For decades now, Scooby-Doo has been the gateway drug for many a horror aficionado. Sure, most of the time, the ghosts, witches, and other monsters Scooby and the Mystery, Inc. gang face turn out to be fake-outs. But that doesn’t mean that Scooby and company aren’t true horror icons. Via Bloody-Disgusting, we’ve learned that the official Scooby-Doo Instagram account has released several parody posters of iconic scary movies featuring Scoob and friends. And among them are this year’s hits, Backrooms and Obsession. You can check each of them out down below:

Warner Bros. Animation

“Snackrooms” parodies this year’s blockbuster hit Backrooms, with Scooby-Doo confronting a creepy liminal space filled with Scooby-Snacks. We’re sure Scooby prefers regular pasta to creepypasta. Better eat ’em all quick, Scoob!

Warner Bros. Animation

Scooby-Doo‘s “Obsessed” poster pokes fun at this year’s breakthrough horror movie hit, Curry Barker’s Obsession. It seems Velma Dinkley made a wish for endless books, and the result doesn’t seem to have disturbed Velma too much. Jinkies, indeed.

Warner Bros. Animation

Scooby and Shaggy are running away from what we assume is Aunt Gladys in this parody poster of the horror movie Weapons, titled “Wimps.” Come to think of it, Aunt Gladys kind of gives off Scooby-Doo villain vibes, doesn’t she?

Warner Bros. Animation

The Ghost Clown was one of the earliest spooks that appeared in Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? He existed way before Stephen King dreamed up Pennywise. Now, he appears in this Scooby-Doo parody horror movie poster of It, titled “Twit.”

Warner Bros. Animation

This parody poster is the most ’90s one of all. The witches from Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost, Thorn, Luna, and Dusk, strike the same pose as Neve Campbell and her cohorts from the 1996 cult classic The Craft. We stan the Hex Girls around here.

Warner Bros. Animation

Another cult classic is The Cabin in the Woods, parodied in this Scooby-Doo poster as “The Van in the Woods.” The Mystery Machine has seen better days. We hope no one is actually inside.

Warner Bros. Animation

Finally, Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining gets the Shaggy Rogers treatment in “The Whining.” Look, all Shaggy wants is a sandwich. And if he has to take an ax to a door in a creepy hotel to get one, so be it.

Nerdist’s Take: These Horror Movie Parody Posters Make Us Want an Official “Scooby-Doo vs. Iconic Monsters” Movie

These are all fun, but we hope one day, Scooby and friends actually take on some iconic horror monsters. Warner Bros. owns Scooby and half the major horror IP known to exist, so why not? We want to see Scooby vs. Annabelle, Scooby vs. Freddy. The list goes on. Someone needs to make that happen already.

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 Scooby-Doo Posters Parody OBSESSION, BACKROOMS, and WEAPONS appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Dunkin’ and Marvel Studios have teamed up for a limited-time Avengers: Doomsday menu of donuts, drinks, and collectibles.
• Dunkin’s special Doomsday donuts includes a sweet treat for both heroes and their common enemy.
• The Dunkin’ Doomsday menu will go on sale starting November 4.

Doctor Doom is coming and only the strongest heroes across the multiverse have any chance of stopping him. As for how the rest of us will deal with Victor, we’re thinking snacks. You know, just sit back and nosh while watching Avengers, X-Men, and the Fantastic Four handle the hard part. But when we do we won’t have to limit ourselves to just popcorn and Peanut M&Ms. Dunkin’ and Marvel Studios are teaming up for a special Avengers: Doomsday menu of drinks, donuts, and collectibles.

Dunkin’/Marvel Studios

The Avengers: Doomsday promotions are coming, and we doubt many will be as tasty as this Disney and Dunkin’ crossover. The Church of New England has assembled a limited-time menu celebrating all things Doom. That will include both special beverages and sweet treats. Here’s the special new drink menu:

• Iced Captain’ccino: Espresso, caramel flavor and coffee milk, lightly blended and served over ice for a bold, frothy sip worthy of any hero.
• Clobbered Cloud Latte: Espresso, whole milk and toasted white chocolate flavor topped with Cookie Butter Cold Foam and crumbles inspired by The Thing’s rocky exterior.
• Wakandan Daydream Refresher: Berry Clementine Refresher, raspberry flavor and oatmilk topped with Purple Marshmallow Cold Foam for a bright, creamy sip inspired by Black Panther.
• Optic Blast Lemonade: Sweet-tart lemonade charged with blue raspberry flavor and inspired by Cyclops.
• Doom’s Orders Energy: Green Apple Dunkin’ Zero, sparkling water and Purple Marshmallow Cold Foam create a sweet, tart and fizzy sip inspired by Doctor Doom.
• Doom Cloud Latte: Espresso, whole milk, mocha swirl and vanilla flavors topped with Sweet Cold Foam and cocoa powder. Dark, velvety and Doom-worthy.

Dunkin’/Marvel Studios

Dunkin’ will also celebrate both good and evil via Avengers: Doomsday donuts. It’s selling a brownie batter Doomsday Donut that has chocolate icing and green and chocolate sprinkles. You can also grab a cotton-candy filled Avenging Donut that comes with vanilla-flavored icing and red, yellow, and blue sprinkles. Both will also have accompanying Munchkin versions. You can carry those around in a Doctor Doom 25-Count MUNCHKINS Tin ($14.99) that is shaped like Doom’s mask. We sense Dunkin trying to get into the Popcorn Bucket game with this Avengers: Doomsday release and we salute its efforts.

Dunkin’/Marvel Studios

The special Dunkin’ promotion will also include Avengers: Doomsday-themed tumblers ($24.99), changing mugs ($14.99), glove cup sleeves ($14.99), and character cup sleeves ($8.99). They celebrate both heroes and the film’s titular villain.

Click To View Gallery Dunkin’/Marvel Studios Dunkin’/Marvel Studios Dunkin’/Marvel Studios Dunkin’/Marvel Studios

Dunkin’s Avengers: Doomsday menu will arrive before Doctor Doom does in theaters. You’ll be able to start doing your part to stop Doctor Doom (a.k.a. snacking) on November 4.

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 Dunkin’ and Marvel Team Up for AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY Menu appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• As the vampire David (Kiefer Sutherland) once said, “Be one of us,” wear RSVLTS’ cool new The Lost Boys collection, just in time for Halloween.
• Almost all the main characters from the 1987 cult classic vampire comedy appear on this collection of button-up shirts and crewneck T-shirts.
• Nerdist’s take: We love The Lost Boys today as much as we did forty years ago, and these shirts are a great way to show off your “Santa Carla, California” pride.

It’s been almost forty years since moviegoing audiences were lured into the California beach town of Santa Carla, home of the coolest vampires of all time, in The Lost Boys. Since then, the film has been copied, parodied, and recently, become a successful Broadway musical. Now, to show your love for the beloved ’80s undead teens, not to mention Sam, Michael, and the Frog Brothers, RSVLTS is releasing a new The Lost Boys collection of apparel inspired by Joel Schumacher’s timeless cult classic film. You can check out images of the full RSVLTS The Lost Boys collection below, along with details and pricing.

“They’re Only Noodles, Michael”: We Love This Iconic Scene RSVLTS

This RSVLTS shirt pays homage to a moment in The Lost Boys movie that takes place in the Santa Carla vampires’ underground lair. In this iconic scene, David (Keifer Sutherland) tried to convince Michael (Jason Patric) that the Chinese noodles he’s eating are actually worms. But as David teasingly says, “They’re only noodles, Michael.” This one comes in classic unisex style and sizing, priced at $70.

“Surviving the Night”: This RSVLTS The Lost Boys Shirt is Radical RSVLTS

Sam Emerson would describe this shirt as “radical” or “totally awesome.” This shirt features Sam and the Frog Brothers fighting off the undead with all their weapons, including crosses and holy water. Even Nanook, Sam’s Alaskan Malamute, gets to appear on this shirt, and we love it. Like the shirt above, this also comes in unisex style and sizing, and will set you back $70.

“Welcome to Santa Carla”: Huge David? Don’t Mind If We Do. RSVLTS

This shirt welcomes one and all to “the murder capital of the world,” Santa Carla. This RSVLTS button-up features an all-over print of David, Same, Michael, and Star, and the famous bridge scene from The Lost Boys. And yes, Nanook shows up on this shirt as well. Like the two shirts above, “Welcome to Santa Carla” has classic unisex style/sizing, and costs $70.

“I Still Believe”: The Lost Boys Sexy Sax Man Comes to Life in This RSVLTS Shirt RSVLTS

This RSVLTS crewneck shirt pays homage to one of The Lost Boys‘ most memed moments, the sexy, sweaty sax player, Tim Capello, from the Santa Carla boardwalk, who plays the song “I Still Believe.” All the main cast members appear in this shirt, ’80s hair and all. Arriving in unisex style/sizing, the crewneck shirt comes priced at $37.

“Night Riders”: Show Your Vampire Love RSVLTS

This crewneck shirt is all about the vamps. No good guys here, just Santa Carla’s most stylish bloodsucking motorcycle gang. You can show off your allegiance to the Night Riders with this fun shirt. Like the crewneck shirt above, this bad boy comes in unisex style and sizing, and costs $37.

Nerdist’s Take: We Still Believe The Lost Boys Is a Classic, and the RSVLTS Collection Is a Great Way to Show Your Santa Carla Pride

From Buffy to True Blood to The Vampire Diaries, we still believe (see what we did there?) that The Lost Boys is one of the best vampire movies ever made. It’s funny, it’s scary, it’s sexy, it’s got it all. And what better way to show off your love for this ’80s horror classic than with these new RSVLTS shirts honoring The Lost Boys movie? To purchase these, head on over to the official RSVLTS webstore.

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 RSVLTS x THE LOST BOYS Collection: Show Off Santa Carla Pride appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• The Television Academy has signed a six-year deal to make Prime Video the exclusive home of the Emmy Awards.
• The first Emmys show will air on Prime Video in 2027, ending a 78-year run on broadcast television.
• Nerdist’s Take: This Emmys move to streaming isn’t surprising, but shifting to a paid streaming site means fewer people will get to watch TV’s biggest celebration, and that isn’t good.

In 2029, the Oscars is moving from network television to YouTube. It still sounds unbelievable that the biggest night in Hollywood, the premiere awards show, is heading to streaming. But that’s also why this latest Academy news isn’t surprising at all. The Emmys are also making the move from free TV to a paid subscription streaming service after signing a six-year deal with Prime Video.

Television Academy

The Television Academy is taking its signature awards show, which currently rotates across the four main networks, online. It signed a deal with Prime Video that will make the streamer the home of the Primetime Emmys. The deal (which we first heard about at The Hollywood Reporter) starts right away in 2027. Next year’s Emmys ceremony will be the first time the show will not air on broadcast television, but instead live on a streaming platform. It won’t return to a network until at least 2033, as Prime Video’s deal gives it the rights until 2032.

This partnership might get a lot bigger, too. Prime Video is still in discussions to possibly host the Creative Arts Emmys. It might also air the Television Academy’s other shows, including its Hall of Fame and Television Academy Honors ceremony.

View this post on Instagram

In a statement to THR, TV Academy chair Cris Abrego cited “continuity” as a big reason for making this streaming deal for the Emmys. “Rotating every year meant in many ways that we were starting over again with a new partner. That included everything from the creative, bringing on a new producer, to building partnerships with brands,” he said. “That was always one of the challenges with the wheel agreement.”

Nerdist’s Take: Is The Emmys Move to Prime Video & Streaming Good for TV?

While having one single TV partner makes a lot more sense than having four, this move still feels like a loss for TV. Just as the Oscars serve as both a celebration of and promotion for movies, the Emmys do the same for TV. But that celebration/promotion is moving from free television to a paid streamer. That means fewer people will get to celebrate. That’s not surprising news in the modern world of television, but it’s not good news, either.

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 Emmy Awards Head to Streaming on Prime Video appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Stephen King’s 1974 novel Carrie is undoubtedly the most influential and important piece of horror literature in modern times… and it almost didn’t exist.
• King was able to become a full-time writer and start his incredibly prolific career of stories that continue to resonate in pop culture today.
• There are countless shows, films, and creatives who were inspired by Stephen King and Carrie, and the genre would not be the same without their profound impact.

If you ask most horror literature fans and scholars to name the most influential book in the genre’s history, most would agree that it is Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. And that’s a very fair answer for many reasons, including its blending of Gothic horror elements with sci-fi. But, if you look at the modern era of horror novels from the last few decades, Stephen King’s 1974 novel Carrie takes the crown in that arena. Carrie’s influence in horror, both written and on screen, is undeniable and it birthed King’s prolific career that continues to inspire horror auteurs to this day. 

Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group/MGM

Prior to Carrie’s initial publication in April 1974, King was living in a rather modest life in Maine with his wife Tabitha and their two children. He was working as an English teacher at Hampden Academy; however, King’s heart was in creative writing. Several of his early short stories appeared in men’s magazines, like Cavalier, which was where he intended to submit a piece about an outcast girl with telekinesis. After writing just three pages, he threw his story in the trash but his wife found the pages and assured him that this was a story worth telling. And we all owe her much gratitude because we got the gift of Carrie.

It shifted horror literature’s predominate lens from ghosts, monsters, and other Gothic themes towards the real villains in most stories: human beings. And, notably during prom night, Carrie packed a feminist punch during the women’s liberation movement of the 1970s when women were fighting for equality in the workplace and autonomy over their lives and bodies. 

Until then, King had written novels but never published any of them. Carrie found solid commercial and critical success and put $200K in King’s pocket following a mass publishing deal. This gave King the boost he needed to pursue writing full-time, and laid the foundation for a litany of iconic stories like The Shining, The Stand, and more. And, just two years after its initial publication, Carrie was the first King novel to get an adaptation in the classic 1976 film starring Sissy Spacek. 

RELATED ARTICLE

MOMMIE DEAREST and 10 Other Very Scary TV and Film Moms

During this era, horror films were stirring up controversy and finding success in theaters. The Exorcist (1973) almost single-handedly made the Ouija board a beacon of evil, while The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) delivered a gritty and frantic romp that laid the blueprint for the slasher subgenre. Carrie offered something unlike what horror fans had seen before, focusing on human cruelty, religious zealotry, trauma and isolation, and a protagonist who committed unthinkable acts yet still draws sympathy from viewers. 

Making over $33 million on a budget that was less than $2 million, Carrie proved that King’s stories could translate to box office gold. Since then, his work has been adapted many dozens of times over into shows and films that became beloved and iconic in their own right, from The Shawshank Redemption to The Long Walk. And, we are still seeing King’s works on our screens to this very day, with IT: Welcome to Derry and, of course, Mike Flanagan’s Carrie series.

Stephen King is undoubtedly still the King of Horror, and his throne is made from the Carrie novel. There are countless creatives, now legendary in their own right, whose works are influenced by King, like J.J. Abrams, Clive Barker, Jordan Peele, and Oz Perkins, to name a few. It is quite hard to imagine what the genre would’ve become without King’s influence as a prolific writer, which he was able to do at the fullest extent thanks to Carrie. 

In fact, the Carrie novel itself is quite influential, with three film adaptations, a musical, and Prime Video’s aforementioned show that will bring a reimagined version of this story to a new generation 50 years after the original film. It pushed horror literature into the mainstream, opening doors for other horror writers like R.L. Stine and James Smythe to find inspiration and commercial success. Several films take notes from Carrie’s storyline, including The Craft (1996), which features a witchy group of girls who take action against their peers, and Jennifer’s Body (2009), which focuses on a girl who gains supernatural abilities and uses them on abusers.

Locker room bullying drama is a part of many of horror and teen film and show, and the classic bloody prom scene has been heavily referenced across pop culture in The Simpsons and Heathers. Stranger Things’ beloved Eleven certainly shares some DNA with Carrie as a socially isolated kid with telekinetic powers who, by circumstances beyond her control, finds herself thrust into an environment where she’s socially inept. They both make some morally dubious choices (to put it lightly) in the name of self-preservation and vengeance, yet we don’t view them as villains in any way. And it is hard not to think about Carrie when you see final girlies like Sidney Prescott covered in blood.

RELATED ARTICLE

Tim Curry’s ROCKY HORROR Icon Was a Hero to My LGBTQ Generation

Carrie White felt exceptionally special to many horror fans who felt othered in some way, whether it was because of their sexuality, nerdiness, shyness, or lack of conventional attractiveness. (Honestly, the live-action Carries could be less pretty, but that’s another article…) Her pain and vulnerability sadly spoke to the lived experience of many school aged kids across America.

Stephen King’s Carrie novel has threaded its way into pop culture history in immeasurable ways. And, over five decades later, there’s no signs that Carrie White will fade away any time soon. Long live our powerful queen who simply wanted to be treated with kindness.

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!

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.

The post Stephen King’s CARRIE Is the Most Influential Modern Horror Novel appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Paramount Skydance Chairman and CEO David Ellison formally closed his mega $110-billion purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery.
• The two iconic companies have now merged under the singular Skydance banner.
• The one thing everyone, both fans and detractors of the merger, can agree on is that David Ellison is right to call this an “historic day” for the industry.

It’s done. And Hollywood will never be the same. Today Paramount Skydance Chairman and CEO David Ellison formally closed his mega $110-billion dollar purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery. The two iconic companies will now operate under the singular Skydance banner.

Skydance

More than a year and a half after Netflix believed it had a deal in place to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery, the company now belongs to Paramount Skydance. Following 12 Attorneys Generals’ surprise deal to let the merger go through and a judge dismissing the last standing challenge, David Ellison now controls two of the biggest studios in the world. In a statement, he shared his thoughts on the closing of the mega-deal and what it means.

Today is a historic day, not just for Skydance but for our entire industry. From the start, our ambition was to bring these two storied studios together and create a stronger competitor, with the talent, resources, and reach to tell great stories in every genre, on every platform, for audiences everywhere. Now that ambition is a reality. We’re grateful to everyone who made this possible – the employees, creative talent, and production teams of both companies, who worked tirelessly to get us here and inspire audiences around the world every day, as well as the advisors and partners who guided this transaction to completion. Our focus now turns to the future: building a company that empowers creatives, entertains audiences and rewards shareholders. We couldn’t be more excited to get to work.

The Mega-Deal Between Paramount and Warner Bros. Is Be Done, But Skydance’s Impact on Hollywood Is Only Beginning

No question this is a “historic day” for Hollywood. As for the rest of what he said about the closing of this Paramount and Warner Bros. merger, that is all very much up in the air. What seems certain is that a lot of people are going to lose their jobs because of the merger. In the press release announcing the closing of the deal, Skydance mentioned it is “targeting at least $6 billion in run-rate synergies within three years.” That might make traders on the New York Stock Exchange happy, as Skydance began selling there today. But for many in the industry, it’s going to upend their lives.

Today is a new day for @Skydance, and I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who helped get us here. It's a big day, and we're just getting started. Let's go! https://t.co/89jxDrzVGU pic.twitter.com/e6P28HkRto

— David Ellison (@davidellison) October 6, 2026

It’s also hard to take the mention of competition seriously, as Skydance itself noted the company’s many (some might say “monopolistic-level”) assets. It has “two major film studios, two global streaming services, premier television assets including CBS, HBO, and Paramount’s and Warner Bros’ cable networks, two of the industry’s most recognized news networks, CBS News and CNN, and a leading content portfolio that includes live sports, a deep programming library and expansive collection of iconic brands and franchises.”

While Skydance also says it will abide by its deals with AGs and produce “30 high-quality theatrical films per year and 180+ television shows and series” in exchange for this merger of Paramount and Warner Bros., that won’t mean anything until/unless that actually happens. (And we’ll see if the company even can, considering the astronomical purchase price.)

The Paramount and Warner Bros. deal might be done, but what this all truly means for Hollywood is just starting.

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 Paramount Takes Over Warner Bros, Skydance Closes Mega Deal appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• The Avatar: The Last Airbender x Reebok collection is here. It contains four different shoes honoring Aang and the world of Avatar.
• The Rebook x Avatar collection reveals shoes inspired by Appa, the Four Nations, Avatar Aang, and the Avatar State.
• Each shoes has a plethora of Easter eggs and hidden details honoring Avatar: The Last Airbender.
• Nerdist Take: Avatar: The Last Airbender definetly deserves its own Rebook line, but where is the Zuko shoe?

It’s time to step into the Avatar State, literally. Reebok is back with a brand new line of fandom-inspired sneakers… We absolutely adored Reebok’s One Piece line (and even put on a pair of the shoes ourselves). This time, Reebok is back with an Avatar: The Last Airbender collaboration that honors Aang and the world of Avatar through footwear. As with the last collection, each Reebok features a ton of Avatar: The Last Airbender Easter eggs and details that will have fans ecstatic to slip on a pair. For now, Reebok has released four different shoes in its Avatar: The Last Airbender collection, and we have your deep dive into each one. Let’s check ’em out.

Rebook Reebok Release Four Avatar: The Last Airbender Sneakers in New Collection

A release shares, “The all-new Reebok x Avatar: The Last Airbender collection honors the groundbreaking series through four premium footwear styles that blend elevated craftsmanship with storytelling details inspired by the beloved franchise.” And here’s what you can expect from each shoe.

The Reebok x Avatar: The Last Airbender collection includes:

• Club C 85 ($110.00 MSRP): Inspired by Appa, Avatar Aang’s loyal sky bison and lifelong companion. Features a hairy suede upper, Appa-inspired arrow detailing across the vamp, embroidered elemental symbol on the heel tab, plush fluffy lining reminiscent of Appa’s fur, and an EVA midsole. Available in unisex sizing.
• Classic Nylon ($110.00 MSRP): A tribute to the Four Nations and the four elements: Air, Water, Earth, and Fire. Designed with knit canvas-inspired underlays, hairy suede overlays, cracked leather accents, a custom window box component representing each element, and interchangeable hook-and-loop tongue patches featuring elemental symbols. Available in unisex sizing.
• Insta Pump Fury 94 ($220.00 MSRP): Inspired by Avatar Aang himself, this premium silhouette features mesh underlays, stretch canvas overlays, hairy suede accents, suede mesh lining, and a glowing reflective arrow graphic across the vamp that nods to Aang’s iconic tattoos. Available in unisex sizing.
• Engine A 26 ($140.00 MSRP): Inspired by Aang’s powerful Avatar State, this performance-inspired silhouette features suede underlays with printed and debossed detailing, glow-in-the-dark elements, an EVA midsole, and Reebok’s ERS cushioning technology. Available in unisex sizing.

Now, just to make sure there are no misunderstandings, the Appa Rebook shoe isn’t made out of Appa. It simply honors Appa and may have borrowed a tiny bit of his fur. But we’re sure Rebook asked permission! Don’t worry about it.

When Will the Avatar: The Last Airbender Rebooks Release?

The Avatar: The Last Airbender x Rebook collection launches globally on October 7, 2026, at 10 a.m. ET. The shoes will go live on Reebok.com. So set your alarm clocks and don’t sleep in and miss everything like Sokka!

How Much Will the Avatar Rebooks Cost?

As mentioned, the four shoes in the Avatar: The Last Airbender Rebook collection will cost between $110.00–$220.00. You can check out their specific pricing above.

Nerdist Take: Avatar: The Last Airbender Deserves Its Own Rebook Collection (But Where Is the Zuko Shoe)

If there was ever a franchise that deserved to be honored in every way, it’s Avatar: The Last Airbender. ATLA is one of the best TV series ever made and one of the best stories ever told on our screens. We’re glad to see these Avatar Rebooks come to life.

As Carmen Hardaway, Global Director of Reebok Classics Footwear and Energy Collaborations, shares, “Avatar: The Last Airbender has become much more than an animated series, it’s a cultural touchstone that continues to inspire fans around the world. This collaboration was designed for the fans who grew up with the series and continue to celebrate it today. By pairing Reebok’s heritage silhouettes with storytelling aspects inspired by Aang, Appa, and the Four Nations, we created a collection that honors the craftsmanship, emotion, and legacy that have made Avatar such an enduring phenomenon.”

With that said, we’d like to raise a request for a Zuko shoe in the next Rebook Avatar collection. It won’t be a complete collection without him.

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 Reebok x AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER Collection Is Here appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Lanterns co-creator Damon Lindelof admitted he won’t be a part of season 2, but a writers’ room has already formed and is formulating ideas.
• Lindelof confirms there was never any plan to resurrect Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) in season one, but acknowledges Hal’s many deaths and resurrections in the pages of DC Comics.
• Nerdist’s take: Even if it’s just as Hal’s “Halogram” form, we think the next season of Lanterns needs to include Kyle Chandler in some form. Otherwise, the name Lanterns is pointless.

Lanterns just dropped its season one finale, and we believe it largely stuck the landing. The series, which was a grounded take on the Green Lantern comics mythology, won over critics and audiences alike. In fact, the series has averaged around 19 million viewers per episode, which is huge. Now, series co-creator Damon Lindelof, known for Watchmen, The Leftovers, and Lost, has revealed to Collider (via IGN) that there are “writers who are working on ideating on Season 2.” It seems, however, that neither Lindelof nor Tom King will have any involvement with a potential season 2.

I can only tell you that everybody in the Season 1 room, inclusive of the writers who are working on ideating on Season 2, felt like even though we knew that it was going to be emotionally devastating and/or disappointing and maybe even frustrating, that the worst possible schmuck-baity thing that we could do is show you a pilot where Hal Jordan was definitively dead, and then try to walk it back and say, ‘Oh, he was a clone’ or ‘He’s only mostly dead’ in the Princess Bride vernacular.

HBO Max/DC Studios

Having said all that, Lindelof is keenly aware that in the comics, Hal Jordan has been dead before. Lindelof said, “I do not know anything about the creative (for season 2). And I wouldn’t want to hamstring those writers in any way for what future storytelling mechanisms they could indulge in. Knowing what the comics have done with Parallax — and Hal, I think, has died at least three or four times over the course of the canon, and celebrating everything that Kyle did in his performance to get the audience to fall in love with Hal.”

Nerdist’s Take: Even if Hal Jordan Remains Dead, Lanterns Season 2 Needs to Figure Out How to Utilize Kyle Chandler

Even if Hal is DEAD dead, we think Kyle Chandler is such a huge part of the appeal for the series, it would be criminal not to utilize him somehow. We definitely think there’s a way to bring the Halogram back, despite whatever Sinestro said in the season one finale. And, after all, this show is called Lanterns, plural. Unless this is about to be a John Stewart/Guy Gardner team-up show, Hal will need to be a part of it. Or they may introduce another Green Lantern to co-star with Aaron Pierre. We’ll have to wait and see, but we certainly hope HBO Max doesn’t drag its feet in greenlighting season 2. What deserves a greenlight more than the show about dudes whose power is green light? Come on, HBO, it’s a sign.

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 LANTERNS Season 2 Is Already Being Written, Says Co-Creator appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Prime Video has revealed the first images for its upcoming show Bloodaxe.
• The series co-creater Michael Hirst was also behind Vikings, but Bloodaxe is not a spinoff of that franchise.
• This gorgeous batch of images promises a vikings show with everything we could want: incredible costumes and production and warriors in search of bloody glory.

We want the same thing from every TV show. We want good writing, good acting, good production, and a good story. But when it comes to shows about vikings we have a few more demands. We want/need to see crazed warriors waging war with magnificent weapons in a quest for glory. And based on the first batch of photos from Prime Video‘s upcoming series Bloodaxe that’s exactly what we’re going to get from this epic tale.

Click To View Gallery Prime Video Prime Video Prime Video Prime Video Prime Video

Prime Video has released the first ten stills from Bloodaxe, the new series from showrunners and writers Michael and Horatio Hirst. Michael Hirst was also behind Vikings, but this new series is not a spinoff or related in anyway to his previous one. This is a new tale of Norse heroes. But what exactly do these images portend? (Besides that the show will look incredible?) What do these gorgeously clad attractive people want? Here’s the official synopsis from Amazon:

In Season One, Bloodaxe chronicles the rise of one of history’s most famous Norse raiders, Erik Bloodaxe (Xavier Molyneux), and his formidable wife Gunnhild, Mother of Kings (Jessica Madsen). As they fight for the throne of Norway, the land is torn apart by fierce rivals, shifting loyalties, and bloody betrayals. With war looming and chaos consuming the kingdom, drawing in the ruthless Kings of other Scandinavian countries, and even a powerful English ruler, the stage is set for a thundering, cataclysmic, compelling and utterly magical new Norse Saga.

Click To View Gallery Prime Video Prime Video Prime Video

The series also stars Karlis Arnolds Avots, Levi Miller, Rod Hallett, Alina Tomnikov, Sisse Marie, Rune Temte, and Jesper Christensen. Season one will feature eight episodes, but we know we are guaranteed to get more. Prime Video has already ordered a second season, which is the best sign possible that Bloodaxe will truly deliver everything we want from a TV show about vikings.

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 New Prime Video Series BLOODAXE Shares First Images appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Marvel Comics is joining with WEBTOON to create a new app for digital comics, effectively replacing Marvel Unlimited, which has existed since 2007. It launches in November.
• The new Marvel Comics app will showcase more than 35,000 digital comics, Pull List features, and more new features. It will also include Star Wars comics and comics based on Twentieth Century Films IP.
• There will be a Base Tier for $9.99/month (plus tax) or $69.99/year (plus tax). The Ultimate Tier will be $12.49/month (plus tax) or $99.99/year (plus tax), and feature comics as early as 30 days after print release.
• Nerdist’s take: Whether or not this new app is better than Marvel Unlimited remains to be seen, but it will feature comics not previously on the old app, which is a plus.

How fans will access their favorite Marvel Comics titles digitally is about to change. Ahead of this week’s New York Comic Con, Marvel and WEBTOON have announced that they are joining forces to create a new Marvel Comics app. Revealed via Marvel’s official site, we’ve learned that this new app will launch on November 16. The new Marvel app will showcase more than 35,000 digital comics, Pull List features, and new issues as early as 30 days after print release. This replaces the Marvel Unlimited app, which shutters in December. Here’s what Marvel’s David Abdo had to say about their new digital home:

We know that there is a large audience of readers who are looking to experience comics digitally, and there is no richer library than Marvel Comics. We’re excited to partner with WEBTOON, industry leaders in the space, to create a new app that can continue to grow and evolve with the way readers discover and experience comics.

Marvel/WEBTOON

The new pricing adds a Base Tier at three months after print, for $9.99/month (plus tax) or $69.99/year (plus tax). The Ultimate Tier will be $12.49/month (plus tax) or $99.99/year (plus tax) with comics just 30 days after print. However, folks who already have the Marvel Unlimited app might want to act fast. That’s because subscribers must create a WEBTOON account, then repurchase a membership, and import their existing libraries before Marvel Unlimited ends. Discovery tools include a cover-scroll browser, personalised recommendations, and character and creator pages as well.

Nerdist’s Take: Many Will Miss Marvel Unlimited, But This New App Will Seemingly Have More Options than the Old One

The catalogue on the new app covers Marvel Universe, Star Wars, and 20th Century Studios titles like Alien and Predator. Other comics from the Disney portfolio will arrive at a later date. For those who prefer to read their comics digitally, this will be an adjustment. But the addition of other titles previously unavailable through the older app will likely make this worth it. Marvel fans can pre-register now at Marvel/WEBTOON and claim a limited-time founding member price of $59.99 (plus tax) for their first year of Ultimate Annual.

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 Marvel and WEBTOON Launch New Digital Comics App This Fall appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Sam, the spirit of Halloween from the cult horror classic Trick ‘r Treat, returns in a new animated short, thirty years after he first appeared in a cartoon short film called Season’s Greetings.
• Sam’s creator Mike Dougherty directs his creation from his university days in the first of many new animated shorts called Hello October: from Sam.
• Hello October: from Sam is the first of many new Sam-centric shorts, artwork, and merchandise that is part of the new Sam: The Soul of Halloween website.
• Nerdist’s take: While we all wait for Trick ‘r Treat 2, we now know Sam will have a new home for lots of new projects for the character.

Ever since the horror-comedy Trick ‘r Treat arrived in 2007, the character Sam, the Spirit of Halloween, has become the mascot of spooky season. With some competition from Jack Skellington and Michael Myers, of course. But despite multiple announcements for Trick ‘r Treat 2 over the years, we still haven’t seen the return of Sam. But that’s all about to change. We’ve learned via Dread Central, that Sam’s creator, Michael Dougherty, has released the first short film in his month-long Sam: The Soul of Halloween celebration. This has inaugurated the brand-new Sam website. You can watch Dougherty’s new Sam animated short, Hello October: from Sam, below:

The Sam: The Soul of Halloween website showcases new shorts, artwork, and merchandise, beginning at the start of October. And this goes all the way through October 31. Dougherty first invented Sam for his animated short Season’s Greetings back in 1996. It’s long been available on the Trick ‘r Treat DVD and Blu-ray releases, and can be found online. Now, he has invited different creatives to interpret that version of Sam in their own unique way. All while sticking to Sam’s original incarnation in Dougherty’s animated short, which he made as a student at NYU.

Mike Dougherty

All of this suggests that Mike Dougherty now has regained the rights to the character of Sam independent of the Trick ‘r Treat franchise. Although we must point out that we can’t confirm this for sure. So while we all wait for another Trick ‘r Treat film, we’ll see Sam appear in other short-form projects. As the site says, “Sam is a celebration of everything we love about Halloween: glowing jack-o’-lanterns, crisp autumn air, costumes and candy, superstitions and ghost stories, and all the things that go bump in the night.” That all sure sounds delightful to us, because we love the little guy. Long live Sam.

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 TRICK ‘R TREAT’s Sam Returns in Several New Halloween Shorts appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• The directors of the new Star Trek film, John Francis Daley and Johnathan Goldstein, revealed two important decisions they’ve made regarding their upcoming movie.
• The upcoming Star Trek won’t have any legacy characters from any previous incarnation of the franchise. In addition, they’ve confirmed it won’t take place in the alternate “Kelvin” timeline from the previous three J.J. Abrams-produced films.
• The two directors also confirmed that their Star Trek will take further along in the future than where we left off. We assume they mean further along in time than the last Star Trek feature film, and not Starfleet Academy, which takes place in the 32nd Century.
• Nerdist’s take: We’re thrilled Star Trek isn’t leaning into nostalgia or legacy casting for its big screen reboot, although we hope the one legacy that continues is a starship named Enterprise.

The Star Trek franchise, at least on TV, is pretty much over. Paramount+ will release the remaining episodes of Strange New Worlds and Starfleet Academy next year. But after that, there are no more Trek shows in production. However, Paramount does have a new Trek movie in development, directed by the Dungeons & Dragons duo of John Francis Daley and Johnathan Goldstein. But we’ve almost no details about what the movie will cover, or when in the Trek timeline it takes place. But in an interview with Empire Magazine (via Comic Book Movie), the directors did drop two major elements their movie won’t include.

Paramount Pictures

When asked about their concept for the film, Daley said, “No legacy characters, nobody that you’ve met before.” Goldstein then added that their Star Trek film will take place in “A different time, not a different timeline per se, but it’s a little further in the future. Sort of a different timeline.” Daley quickly corrected his directing and writing partner and said, “Well, not the Kelvin timeline. It’s not the J.J. [Abrams] timeline.” These are both big revelations about what Paramount has planned for their iconic sixty-year-old franchise.

Paramount Pictures

Most of the existing thirteen Star Trek films have some tie to the overall legacy of the franchise. Even the J.J. Abrams 2009 reboot brought back Leonard Nimoy as the elder Spock. Thus, tying the film to what Star Trek fans knew and loved. But this would be the first Star Trek movie without ties to any previous cast we already know. However, not having this take place in the Kelvin timeline indicates this takes place in the “classic” universe we’ve followed for six decades.

Nerdist’s Take: We Hope the Only Legacy the New Star Trek Movie Has Is a Starship Named Enterprise

Pushing things into the future means we’ll likely pass by the era of the Enterprise-G, seen at the end of Picard season three. That’s the Enterprise commanded by Captain Seven of Nine. It could be several decades, or even several hundred years after her era. And we think this is pretty exciting. We actually hope the only legacy aspect we see in the new Star Trek is that the starship the events take place on is called Enterprise. Everything else being new and different is what we hope to see.

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 New STAR TREK Film Won’t Use Legacy Characters or Kelvin Universe appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• LEGO has announced three new Batman sets ahead of this year’s New York Comic Con.
• The new LEGO Joker Wall Art is a challenging 3D recreation of 2011’s Detective Comics #880.
• LEGO’s new 217-piece Arkham Batman Batmobile and the 672-piece Batman Returns Batmobile & Duck sets are designed for youngsters to celebrate the iconic superhero car.

Like the Caped Crusader keeps an eye on Gotham, our sacred duty is to keep an eye out for ever more ways to celebrate the iconic superhero. And ahead of this year’s New York Comic Con LEGO is giving fans three new ways to continue building a personal shrine to all things Batman. The company has announced three new sets from the world of the Dark Knight. These LEGO sets honor two of the best things about Batman: his legendary car and his greatest villain, Joker.

LEGO

The LEGO Group doesn’t just want to let you build a new Batman collectible for your home. They want to add some style to your manor. The first of the company’s three new DC Batman LEGO sets is The Joker Wall Art. It’s a recreation of 2011’s Detective Comics #880. This challenging 1,849-piece 3D set ($169.99) is bulging with hidden details. With an 18+ recommendation, it’s also geared for older collectors who will appreciate the secrets waiting to be unlocked in this intense visage of the Joker.

LEGO

With the Clown Prince of Crime on hand, you’ll need ways to catch him, and LEGO’s two new Batmobiles will help you do that. The 217-piece LEGO Arkham Batman Batmobile ($29.99) and the 672-piece Batman Returns Batmobile & Duck ($59.99) will let younger fans get in on the little plastic brick superhero fun.

Both LEGO Batmobile sets also unlock the Golden Red Brick in LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. That will let you add a gold theme for both your characters and vehicles in the game. The Batman Returns Batmobile & Duck set also gets you the game’s Batman Returns Batmobile Batcave Prop. Suck on that, Oswald.

LEGO

All three DC Batman LEGO sets will go on sale when the calendar turns. They’ll be available at LEGO.com, LEGO Stores, and major retailers starting January 1, 2027. You don’t have to wait that long to pay for yours, though. You can already pre-order all three sets now. While you wait for yours to arrive we’ll keep an eye out for ever more ways to celebrate the superhero who keeps a Bat-eye on Gotham.

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!

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 LEGO Reveals 3 New Batman Sets: Creepy Joker Wall Art & Batmobiles appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Two of the fiercest competitors in the streaming world have found a way to work together. Disney+ will soon start licensing several well-known titles to Netflix.
• Among the titles licensed will be all five Ice Age movies, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and several classic TV shows like Arrested Development.
• Nerdist’s take: Despite being each other’s biggest competition in the streaming world, this news proves that anyone in entertainment can call a truce if it means making more money.

Two of the biggest competitors, if not the biggest competitors, in the world of streaming are Netflix and Disney+. But competitors or not, they can bury a hatchet if they can make some coin. Variety is reporting that Disney has made a deal with Netflix to license a metric ton of its titles to them, and some of these are very well-known properties associated with the House of Mouse. This includes all five Ice Age movies, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Pixar titles like Elio and Soul, and catalog series from the Disney vaults like Felicity, Arrested Development, and Scandal.

Disney+/Netflix

As the original report states, Netflix has an unrivaled subscriber base of 325 million households. That is almost the equivalent of every person in the United States. Disney sees this as a chance to get its films and television series in front of a lot more eyeballs. And as a strategy, it makes sense. If people fall in love with the Pixar films they watch on Netflix, for example, they might want even more Pixar in their diet and get a Disney+ subscription. Disney makes money from Netflix, and Netflix gets to add to its already massive catalog of titles. At least, temporarily. Most of these Disney titles have a shelf life on the streaming giant.

Nerdist’s Take: Even Between the Fiercest Competitors, Money Talks, and Always Trumps Anything Else

The availability of these titles will vary from region to region. We imagine North America won’t get some of the bigger titles, which will remain as Disney+ exclusives. Especially titles from some of their bigger IP, like Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar. From what we can tell, there are no Marvel Studios or Star Wars titles in this batch, but that could always change in the future. After all, in Hollywood, money talks very loudly. And if they can turn a profit from those films finding a home on Netflix, it’ll happen. We expect the rollout for Disney titles on Netflix to start happening over the next few months.

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 Disney to License Several High-Profile Titles to Netflix appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• There are plenty of TV shows and movies arriving this month; however, it is also a good time to snuggle up on the couch with a bewitching book.
• These eight books range from cozy mysteries to horror tales that will make your spine tingle.
• Get in the Game: If you’re a gamer, you will love these spooky horror games.

Do you feel that? It’s the crisp wind rushing by you as you crunch leaves under your boots. Well, that may not be the case for you, depending on where you live. Still, we welcome the arrival of October and all things cozy, scary, and pumpkin spice-fueled. There are plenty of TV shows and movies arriving this month; however, it is also a good time to snuggle up on the couch with a bewitching book (or three). It doesn’t matter if it’s a physical book or an audio adventure, reading is a great way to find some chill. And, this season, we have 7 cozy, witchy, and downright scary books that we recommend for your reading list. 

Disenchanted by Lucy Jane Wood  View this post on Instagram

A cozy witchy fantasy story is always a great move in October. Disenchanted is about a jaded witch who learns to embrace her magic when the town is cursed with a spell that brings fairy tales to life. And, for all you lovers out there, there is a dash of romance in the mix as well. 

She Haunts Me Still by De Elizabeth  Dutton

Curses, vampires, and academia all converge together in this book. Mallory heads to her mom’s alma mater to begin her theater studies and start a fresh chapter after a life of loss. Things are going well until a bloody spirit resurfaces and causes her to dig into her mother’s mysterious death. And, along the way, she finds a connection with Ezra, a fourth year student and director who may know some serious secrets. 

The Unknown by Riley Sager  View this post on Instagram

Many book lovers will recognize this popular author’s name. Riley Sager’s The Unknown is yet another hit, with a story that takes us to a creepy island. It is where women started disappearing 100 years ago… and it is happening once again. If you dig Widow’s Bay, you’ll probably like this book, too. 

Hear the Dead by Ann Dávila Cardinal  Sourcebooks Landmark

A retired punk rock photographer starts to unearth a long-standing mystery. She starts hearing the voices of murdered women she knew when she was young, leading to a journey filled with magical realism wrapped in a serial killer mystery. 

The Whisper by Chelsea Iversen  View this post on Instagram

Welcome to Whisper Ridge, where there’s a group of estranged friends who come back together years after their friend’s murder. They will have to deal with old wounds and confront witchy magic as they face their past and parse through the present. 

Please Enjoy Your Stay by Tara Goedjen  Atria/Emily Bestler Books

We love a gothic thriller. A true crime podcast reopens a case that is a very personal tragedy for Mia. She was the only eyewitness to her cousin’s murder, and the latest suspect is Mia’s aunt, a former true crime author. Mia goes on a journey of uncovering secrets and lies to get to the truth. 

Night of Madness by Ryan Douglass  View this post on Instagram

Anytime a book is described as “Saw Meets Willy Wonka,” it feels like a must-read. Ryan Douglass’ novel follows a band of teen influencers who compete in a horror-movie competition. The night turns into a full blown nightmare when they have to fight to stay alive for one twisty tale that will surely keep you on the edge of your seat.

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!

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.

The post 7 Cozy, Witchy, and Downright Scary Books to Read in October appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• The first season of Lanterns has come to a close, and now we have a much better idea about the Green Lantern future of both John Stewart and Guy Gardner.
• Lanterns ends with Guy Gardner still the official Green Lantern of Space Sector 2814, with John taking a power ring for himself, becoming an “independent contractor” Green Lantern.
• Nerdist’s take: We finally have a good explanation as to why Earth will have two Green Lanterns in James Gunn’s upcoming Man of Tomorrow. And we’re glad the DCU will have more than one Earth Lantern, just as in the comics.

For the entire first season of Lanterns, the series has built towards John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) taking on the role of Green Lantern. But as we learned in episode five, after feeling manipulated by the Guardians of the Universe, John rejected the power ring back in 2016. With Hal Jordan then imprisoned on Earth over the catastrophic events in Rushville, obnoxious gym teacher athletic director Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) receives the power ring. So does the series end with John still just an ordinary architect? Or does he become a proper Green Lantern at last? And what does that mean for Guy Gardner? The Lanterns finale has answers.

HBO Max/DC Studios Does John Stewart Become a Green Lantern?

In the final episode, John Stewart and the Halogram (Kyle Chandler) find a portal to another world that Hal had hidden in his storage space. On that destroyed and desolate planet, they find Sinestro hiding out. Turns out Noah Macon, revealed as a Manhunter, broke him out of prison. On that planet, Sinestro reveals he figured out a way to forge a new power battery on his own. John realizes he can use this new lantern to charge Hal Jordan’s nearly dead ring, essentially becoming an unauthorized Lantern. By the end of the episode, he does just that, becoming a Green Lantern at last.

HBO Max/DC Studios

John Stewart summons Guy Gardner to Rushville, to inform him that he has Hal Jordan’s old ring, and that he has a power battery with which to charge it. An infuriated Guy knows Stewart is stepping in on his official turf, but John informs him that he’s now a free agent. Guy will remain the official Green Lantern of Sector 2814, and the Guardians of the Universe’s operative. However, John Stewart will function as the Green Lantern of Earth alone, and is essentially operating under his own jurisdiction. John tells Guy to inform the Guardians of his decision, and seems extremely certain they won’t do anything to stop him.

DC Comics Does Lanterns’ Finale Have DC Comics Precedent?

Is there comic book precedent for a “free agent” member of the Green Lantern Corps? Actually, yes. The idea of “Honor Guard” members of the Green Lantern Corps has existed since 1981. These Honor Guard Lanterns operate without a space sector, and more or less function without reporting to the Guardians. They’re not limited to one space sector and have free rein across the cosmos. Also, Alan Scott, Earth’s first Green Lantern, is technically not a member of the Corps. Although the Guardians do acknowledge him as a Lantern, as his ring draws power from an energy source they created, he’s also a free agent, not tied to their rules. So John Stewart being an “independent contractor” Lantern has precedent in the pages of DC Comics.

Nerdist’s Take: We’re Thrilled Both John Stewart and Guy Gardner Will Wield Power Rings in the DCU Going Forward

So what does this all mean for the DCU? We know both John Stewart and Guy Gardner will appear in James Gunn’s upcoming Man of Tomorrow. This makes total sense, because if a world-ending alien threat like Brainiac arrives, both Green Lanterns would join in the fight. Does that mean we get an eventual Justice League with two Green Lanterns on it? It’s quite possible, and it’s certainly happened in the comics before. We’ll find out more when Man of Tomorrow hits theaters next year, and hopefully, in an eventual Lanterns season two.

All of Lanterns season one is currently streaming on HBO Max.

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 How LANTERNS Ends for John Stewart and Guy Gardner appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• The finale of Lanterns finally answered the central mystery: who killed Hal Jordan and more importantly, why?
• We learned through a series of flashbacks all of the events that led to Hal’s sad murder.
• But if you expected some kind of largescale cosmic reason, you might be surprised that it’s much more homespun.
• Nerdist Take: This turn of events really is the most tragic version. It wasn’t an alien bent on world domination, it wasn’t some larger conspiracy. It truly was love that did Hal Jordan in.

The first episode of Lanterns left us with a central mystery for in both 2016 and 2026. Naturally, like any good True Detective-inspired series, the earlier plot informed the later plot. But that meant for the next six episodes, we had knowledge that Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) would die, shot in the head. The penultimate episode found John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) using Hal’s ring (and the Halogram) to visit an alien world in search of the truth.

But the reality of how and why Hal died is a lot more tragic and moderately less cosmic than maybe we first thought. Spoilers abound.

HBO Max What Led to Hal Jordan’s Death?

Episode seven, “Dirt and Stars,” begins with a flashback to earlier in 2026. Sheriff Kerry Kane (Kelly Macdonald) picks Hal up as he leaves prison. The two then begin a very cute romance. Even as everyone in Rushville hates and despises Hal, Kerry makes it clear she to everyone in a restaurant that she likes him and appreciates he’s trying to make amends.

But Kerry is very much in the minority. One night, someone (or a group of someones) firebombs Jordan’s house and it seems he’ll die. However, he wakes up in the Macon slaughterhouse, with Kerry’s son Noah (Shea Pritchard) standing over him. He used Manhunter technology to rebuild Hal’s burnt flesh. And he knows how to use it because, as we soon find out, Noah himself is a Manhunter like his grandmother.

HBO Max/DC Studios

Despite agreeing to keep Noah’s secret (Kerry knows, but doesn’t know Noah knows), Hal follows the boy to a storage unit and finds the portal orb which transports him to the planet Ryut. Hal discovers it was Noah who broke Sinestro (Ulrich Thomsen) out of prison, as a means to forge Noah a lantern of his own that he might kill the Guardians himself. Hal then eats at the diner just as John arrives for the apology that never happened. This is why Hal begs John not to tell anyone he’s seen him. He doesn’t want Noah to know they spoke, lest the young Manhunter believe Hal snitched.

Who Killed Hal Jordan in Lanterns?

Hal knows what Noah is and finds Kerry at the football field to tell her. Kerry is at first worried that Noah will find out his own truth, but Hal tells her Noah is already well aware and making moves. He knows Noah is dangerous and that the Guardians and the entire Lantern Corp will eventually find him. He proposes they all three of them leave, perhaps to another planet, far from the watchful eyes of the green people.

But Kerry is in denial. She doesn’t want to believe Noah capable of going full Manhunter. She tells Hal that, when Zoe cut off her finger to save her from mobsters, she implanted Manhunter DNA into Kerry when making her a new finger. Kerry became pregnant, despite not having a partner. Noah was always more Zoe’s kid than her own, but Kerry grew to love him and want to protect him.

HBO Max/DC Studios

As Hal keeps insisting they need to leave, Kerry spins around and fires her weapon, hitting the former Green Lantern squarely in the forehead. Just as he says he loves her, too. Real bad timing. Kerry never wanted to kill Hal, just stop him from acting against Noah. But it was too late. Cleaning up the crime scene, Kerry then calls John and kicks off all the action of the 2026 storyline.

This turn of events really is the most tragic version. It wasn’t an alien bent on world domination, it wasn’t some larger conspiracy. It truly was love that did Hal Jordan in. Even more tragic is that Noah was prepared to take the full blame, just to protect his mom. As John says, that’s not programming; that’s love.

Could Hal Jordan Ever Return?

Anything is possible in comic book storytelling. Sinestro mentioned to the Halogram that he could bring Hal back to life “for real,” although this could have been merely a tactic to get free from the hell planet. That said, Hal Jordan died in the comics and came back. First as the host body for the Spectre, the literal spirit of vengeance. Then, he later went on a walkabout of sorts in the nether realms and return to proper life. So, never count a Green Lantern out.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Letterboxd.

The post What Really Happened to Hal Jordan on LANTERNS? appeared first on Nerdist.