The Nerdist

⚡ Quick Take

• Netflix’s The Boroughs, which premiered in May 2026, has already been cancelled and won’t return for season 2.
• The show’s budget and drop in viewership are apparently the cause.
• Matt and Ross Duffer, creators of Netflix’s Stranger Things, served as executive producers for the show.

Sci-fi mystery series The Boroughs was Matt and Ross Duffer’s newest project after Stranger Things concluded last year. But, after just one season, Netflix has suddenly cancelled the show. The show had some big names, too. Alfred Molina, a.k.a Tobey Maguire’s Doc Ock, and Geena Davis, Thelma of Thelma and Louise, were just two of the various stars who appeared in the show.

Netflix

The star-studded cast alongside the SFX-heavy subject matter, according to The Hollywood Reporter, required a hefty budget; “sci-fi is expensive.”

In addition, The Duffers’ production house, Upside Down Pictures, made an August 2025 deal with Paramount. They ended their deal with Netflix this April. According to Deadline, the show garnered almost 20 million views in its first week on Netflix. However, it experienced a swift drop to just over 3 million in its second week out. Both of these factors could also explain Netflix’s decision to cut the show.

For those who still haven’t seen the one-season-wonder, here is a synopsis:

In a seemingly perfect retirement community, a crew of unlikely heroes must stop an otherworldly threat from stealing the one thing they don’t have: time.

Netflix

The Boroughs has appeared on Netflix’s “Top 10” list since it dropped in May. And, as previously reported by Deadline, season two writers had begun to convene in hopes of getting ahead. The show was projected to span three seasons, and everybody on the team hoped for a renewal, including star Alfred Molina.

“We’ve got a great premise. The sets are all there. I’d love to do more.”

Unfortunately, this was not enough in light of the show’s expenses, the drop in viewership, and the Duffer Brothers’ move to Paramount, so The Boroughs is now officially cancelled. For Netflix, it probably was as simple as weighing the costs versus the benefits of continuing this now-short story.

Recently, Paramount announced it will be working on an “event movie” with the brothers. The studio has kept any further details from reaching the public, other than that it will come out in November 2028.

The post Netflix Cancelled Duffer Brothers’ THE BOROUGHS Series appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Rockstar Games has set a June pre-order date for GTA IV once again. The game will still likely arrive in November 2026.

In a slightly irritating turn of events, Grand Theft Auto VI has been delayed once again. Gamers will have to wait almost 6 months longer to play the game, as Grand Theft Auto VI‘s makers announced Thursday that they’re pushing back the release date to November 19, 2026. C’mon, guys, we just wanna steal some cars already. And it seems that this date is sticking because pre-orders will be available starting on June 25.

Rockstar Games

Previously, Take-Two Interactive broke the news of the new Grand Theft Auto VI release date delay as part of its quarterly earnings report on November 6. A statement from CEO Strass Zelnick is as follows:

“Rockstar Games will now release Grand Theft Auto VI on November 19, 2026, and we remain both excited and confident they will deliver an unrivalled blockbuster entertainment experience,” Zelnick said.

“We are sorry for adding additional time to what we realize has been a long wait, but these extra months will allow us to finish the game with the level of polish you have come to expect and deserve,” Rockstar Games added in a blog post. “We want to thank you again for your patience and support. While the wait is a little longer, we are incredibly excited for players to experience the sprawling state of Leonida and a return to modern day Vice City.”

RELATED ARTICLE

Rockstar Delays GRAND THEFT AUTO VI to 2026

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time the highly anticipated game has been delayed, either. The original 2025 release date was first pushed back earlier this year, when the company set a new date for May 2026. That decision rocked the gaming world, causing the whole industry to take a $2.7 billion dollar hit. With yet another Grand Theft Auto VI delay, our patience is growing thin—we can only replay the first trilogy of games for so long.

Rockstar Games When Will Grand Theft Auto VI Finally Release?

The GTA franchise is one of the biggest in the gaming industry, with GTA VI being one of the most anticipated video games in years. The trailer, released in May, absolutely exploded online with 475 million views and counting. For long-time fans of the franchise, it is truly frustrating to have to wait any longer. But, wait we must. The new game takes place in Vice City, though details remain scarce. After this latest delay, Grand Theft Auto VI will now release on November 19, 2026.

Fingers crossed, at least.

Originally published November 6, 2025.

This post has affiliate links, which means we may earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, we just have to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!

The post GRAND THEFT AUTO VI Sets June Pre-Order Date, Will Release in November 2026 appeared first on Nerdist.

What do you do if you’re nerdy and you own a pet? You make sure their accessories celebrate your favorite fandom, of course. Honestly, it’s not like they have much of a choice but to align with your interests. For those of us who love and adore Pokémon, there’s a new pet accessory line, Pokémon Playful Partners, that will bring a lot of fannish fun and adorableness to your furry loved one’s life. 

There are several items included in this new lineup for both cats, dogs, and maybe even other small friends like bunnies, including pet blankets, feeding bowls and silicone mats, beds, collars, leashes, and harnesses in several sizes. I personally own a big ole Labrador/German Shepherd mixed breed girl named Waffles, who is over 100lbs and quickly fell in love with the sample Pokémon Playful Partners pet blanket that was sent to me by Pokémon. 

Click To View Gallery Tai Gooden Tai Gooden Tai Gooden

We also received the smaller pet bowls, which we will use for snacks and those special times when we give her a little human food, like chicken and rice. The silicone mat is good quality and easy to clean, a plus for a drooly dog like mine. And the leash, while not made for her size, will be a great gift that I’ll pass on to my good pal who owns a Dachshund.

RELATED ARTICLE

LEGO Pokémon Sets Breakdown: Training Tech, Easter Eggs, and More

While many pet collections can often favor smaller dogs, it is nice to see several options run up through a large size. And, there’s a price point that works for every budget, with can covers for cats at $9.99, pet blankets for $39.99, and a large pet bed at $189.99. I really wish I could fit my adult human body into that Snorlax pet bed/couch, which is the priciest item at $229.99. But, then again, can you really put a price on your pet’s happiness. Of course not! Check out a few more photos of the collection to see if you wanna catch ‘em all. 

Click To View Gallery Pokémon Center Pokémon Center Pokémon Center Pokémon Center Pokémon Center Pokémon Center Pokémon Center

The brand also partnered with the Louisiana SPCA Animal Protection Organization to host a pet adoption event in New Orleans during the 2026 Pokémon North America International Championships, which took place from June 12-14. So, hopefully many pets found their new furever homes.  

The Pokémon Playful Partners collection is currently on sale, so head over to the website and grab something cute for your companion.

The post These Pokémon Playful Partners Pet Accessories Are Adorable appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• The best and the most interesting (non-spoiler) things we learned about House of the Dragon season three from some of the show’s biggest stars.

Sunday nights on HBO are about to be full of fire and blood once again. House of the Dragon is returning for its third season. What can we expect from the show this time around? Nerdist found out from the cast when we took part in a series of virtual media roundtables. We heard from Larys and Aegon and the three new baseborn dragonriders. But we also spoke with highborn members of House Targaryen, famous sea commanders, the Greens, and the mysterious lady of Harrenhal.

From betraying allies and the burden of shooting in heavy armor, to witch therapy and more, these were some of the best and most interesting things we learned about House of the Dragon season three from Steve Toussaint, Abubakar Salim, Fabian Frankel, Olivia Cooke, Freddie Fox, Ewan Mitchell, and Gayle Rankin.

Ollie Upton/HBO

On the challenge of wearing costume heavy costumes, especially armor in battle sequences.

Abubakar Salim (Alyn of Hull): Oh, it’s horrible.

Steve Toussaint (Ser Corlys Velaryon): It’s hoooorrible.

Salim: There’s a moment we filmed where Alyn goes into the water and [director] Loni [Peristere] specifically wanted me to be in the water with all these ropes around me. What was so funny is that I couldn’t stay down long enough because the water just kept raising my suit so I was floating like a baby. It was the most ridiculous thing. There were times as well where my helmet would bob up. And it’s more how embarrassing it made you look rather than necessarily how cool it was.

Ollie Upton/HBO

Toussaint: It’s the thing about the helmet. When we did the Battle of the Stepstones in season one, I had said, “Oh, I don’t think I’ll wear a helmet.” And they were like, “No, I think you should.” And it was went back and forth. Eventually I lost. I had to wear the helmet and it just kept you doing this sort of thing [he indicates it moved up and down]. And you’re like, “That’s not sexy. No.” So when we came to do this battle, when I knew we were doing this battle, I put in a word very early. I was like, “I don’t think he’d have a helmet, would he? ” And again, went back and forth. Luckily this time I had the stunt guys on my side.

“We found a way. We’re going to get you going to fall down, your helmet’s going to drop off, and then you won’y have it on.” Because that’s one of the hardest things. It’s bad enough with all that stuff anyway, all the armor stuff, trying to be flexible. But then you’ve got this thing that’s sliding down, blocking your eyes. Oh, it’s awful.

HBO

Fabien Frankel (Ser Criston Cole): I’d like to take this [question about armor] because I’ve actually been wearing it for six years. The first season, to get it on and off, it was like 12 minutes on, 12 minutes off. So if you needed to do anything that required you to be out of your armor, that was a 25 minute break for production. Which is insane. The whole production stops for 25 minutes.

So you’d spend the whole day in it. It was tough to eat, it was tough to sit, it was tough to sleep. It was tough on my neck, my shoulders. But that said, halfway through season one, they made part of it removable. As you can tell, you’ve opened up a deep wound.

Freddie Fox (Ser Gwayne Hightower): Never, ever heard about before.

Frankel: Yeah, clearly no one’s ever heard me before.

HBO

Fox: I try and spend most of my day trying to convince production to let me take bits of it off. I have a particular hatred of my helmet.

Olivia Cooke (Alicent Hightower): :big laugh: I just remembered, because you wear a wig and so the helmet comes off.

Fox: It’s not that. That’s not the problem. It made me look like a tit.

Frankel: The shape of the helmet. It’s the same one Rhys (Ifans) had.

Fox: Rhys looks like a fridge. I look like the end of end of a….

Cooke: The end of a penis.

Fox: Yeah, end of a penis.

HBO

On whether Alicent has considered what her offer to Rhaenyra will mean for loyal Green allies.

Cooke: I think she has. She’s sort of weighed up all the offers that she could have made Rhaenyra, and I think she tried to give offers that had lesser personal stakes. But she knew she had to offer Aegon on and Aegon’s head, because that’s the only way people will transfer their loyalty to Rhaenyra.

She had a very, very long horse ride back to [King’s Landing] to contemplate what she’s done.

HBO

What Alicent thinks of her current relationship with Rhaenyra.

Cooke: I don’t know if she’s cognizant of where she stands with Rhaenyra. I don’t think that’s her priority. In lieu of fixing the wrongs that she has done within the kingdom, she’s just focused on survival. Preparing the Red Keep for as safe as possible transition of power and getting her and Helaena just out of harm’s way. That’s sort of where she is at in the first two episodes, but she keeps being waylaid and interrupted in some of the worst ways possible.

HBO

If Alys Rivers and Daemon’s scenes from season two influenced Aemond and Alys’ interactions in seaosn three since the Targaryens princes are reflections of one another.

Ewan Mitchell (Prince Regent Aemond Targaryen): Not so much. In many ways [Aemon and Daemon] have this very symbiotic, two sides of the same coin kind of nature between them. Even though they’ve not met since season one, they’re both very much on paths that you feel like they’re going to come back together at some point. And you know that if and when they do, it’d be catastrophic in nature.

Aemond, he’s on his own journey. And I certainly did rewatch the moment when Daemon flies to Harrenhal and takes the castle with very little resistance and seeing how I can play that. Whereas Aemond, he meets a lot of resistance. So that was always something that I did draw on for inspiration. I mean, I think Matt Smith’s performances, they’re always gems of inspiration in that.

HBO

What it’s like getting to play Alys Rivers who often pops up without warning.

Gayle Rankin (Alys Rivers): It’s so much fun. I mean, I wish I was her. It adds, hopefully, a bit of an element of surrealist comedy in some ways. She’s so serious and kind of intense, but she’s also so deeply wise and has lived this life a million times. There’s fun in all of this for her. It’s a bit of a game, which isn’t for so many of the characters. This is not a game and I like how she can flip flop between those two different kinds of vibes.

HBO

On seeing completed episode with all of the special effects.

Mitchell: It’s incredible. So much of the work is done for you as an actor with the costumes. Caroline McCall’s costumes, they just hold so much gravitas. They inform your performances to such an extent.

Aemond’s new threads, his armor, the way that makes you posture up, the kind of silhouette that strikes, it really does just inform your performance. He is this machine. He has this almost unbeatable, relentless energy. So as an actor, it’s quite difficult not to play into that as well. You always want to find a fine line with those things.

HBO

Whether Alys is always performing with Daemon or if does she genuinely care about him.

Rankin: What the painful truth is that Alys Rivers does really care about Daemon. It’s hard to know when anyone is performing, especially in this kind of world where everybody needs to get something and everybody just trying to get what they want. But what’s painful about the relationship for Alys is she does come to really care for him. And that’s because she knows a lot about what’s going to happen to him.

What Aemond and Alys Rivers learn about one another in season three.

Mitchell: What I love about Harrenhal in season two is like it’s almost like the White Lotus of Westeros. You saw it with Daemon. He has all of his toxins drawn out of him. He has to face his past head on and hopefully, in some way shape or form, grow from it, being accepting of some of the things that he’s done. And if Aemond is going to check into Harrenhal and spend any amount of time there, I’d love Aemond to go through a similar process as well with this therapist being Alice Rivers.

Ranking: The most enticing thing about the relationship on paper, like knowing it was going to happen and occur was that like, how is it going to differ from her relationship with Daemon? Because it had to, because they’re different people. So I was like, “Oh wow, what’s this going to be? Because it can’t be the same.” And there’s a lot of juicy, exciting, surprising stuff that kind of comes about and she learns a lot about herself.

HBO

Whether Alys has could manipulate anybody in this story or if powerful men with mommy issues are especially vulnerable?

Rankin: That’s definitely on her specialty list as a therapist. It’s giving this kind of issue that I specialize in. But what’s also exciting is that you can get a flavor of her being ready to move on from that and open up to other parts of herself and other powers that she may have that other kinds of issues.

The post HOUSE OF THE DRAGON’s Cast on Season 3, ‘Horrible’ Armor, Betrayals, and Witch Therapy appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• There are a few shows that are either ending or have the unfortunate luck of being canceled altogether in 2026.

Another year of television will usher in more memorable moments and brilliant characters. But, with the joys of new shows and returning ones alike, there is the sad side of becoming invested into a series. It is not uncommon for show cancellations to happen in this streaming era before a show even gets to find its stride. And, like all good things in life, a series has to come to an end at some point. We hate to say goodbye but we always cherish the narrative journey. In 2026, there are quite a few shows that either got an unfortunate cancellation notice or are simply ending, perhaps wrapping up the plan of their creative team. Let’s get into what shows we will have to say goodbye to this year. 

ShowNetwork/StreamerStatusFinal Season/Episode InfoThe BoroughsNetflixCanceledSeason 1 is the final seasonAccess HollywoodNBCCanceledSeason 30 is the final seasonEmily in ParisNetflixEndingSeason 6 is the final seasonThe Night AgentNetflixEndingSeason 4 is the final seasonGen VPrime VideoCanceledCanceled after season 2FromMGM+EndingSeason 5 is the final seasonTalamasca: The Secret OrderAMCCanceledCanceled after season 1Star Trek: Starfleet AcademyParamount+EndingWill end with season 2HacksHBOEndingSeason 5 is the final seasonThe BoysPrime VideoEndingSeason 5 is the final seasonThe Late Show with Stephen ColbertCBSEndingSeries finale airs May 21, 2026The Walking Dead: Daryl DixonAMCEndingSeason 4 is the final seasonOutlanderStarzEndingSeason 8 is the final seasonGood OmensPrime VideoEndingConcludes with a 90-minute final episodeThe WitcherNetflixEndingSeason 5 is the final seasonAll AmericanThe CWEndingSeason 8 is the final seasonThe Way HomeHallmark ChannelEndingSeason 4 is the final seasonJump To: All the TV Shows Canceled or Ending in 2026:

• The Boroughs (Netflix)
• Access Hollywood (NBC)
• Emily in Paris (Netflix)
• The Night Agent (Netflix)
• Gen V (Prime Video)
• From (MGM+)
• Talamasca: The Secret Order (AMC)
• Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (Paramount+)
• Hacks (HBO)
• The Boys  (Prime Video)
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert  (CBS)
• The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon  (AMC)
• Outlander (Starz)
• Good Omens (Prime Video)
• The Witcher  (Netflix)
• All American  (The CW)
• The Way Home  (Hallmark Channel)

The Boroughs (Netflix)Netflix

Alas, it’s curtains for this Duffer Brothers series at Netflix. Netflix has canceled The Boroughs, which aired in May and was canceled in June, after only one season. Per The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix cites the expense of sci-fi as an issue. But surely, the Duffer Brothers’ move to Paramount couldn’t have helped things.

For those who missed the series altogether, here is The Boroughs‘ synopsis. “In a seemingly perfect retirement community, a grieving newcomer’s monstrous encounter inspires him to join a misfit crew of unlikely heroes who uncover a dark secret that proves their ‘golden years’ are more dangerous, and they are more formidable, than anyone expects.” We guess we’ll have to wait and see what the Duffer Brothers do next, including their mysterious “event movie.”

Access Hollywood (NBC)

Access Hollywood began in 1996 and has stood as one of the best-known names in on-air entertainment news. But now, after 30 seasons, NBC has canceled the familiar series. We guess you can come and get your news from Nerdist instead. The series will continue on into the summer before ending sometime this year.

Emily in Paris (Netflix)

Another Netflix series is ending. Netflix announced that Emily in Paris‘ sixth season would be its last. Series creator Darren Star shared, “Making Emily in Paris with this extraordinary cast and crew has been the trip of a lifetime. As we embark on the final season, I am so grateful to Netflix, Paramount, and, most importantly, the fans who have taken this incredible journey with us. We can’t wait to share this last chapter with you. Thank you for letting us be a part of your lives, inspiring your dreams of travel and your love of Paris. We will always have Emily in Paris.”

The Night Agent (Netflix)Netflix

Netflix’s thriller series The Night Agent will officially end with season four. Series creator Shawn Ryan shares, “Ever since the initial success of ‘The Night Agent,’ I’ve been obsessed with eventually delivering a proper and thrilling conclusion to the show and to Peter Sutherland’s journey. I’m so grateful to Netflix and Sony Pictures Television for partnering with me on The Night Agent and for giving us the space to deliver a definitive final season to our worldwide legion of fans. We are hard at work to complete our story and to make our final season one our fans will never forget.”

Season four of the Netflix series is currently in production.

Gen V (Prime Video)Prime Video

Alas, as The Boys sails off into the sunset with its final season, Prime Video has canceled Gen V as well. This The Boys spinoff series lasted two seasons before getting the axe. We’re sad not to see any more of the college-aged Supes, but we guess without the main series, this one no longer felt relevant. We’ll miss you, Gen V.

From (MGM+)MGM+

MGM+ has renewed From for a fifth and final season, marking the end of the series. The sci-fi horror series starring Lost‘s Harold Perrineau is set to air season four this spring, and its final-season writers’ room has already opened. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, creator John Griffin revealed, “There was a fair amount of soul-searching. But we all came to the realization that if we made that sixth season, it would be for us, because it’s just too hard to say goodbye.”

He additionally noted: “In full transparency, five seasons was always the goal, but we always wanted to let the story tell us when it was time to end. When we reached the end of season three and the death of Jim (Eion Bailey), it felt like we reached the end of the beginning. Similarly, season four very naturally feels like the beginning of the end. We’ve had the opportunity to tell this story from the beginning the way we really wanted to tell it, with the full support of Michael Wright and everybody over at MGM. It’s rare you get to tell this type of story and give it the life you feel it needs, to let the story decide when it’s time to end.”

From season four will release on April 19.

Talamasca: The Secret Order (AMC)AMC

Alas, AMC’s first Anne Rice Immortal Universe series to be cancelled is Talamasca: The Secret Order. The Talamasca series told an original story set in Anne Rice’s world, not following any specific novel or original source material, but expanding upon the idea of the Talamasca spy organization to tell a new tale. Many quite liked the series’ characters, including Guy Anatole, played by Nicholas Denton, and the vampire Jasper, played by William Fichtner. But it feels like the show’s story just didn’t fully come together. For our part, we enjoyed the chemistry between the leads, but felt it wasn’t campy or queer enough to compete with AMC’s Interview with the Vampire, which truly hit a home run. And so, Talamasca: The Secret Order ends after only one season.

A statement from AMC makes it sound like we could see the characters elsewhere in the franchise, so we’ll hold out hope for that.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (Paramount+)Paramount+

This YA centric series just wrapped up its first season, and seemed to have promise with another season already in progress. Hopefully, the creatives for this Paramount+ series wrote their scripts without any major cliffhangers, because Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is cancelled and will end with season two. Welp.

It speaks to our current TV climate where shows barely get a chance to find their footing before going on the chopping block. What if viewership went up in season 2, which wrapped production in early 2026? I guess we will never know.

“We’re incredibly proud of the ambition, passion, and creativity that went into bringing Star Trek: Starfleet Academy to life,” CBS Studios and Paramount+ said in a joint statement. “The series introduced audiences to a bold new group of characters, welcomed familiar faces, and expanded the Star Trek universe in exciting new ways.

Hacks (HBO)

HBO Max confirmed that season five will be the final round for its comedy series Hacks. A trailer for its last season gave fans both delight and sadness. The show returns on April 9 with its series finale on May 28.

The Boys (Prime Video)Prime Video

It’s been quite the wild ride with Butcher and Homelander. This Prime Video series, an adaptation of Garth Ennis’ comic series, gave us a raunchy and hyper violent look into what a would would be like if superpowered individuals had mostly terrible intentions. We’ve watched Wee Hughie grow up to be a boss, Kimiko’s healing journey, MM process his childhood trauma, and a surprising redemption arc for A-Train, among other great storylines. Now, with the US in a political crisis and supes throwing humans into detention centers, it is time to see how this show will end in 2026. The Boys’ fifth and final season will premiere on April 8 and we are grateful that this series will get to tell its full story. 

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)

One TV show that will be cancelled in 2026 is The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The circumstances behind bringing this series to an end are complicated, to say the least. Colbert is known for being openly critical of both CBS and our current president, which isn’t unusual for the average late show host. While the company says that his thoughts are not behind the cancellation, it is interesting that they co-exist. The series finale will air on May 21. 

RELATED ARTICLE

THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT Will End This MayThe Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (AMC)AMC

Daryl’s journey across seasons (now with his bestie Carol in tow) will come to an end after four seasons. From the dangers of France to Spain, Daryl has honestly been having so much fun getting into various messy shenanigans that I don’t think he really wants to go back home. With filming wrapped for the series back in November, we can certainly expect this final chapter to air as this show ends sometime in 2026. Will it set up a Walking Dead event that reunites all the original series’ main players? We will have to see. 

Outlander (Starz)

After a whopping eight seasons and twelve years, Outlander is coming to an end. That almost feels unheard of in today’s times where a show can take 3-5 years off between seasons… if it gets more than one or two seasons at all. This historical fantasy series fervent fanbase will get to know how this long-running saga ends when its final round runs from March to May of this year. (And if you just can’t wait, there’s always the books to turn to.)

Good Omens (Prime Video)Prime Video

Good Omens‘ future was very much in the air following season two’s heart wrenching ending. But, despite the allegations swirling around Neil Gaiman, who is no longer creatively attached to the show, there will be an ending to this series. It will not come in a season but rather a 90-minute episode to wrap things up. Hopefully, Aziraphale and Crowley will get the happy final moments that they deserve. 

RELATED ARTICLE

Aziraphale and Crowley Deserve Their GOOD OMENS Happy EndingThe Witcher (Netflix)

Back in 2024, Netflix’s live-action fantasy series based on games by the same name, The Witcher was renewed for a fifth and final season. Season four aired in the Fall of 2025 with Liam Hemsworth taking the reins as Geralt of Rivia from Henry Cavill. And considering that season four and five were filmed back to back, it is pretty certain that this story will come to an end before 2026 is over. 

All American (The CW)

Besides the greatness that is Ted Lasso, sports dramas usually fall outside of our nerdy wheelhouse. But All American feels like a slice of a time when The CW was ruling the airwaves with ensemble dramas that seemingly never ended. Sadly, All American is about to be all over when season eight premieres sometime in 2026. That’s eight seasons in eight years, which is a pretty darn good run. 

The Way Home (Hallmark Channel)

This is also a little outside of our normal coverage zone considering it is a Hallmark series. But the premise is one that would grab the attention of those of us who like time traveling and drama that punches us in the feels. The series follows three generations of women—matriarch Del, her adult daughter Kat, and Kat’s teenage daughter Alice—who live on a small Canadian farm.

There are some deep family wounds, but there’s also a pond that allows certain people to time travel. Alice (and others) begin to jump through time and cause a domino effect along the way. The Way Home’s fourth and last season begins to air on April 19, making it yet another show ending in 2026. 

Originally published on March 3, 2026.

This post has affiliate links, which means we may earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, we just have to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!

The post TV Shows That Are Canceled or Ending in 2026 appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Lakeshore Records is releasing a limited-edition 2xLP vinyl of The Mighty Nein‘s soundtrack.
• The Mighty Nein, Critical Role‘s second animated series, was a big success in 2025.

After Critical Role’s success with its animated series, The Legend of Vox Machina, its second show, set 20 years later, The Mighty Nein, made quite a splash in November 2025. The show, described by our own Dan Casey as “dark fantasy,“ received a glowing review from our team. Every aspect of the fantastical animated world was point-perfect, including its sound. And that’s why, today, we’re thrilled to exclusively reveal that The Mighty Nein soundtrack is getting a limited-edition vinyl release.

Lakeshore Records

Neal Acree, the same composer who worked on Vox Machina, created a soundtrack for the new series, which Critical Role CEO Travis Willingham called “Tron meets fantasy.” Two things we like a lot. Now, as mentioned, we have some exclusive insights into the new form The Mighty Nein soundtrack is taking: a limited-edition vinyl package from Lakeshore Records.

RELATED ARTICLE

These MIGHTY NEIN Comics Are a Must-Read For Critical Role Fans

The Mighty Nein soundtrack package will include a 2xLP “Gold & Cobalt” vinyl in a gatefold cover that will hold inner sleeves and liner notes, both covered in blue-tinted artwork from the show. Combined, the two records will include a total of 28 tracks, with 14 on each. The cover itself is also decorated top to bottom with Mighty Nein characters. We’ve listed the tracks below to get you excited about what you might expect to hear AND to remind you of all the feels you got when you first watched the scenes. Bawling our eyes out at “The Little Spark That Became a Firestorm” already.

Neal Acree, the series’ composer, worked on the Overwatch and World of Warcraft soundtracks alongside his compositions for Critical Role, so we know he is not playing around. His many other credits include over 30 feature films. The Mighty Nein soundtrack leans very electronic but still maintains a cinematic feel, and we bet it will sound even more amazing on vinyl. Acree manages to seamlessly combine intense, choir-like vocals and dramatic drum beats with pulsing synthpop. One of the tracks features Auli’i Cravalho of Moana. Another, Anika Noni Rose, the voice of Tiana in Princess and the Frog. Despite featuring Disney princess vocalists, the songs truly capture that dark, mysterious feeling the show itself embodies.

This The Mighty Nein limited-edition vinyl package will be available in stores beginning on August 7. And you can pre-order it today!

For those who don’t already know, here’s The Mighty Nein‘s synopsis, just as a reminder: “The Mighty Nein follows a group of fugitives and outcasts, bound by secrets and scars. But when a powerful arcane relic known as “The Beacon” falls into dangerous hands, they must learn to work together to save the realm and stop reality itself from unraveling.“

The Mighty Nein Vinyl Track Listing

Side A – 17:24 mins approx
01. Welcome
02. Beacon Heist
03. Beau Investigates
04. Maybe We Can Help Each Other
05. The Key To Everything
06. Vandran

Side B –14:52 mins approx.
07. It’s Here
08. Fjord’s Promise
09. Who Will You Be? – Anika Noni Rose and Habib
10. Barn Crashing
11. Time Pries All Things Away
12. Jester Leaves Home
13. Fletching and Moondrop’s Traveling Carnival of Curiosities
14. Toya, The Vivid Voice – Auli’i Cravalho and Habib

Side C – 18:53 mins approx
15. Showstopper
16. A Show to Remember
17. A Cobalt Soul Monk
18. The Devil Toad of Xhorhas
19. Toadal Annihilation
20. She Was Already Gone
21. We Are The Mighty Nein
22. Welcome to Soltryce Academy
23. You’re Not Alone

Side D – 20:36 mins approx
24. The Little Spark That Became a Firestorm
25. The Orphan Maker
26. Trust Fall
27. I’m Not Crazy
28. Consecution

The post Critical Role’s MIGHTY NEIN Soundtrack Heads to Limited-Edition Vinyl (Exclusive) appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• For its latest Next Level launch, DC Comics is giving fresh starts to the Teen Titans, the Legion of Super-Heroes, and the Doom Patrol.

Three of DC Comics’ most legendary superhero teams are getting ready for a big comeback, as the publisher has announced that Teen Titans, Legion of Super-Heroes, and the Doom Patrol are relaunching this fall as part of the DC Next Level initiative. This new rollout, which has given fans critically acclaimed new takes on characters like Batwoman, Deathstroke, and Lobo, among others. And now, it focuses on several teams that are iconic in DC lore. Each one of these first issues lands this September. You can read up on the details for each one below:

The Legion of Super-Heroes DC Comics

The first grand return is for the Legion of Super-Heroes. This is one of DC Comics’ earliest teams, who have been active for almost 70 years. The last time the heroes of the 31st century had their own title was back in 2021. So it’s been a long hiatus. You can read the official synopsis for Legion of Super-Heroes #1 down below, and check out several different covers for the Legion’s big relaunch:

One thousand years after the Last Son of Krypton’s rocket crashed on the Kent Farm comes a new future inspired by the Man of Tomorrow! But this new future is in danger! Superheroes are outlawed! Deadly enforcers known as the Persuaders keep the populace of the United Planets in check! Worlds are at war! And this dark tomorrow’s last glimmer of hope, R.J. Brande, has been brutally murdered. Can the mysterious Brainiac 1 of 5 solve Brande’s murder?

To restore hope to the universe, he must assemble a legion of gifted young rebels from across the cosmos! But they are scattered across the universe! Witness the dawn of a new future in DC Comics architect Joshua Williamson and Eisner-winning superstar artist Hayden Sherman’s Legion of Super-Heroes… you will never look at tomorrow the same way again! Legion of Super‑Heroes #1, a 40‑page debut issue written by Eisner-nominated Joshua Williamson (Superman) with art and cover by Hayden Sherman (Absolute Wonder Woman).

Issue #1 features variant covers by Jim Lee (card stock and foil), Mark Spears, Yasmine Putri, Hayden Sherman, Dan Mora (Michael J. Fox cameo), and V Ken Marion (1:25), will publish on September 2. Legion of Super‑Heroes #1 will retail for $3.99 US for the main cover, $4.99 US for card stock variants, and $6.99 US for the foil variant.

Click To View Gallery DC Comics/Mark Spears V Ken Marion/DC Comics Yasmine Putri/DC Comics DC Comics/Dan Mora Hayden Sherman/DC Comics Teen TitansDC Comics/Daniele Di Nicuolo

We’ve had an adult version of the Titans for several years now. One that continues in DC’s New Titans series. Yet it’s been some time since we’ve had any Teen Titans in the DCU. Now, a new supergroup of young metahumans is forming under that name once again. And fan-favorite former Robin, Jason Todd, a.k.a. the Red Hood, leads them. Here’s the synopsis for this fresh take on one of DC’s signature brands, along with the main and variant covers:

When one of their own vanishes after attending a rally for Ascend—a fast-growing youth movement training kids to survive in a world shaped by superhuman conflict—Fairplay, Cheshire Cat, Proxy, and Wildcard will do whatever it takes to find their friend, including teaming up with Red Hood! Jason thinks they’re soft and reckless. They don’t understand how he can still kill people. Now they have to work together—whether they like it or not!

Created by Kyle Higgins and Daniele Di Nicuolo, the acclaimed team behind Power Rangers: Shattered Grid and Image Comics’ Massive-Verse, this series channels the same mix of heart, scope, and style that has defined their work together—blending cinematic storytelling and Di Nicuolo’s dynamic, expressive art to bring the next generation of heroes to life.

Teen Titans #1, a 32‑page debut issue written by Kyle Higgins (Radiant Black) with art and cover by Daniele Di Nicuolo (Nightwing) and featuring variant covers by Dan Mora (card stock and foil), Jim Cheung, Sanford Greene (1:25), and Hayden Sherman (Next Level), along with a card stock blank sketch cover, will publish on September 2. Teen Titans #1 will retail for $3.99 US for the main cover, $4.99 US for card stock variants, and $6.99 US for the foil variant.

Click To View Gallery Dan Mora/DC Comics DC Comics/Sanford Greene Hayden Sherman/DC Comics DC Comics/Daniele Di Nicuolo Doom Patrol

And last but certainly not least, DC’s team of super freaks returns, with a new take on its original lineup. After becoming a cult hit on HBO Max for four seasons, the Doom Patrol returns at last. And with what looks like one of their trippiest series yet. The official description for the series, along with the various covers, can be seen below:

DC Comics/ Niko Henrichon

The Doom Patrol is broke. Adopting a heroes-for-hire business model to stave off financial and emotional ruin, the team finds itself responding to what seems like a simple case—a missing cat. But when this case proves to be far from simple, the world’s strangest heroes find themselves pulled into a truly out-of-this-world situation!

And elsewhere, beyond the view of Robotman, Elasti-Girl, and Negative Man—and perhaps even beyond the veil of our reality—a ghost of the team’s past is preparing to cross into their world.The visionary team of Eisner Award-winning writer Darcy Van Poelgeest (Little Bird) and legendary artist Niko Henrichon (Spectators, Pride of Baghdad) ushers the Doom Patrol into a new age for DC Next Level.

The Doom Patrol #1, a 32‑page debut issue written by Darcy Van Poelgeest with art and cover by Niko Henrichon and featuring variant covers by Clayton Crain (card stock and foil), Ian Bertram, Ashley Wood (1:25), and Hayden Sherman (Next Level), will publish on September 2. The Doom Patrol #1 will retail for $3.99 US for the main cover, $4.99 US for card stock variants, and $6.99 US for the foil variant.

Click To View Gallery DC Comics/Clayton Crain Ian Bertram/DC Comics Ashley Wood/DC Comics DC Comics/ Niko Henrichon

Each one of these new DC Next Level first issues launches on September 3. But even more Next Level series are coming in the future. Expect to hear more at Comic-Con in San Diego this summer.

The post DC Launches New LEGION, TEEN TITANS, and DOOM PATROL Series appeared first on Nerdist.

What’s your favorite scary movie? For a lot of ‘90s horror fans, the answer is Scream. The slasher teen horror flick changed the face of the genre with its meta commentary and surprise twist of two killers. Fans thought the franchise would be a trilogy, but it returned triumphantly in 2011 with Scream 4. This sequel was also ahead of its time, commenting on people’s desires to film everything and seek fame through controversy. So, it is only right that Scream 4 has a fresh 4K UHD and Blu-ray Steelbook release with a ton of extras and special features. We were glad to get our hands on a copy of this release and it is sleek and packed full of entertainment. And, there’s even a digital copy that you can add to your online library with ease. 

RELATED ARTICLE

SCREAM 4’s Jill Roberts Is a Sinister Twist to Horror Tropes

First, let’s get into the Steelbook artwork by gnah studios for the Scream 4 4K UHD and Blu-ray release. The cover has a menacing side profile of our favorite masked slasher Ghostface as he stares at a big Scream 4 logo. The inside, which has a disc for each format, includes an image of our ever-intrepid final girl Sidney Prescott with a knife in hand.

I particularly love the back of the Steelbook, which includes a webcam with blood splatters all around it and the scrawled words “Welcome Home, Sidney.” Of course, all of us at Nerdist are big-time physical media fans and this will be a really nice one to add to any growing (or already massive) collection. 

Lionsgate Limited

Now, onto its features! Both discs have the film as well as the following Legacy Special Features: 

•  Feature Commentary with Director Wes Craven and Cast Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, and Neve Campbell
•  Deleted and Extended Scenes
•  Alternate Opening
•  Extended Ending
•  Gag Reel
• EPKs:
  • B-Roll 
  • Soundbites
• Junket Interviews
•  Trailers
• TV Spot

As you can see, Lionsgate did not skimp on the features that we all want to see. I won’t give away anything, but the deleted and extended scenes, alternate opening, and the gag reel were absolutely stellar.

Click To View Gallery Lionsgate Lionsgate Lionsgate

Additionally, both the Scream 4 Blu-ray and 4K UHD also have these limited extras: 

• The Meta of Scream 
• Rebooting the Franchise: Scream 4 Revisited 
• Ghostface Revealed!
• Wes Craven: The Maestro of Scream

The ode to Wes Craven, who helmed the franchise until his death 2015, was exceptionally touching as a long-time horror fan. And, of course, seeing Scream 4 in 4K is an immersive experience that totally changes a film that I’ve watched dozens of times over the years. Right now, you can grab your copy on Lionsgate’s website for a very fair price of $34.99 to enjoy all the goods. 

The post SCREAM 4’s Blu-ray and 4K UHD Release Delivers Stellar Features appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• LEGO’s first Twilight set has arrived and it brings to life the Cullen House. This LEGO set also includes a sparkling Edward minifigure.

Get ready to say, “Where the hell have you been (all my life), Loca!” to this LEGO set because the time has officially come. Yes, LEGO has put out a Twilight set. We hope it’s only the first of many, for now but the Twilight LEGO collaboration kicked off with a dazzling buildable model of the Cullen House. You know it, you love it, you know it’s made of glass just so that Bella can potentially hurt herself as much possible. Now it can be yours to build. And YES, my good people. YES. LEGO’s Edward Minifigure does SPARKLE. We’d expect nothing less from LEGO, which has proven time and time again that it knows how to take care of all the details. But we are still excited! Want to know all the details of LEGO‘s first Twilight collaboration set? Grab on Spider Monkey, and let’s dive in.

LEGO

Jump to: LEGO’s Twilight The Cullen House Set Details // (Sparkling) Minifigures // Twilight LEGO Set Dimensions and Piece Count // Release Date and Pre-Order // How Much Does LEGO’s Twilight Cullen House Set Cost? // LEGO’s Twilight Set Began as a LEGO Ideas Submission // Nerdist’s Take

LEGO’s Twilight The Cullen House Set DetailsLEGO

The LEGO Group and Lionsgate have finally come together to bring one of Twilight‘s most iconic structures to life in this Cullen House LEGO set. After all, so many things went right (and wrong) in the Cullen House throughout the Twilight journey, it’s only fair LEGO’s first homage to the franchise honors it as it deserves. (Although we still are after a Cullen baseball field set, but that’s a conversation for a whole different piece.) It makes true sense to begin with the jewel of the Twilight world, what LEGO describes as a design that captures “the stylish, modern architecture and intricate interior of the three-story residence” and invites fans to immerse themselves in the epic saga.

LEGO

Of course, Twilight is all about Bella cramping the Cullens style with her churlish and unfashionable ways (with love!) so Bella’s iconic red truck makes an appearance as well. Just so we know there’s a little bit of our favorite loca represented. Additionally, we get a towering tree to build for the full Spider Monkey experience. (A meadow to lie shirtless in is sold separately.) The LEGO version of the Twilight Cullen House also features a grand piano for the living room so that LEGO Edward can serenade Bella to his heart’s content.

RELATED ARTICLE

LEGO Announces TWILIGHT Cullen House Set, Finally!

This 18+ set is a gorgeous tribute to Twilight and an incredible gift for the Twi-hards in your life. Speaking from INTENSE experience, LEGO will never disappoint, and this architectural, chic, and vampiric LEGO set is sure to light any Twilight fan’s heart on fire. While you build, you can even watch a magical LEGO Twilight creation inspired by the film that features the set and minifigures. It’s looped for two hours… but realistically, you’ll probably need more than that. You can check it out here at LEGO.com/Twilight.

LEGO’s Cullen House Set Contains a (Sparkling) Edward Minifigure and 7 Total Twilight Minifigures LEGO

That’s the good stuff. Now for the EXTRA good stuff. The Cullen House LEGO set includes seven Twilight minifigures, including Bella Swan, Edward Cullen (with a dazzling sparkle effect), and Jacob Black, who also appears in his wolf form. Honestly, we would have rioted if the Edward minifigure didn’t sparkle. But now we don’t have to. What a relief! But that would have truly robbed us of something elemental to the LEGO Twilight experience. Also how much do we love that Jacob has long hair in the set, reflecting his look when Bella first met the Cullens? So much. (Although it seems like LEGO also provides this Twilight LEGO minifigure with his short haircut for even more transformative possibilities.)

In full, the set includes the following Twilight LEGO Minifigures: Edward Cullen, Bella Swan, Jacob Black, Alice Cullen, Carlisle Cullen, Rosalie Cullen, and Bella’s Dad, Charlie Swan. Honestly, we feel obsessed with it! Sorry to Emmett, Jasper, and Esmee.

LEGOHow Many Pieces Does the LEGO Twilight Set Contain? (And Other Cullen House Dimensions) LEGO

The Twilight Cullen House set contains 2001 pieces. It’s dimensions are as follows: W: 37cm   L: 18cm   H: 21cm

When Will LEGO’s Twilight Cullen House Set Release?

The Twilight Cullen House LEGO set is available to purchase right now.

RELATED ARTICLE

An Animated TWILIGHT TV Series Is Coming to NetflixHow Much Does LEGO’s First Twilight Set Cost?

LEGO’s Twilight Cullen House set costs $219.99 (or € 219.99 / £189.99).

LEGO’s Twilight Set Began as a LEGO Ideas Submission LEGO Ideas

Incredibly, this Twilight set began life as a LEGO Ideas submission. That means a fan submitted the set so it could potentially transform into a real LEGO set.

The new Twilight LEGO set was designed by LEGO fan Nick Micheels. A release shares, “Once designed, 10,000 people voted for it to be made into a real set. This idea took less than 48 hours to make it to 10,000 votes – one of the fastest 10,000 submissions to date!”

Micheels shares of his design, “The amazing submissions on the LEGO Ideas site that demonstrated how dynamic the LEGO system is inspired me to submit my own idea. I decided to create a Twilight build because I’m a massive fan of the saga, and imagining a LEGO interpretation of the films made me so happy!” You can check out more about the original LEGO Ideas design here and know that this Twilight LEGO set was truly made by fans for fans.

Nerdist’s Take

We actually built the LEGO Twilight set and we loved it. You can read our review below.

RELATED ARTICLE

Building LEGO TWILIGHT Takes Exactly the Length of One Movie Marathon (Review)

So let’s say it, out loud. This LEGO Twilight set just sparkles in its perfection.

This post has affiliate links, which means we may earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, we just have to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!

The post LEGO TWILIGHT Is FINALLY Here—Build a Sparkling Cullen House (YASSSS!) appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Big Baby is a new film by Spider One, who made Little Bites in 2024.
• It will be a gory, gutsy slasher movie about a man in a baby mask, and the author who is writing his story.

A teaser trailer for an upcoming horror film dropped today. Big Baby from director Spider One will bring back the classic horror writer trope in a brand new way.

In this Stranger-Than-Fiction-turned-horror, a writer spirals into insanity as he kills off his own characters left and right, using a man in a baby mask as his main villain. His characters come back to haunt him and beg for their lives.

Nightmares of a maniac killer in a baby mask inspire a horror writer’s new script. As his life begins to spiral out of control, he discovers Big Baby’s murderous rampage may be more than just fiction.

The trailer makes it clear the movie will be a classic slasher. The “Big Baby” kills various people in myriad gruesome ways. The more interesting part, though, is that the author is able to see and commune with his own characters, and that they seem entirely aware of the fact that he is choosing to kill them. This will provide some interesting tension.

Spider One, Brainstorm Media

The main killer says he is slaying “everyone who hurt [him],” so he will almost definitely have an elaborate, likely tragic backstory.

Krsy Fox, who appeared in Terrifier 3 and Little Bites (also by Spider One), is both starring in and producing the movie. Her co-star, playing the tortured author, is Brandon Scott, whose credits include Dead To Me and Grey’s Anatomy. Cher is an executive producer for the movie as well, and she served the same role on Little Bites. Spider One is an alias for Michael Cummings, Rob Zombie’s brother and front man of the band Powerman 5000.

The trailer promises plenty of action as well as interesting characters. It does bring into question, though, if this slasher will provide anything the last couple of hundred did not. Blood, gore, horrifying deaths and jump scares, most certainly. But characters with depth and a terrifying story? We’ll have to see.

Big Baby is set to come out August 7.

The post Upcoming Slasher BIG BABY Drops First Teaser Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s almost time to return to Westeros for more fire and blood as the Dance of the Dragons kicks off on House of the Dragon season 3! But if you need a refresher on all the Aegons, family drama, and dragons running around, Dan Casey is here with a recap of the Targaryen timeline to catch you up on everything you need to remember before House of the Dragon season 3 premieres on HBO on June 21!

Special thanks to Nerdist’s grand maester Michael Walsh for his help in putting this video together.

The post HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Recap: Everything You Should Know Before Season 3 appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s been nearly five years since Tom Holland graced our movie screens as our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. But the long wait for his return is nearly over. Will Tom Holland’s return live up to five years of built-up anticipation? Judging from this newest (and final?) trailer, we’d say yes to that question. This new trailer for Destin Daniel Cretton’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day gives us all the good stuff we’ve been waiting for, including the return of Zendaya as MJ and Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds. You can watch the new trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day below:

So what have we gleaned from this trailer? For starters, we can confirm there’s a time jump taking place in real time. Both Ned and MJ mention graduating MIT, which makes this about four years from where No Way Home ended. We also see that Peter meets Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), who is back to being a college professor in his post-Avengers life. But at some point, the Hulk again will rise again. And we’ll get our first cinematic version of a Spidey/Green Goliath brawl. Peter seeks help from Jon Bernthal’s Punisher as well, suggesting these two know each other, teaming up already, during the time between films.

Sony Pictures/Marvel Studios

There’s also a mysterious threat that apparently, Spider-Man, whose body is mutating, is the only one to sense. Speaking of mutating, there’s a hooded figure throughout the trailer waving their hands around. Is this Sadie Sink? Possibly as future X-Man telepath/telekinetic Jean Grey? There is still a shortlist of characters she could play. But our money is currently on Sink playing the future host of the Phoenix Force. We’ve even got Spidey fighting Scorpion (Michael Mando), taking on ninjas, and delivering some classic Stan Lee quips. What more could you want?

Spider-Man: Brand New Day, starring Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jon Bernthal, Mark Ruffalo, Jacob Batalon, and Sadie Sink, arrives in theaters on July 17.

The post SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY Trailer Gives Us Hulk and the Punisher appeared first on Nerdist.

The Upside Down leaking into Universal Studios for lots of Halloween horror scares. The fifth and final season of Stranger Things will get its own haunted house at both Universal Studios Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood this fall to showcase some of the season’s most intense moments as guests find themselves immersed in the final stand against Vecna to save Hawkins. And no, we don’t think any Conformity Gate theories are gonna be a part of this special event. Universal Studios

Here’s more about what Stranger Things fanatics can expect to see at Universal Studios to celebrate Halloween: 

The harrowing adventure will immediately transport guests to the town of Hawkins, as the barrier between reality and the supernatural is collapsing to unleash an ominous darkness. As visitors make their way through familiar scenes, including the Wheeler House, Hawkins National Laboratory, the MAC-Z military base, as well as the haunting realms of the Upside Down and the Abyss, they’ll be hunted at every turn by Demogorgons and other sinister creatures. With Vecna on their heels, the terror intensifies, pulling guests into an all-or-nothing battle for survival.    

Universal has also released a sneak peek of what this haunted house will offer in a YouTube promo clip. We absolutely feel the hairs standing up on the backs of our necks like Will Byers.

Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights runs select nights from August 28 through November 1 at Universal Orlando Resort, and from September 3 through November 1 at Universal Studios Hollywood. Event tickets for both locations are on sale now, so visit www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com to get more info and secure your place among your fellow nerds. 

The post STRANGER THINGS 5 Is Coming for Blood at Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• An “enchanced” version of the iconic cult classic musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show is coming to the Sphere in Las Vegas in 2027.

Love it or hate it, the version of The Wizard of Oz that has played at the Sphere in Las Vegas has been an unqualified financial success. In less than a year since it opened, it has generated over $400 million in ticket sales. So, it was only a matter of time before they took on another classic Hollywood film, and essentially turned it into an overpriced theme park experience. Well, according to a report in Variety, the next film to get the Sphere treatment is 1975’s cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Yes, Tim Curry’s Dr. Frank N. Furter will arrive in his Transylvanian glory at the Sphere in 2027. So get ready to do that Time Warp again.

Sphere Entertainment

Here’s what Sphere Entertainment’s CEO Jim Dolan had to say about Rocky’s upcoming “enhancement.”

Through Sphere Studios, we are building a slate of original experiences that push the boundaries of technology and storytelling for this new medium, while always keeping the audience at the center of the experience. Since The Rocky Horror Picture Show premiered in 1975, it redefined audience participation and became a cultural phenomenon. With Sphere, we have the opportunity to take that spirit of immersion to an entirely new level.

So why is this controversial? For starters, some people hated that they edited The Wizard of Oz to pieces for this. But that is not that bothersome to us, because this is more like translating a movie into a theme park ride. We’ve seen that many times before. No one thinks of it as the actual film itself. No, what many rightly frown upon is the huge amount of AI used to make it happen. And we imagine it will be the same with Rocky. That alone is enough to not get us to put down money to go and see this. Otherwise, it might be kind of fun?

Twentieth Century Studios

Still, the choice of Rocky Horror for the next Sphere movie is odd, to say the least. Is it an iconic movie? Certainly. But it’s also a movie celebrating transgressive ideas and sexual liberation. Even though it was made over fifty years ago, many elements of that movie are more controversial now with a segment of the American population than they were in 1975. Given how so many Vegas tourists are conservative middle Americans, how do organizers expect them to react? Besides, the biggest draw for Rocky is the audience participation portion. Doubtful the Sphere will encourage throwing toast and yelling curse words at the screen. We’ll just have to see how long this one lasts.

The post ‘Enhanced’ ROCKY HORROR Coming to the Sphere in Las Vegas appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• While the movie is a big hit, the Backrooms creepypasta has many levels that are even more terrifying. Here are the 8 scariest.

The Backrooms movie is out in the world and it’s a bonafide hit, raking in $262.3 million at the global box office at the time of this writing. That makes it the highest-grossing A24 movie of all time, a feat it achieved on its second weekend in theatres. This isn’t a totally shocking thing if you followed any of the early talk about the film’s potential, and even less so if you were aware of the massive popularity of the Backrooms internet lore. 

Young people have Backrooms fever and have had it for a while. Since 2019, to be exact, when the eerie image that originated the phenomenon appeared on 4chan.

The photo, which shows a seemingly innocuous room that looks like it exists in a liminal space, captured the attention of other 4chan users who shared their own unsettling pics. One user responded with the following, which includes the first mention of the name Backrooms:

“If you’re not careful and you noclip out of reality in the wrong areas, you’ll end up in the Backrooms, where it’s nothing but the stink of old moist carpet, the madness of mono-yellow, the endless background noise of fluorescent lights at maximum hum-buzz, and approximately six hundred million square miles of randomly segmented empty rooms to be trapped in. God save you if you hear something wandering around nearby, because it sure as hell has heard you.” 

Though the photo was later identified as a room from a HobbyTown USA store in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the lore was already established. The Backrooms became a creepypasta legend that inspired young filmmaker Kane Parsons to create a series of YouTube shorts that eventually became the feature film. 

A24

While the film somewhat departs from lore established in the creepypasta fandom, it didn’t stop said fandom from continuing to build their own digital Backrooms. This includes a series of “levels”, video-game style, that are part of the intricate and interconnected layers of the Backrooms. These levels are somewhat of a group project, with wikis dedicated to each one which fans regularly expand. Many contain monsters known as “entities”, which gives the project a Lovecraftian feel. 

Even though the movie doesn’t really get into the level aspect of the Backrooms, it’s still one of the more fascinating and frightening elements of the whole thing. Here are eight of the freakiest levels from Backrooms lore, with the added caveat that said lore is sometimes different depending on what site or internet community you’re reading. For the sake of ease, I’m sticking to the most popular descriptions of each level, taken mostly from the main Backrooms wiki. 

The Broken

Let’s start with one of the more fascinating levels, The Broken. This isn’t a standard level because it technically exists outside of the Backrooms. This kaleidoscopic realm’s description calls it a “fragmented, corrupted expanse” on the wiki, kind of a garbage dump for corrupted levels that now exist collectively in one space. But the space makes no real sense, containing “pieces” of these deleted levels (broken buildings, hallways that bleed into themselves). If you make contact with any of the surfaces, they suddenly turn into horrific caricatures of themselves that pulsate heat. 

Believed by some to be the energy source of the Backrooms, it’s perhaps the most incomprehensible non-level level. And that’s exactly what makes it so scary. Imagine colors that look right out of TV static and other nonsensical patterns and dimensionality, and you might be able to picture the Broken. But probably not. What’s more eerie than a space that’s so conceptual you struggle to even describe it? 

TH3 SH4DY GR3Y

Another conceptual nightmare (which is saying something for a place that exists within a liminal space), TH3 SH4DY GR3Y is also not a traditional level but a cluster of environments totally drained of color, and only existing in shades and shadows. Similar to the Broken, it appears almost like corrupted files, with glitchy forests that grow more surreal as you wander through. The abstract void of it all makes this another level horrifying in its intangibility. 

Welcome to Hell

One of the levels that comes up a lot in online discussions about the scariest Backroom locations is Welcome to Hell, which is appropriately also level 666 (most levels have numbers associated with them). This one is scary because it’s almost entirely psychological, designed to make anyone who enters go insane. It appears as a network of blood-red rooms lit with a harsh red glow, and manipulates perception the deeper you go. This leads to paranoia and hallucinations, as well as a growing feeling of hopelessness. Essentially the mental health subsection of the Backrooms, it also feels similar to one of the Circles of Hell in Dante’s Inferno. 

Level Fun

Probably the scariest level to me personally, don’t let the title fool you. Unless you’re unbothered by terrifying clowns and other childhood birthday party ephemera. An endless series of hallways and rooms covered in murals of bright cartoon characters that seem innocent enough at first pass until you realize the faces have a sinister element. The Partygoers you might run into, the level’s entities who look like children, also have frightening faces and unsettling vibes. The air is humid and there’s a faint odor that gets worse the farther along you go. 

You’ll also find bouncy houses and trampoline parks and  messages on the wall attempting to lure you deeper into Level Fun. No thanks! There is already something uncomfortable about the standard childhood birthday parties of youth, with all of the balloons and bright colors. This one also feels somewhat connected to the HobbyTown location in the original photo. 

The Island of the Void

If you fear isolation, this level might be especially triggering to you. Level 999, this one is a floating island within a space-like void. Though it slightly resembles a tropical island in shape and fauna, everything presents in greyscale, you arrive into an endless night with no stars or moon in the sky, and no indication of what exists beyond the shore. Basically, in Level 999, you are totally isolated on a small patch of land surrounded by nothingness, with no hope of escape. Eek and also yikes. 

Run for Your Life

Another one that’s so simple in construct it seems almost normal—until you really start thinking about how absolutely horrific it would be. Also known as Level !, Run for Your Life is very well-known in Backrooms lore. It’s essentially one long, never-ending hallway illuminated by flashing red lights and blaring alarms. There’s no time to adjust to this level. As soon as you enter, fast entities immediately chase you, and you have no choice but to run. This level resembles an abandoned hospital which adds to the uncomfortable feeling. It sounds like an actual nightmare you might have, running forever, chased by monsters intending to kill you, with no real hope of escape. 

Cave System

A somewhat self-explanatory one based on the name, this level is all about being caught in an endless underground cave system. If you’ve seen the movie The Descent and it scared you like it did me, then this is another truly nightmarish realm of the Backrooms. In this one, there are rocky heights and deep burrows, which get increasingly claustrophobic as you navigate them. There are giant spiders and large deadly moths that flock to light. It isn’t a good idea to carry a flashlight through this level, despite the darkness. Flimsy, broken bridges and abandoned settlements dot the Cave System and there are no known exits. Just another reason to never even toy with the idea of stepping into the Backrooms. 

Lights Out

I imagine this one will be the freakiest to many and for very good reason. It’s similar to Level 0, the “lobby” of the Backrooms from the original photo, only here the lights are off. In fact, you can’t see anything in this level—it’s entirely dark. It’s also entirely silent and contains no entities, which may sound like a relief, but remember: you have to navigate this one in absolute darkness, with nothing to guide you. The walls are cold and smooth like concrete and as a result of the silence, many who enter experience auditory hallucinations. As someone who has to sleep with a nightlight even as a very grown adult, I don’t even like thinking about this one! 

These are just a few of the many, many horrifying levels in Backrooms lore. If you’re interested in learning about others, check out the Levels List on the Backrooms wiki—if you dare. 

The post The 8 Scariest Levels of the BACKROOMS appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Halloween returns to the Final Frontier in IDW’s new Star Trek: Holo-Ween II, which takes the terror off the Enterprise and to Deep Space Nine.

We may be in the early part of summer, but that just means we’re that much closer to spooky season. And the folks at IDW Entertainment already have your Halloween comic books ready to go to Warp 10, once again taking place in haunted corners of the Final Frontier. Last time, the terrors stalked the corridors of Captain Picard’s starship Enterprise. This time, the haunted Halloween happenings are taking place on the station Deep Space Nine, in Star Trek: Holo-Ween II.

IDW Entertainment

Star Trek only really ever had one notable Halloween episode, back in 1967. But now IDW is giving us the DS9 Halloween episode we always wanted, but never got, with Holo-Ween II. This follows up on the first 2023 Holo-Ween series, which focused on the crew of The Next Generation. This mini-series arrives every week in October, written by Alex Segura, with art by Bailie Rosenlund.

Alex Segura shares of the exciting Halloween and Star Trek crossover:

Writing Star Trek has been on my bucket list for as long as I’ve been a writer – probably even longer! I remember my well-worn copies of classic Trek novels lining my shelves alongside stacks of Star Trek comics. Getting to weave a tale of the final frontier aboard Deep Space 9, with one of my favorite characters, Jadzia Dax, front and center? To call that a dream come true would be an understatement. I’m so lucky to be working with an amazing team – and Bailie’s refreshing art will help guide readers through a winding supernatural mystery that will hopefully keep them guessing – and turning the pages! Whatever you do, don’t step into the holosuite alone!

And if that doesn’t get you excited, we don’t know what will. There’s nothing we love more than a true fan writing for a series they love. Plus Halloween?! Our dream. You can read the synopsis for all four eerie issues, as well as check out the covers for each one, down below:

Star Trek: Holo-Ween II #1

A Halloween mystery unfolds on Deep Space 9! On the eve of a high-stakes diplomatic summit, Deep Space 9 is thrown into chaos by a sudden communications blackout and a string of deeply unsettling incidents. With senior leadership called away, Worf, Dax, Odo, and Bashir must hold the station together as tensions rise among visiting dignitaries.

Click To View Gallery IDW/Paramount Paramount/IDW Entertainment IDW Entertainment/Paramount

Then, a distressed starship arrives with explosive claims—and one member of the DS9 crew stands accused of murder. As suspicion spreads and paranoia takes hold, a creeping sense of dread settles over the Promenade. And somewhere inside the station’s holosuites, something has gone terrifyingly wrong… A locked-station thriller begins here.

Star Trek: Holo-Ween II #2 Click To View Gallery IDW Entertainment/Paramount Paramount/IDW Entertainmen IDW Entertainment/Paramount

The Halloween event continues—and the danger deepens. Deep Space 9 remains on edge as unexplained incidents multiply and trust continues to fracture. With conflicting testimonies, missing personnel, and diplomatic tensions nearing a boiling point, station security faces a mystery that refuses to add up. While suspicions mount and the clock ticks toward disaster, a growing sense of unease suggests the truth may be far stranger—and far closer—than anyone suspects.

Star Trek: Holo-Ween II #3 Click To View Gallery IDW Entertainment/Paramount Paramount/IDW Entertainment IDW Entertainment/Paramount

Part three of our Halloween event! A dire, garbled warning breaks through from Benjamin Sisko. He’s identified the suspects, and they’re extremely dangerous. Then the signal dies. With communications severed and panic spreading, Worf and Odo move fast to protect the civilians and visiting dignitaries, sealing off the station and turning Deep Space 9 into a high-stakes locked-room mystery. But just as order seems within reach, a chilling realization hits. Bashir and Dax are missing…and no one knows where they’ve gone.

Star Trek: Holo-Ween II #4 Click To View Gallery IDW Entertainment/Paramount Paramount/IDW Entertainment IDW Entertainment/Paramount

The terrifying finale of the Halloween event! Time has run out. Lives hang in the balance. And the nightmare consuming Deep Space 9 is finally ready to show its face. Cut off, outmatched, and pushed to their limits, the crew must confront the true force behind the chaos before the station—and everyone on it—pays the ultimate price. Shattering revelations ignite desperate gambits, fragile alliances strain to breaking, and survival demands impossible choices. Enter a final confrontation where horror meets heroism, morality is put on trial, and the fate of countless lives turns on a single perilous moment.

When Does IDW’s Star Trek: Holo-Ween II Release?

The first issue of IDW’s Star Trek: Holo-Ween II goes on sale October 7. This will be a 4-issue weekly Halloween event. Pre-orders for all 4 issues are due by 8/31/26.

The post Terror Comes to Starfleet in STAR TREK: HOLO-WEEN II (Exclusive) appeared first on Nerdist.

One of the primary tenets of Doctor Who that has kept the show alive for decades is regeneration. The Doctor’s ability to heal from what would be a fatal injury to humans and transform every cell into a form that’s totally different is incredibly cool. And, it has allowed a plethora of people to play the Doctor over the years. In more recent times, Doctor Who even created the concept of a bi-generation with Fourteen and Fifteen splitting from each other. But, if you ask Twelfth Doctor actor Peter Capaldi, Doctor Who does too many regenerations. 

RELATED ARTICLE

Why DOCTOR WHO and Its Fandom Need This Hiatus

Capaldi made an appearance on the YouTube series 100 Questions with John Simmons, and spoke about this time on the show. He noted that it felt like it was time to leave the TARDIS because Jenna Coleman (Clara Oswald) had already left and showrunner Steven Moffat was leaving. When he spoke about Twelve’s regeneration into the Thirteenth Doctor, played by Jodie Whittaker, Capaldi said it was “very sad,” and gave his opinion on regenerations, saying that the concept has become diminished over the years. 

“I love all the Doctors, but I’ve lost count now of how many of them there are, so the weight of this kind of regeneration is diminished. Whereas when I grew up as a kid, the first time it happened it was: ‘What just happened there?’ It was mysterious and strange. It holds the mystery of the show, the regeneration.” 

BBC

Well, he does have a point to a degree. It makes the danger that the Doctor is in feel less perilous because 1) they can regenerate and 2) we usually know in advance when an actor is leaving the role. There hasn’t been a surprise regeneration aside from the sorta fakeout one that we had when the Tenth Doctor used his severed hand to maintain his form. That’s totally different from Capaldi’s childhood experience with Doctor Who when no one knew when a regeneration would happen. 

And, with Doctors not spending as much time in the role, it feels like a regeneration happens far too often and they have indeed lost their poignant punch over the years. But, without regenerations, we wouldn’t continue to have a show anymore, so they are necessary. 

Hopefully, when Doctor Who returns in the distant future, there will be an actor who sticks around for a while. And maybe we will get a regeneration that surprises us in a big way without bringing back a familiar face for nostalgia bait.

The post Peter Capaldi Says DOCTOR WHO Has Too Many Regenerations appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• House of the Dragon stars Clinton Liberty, Kieran Bew, and Tom Bennett on what it’s like to be lowborn dragonriders and a silly spinoff idea.

House of the Dragon‘s second season gave us three new dragonriders. During the Red Sowing Targaryen bastards Ulf the White claimed Silverwing and Hugh Hammer claimed Vermithor. Meanwhile, in a dragon/rider role reversal, Seasmoke claimed Velaryon bastard Addam of Hull. The three men are very different, yet all have something very important in common. They are all baseborn denizens of Westeros who became some of the most powerful people in the world.

What does that mean for the three of them—both their characters and them as actors—going into season three? We found out when Nerdist took part in a virtual media roundtable with stars Clinton Liberty, Kieran Bew, and Tom Bennett ahead of the show’s HBO return, which will see them spending a whole lot of time together.

Turns out these three have more in common than just playing bastards who became dragonriders. They’re also very silly.

HBO

On how their lowborn backgrounds clash with the highborn members of House Targaryen.

Kieran Bew: I’ve always known I am directly connected to the family. [Hugh’s] mom was Daemon’s aunt and I’ve been keeping that a secret. I’ve always known that I was an illegitimate and secret cast out member. And he’s denied it as well. So actually admitting it to his wife and using that as a reason to go and fulfill this task is a strange shift for him given that he’s rejected it for most of his life.

Unfortunately, that means that Targaryen madness is waking up in someone who’s really been suppressing it. So for me as an actor, that’s really exciting because there’s an unpredictability to it. It’s quite fertile ground. There’s a lot there because the book exists, the script exists, the characters exist, and the Targaryenss are really fun. They’re f***ing mad, but they’re really fun.

Tom Bennett: Ulf comes from nothing. He is the lowest of the low, and he has told this story for 30 odd years that he’s part Targaryen. We’ve discussed, “Does he believe it? Did he ever believe it?” Until it actually comes true and it’s, “Oh shit, I’ve got a dragon. All of this, it was all true. Oh, right. Now it’s true.” Now it all suddenly gets a bit scary, rocky ground and uneven footing. He comes from nothing and now is one of the most powerful people on the planet. It’s a real shift and a real dynamic, certainly for someone with a chip on their shoulder.

Clinton Liberty: All of us coming from being commoners and coming from a normal background, we all want different things. But there’s conflict there because Addam’s trying to prove himself to the Queen and his family, but Ulf is after something different. Addam knows that we all need each other in order to increase our likelihood of survival. And then [Hugh] is kind of cool, laid back. You don’t really know what he’s after. You can’t quite read him, but all want something coming from a common background. It’s kind of trying to get at the same mission of pleasing the Queen and the royalty, but also getting what we all want in to be cohesive.

HBO

Bennett: And we are the only three people in the world that have come from any of our positions.

Liberty: Exactly.

Bennett: The Targaryens as a clan have been raised to speak High Valyrian and ride dragons. We haven’t. So we’re the only three humans on the planet that have shared this experience. That shared experience does make us a little bit of a team or a dysfunctional family, all of whom are trying to work each other out and work out the lay of the land, which is brilliant. So much fun for us to play with.

On what a potential spinoff focusing only on their adventures would look like.

Liberty: Funny.

Bennett: I’ve discussed this with Ryan [Condal, the showrunner]. He tends to walk away when I try and discuss it, but I think there is a lot to be said in a lighter, half hour sitcom filmed in front of a live studio. We don’t do the dragons because they’re expensive.  So actually we can make it quite cheaply and it’ll be lighthearted. It’d be a bit of fun. We visit a different town or village. We solve a problem or kill a monster in every town or village. Villain of the week stuff.

Bew: Exactly.

Bennett: Filmed in front of a live studio audience. But Ryan walks away when I mentioned that.

Liberty: And with a budget enough to only have one shot of Vermithor or Silverwing and then that was it.

HBO

Bew: We were talking about the dragon training about how funny that would be to watch us all mess up dragon training and mispronounce all the words and the dragons are doing different things. So dragon bootcamp would be fun. But also the idea that [the royals] treat us really badly and we all have to sleep in the same room on bunk beds.

Bennett: We should all be in a triple bunker.

Bew: Because [the Targaryens] treat us like sh*t.

Liberty: And also learning how to speak High Valyrian.

Bennett: Yeah, because my accent… I can’t speak High Valyrian.

Bew: But your thing about the detective, the sort of story of a week detective thing, that’s quite funny.

Bennett: Ryan doesn’t seem interested in it.

At this point the conversation moved on to bemoaning the fact the title How to Train Your Dragon is already claimed, but the trio landed on “How To Train Your Dragonriders” as a possible name for their spinoff.

Ollie Upton/HBO

On what it was like as performers to return to the show knowing they now have an elevated position within the story?

Bew: It’s really exciting.

Bennett: Exciting.

Bew: Except we’re still bound within the confines of whatever they want us to do, the aristocracy. But it’s incredibly exciting coming in knowing that there has been a time shift. We have learned to ride the dragons and we’ve done some skirmish as missions and whatnot and that time has moved on. We get new costumes for a start, which is amazing, always fun to come in with new threads. But yeah, it’s really,

HBO

Bennett: And coming back for a new season, there is less of a degree of it’s your first day at school. Like, “Oh yeah, we’ve been to school here for a year. We know the lay of the land a bit. We’ve been given a bit more power. We get to fly dragons.” It’s such a nice place to work and be and get to play and just knowing that we got to do it again and knowing that we get to do it again is, for me, magical.

Liberty: Also just in season two, feeling like because we were like the new kid on the block, having to kind of prove yourself because season one was already established and it was a massive hit and then you’re coming in. But then in season three, feeling more established and more part of the family, it’s just exciting and you just get to enjoy it a lot more.

For me, I was a lot more grounded this season because last season I was so nervous. I wanted to do as best a job I could, but this season it was really fun and it’s always, always a pleasure. And all jokes aside, Kieran and Tom, I learned so much from them. I talk to them all the time, especially when we’re in between takes or we’re just chilling in our trailers. They’re just absolute dreams to work with. So I’m extremely grateful that I get to come back to work with them specifically as well.

HBO

Bennett: Knowing we get to do it all together again as a threesome, it’s great because we all get on so well because we have to spend a lot of time with each other. Unlike the

Liberty: Unlike the characters, we really love each other.

Bew: It’s funny, though, because I think the frustrations of the characters within what they’re allowed to do and not do is the same for us because we would like to just go for a big ride on the dragons. When you get off the book, when we’ve done the work, you’re like, “Really? Can we not just keep going? Do it tomorrow?”

Liberty: Or just stealing the buggy and going to different sets that you’re not even a part of. It’s like you can’t even do that.

Bennett: Because they really tell you off. “Where’s your pass?”

Liberty: I’m a dragonrider!

Bennett: I’m dressed like an idiot. Why do I need a pass?

The post HOUSE OF THE DRAGON’s Addam, Ulf, and Hugh Talk Season 3 and Their Silly Spinoff Idea appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• The Vampire Lestat showrunner Rolin Jones teases a “devastating scene” from later Anne Rice books in Louis’ arc this season.
• Jones notes that Louis and Lestat are on “parallel journeys.” And Jacob Anderson shares he’s happy with Louis’ arc.
• We can’t begin to say which scene is involved, but we’re sure it will hurt.

Much to the chagrin of fans throughout the ages, after telling his story in Interview with the Vampire, Louis de Pointe du Lac barely appears in Anne Rice’s second novel, The Vampire Lestat. But this was an especially great area of concern for fans of AMC’s adaptation of the series, returning to our screens as The Vampire Lestat in season three. In seasons one and two of Interview with the Vampire, we had all come to adore Jacob Anderson’s rendition of the complex and tragic Louis de Pointe du Lac—and we were not ready to lose him to the narrative. Happily, neither was showrunner, Rolin Jones. When Nerdist asked about finding the right arc for Louis in AMC’s The Vampire Lestat, Jones gave us a juicy tease. Here’s what he had to say.

“Always go to Anne.” Rolin Jones wisely noted as he began his discussion of the shifting narratives for Louis in The Vampire Lestat. “And there was a very, very devastating scene in one of the books later on. Said, ‘Okay, that’s an interesting place to drive.’ We also had some things that lingered from season two, and in the writer’s room, we thought they didn’t get quite there, or there was still more to uncover. And probably somewhere in working on that, we saw how that would actually bring Lestat and Louis together on a parallel journey. So it’s one of those wonderful times in the way we’re adapting this, where we took a book from the future, grabbed it, and used it for the here and now.”

RELATED ARTICLE

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

Anderson adds about bringing more Louis into The Vampire Lestat, “Yeah, I fought them on it. I’m not going to lie. But I think that my own personal sense of wanting things to be sort of clean and neat had to be challenged, and it really was. And I think it’s very satisfying. I’m happy with Louis’ arc.”

AMC

Of course, both Jones and Anderson laugh together over this and note they were not really fighting about Louis’ journey in The Vampire Lestat, but merely collaborating on their visions of the story to push the series to its greatest heights as a team. And that’s the kind of meeting of the minds we’re excited to see the results of.

Now, what is this “devastating scene” from later Anne Rice books that gets pulled into The Vampire Lestat as a part of Louis’ arc? Of course, we will have to leave you to speculate on that one. But rest assured, when a scene from The Vampire Lestat gets called out as specifically devastating, as opposed to just garden-variety upsetting, angsty, and intense, well… it must be major.

The Vampire Lestat (or season three of Interview with the Vampire) is currently streaming on AMC and AMC+. New episodes arrive Sundays at 9 pm PT/ET on AMC and at midnight on AMC+. You can also read Anne Rice’s The Vampire Lestat book today.

Rotem Rusak is the Editor-in-Chief of Nerdist. She cannot take any more Interview with the Vampire/The Vampire Lestat devastation for Louis, Lestat, or anyone else.

This post has affiliate links, which means we may earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, we just have to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!

The post Rolin Jones Teases ‘Devastating Scene’ From Later Books in Louis’ THE VAMPIRE LESTAT Arc appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• House of the Dragon stars Matthew Needham and Tom Glynn-Carney talk about Larys and Aegon’s partnership.

House of the Dragon‘s second season produced an unlikely partnership. Larys “The Clubfoot” Strong found a kindred spirit in Aegon Targaryen after his brother Aemond bathed the King in dragonflame. Larys then helped Aegon escape a second attempt on his life by his brother, Aemond. The two fled King’s Landing for parts unknown. What will that mean for both in season three? House of the Dragon stars Matthew Needham and Tom Glynn-Carney talked about that and a whole lot more during a virtual media roundtable Nerdist participated in recently.

HBO

The “most enticing thing to explore” about Larys and Aegon’s relationship and what this partnership taught each character.

Matthew Needham: For Larys it’s about being out of control. He’s used to machinations in court. And he’s used to controlling people in very not calm environments, but less hectic than this. Suddenly he’s in the wilderness with a crazed, rage-fueled person he has to try and shepherd to safety. It’s a real test. His patience is tested. He’s an endlessly patient person, but it’s really stretched breaking point this season.

Tom Glynn-Carney: I feel for Aegon. He’s at a point in his life where everything he had, and had been accustomed to, has crumbled away. He’s starting again almost with a new physicality and a new way of approaching life. That is obviously anxiety inducing. I don’t think Aegon deals very well with that and lashes out. [He’s] a ball of untamable energy, with a lot of rage like Matt said. And working out how to navigate each other and essentially get the thing that we both want, which we have common ground on at least.

HBO

What their characters’ dynamic would be if they were in a buddy-cop movie.

Needham: Sam and Frodo if they’re both amoral psychopaths? It’s a very twisted road trip, isn’t it? It’s these very dysfunctional people who can only actually learn to function with each other.

Glynn-Carney: Yeah. Can’t be with you, can’t be without.

Needham: But really they are. It’s so desperate. They are all that they have. There’s an antagonism to that at the beginning, but hopefully it becomes something later on. It sort of mellows into something different, let’s say that.

HBO

On whether they ever expected to be a part of season three considering both characters vanish from the written history at this point in the story and Game of Thrones’ itself sidelined Bran for an entire season.

Glynn-Carney: I didn’t think of it like that. I’ve always seen such potential in Larys and Aegon’s relationship and their journey together. It would’ve been a waste to not focus on that, even though they’re away doing their own thing. Also, it expands the world a bit more. It pushes people out of King’s Landing to other more recognizable places like Dragonstone and Harrenhal. We really do expand the world of it through our plotline this year.

Needham: Although it would be so funny to just turn up in episode four with tans.

Glynn-Carney: Beautiful tans. Ripped.

HBO

On whether or not they liked being off on their own side quest in season three.

Needham: I liked being off on our weird little rookery adventure. I had a lot of King’s Landing in the previous season, so it was nice to just get out and get feathery. It was good fun.

Glynn-Carney: It was nice to have some fresh air. We were stuck in those studios for a good couple of years. So it was nice to get out and see some daylight.

Needham: Although hour four inside that wagon—

Glynn-Carney: The wagon days were tough. Those ravens were vicious as well. Those days were tough.

HBO

What was it like for Glynn-Carney to play a physically vulnerable Aegon.

Glynn-Carney: Very, very satisfying to lean into. The whole thing I’ve been trying to carve out with Aegon is to bring to light his fragility, his vulnerability, and his childlike nature. Not just play the villain. So now, having the physicality that lends itself to that vulnerability and fragility, helps the cause. Definitely.

But also, when you see someone in a vulnerable state like that, they’re in survival mode. They’re desperate, and there’s a way of behaving that is inherently childlike. And needing Larys there with him really, this love/hate situation going on. I found it really nice to lean into that aspect of Aegon this time.

If protecting Aegon is an ego boost for Larys.

Needham: Probably on some level. He wants control. He wants influence rather than power, but I think it’s more immediately dangerous than that. There’s more at stake. It really is, it’s life or death every minute and he is [Aegon’s] only hope and chance of survival. It’s more about preservation than ego at the moment, but I’m sure there’s a quality of it there.

HBO

Whether Larys and Aegon see the humanity in each other or if this partnership is entirely a marriage of convenience for both.

Needham: Larys sees a lot of humanity and a lot of himself and his own pain he had as a child growing up in what Aegon is going through in the moment. He sees a lot of similarities in him. They’re both brothers who are overshadowed by their brother, don’t feel the love of their father. There’s a lot of similarities. It doesn’t mean it’s not convenient though, but I believe it’s sincere.

Glynn-Carney: I agree with Matt on that. It might start off as convenience and we later discover that, ”Oh, actually, no, it’s more than that.” There’s levels to it.

What it’s like as actors to play characters with this level of intimacy but who don’t always get along.

Needham: It’s really fun because you get to be on the receiving end of very explosive energy and you have to absorb it rather than giving it back in any sort of way. Which is a really lovely challenge to do. Larys grows to respect Aegon’s defiance and bravery and singleness. I just don’t think it’s a trait that [Larys] has in himself. He admires that.

HBO

Glynn-Carney: Aegon has a growing respect for Larys throughout the season. Ebbs and flows. It’s not just a gradual gradient, but there’s a real respect for Larys’ determination and his kind of stop-at-nothing attitude to achieving what we are set out to achieve.

Matt described Larys before with a beautiful analogy as a rat that would chew his own arm off to get out of his confined area. And there’s an aspect of that that Aegon sees and just has a complete respect for and wants to be able to have that access.

It fuels Aegon’s motivation and the momentum that they eventually achieve.

On the conversations they had before the season about the dynamic shift between the two.

Needham: We didn’t go into huge detail. We talked about who was carrying the crown as being symbolic of where [Aegon’s] trust was in Larys. And there were times when it was given back and forth, because I don’t think it’s a steady mistrust or trust.

Glynn-Carney: That’s a little Easter egg for people, to be able to spot and go, “Oh, that’s how [Aegon] feels about Larys at this moment on this day.” It was so circumstantial, depending on the scene and depending on what had just happened and whether a character had been able to gain trust in the other. It just changed so much. But that’s what makes that relationship so dynamic and unpredictable and volatile, as well.

How Aegon feels about his family this season.

Glynn-Carney: Not supported, put it that way. His mom has basically fed him to the lions. His brother has tried to kill him. And his sister is in her own world of existence and got her own things to think about and deal with and she’s not really present. So he’s a lone wolf this time, which is why the relationship with Larys is so vital for him. It’s such an anchor, a grounding force. Without him he would either spiral out of control or fade away into nothing and just be a corpse on a hill somewhere. So they really do rely on each other.

The family thing really doesn’t play, at least into my mind. The only thing that I had in my back of my mind as playing this season was the hatred and the vengeance towards Aemond and wanting to give him a taste of his own medicine at some point.

The post HOUSE OF THE DRAGON’s Matthew Needham & Tom Glynn-Carney on Larys and Aegon’s Partnership appeared first on Nerdist.