The Nerdist

Quick Take

• Wizards of the Coast is releasing Secret Lair: Corn Maze Super Drop. The drop includes reskins of cards with either art from different existing media, or reskins meant to highlight a particular artist.
• One of the fandoms to inspire a Secret Lair is KPop Demon Hunters, with a series of Magic cards redone in the vibrant style of the award-winning movie.
• Nerdist’s Take: Honestly, whether you’re a KPop Demon Hunters fan or not, the card art for this part of the Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair drop is almost too beautiful to pass up. But we are surprised not to see any creature cards.
• Even More Magic Fun: Explore the Marvel Zombies Drop.

Wizards of the Coast sure does know how to ring in Spooky Season. While Secret Lair drops have become almost commonplace for fans at this point, Wizards said “hold my beer” and is bringing us a Superdrop. Secret Lair: Corn Maze Superdrop rolls out on October 12th. As the name implies, there’s a huge amount of content to go around, with eight individual drops all on the same day. Three are from Jim Henson’s The Labyrinth, one is Marvel Superheroes: Zombies, two are artist highlight sets not associated with fandoms, and! Perhaps the biggest hype-generator on the list… Magic: The Gathering is releasing a set of KPop Demon Hunters cards.

Click To View Gallery Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast

The Secret Lair x KPop Demon Hunters: How It’s Done drop has seven Magic cards, and they are all functional reprints of existing cards, but with different art, names, and flavor text. This is pretty common for Secret Lair. Scott Watanabe and Helen Chen’s art is the highlight by far of this Secret Lair Magic: The Gathering x KPop Demon Hunters crossover. Plus Swan Song, my personal favorite, which is a just a shot of Sussie from the movie. No notes at all on that one. Underworld Breach is a close second.

RELATED ARTICLE

MTG Secret Lair Corn Maze Superdrop Takes Us Into LABYRINTH Nerdist Take: We Love This KPop Demon Hunters x Magic: The Gathering Set, But Where Are the Creatures? Sony Pictures Animation, Helen Chen, Scott Watanabe

Surprisingly, of the seven Magic cards in the KPop Demon Hunters drop, three are instants, two are sorceries, and two are enchantment cards. So, the Hatsune Miku Commander Deck this is not. It’s surprising that this Secret Lair crossover has no creatures, let alone legendary creatures. Even Rumi, who the set seems mostly based around, doesn’t net herself a legendary. Then again, there’s nothing to say this will be the last time KPop Demon Hunters meets with the world of Magic: The Gathering. Maybe there’s even a Universes Beyond set somewhere down the road? The movie certainly doesn’t lack for inspiration for its own unique cards. Because, c’mon, we either gotta get some KPop performers or some demons up in this b*tch. It’s kinda the name of the movie! Nevertheless, the cards we do get certainly don’t lack in utility, and will surely find their way into the decks of many fans.

When Do the KPop Demon Hunters Magic Cards Release? And How Much Will They Cost?

Keep your eye out for these KPop Demon Hunters Magic cards to release on October 12th. The non-foil versions of the cards cost $29.99 USD, or you can snag the foil versions for $39.99 USD.

Jess Harshbarger writes about movies, TV, games, comics, and all things nerdy for Nerdist.

The post Magic: The Gathering Drops KPOP DEMON HUNTERS Cards (But No Creatures) appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Prime Video will bring an epic Viking tale to television with Bloodaxe. Here’s everything we know about it so far.

Bloodaxe is perhaps one of the most highly-anticipated historical dramas set to release in 2027. The Prime Video show, created by Horatio and Michael Hirst, will take us to the 10th century to see one man’s ascent to a throne. We already know that nerds love when anyone is fighting for power, and the streaming service knows that. In fact, Bloodaxe is already set for a second season before the first one even drops.

The History Channel/Julian Dolman

Who will start in this series and what is it about, exactly? Here’s everything we know about Prime Video’s Bloodaxe so far. 

Title

As far as we know, Bloodaxe will be the show’s official title. 

Bloodaxe’s Plot 

We don’t have super specific plot details for Bloodaxe at this time, but this synopsis should help bring things into focus: 

Bloodaxe is an epic historical drama, created, written, and executive produced by Michael and Horatio Hirst, which chronicles the rise of one of history’s most famous Norse raiders, Erik Bloodaxe (Xavier Molyneux), and his formidable wife Gunnhild, Mother of Kings (Jessica Madsen). The series’ highly anticipated first season has yet to debut, and will tell the story of their fight for the throne of Norway, as the land is torn apart by fierce rivals, shifting loyalties, and bloody betrayals. With war looming and chaos consuming the kingdom, drawing in the ruthless Kings of other Scandinavian countries, and even a powerful English ruler, the stage is set for a thundering, cataclysmic, compelling, and utterly magical new Norse saga. 

That sounds like a wild ride, and we cannot wait for a trailer to drop in the near future. In the meantime, if you want to know more about this historical figure, check out this book about his rise to power.

Behind the Scenes 

As mentioned in the synopsis, Michael and Horatio Hirst are writing, showrunning, and executive producing their creation. It is not known at this time who will direct the show’s pilot nor subsequent episodes. The series is now filming in Ireland. 

Bloodaxe’s Cast  Michael Shelford/Luke Fontana/Henni Hyvärinen

Xavier Molyneux will star as the titular Erik Bloodaxe alongside Jessica Madsen as his wife Gunnhild. Levi Miller is Haakon, Erik’s younger half-brother. Alina Tomnikov portrays Greta, a shield-maiden who can secretly turn into the Seer, while Sissie Marie and Rune Temte are the Queen and King of Denmark, respectively. 

In August 2026, Prime Video announced a few more Bloodaxe cast members who will arrive in season two. Gard Løkke will join as a series regular, and Melina Åkerman, Kieran Bew, Sebastian Bull, and George Burgess will star in recurring roles. This announcement means it is very likely that Bloodaxe will film its first two seasons at the same time, leading to less of a wait time for fans. Smart thinking. 

Recently, we also learned that three additional new cast members have joined the second season of Bloodaxe. Maddy Ambus (The Return of Stanley Atwell, Utopia), Steven Brand (Saw X, The Scorpion King), and Lasse Steen (The Promised Land, What Lies Between Us) will have recurring roles. Steen’s character is actually first introduced during Bloodaxe season one, but now we know he will be back again. We don’t yet know the roles these three will play, but we are excited to find out.

Bloodaxe’s Release Date 

Bloodaxe season one will come to Prime Video sometime in 2027.

Originally published on August 19, 2026.

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Nerdist writes about movies, TV, games, comics, and all things nerdy for Nerdist.

The post Everything We Know About Prime Video’s BLOODAXE Series appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Ultron haunts Vision’s memories and makes a play to return to the real world in the final fantastic trailer for Disney+’s upcoming VisionQuest series.
• VisionQuest will serve as the final installment in a TV trilogy that began with WandaVision and Agatha All Along.
• The show marks the return of Ultron to the MCU, only this time the great James Spader will get to also appear in human form.
• Nerdist Take: We weren’t expecting too much from this series, but VisionQuest looks amazing if it’s trailer is anything to go by.

For all of the MCU’s many well-documented missteps following the end of the Infinity Saga, there have also been some absolute stellar releases during the franchise’s most recent phases. That includes on Disney+, home of both WandaVision and Agatha All Along. Now that era of witchy tales is coming to an end. VisionQuest will conclude the tale of Wanda and Vision’s tragic love story by bringing back the villain that inadvertently brought them together, Ultron. And the fantastic final VisionQuest trailer promises that part three of this TV trilogy will be weird, wonderful, and dangerous… and way better than we expected.

Nerdist Take: VisionQuest Looks So Much Better Than We Imagined, If the Trailer Is Anything to Go By

Oh yeah that’s the stuff. That’s an absolutely banger of a trailer for a show that looks so much better than anything we ever expected from it. From its trailer, VisionQuest looks surreal, mysterious, heartfelt, and funny, all while having real stakes, both for the characters involved and the universe at large. Plus it has James Spader chewing up scenery as human-form Ultron.

Oh yeah.

Marvel Studios

Also just as good as this VisionQuest trailer? The show’s incredible poster we can’t get enough of. It’s unexpected banger after unexpected banger for this series.

Marvel Studios VisionQuest Synopsis and More

What is exactly going on in the VisionQuest trailer, though? There is so much rich MCU history behind this story that you can read up on. But here’s the official synopsis from Marvel Studios:

Vision, rebooted and having escaped from those who sought to weaponize him, has been in hiding. Searching for new meaning, he consults the AI personas embedded in his programming, including F.R.I.D.A.Y., E.D.I.T.H., J.A.R.V.I.S., and the infamous Ultron. His discreet existence ends when a bounty placed on his head thrusts him on the run with Thomas Shepherd, a mysterious boy who may be Vision’s son, reincarnate. As Vision evades capture, he must confront his nature, resist Ultron’s influence, and unravel the enigma that is his young companion if he’s to survive.

VisionQuest comes from creator Terry Matalas. It stars Paul Bettany, James Spader, Ruaridh Mollica, Todd Stashwick, T’Nia Miller, Lauren Morais, Orla Brady, Diane Morgan, Polly Frame, Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, Emily Hampshire, and James D’Arcy. 

It will also be the last MCU release before Avengers: Doomsday. And if it’s as good as this trailer, VisionQuest will be one of the best MCU post-Infinity Saga releases. We’ll find out if it can deliver on its promise when it comes to Disney+ on October 14

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

The post VISIONQUEST Looks WAY Better Than Expected in Final Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Reacher star Alan Ritchson has joined Justin Lin’s live-action Helldivers movie months after Jason Momoa dropped out of the project.
• Ritchson’s role is not yet known, but it seems certain he will play one of the main elite soldiers trying to save Super Earth from alien invasion.
• Helldivers semeingly comes with a built-in audience as both video game installment’s have been hits.

Earlier this year, Jason Momoa unexpectedly dropped out of Sony’s Helldivers adaptation. His departure did not sink the live-action project, though. The studio and director Justin Lin were continuing on with their quest to bring freedom to the universe. But obviously they had some pretty big shoes to fill without their former leading star. How would they do that? By finding another large man. Reacher‘s Alan Ritchson has signed on to star in Helldivers, which will now hit theaters in 2028.

Prime Video

Following previous reports he was in discussions to star in the film, Sony Pictures has announced Ritchson is officially set to help promote intergalactic democracy. The studio did not shares Ritchson’s exact role. But it’s hard to imagine he won’t be one of the film’s main characters.

This big—literally—casting news (which we first heard at IGN) also comes with a new release date. Helldivers was originally scheduled to debut in theaters on November 10, 2027. Instead it will premiere the following summer on June 9, 2028. That’s trading one premium theatrical release spot for another, which shows how much both Sony and PlayStation believe in the project. It certainly comes with a built-in audience based on the success of the two video games. Helldivers 2 has sold a whopping 12 million copies since it hit stores in 2024. The franchise follows elite soldiers (the titular Helldivers) trying to save Super Earth from invading aliens.

PlayStation

That’s exactly the type of premise that made Jason Momoa seem like such a natural fit for the film before he departed for what remains unknown reasons. But that’s also why Ritchson is a perfect replacement. Momoa left behind some very big shoes to fill. The easiest way to do that is by finding a man best known for being large.

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

The post Alan Ritchson Joins Justin Lin’s HELLDIVERS, Release Pushed to 2028 appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Animated smash film KPop Demon Hunters is getting a sequel (duh!) and it is set to release on Netflix sometime in 2029.
• KPop Demon Hunters will also score a theatrical release.
• We feel like 2029 is too far away, but we suppose we will patiently wait.

KPop Demon Hunters is undoubtedly one of the biggest films to come out in 2025. We bet that Sony really wishes it had bet big on this film and put it in theaters versus letting it go straight to streaming via Netflix. Then again, the film may not have been so successful without it being so accessible thanks to streaming. Either way, there is a legion of kids who love Huntr/x, the K-pop girl group who live double lives as demon hunters. So it is not at all shocking that a KPop Demon Hunters sequel is on the way; however, it is wild that it will not come out until 2029. But the good news is… The KPop Demon Hunters sequel WILL arrive in movie theaters this time.

RELATED ARTICLE

KPOP DEMON HUNTERS Is the Most Watched Netflix Movie Ever (And Its First Box Office Hit) The KPop Demon Hunters Sequel Sets 2029 Release Date

We get it. There’s a lot of work that goes into putting an animated film from inception to completion. However, a lot of those kids who dug the first film are going to be totally different people by the time the KPop Demon Hunters sequel comes around. But maybe that’s not a huge deal considering that there will be another group of K-pop lovin’ kiddos to take their place.

Maybe the production schedule will move quicker than expected and we can get the KPop Demon Hunters sequel sooner rather than in 2029. It is a phenomenon after all with an animated group that has three songs on the Billboard 100 charts, according to Variety. And it holds the record for the most watched Netflix movie of all-time. That’s very wild considering that Netflix’s first original movie was Lilyhammer in 2012.

Netflix/Sony Animation The KPop Demon Hunters Sequel Will Recive ‘Broad’ Release in Movie Theaters

The good news is that KPop Demon Hunters sequel WILL head to movie theaters this time. Netflix’s co-CEO shared that the KPop Demon Hunters sequel would receive a “very broad theatrical release” before heading to streaming. He went on to explain “What we’re doing is looking at this model and saying, ‘Okay, how do we serve movie lovers who may want to see this movie in a theater,’ and ‘How do we not harm value to Netflix?’ ‘How do we position the film best in the world?’”

Well, KPop Demon Hunters surely did position itself as one of the best movies in the world. And we expect sending the sequel to the big screen will help its sequel achieve even greater supremacy.

What Will The KPop Demon Hunters Sequel Be About?

There are so many questions to explore with Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, and a lot of lore that the first film touches on rather lightly. For now, we don’t yet know any plot details about the the KPop Demon Hunters Sequel. We will have to wait and see what this next round has in store.

Originally published on November 5, 2025.

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

The post KPOP DEMON HUNTERS Sequel Sets 2029 Release, Will Land in Movie Theaters appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Everything about Ti West’s Ebenezer, starring Johnny Depp, has sounded awful, but the latest trailer makes it clear it’ll be even worse than we thought.
• Ebenezer‘s tagline says that, when it comes to knowing Scrooge’s story, you should “think again,” but no, we know it. That’s what A Christmas Carol is all about.
• The film’s treatment of the Ghost of Christmas Present is so bad it’s almost impossible to believe.

The tagline for Ti West’s take on A Christmas Carol, titled Ebenezer, says, “Think you know his story? Think again.”

No.

I absolutely refuse to “think again,” because Charles Dickens’ iconic story is, quite literally, the story of Scrooge. That’s the whole thing. It’s the whole thing. But fine, whatever! Let’s imagine for a second it isn’t morally repugnant to cast Johnny Depp as the lead of your film in the year 2026 and give this movie a chance. Wild adaptations that riff off even the best source material can still be really good and interesting. Well, based on the latest look at Ebenzer it will not be one of them. The newest Ebenezer trailer is one of the worst of the year.

Have you always found the Ghost of Christmas Present too jolly? Too full of mirth and hope? Well, congratulations, because Ti West and screenwriter Nathaniel Halpern also felt the same way. They looked at the very embodiment of Christmas joy and said, “Nah. Not in our Christmas movie.”

Seriously, what is going on in this Ebenezer trailer and movie? It’s so unclear; the film’s official synopsis doesn’t even attempt to tell you. From Paramount:

This November, Johnny Depp is Ebenezer Scrooge. The name you know, the story you don’t. 

Again, we absolutely know it. I also know this movie’s existence makes me want to drink enough eggnog to forget everything.

Paramount Pictures

Great makeup on Depp in the Ebenezer trailer. He looks super believable as an old man and not like a sentient melted candle who learned how to act from watching episodes of Mr. Bean on mute.

Ebenzer also stars Rupert Grint, Andrea Riseborough, Sam Claflin, Daisy Ridley, Arthur Conti, Ellie Bamber, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Charlie Murphy, Tramell Tillman, and Ian McKellen. I like most of those people. So I wish I were seeing them under better circumstances.

I don’t know who this film is for, and I am very okay with that. If Ebenezer looks like something you’ll want to see after this trailer, it debuts in theaters on November 13. I promise, though, you will know his story.

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

The post EBENEZER Releases the Year’s Worst Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• HBO Max took its marketing genius to liminal spaces with a Backrooms promo featuring some of the network’s biggest characters.
• The promo includes Lanterns, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, The Sopranos, and The Righteous Gemstones, among others.
• Nerdist’s Take: We love a creative marketing mashup, and HBO Max did well with this one.

Backrooms is taking over HBO Max, and the streaming service found the perfect way to promote the film’s arrival. HBO took some of its most popular shows, from The Sopranos to Lanterns, and placed those characters into the movie’s iconic yellow-tinged liminal spaces for a humorous promo. The social caption, which simply says “Took a wrong turn,” is obviously what happens in Backrooms when someone’s misstep (no-clipping), whether literal or spiritual, leads to being stuck in this surrealist dimension. 

Took a wrong turn. #Backrooms pic.twitter.com/Bhqhccw1Nb

— HBO Max (@hbomax) September 30, 2026

Some of our favorite clips from the HBO Max Backrooms video are when Hal and John are standing side by side. Hal says “Jazz. That can’t be good.” and we can only imagine these two together in this kind of strange space. Our beloved Dunk & Egg from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms chill on the floor as Egg says that perhaps he could chill here for a bit. There’s also a small clip of the very large and loveable Dunk hitting his head on a door frame because of course he would do that. We do not recommend staying there long or even being there at all, guys. Get out.

Nerdist’s Take: We Love Creative Mashups, and HBO Max Pulled a Lot of Fandoms Together HBO Max

And, there’s also The Righteous Gemstones, where Kelvin says he’s having anxiety flashes and sharp s**t pains in his stomach. Man, we really miss that show. It’s also a reminder of just how much greatness HBO has given to us over the years. We love a creative marketing campaign. 

Get into the spooky season spirit and stream Backrooms on HBO Max.

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

The post HBO Brings Its Iconic Shows to BACKROOMS in Hilarious Video appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• October is here and there are a lot of horror TV shows and films that will arrive this month, from Mike Flanagan’s Carrie to Clayface.
• Many of these shows and films are brand new stories, while others are based on familiar franchises that we love.
• There are both streaming options as well as new horror films that will head straight to theaters.

Hello October, we are so glad you’re back. It’s truly the most wonderful time of the year that gives everyone a little something to enjoy. For some, it’s cooler weather, pumpkins, and going to the fair. For others, it’s all about cozying up with their favorite seasonal films and a latte. But, here at Nerdist, we are some serious horror fanatics who cannot resist checking out new genre offerings each year, as well as revisiting classics. And October 2026 is certainly not going to disappoint us at all, with a slate of TV shows and movies that will fill our horror hearts with twisted glee. From remakes and adaptations of classic stories to anthologies, here are ten new horror shows and films that you have to watch this October. 

Horror TV Shows Coming in October 2026 Carrie  Prime Video

Mike Flanagan is putting his trademark horror lens on yet another Stephen King story. After several film adaptations, Carrie is getting a TV series remake this October, which is perfect timing for all us Halloween horror nerds. The series will follow Carrie’s iconic story, but this time Flanagan is taking time to build her world in unexpected new ways. 

When & Where to Watch: October 7 on Prime Video  Crystal Lake 

Friday the 13th’s franchise is adding yet another installment to its belt; however, this series isn’t about Jason Voorhees. Instead, we are going back into the past to focus on his mom Pamela and the events that led up to her becoming a full-blown serial killer. Jason will appear in the show, but Linda Cardellini is its star, and we are ready to spot Easter eggs and connections to the universe we already know so well. 

When & Where to Watch: October 15 on Peacock  American Horror Story (Season 13) FX/Hulu

Yes, the latest season of American Horror Story technically made its debut in September. But the majority of the season will air throughout October, so it feels right to include it in our horror show lineup. A lot of the OGs are showing back up for this season, which apparently will center around a dark force that’s targeting witches. Do we really need to say anything else? 

When & Where to Watch: Thursdays Throughout October on Hulu and FX Yaga

If you love mystery thrillers, AMC+ and Crave have the perfect series for you. Yaga follows an investigator who heads to a coastal town to investigate the disappearance of a young heir. He’s met with a litany of opposing forces, from a local detective to ancient magic and a host of suspects. 

When & Where to Watch: October 23 on AMC+ Ghosts Halloween Special 

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All the Hidden Ghosts in THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR

CBS is giving Ghosts fans the gift of a Halloween special ahead of season 6, which will arrive in early 2027. This special, titled “Halloween 6: Twisted Sister,” will address last season’s cliffhanger as well as introduce Hetty’s sister Margaret, who is a new type of spirit that’s never been seen before. 

When & Where to Watch: October 29 on CBS and Paramount+ Horror Movies Coming Out in October 2026  Clayface  Warner Bros./DC Studios

Clayface is one of DC’s most intriguing characters, and he’s getting his own horror-tinged series. In it, we will follow rising movie star Matt Hagen, who ends up brutally disfigured and volunteers to be a test subject in hopes of salvaging his looks and career. Of course, this goes horribly wrong and his side effects include his body turning into living clay. Now that’s a great body horror premise for ya.

When & Where to Watch: October 23 in Theaters Other Mommy

If you’re a parent, sometimes you wish that there were two of you to get things done. But, that would be awfully creepy and potentially dangerous if Other You decided to take you out of the family picture. Well, Other Mommy isn’t quite that narrative. Instead, it is even scarier. A paranormal entity takes on the appearance of a little girl’s mom, gets into their house, and wreaks havoc. The trailers for this film, starring Jessica Chastain, are quite chilling, so we are ready to see this in theaters. 

When & Where to Watch: October 9 in Theaters  Crawlers

Spiders are a major part of Halloween and horror. We use them for decorations and to craft many sinister tales. So it is not shocking that there’s a horror movie coming out in October that involves a horde of venomous spiders. Crawlers follows Serena, an apartment complex manager who discovers a spider infestation after a tenant’s death. The complex is under quarantine and it is up to Serena to save everyone while also facing a major fear. 

When & Where to Watch: October 16 in Theaters  V/H/S Mixtape 

The V/H/S franchise is expanding with yet another film coming this October. According to a press release, this movie “cranks the signature found-footage horror up to eleven with an electrifying new anthology where music and sound become the source of terror. United by a theme that explores the power of music, rhythm, and audio to haunt, possess, and destroy, the film blends cosmic horror, psychological suspense, outrageous splatter, and groundbreaking practical effects into one unforgettable mixtape of nightmares.”

RELATED ARTICLE

V/H/S HALLOWEEN Offers Gross Fun With More Treats Than Tricks (Review)

While V/H/S offerings have had mixed reviews in recent years, it is still usually a fun anthology to watch. 

When & Where to Watch: October 9 on Shudder  The Cycle 

Daredevil: Born Again’s Deborah Ann Woll will star in this Shudder film as Dr. Meg Garland, an expert in all things death and decay. She’s summoned to a gruesome crime scene, but things take an unexpected twist when one of the victims is identified as her father, who has been missing for 36 years. Suddenly, this movie is less of a crime thriller and more of a creature feature, as evidenced by its trailer. 

When & Where to Watch: October 23 on Shudder

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

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

The post 10 Horror TV Shows and Movies Coming Out in October appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Mike Flanagan’s series remake of Stephen King’s Carrie does the impossible, and manages to create a new version that stands on its own, and justifies its existence.
• Flanagan’s version updated the story to reflect the modern day, but recognizes what makes King’s original story so compelling.
• The cast, especially Summer H. Howell, Samantha Sloyan, and Alison Thornton, elevate this version of Carrie into something different and more nuanced than previous versions.
• Nerdist’s Take: Mike Flanagan’s Carrie confirms no one is better at adapting Stephen King material than he is, even ones that have multiple versions out there already.

Brian De Palma’s adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie is one of the greatest horror films of all time, and one of my personal favorite films ever. For fifty years, it has stood the test of time, thanks to the incredible performances of Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie. I’ve believed that every sequel and reboot since (three altogether) has been a misfire, or just a pointless cash grab. And let’s not get started on the Broadway musical that was not great at all. So needless to say, I approached this new Prime Video Carrie series from Mike Flanagan with a very raised eyebrow. But Flanagan proved that no one is more adept at adapting Stephen King for modern audiences than he is, because Carrie succeeds in almost every way.

Prime Video

Being a film, De Palma’s original 1976 Carrie had to function in a totally different way. Movies aren’t television, obviously. You have a limited time, usually two hours, to tell a story. And there isn’t much time to establish who a character is and their entire motivation. You might just have one scene that lasts a minute or two to do that. So things have to play broadly, go bigger. Television, especially modern TV, has the luxury of being able to take its time, and give nuance where none existed before. And in Flanagan’s Carrie, this approach truly pays off in spades.

Prime Video

The eight part Mike Flanagan series hits all the major notes from King’s book that you’d expect, but makes changes to fit a contemporary setting. But the biggest change might be in the characters of Carrie and Margaret White. In this version, Carrie has been raised in complete secrecy by her religious, conspiracy-minded parents. She has no social security number, and no one knows she exists until her father dies in a tragic accident. When she’s discovered as a young teen, her mother is forced to place her in public school. But even though she’s rightfully timid, she has an innate curiosity and eagerness to make friends that King’s Carrie White does not.

Robert Falconer/Prime

Meanwhile, while her mother Margaret (Samantha Sloyan of Midnight Mass) is far more complicated than any version put to screen before. She’s still a controlling, detestable mess of a human. But unlike in Stephen King’s book or the many films, you don’t get the sense she innately hates her daughter deep down. On some level, she’s trying to protect her from a world she hates and fears. There are times in this series you actually root for her. They are rare, but they’re there. This is a version of Margaret White you might actually know in real life, which is mildly terrifying.

None of this series works, however, if Summer H. Howell doesn’t totally kill it as Carrie. (No pun intended.) Once again, she’s more conventionally “cute” than in King’s book version. But this is a different Carrie already than King’s. The original version was such a weird, off-putting outcast, it was often hard to relate to her. This Carrie is sympathetic while also being relatable. We’ve all been the new kid at school at some point. She’s weird enough that King’s version of Carrie is still in there, but relatable enough that we see ourselves in her, too.

Prime Video

Another thing this series does incredibly well is update this story, which is over fifty years old now, to 2026. The 2013 movie remake paid lip service to the aspect of social media on Carrie’s bullying, but this series really makes good use of it. It shows how social media has given the worst among us a new tool to torment others, and every use of it makes your blood boil. Carrie 2026 is as much an exploration of what it means to be an outcast in the modern day world of Instagram as it us about a telekinetic girl who goes on a rampage at prom.

Prime Video

What Carrie does amazingly well is show that giving nuance and explaining a character’s motivations does not absolve them of wrongdoing. Case in point, the character of Chris Hargensen, Carrie’s bully. In King’s original novel, we don’t get a metric ton of insight into why Chris is so awful. There’s a bit about her rich father, but not much else. Here, we see how Chris grew up wealthy and entitled, and when she suddenly loses her ability to get everything she wants in life because her father loses his money and status, she lashes out at the most vulnerable person in her proximity — new girl, Carrie White.

What makes this Chris so much more despicable is that she pretends to be Carrie’s friend. Thus, making the ultimate betrayal so much more painful. Alison Thornton gives a truly nuanced performance here. But I am going to have a hard time not hating her in any future projects she appears in, just because she’s that good at being awful. Also, we should give props to Josie Totah as Tina, Chris’ “mean girl” right hand, who is often as awful (or worse) than Chris is. Actress Siena Agudong gives us a sympathetic and nuanced portrayal of the conflicted Sue Snell as well.

Prime Video

Of course, Flanagan’s Carrie isn’t perfect. The original King text is only 250 or so pages long. It’s a short book. So there are added elements, such as a running throughline about powerful telekinetic women and a secret society which they exist in, that doesn’t always work. Another change I won’t spoil happens at the climactic prom, which I remain very conflicted about. (Don’t worry, there is still pig’s blood.) And this ensemble features some A-list talent that sometimes feels wasted. Heather Graham plays Chris’ mother, and it’s a thankless role here. In contrast, I feel Matthew Lillard makes the most use of his limited screen time as Principal Grayle.

Prime Video

The rest of the cast, including Rahul Kohli, are solid. Amber Midthunder sometimes seems too young to be Carrie’s concerned gym coach Miss Desjardin. But that’s just because everyone ages far differently in 2026 than 1976. She’s good (but underserved) too. Again, it’s the main cast who really makes Carrie deliver in a series format. Yet again, Flanagan proves he can take the worst idea (a sequel to Kubrick’s The Shining??) and make it sing. Who would have thought yet another remake of Carrie could be so compelling? Mr. Flanagan, we’ll never doubt you again. If they ever announce you’re remaking Misery, I won’t scoff. I promise. After Carrie, you’ve earned the benefit of the doubt.

All eight episodes of Carrie drop on Prime Video on October 7.

Carrie ⭐ (4 of 5)

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

The post CARRIE Series Is the Best Adaptation Since the Original Film (Review) appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• The newest Magic: The Gathering Corn Maze Superdrop focuse on the magical world of Jim Henson’s classic Labyrinth, with cards beautifully illustrating the film’s icons, David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly.
• This MTG Secret Lair drop has three sets alltogether, which include “Secret Lair x Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: Should You Need Us,” “Secret Lair x Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: Fear Me, Love Me,” and “Secret Lair x Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: Through the Labyrinth.”
• Nerdist’s take: These gorgeous cards celebrate 40 years of Jim Henson’s cult classic fantasy film in spectacular fashion.

2026 marks the 40th anniversary of Jim Henson’s fantasy classic film Labyrinth. In this cult classic, rock icon David Bowie famously gave the world the wickedly wonderful Goblin King, Jareth. And Jennifer Connelly’s turn as the daydreaming teen Sarah helped her become a star. Of course, Labyrinth also featured some of Jim Henson’s best puppet work, with characters like Hoggle, Ludo, and so many others. Now, Wizards of the Coast have announced Magic: The Gathering’s latest Secret Lair Superdrop. And it’s focused on Jim Henson’s cult classic.

Wizards of the Coast

This new collection of special, limited Magic: The Gathering drops arriving October 12. And there are three separate ones for the world of Labyrinth. These will make you giggle with delight as if you were baby Toby, and Jareth was singing “Dance Magic Dance” to you. You can check out images from each drop, and read the description for all three of them down below:

Secret Lair x Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: Should You Need Us Click To View Gallery Wizards of the Coast/The Jim Henson Company The Jim Henson Company/Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast/The Jim Henson Company The Jim Henson Company/Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast/The Jim Henson Company The Jim Henson Company/Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast/The Jim Henson Company

This drop gathers the companions Sarah meets along the way during her adventure. These include Ludo, Hoggle, Sir Didymus, The Worm, and The Wiseman. These cards represent the friendlier side of the Labyrinth world. Which is not the same as saying anyone should let their guard down. This drop also features the card “Sarah, Champion to the Lost.” The art on this card connects with “Jareth, Goblin King” from Secret Lair x Labyrinth: “Fear Me, Love Me” to create a scene across the two cards.

This set includes the following: 1x Jodah, the Unifier as “Sarah, Champion to the Lost.” 1x Kogla, the Titan Ape as “Ludo, Rock Caller.” 1x Shigeki, Jukai Visionary as “The Wiseman, Eccentric Oracle.” 1x Wort, Boggart Auntie as “Hoggle, Heart in Conflict.” 1x Kami of the Crescent Moon as “The Worm, Sagely Guide.” 1x Lu Xun, Scholar General as “Sir Didymus, Rider of Ambrosius” // “Sir Didymus, Faithful Companion.

Secret Lair x Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: Fear Me, Love Me Click To View Gallery Wizards of the Coast/The Jim Henson Company The Jim Henson Company/Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast/The Jim Henson Company The Jim Henson Company/Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast/The Jim Henson Company The Jim Henson Company/Wizards of the Coast

This set centers on Jareth, the Goblin King, played by the immortal David Bowie. But not just Jareth, but also the particular kind of trouble that follows when someone gives him too much dramatic lighting and a magic crystal. This drop captures Jareth’s hold over the Labyrinth through goblins, gifts, and stolen time. This drop also includes the card Jareth, Goblin King, whose art connects with Sarah, Champion to the Lost from Secret Lair x Labyrinth: Should You Need Us to create a scene across the two cards.

This set contains the following: 1x Muxus, Goblin Grandee as “Jareth, Goblin King.” 1x Boggart Shenanigans as “Call Out the Goblins!” 1x Dance with Calamity as “Dance with Goblins.” 1x Goblin Rabblemaster as “Goblin Cradle-Thieves.” 1x Claim the Firstborn as “The Kidnapping of Toby.” 1x Trinisphere as “I’ve Brought You a Gift.”

Secret Lair x Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: Through the Labyrinth Click To View Gallery Wizards of the Coast/The Jim Henson Company The Jim Henson Company/Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast/The Jim Henson Company The Jim Henson Company/Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast/The Jim Henson Company The Jim Henson Company/Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast/The Jim Henson Company

This final set follows Sarah into the maze with fully illustrated cards inspired by the film’s strange rooms, stranger rules, and memorable wrong turns. From the thirteenth hour to the Fireys, the Cleaners, and the doors that are technically helping, this drop knows the castle is further than you think.

This set includes the following: 1x Timely Ward as “Rescue in the 13th Hour.” 1x Chronomantic Escape as “Under Jareth’s Spell.” 1x Delayed Blast Fireball as “Frenzy of the Fireys.” 1x Tempt with Discovery as “The Goblin King’s Offer.” 1x Rogue’s Passage as “Shaft of Hands.” 1x Planar Temporal Gateway as “Doors of Indecision.” 1x Leveler as “The Cleaners Leveler.”

All Secret Lair: Corn Maze Superdrop drops will be available in Traditional Foil Edition ($39.99) and Non-Foil ($29.99) while supplies last.

Nerdist’s Take: Every Card Beautifully Captures the Magic of Jim Henson’s Labyrinth in Different Ways

These cards beautifully illustrate the world Jim Henson created over forty years ago in Labyrinth, with very different takes from artists with a variety of styles. If you’re a Magic: The Gathering fan and also love Labyrinth, you wont want to miss out on these. For more information, head on over to the official Magic: The Gathering – Secret Lair site.

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

The post MTG Secret Lair Corn Maze Superdrop Takes Us Into LABYRINTH appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• The ever-hungry Marvel Zombies are shambling their way into a new Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair Corn Maze Superdrop, just in time for Halloween.
• These cards feature undead and brain-eating versions of the Avengers, Wolverine, the Scarlet Witch, the X-Men, and many more.
• Nerdist’s take: This latest Secret Lair x Marvel collaboration is the perfect purchase to make for spooky season.

While not every universe in Marvel’s vast Multiverse has been a hit with fans, it seems everyone loves the world of Marvel Zombies. Who wouldn’t want to see Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and Marvel’s Merry Mutants as carnivorous undead monsters? the concept sells itself. And last year, the Marvel Zombies animated series became a hit on Disney+. Now, Wizards of the Coast has announced the Marvel Zombies will feature in a new Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair Corn Maze Superdrop, in all their brain-eating glory. Just in time for Halloween! You can check out images of each card, along with a description, down below:

Secret Lair x Marvel: Zombies Click To View Gallery Marvel/Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast/Marvel Marvel/Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast/Marvel Marvel/Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast/Marvel

This latest set brings alternate zombie versions of Marvel Super Heroes to Magic, where iconic characters are still powerful, still recognizable, and dealing with a very different kind of appetite. Scarlet Witch, Thor, Captain America, Giant-Man, Wolverine, and more appear in a drop that turns superhero spectacle into something much less heroic and much more hungry.

Wizards of the Coast

This set features 1x Unstoppable Slasher: 1x Zombie Apocalypse, 1x Vogar, Necropolis Tyrant as “Zombie Giant-Man.” 1x God-Eternal Bontu as “Zombie Thor,” 1x Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver as “Zombie Captain America.” 1x Varina, Lich Queen as “Zombie Scarlet Witch.”

The Secret Lair x Marvel Zombies: Corn Maze Superdrop will go on sale starting at 9 a.m. PT on October 12. All Secret Lair: Corn Maze Superdrop drops will be available in traditional foil edition ($39.99) and non-foil ($29.99) while supplies last.

Nerdist’s Take: These Marvel Zombies Secret Lair Cards are Perfect for Spooky Season

The Marvel Zombies property was first created by Mark Millar and Greg Land in the pages of Ultimate Fantastic Four comic back back in the 2000s. Then, writer Robert Kirkman spun them off into their own mega popular series. Yes, the very same Robert Kirkman who created The Walking Dead. The guy’s got a niche. Since we are now in spooky season, these new Marvel Zombies MTG cards are the perect way to celebrate. All Secret Lair: Corn Maze Superdrop drops will be available in Traditional Foil Edition ($39.99) and Non-Foil ($29.99) while supplies last. For more information, head on over to the Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair official site.

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

The post MARVEL ZOMBIES Out for Blood in MTG Secret Lair Superdrop appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Regal Cinemas Whalefall popcorn bucket will let you eat popcorn out of a whale while watching a whale eat a guy who then tries to escape the whale.
• The “Whalebucket” also features a little scuba diver outside the whale, cause the inside needs to hold popcorn.
• Moviegoers who see special 4DX screenings at regal on October 14 will get their Whalefall bucket for free.
• Nerdist Take: Only one popcorn bucket will then let you eat popcorn out of a whale while watching a movie where a whale eats a guy and he tries to escape the whale while you eat popcorn out of a whale

Whalefall is my favorite movie of the year despite the fact I haven’t even seen it yet. The reason is easy to understand. It’s about a whale eating a guy who then tries to escape the whale that ate him. Only it’s not a comedy. Only the film’s trailers all play like comedies. It’s great and I love everything about it. So obviously I am all-in on the movie’s popcorn bucket, because it’s a giant whale that will let me, a guy, eat out of a whale while watching a whale eat a guy.

Even better? Special 4DX showings are getting their Whalefall whale popcorn buckets for free.

Whale, whale, whale…. look at what's swimming soon to Regal 🐋

Get the Whalefall collectible popcorn container, going on sale starting October 15. Tickets for Whalefall are on sale now: https://t.co/EyywMfY2ex

All merch is at select locations, while supplies last. pic.twitter.com/r1JbvhVhnA

— Regal (@RegalMovies) September 30, 2026

Regal Cinemas has announced that moviegoers who attend an early access October 14 4DX screening of Whalefall will get a complimentary collectible “Whalebucket.” It features a whale with a tiny scuba diver swimming along on the outside. This is different from the film, which, again, will see a whale eat a guy. But this bucket needs to hold a free large popcorn. That’s why the guy has to go outside while you eat from the whale.

It’s nearly perfect. Nearly because I would have preferred to see a popcorn bucket with the whale’s mouth wide open like it is in the trailer when Austin Abrams’ scuba diver desperately tries to climb out of the whale only to get stuck on its tongue.

20th Century Studios

But I am not about to let “perfect” be the enemy of “amazing,” and this popcorn bucket is amazing. It will also go on sale on October 15 at select theaters while supplies last. I doubt they will last long, because only one movie this year will tell the harrowing tale of a whale eating a guy. And only one popcorn bucket will then let you eat popcorn out of a whale while watching a movie where a whale eats a guy and he tries to escape the whale while you eat popcorn out of a whale.

Regal Cinemas

Obviously this is my favorite popcorn bucket of the year, even though I don’t yet own it.

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

The post WHALEFALL Popcorn Bucket Is Better Than a Whale Eating a Guy appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Mark Wahlberg and Seth MacFarlane return as John and Ted in the first promo for Peacock’s cartoon spinoff TED: The Animated Series.
• TED: The Animated Series will debut at Peacock this December.
• Will TED: The Animated Series be as successful as the movies or live-action prequel series? Probably, kid.

Kid, you ah not gonna believe this news. It’s, like, wicked good. Everyone’s favorite sentient teddy bear is returning to TV in a very different form. He’s going to be a cartoon. And the first teaser for TED: The Animated Series promises the show is going to enjoy the the unlimited freedom of animation.

Earlier this year, Seth MacFarlane said that, despite being Peacock’s most-watched show ever, there were “no plans” for a third season of TED. But two months after that disappointing announcement fans got some good news. The franchise was not leaving the streaming site. It was going to get its own spinoff cartoon starring the cast of its big screen outings. Now we have both our first teaser trailer at the Ted animated series and a premiere date. A funny promo featuring Mark Wahlberg’s John and MacFarlane’s foul-mouthed bear revealed the series will debut on December 17.

While that’s reason for viewers to celebrate, this promo is painful for John. Literally. It turns out that being a cartoon does not automatically spare you from terrible pain. What it does do is help keep you looking young despite taking place many years after your last big screen outing. Here’s the official synopsis from Peacock:

Picking up twelve years after the conclusion of the last movie, John and his thunder-buddy Ted are neighbors, both with families of their own and dead-end jobs. Follow these two lovable stoners as they enable each other’s bad ideas about marriage, parenting and the challenges of adult life.

Peacock

TED: The Animated Series comes from MacFarlane, Paul Corrigan, and Brad Walsh. Corrigan and Walsh also serve as co-showrunners. Rough Draft Studios, Inc. handles the animation. The show also stars Amanda Seyfried as Sam, Jessica Barth as Tami-Lynn, Kyle Mooney as Apollo, and Liz Richman as Ruth.

Is it gonna be wicked successful? Everything Ted touches is always successful, kid. But we’ll find out for sure soon enough.

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

The post TED: THE ANIMATED SERIES First Teaser Is Full of Cheeky Fun appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• At the recent Minecraft: Live, developer Mojang Studios revealed that not only would a new dimension be available in Minecraft Dungeons II, but it would also be introduced to the base game as well.
• This new Minecraft dimension is called The Sift, and its based primarily on souls. Its dreamy aesthetic is complemented by unique biome types, fresh mobs, and new blocks.
• Nerdist’s Take: The Sift’s vibes are off the charts, and it has us ready and willing to explore beautiful pink meadows and swim in HP-damaging soul juice.

The recent Minecraft: Live came with nearly a dozen reveals, many of them significant, but eclipsing all of the other announcements is The Sift, a new dimension in Minecraft Dungeons II, but more importantly, a new dimension in vanilla Minecraft. It’s been fourteen years since the Minecraft base game saw a new dimension, and the hype is real, as you might imagine. While we don’t know a great deal about The Sift yet, just what we’ve seen so far promises a world that feels totally unlike the three current Minecraft dimensions, while complementing them all the same.

Today at Minecraft LIVE: Dungeons II, our first new dimension in more than 14 years, new ways for creators to build, Minecraft on Nintendo Switch 2, and more.

More than 300,000 people play Minecraft for the first time on an average day. After 17+ years and 425M+ copies sold, I… pic.twitter.com/fdhkwuh258

— ASHA (@asha_shar) September 26, 2026

The Sift debuts in Minecraft Dungeons II on September 29th, but releases in 2027 on Java and Bedrock (the two main versions of the game, named after their programming language) for vanilla players to enjoy as well. The Sift teaser for vanilla Minecraft gave little away about this new dimension, but thanks to Minecraft Dungeons II, we have some idea of what awaits us in the soul cairn of the Minecraft dimensions. The Sift has a day-and-night cycle (of sorts), its own unique biomes, a slew of new mobs, and, of course, a heck of a lot of new blocks. Whether players will have to jump through a hoop or ten to get into The Sift, like The End, or be able to open portals wherever, like the Nether, is still unknown. In Minecraft Dungeons II, note blocks have to be placed in the correct order in front of a portal in an ancient city to gain access to The Sift.

Iridescent fluid runs through The Sift, called ichor. The ichor will light you on fire and cause damage, but all of the mobs endemic to The Sift are unharmed by it. There’s plenty of plants in The Meadows, one of the three confirmed biomes in The Sift, adding to the atmosphere and aesthetic of the lush new Minecraft dimension. There’s also a desert-like biome called the Carapace, filled with fossils. The Carapace feels very distinct from The Meadows, and from the last known biome: The Hills. The Hills, while having a color palette reminiscent of The Meadows, holds a more sinister air. Suspended above deep gashes of ravines, The Hills feels barren and wide open in comparison to the other biomes.

All told, we’re obsessed with the look and feel of The Sift. This new dimension is easily one of the most beautiful in Minecraft. And we’ll gladly take on all of its dangers and menace for the chance to explore more thoroughly. We couldn’t have wished for a better new place to explore and build.

Minecraft Mojang Studios

All this and more awaits us in 2027 when The Sift update hits vanilla Minecraft and brings players their first new dimensions in ages. There will be so much to explore! No matter how long Minecraft has been around, it always manages to make us yearn for the mines time and time again.

RELATED ARTICLE

Minecraft World Theme Park Opening in Greater London Next Year Jess Harshbarger writes about movies, TV, games, comics, and all things nerdy for Nerdist.

The post After 14 Years, MINECRAFT Unveils New Dimension appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Not to be outdone by its East Coast counterpart, Universal Studios Hollywood serves up true terrors at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights, including Sinners and Hellraiser.
• We ranked Sinners as our ultimate favorite at this year’s annual Halloween event.
• Nerdist’s take: If you love faithful recreations of iconic horror films, with just a jump scare or two thrown in, Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights is your spooky season destination,

Although Universal Studios’ annual Halloween Horror Nights at the Orlando theme park may get all the attention and have more haunted house attractions, the original Hollywood park is no slouch in the scare department. This year, horror fans at Universal Hollywood will have eight haunted houses and one Terror Tram to experience at Halloween Horror Nights. If you’re in Los Angeles during the month of October and want a real spooky season treat, you simply must get yourself to the park. To help you make the most of your visit, we also have some advice on what’s worth your time. Below, we rank all eight haunted houses at Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights 2026, as well as this year’s Terror Tram, from best to worst:

Our Universal Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights House Rankings

• 1. Sinners Is the Best House at Universal Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights
• 2. Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness
• 3. Hellraiser
• 4. Killceañera: Music by Slash
• 5. Killer Klowns from Outer Space
• 6. Evil Dead Burn
• 7. Terror Tram Starring Art the Clown
• 8. Stranger Things 5
• 9. Dead, Deader, Deadest Is the Worst House at Universal Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights

1. Sinners Is the Best House at Universal Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights

Last year’s horror sensation from Ryan Coogler was the Depression-era vampire thriller Sinners, which left quite a pop culture impact (and an Oscar win for Michael B. Jordan). So we’re glad we didn’t wait years to see Sinners come to Universal Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights. This haunted house takes you through the events of the movie, starting with Sammie singing the Blues in Club Juke. There’s even a scare actor playing Smoke who looks so much like Michael B. Jordan, folks going through the house had to do a double take. Me included.

Universal Studios Hollywood/Nerdist

So what makes this one stand out from the rest? The Sinners haunted house has all the film’s singing vampires stalking the woods outside, with a very creepy red-eye effect. Then we go through the harrowing events inside Club Juke, beat for beat, ending with the vampires burning up in the morning sun. Is it the scariest haunted house in terms of jump scares? No, but for sheer stagecraft and fidelity to the film it’s based on, the Sinners House earns the number one spot in our Universal Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights 2026 rankings. If any haunted house deserves to come back in 2027, we think it’s Sinners. In the meantime, you can always rewatch the movie, wherever you are.

2. Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness Universal Studios Hollywood/Nerdist

Usually, I roll my eyes a bit at the HHN haunted houses based on a particular celebrity. Especially if they’re musicians. We may love the Weeknd, but he’s not a nightmare figure. However, we make a big exception for the late Ozzy Osbourne. After all, he was the Prince of Darkness. This Universal Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights House takes us through Ozzy’s catalog of songs, recreated as tangible frights. You enter through Osbourne Station and board the “crazy train” to hell, before entering Osbourne Asylum. Ozzy’s terrifying werewolf from the music video for “Bark at the Moon” even pops out to attack unsuspecting guests. But the true star is an amazing bat creature animatronic, paying homage to Ozzy’s most infamous on-stage incident. That animatronic alone puts this haunted house near the top of our Universal Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights 2026 rankings.

3. Hellraiser

I’ll admit, I love Clive Barker’s original two Hellraiser films to death. And this haunted house truly does them justice. So I may be a bit biased putting this one at third place. But biased or not, the Hellraiser House really does rule. We enter the Halloween Horror Nights house through a giant Lament Configuration puzzle box, making our way through to the attack on Larry Cotton’s house from the 1987 film. We see the twisted torture racks, and Pinhead appears, voiced once more by Doug Bradley.

Universal Studios Hollywood/Nerdist

All the demonic Cenobites we’d expect to see pop out from the walls and crevices to terrify us, and they are perfectly realized. And maybe the creepiest scare actor is the one playing a skinless Frank Cotton, all covered in bloody musculature. But my favorite part is the climax, where we see Uncle Frank, with chains attached to each part of his body, with Pinhead ready to “tear his soul apart,” as he is fond of saying. If you love this franchise, especially the original classic, you’ll adore this Universal Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights 2026 haunted house experience.

4. Killceañera: Music by Slash

Every year, Halloween Horror Nights runs a haunted house that honors creepy Mexican folklore. If your theme park is located in Southern California, you have to, right? Well, this year’s version of that idea might be our favorite yet. For Killceañera: Music by Slash, HHN has created one creepy Quinceañera party, or “sweet 15” for you non-Latinos out there.

Universal Studios Hollywood/Nerdist

Our undead birthday girl is disturbing, but even more so are the demons who have arrived at her party. And La Llorona even makes an appearance, right before one delightfully ghoulish dinner party. This one recycles some elements from past Latino-themed houses, but my favorite jump scare of the Halloween Horror Nights event comes from this house, with an undead mariachi band. Those guys alone have this Halloween Horror Nights haunted house solidly at my number four house in our Universal Hollywood 2026 rankings.

5. Killer Klowns from Outer Space Universal Studios Hollywood/Nerdist

Killer Klowns from Outer Space is one of the best haunted houses at Universal Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights 2026, and the only reason I’m giving it a mid-ranking is that this probably the third time Universal Hollywood HHN has brought it out. This one brings you into the cotton candy-scented world of the Chiodo Brothers’ ‘80s cult film, and the Klowns themselves are some of the best monsters in any maze, ever. These guys are pretty damn disturbing, even without needing to jump out and scare you. Although after this year, we think it’s ok to retire the Killer Klowns for a bit and let some new blood in. But I still love this haunted house to pieces.

6. Evil Dead Burn Universal Studios Hollywood/Nerdist

I have to admit, I haven’t seen the latest Evil Dead movie. But I’ll say this haunted house based on it is pretty cool overall. We enter through a spooky forest, guarded by a Deadite; we are led through various bloody domestic scenes with demons popping out from left and right. It’s all pretty much the same thing as Universal Hollywood HHN’s recent Evil Dead Rise haunted house, but the bathroom and kitchen scenes, where they lay on the gore pretty thick, make this one more memorable than last year’s. But still, it could have been better overall. I did love the decapitated head screaming “Dead by dawn!” at the entrance quite a bit. But overall, we’d term the Evil Dead House “just ok” in our overall Universal Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights 2026 House rankings.

P.S. If you’ve got the urge to watch the movie yourself, you can do so here.

7. Terror Tram Starring Art the Clown Universal Studios Hollywood/Nerdist

I’m going to admit right now that I’ve never seen a single entry in The Terrifier franchise. So my familiarity with Art the Clown and his sadistic kills comes from online images and last year’s excellent haunted house. This year, the Terror Tram was the journey through Art’s Christmas kills, and it’s a pretty gruesome affair. We have to give props to the Art scare actors, who were especially enthusiastic. Although we didn’t love Art shooting a giant Gatling gun, to be honest. We like our slashers traditional – knives, machetes, chainsaws. No firearms. Good scares, just not as great as last year’s Art-themed haunted house. But since this one was all outside, we were spared the gross smells from last year’s house, so we did truly appreciate that.

8. Stranger Things 5 Universal Studios Hollywood/Nerdist

For being such a signature piece of modern horror iconography, the presumably last Stranger Things haunted house left much to be desired. It’s supposedly based on the final season of the hit Netflix series, but aside from a few different versions of Vecna popping out at you and some Purple Rain playing over the speakers to tie into the show, there’s not much that evokes the final season of Stranger Things. Apparently, the Orlando version of this haunted house is far superior. For such a big IP beloved by so many, there was no reason this was so meh.

9. Dead, Deader, Deadest Is the Worst House at Universal Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights Universal Studios Hollywood/Nerdist

Why is this last? Well, we just couldn’t quite figure out what the vibe for this Halloween Horror Nights House even really was. We suppose it’s about a haunted funeral home, run by a creepy old man. The glowing green toxic goo that’s around the undead corpses in this haunted house suggests cursed embalming fluid that brought them back to life. Cool premise, just confusingly executed. That wouldn’t matter if we were frequently startled, but this one seemed to have half the scare actors of other Houses. If you’re at Universal Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights 2026 and on a time crunch, it’s between Dead Deader Deadest and another house, we say go for the other one. But like all the haunted houses at HHN, it’s still a good time.

To purchase tickets for Universal Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights 2026, you can head on over to the official Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights site here.

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!

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

The post Halloween Horror Nights 2026 Houses, Ranked (Universal Hollywood) appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Jenna Ortega will continue to rule the small screen in Wednesday season three, which wrapped filming in September 2026.
• The next season will address some pretty big questions about Enid’s status and why Ophelia Frump is locked up.
• There’s no release date for Wednesday season three at this time, but we can safely assume its coming in the first half of 2027.

Wednesday season two left us with quite the cliffhanger. Enid is fully wolfed out and ran off to parts unknown, with Wednesday going to look for her. Miss Capri takes Tyler to join a secret group of Hydes and we discover that Aunt Ophelia is alive and being held captive in Grandmama’s basement. It is a lot, indeed. Thankfully, we won’t be left out to dry because Wednesday season three is happening. Production wrapped in September 2026, which means we will probably get the new season sometime next year. 

Here’s what we know about Wednesday season three so far. 

Wednesday Season 3’s Plot 

Right now, we don’t have plot specifics. But, as we mentioned earlier, there are those plot threads that we will address, and it will take us out of Nevermore Academy’s scope a lot more. For some reason, Aunt Ophelia did write on the wall that Wednesday must die, but we aren’t totally sure why. Something as trivial as death wouldn’t scare Wednesday anyway. 

Netflix Behind-the-Scenes 

Alfred Gough and Miles Millar will continue as showrunners, with Tim Burton as executive producer and director. It is not clear if he will direct all of this season’s episodes or if someone else will get behind the camera. Netflix announced that Wednesday season three filming was a wrap with a photo of our favorite sarcastic girl sitting at her beloved typewriter. 

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Cersei Lannister Herself, Lena Headey, Joins WEDNESDAY Season 3 Wednesday Season 3’s Cast 

Of course, all of our usual suspects from the Addams family are returning as well as others like Billie Piper’s Capri. But this season has some interesting new names as well, like Eva Green as Ophelia Frump, Winona Ryder as a character named Tabitha, and Game of Thrones alum Lena Heady in an unknown role. 

Wednesday Season 3’s Release Date 

There is no release date at this time but we can assume this show will return sometime in 2027.

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Quick Take

• Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Santa Claus needs Alan Ritchson’s help getting back his toy sack in Prime Video’s trailer for The Man With the Bag.
• Awkwafina also stars in this Christmas movie, playing a vengeful elf who threatens Christmas.
• The Man With the Bag feels like a silly movie that came right from Mad-libs, but we’re not against it.

When the Sun gets lower in the sky and the leaves start to turn colors it can only mean one thing: Christmas movie trailers. Sure, the spooky season might be on deck, but Hollywood has to start hyping its fare for the most wonderful time of the year. And this holiday season, a big name is going to play the big guy. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Santa Claus in Prime Video‘s The Man With the Bag, and the film’s first trailer reveals he’s not even the biggest actor in the movie.

Sure, why not? Let’s get real silly. Why shouldn’t Arnold Schwarzenegger play Santa? It’s what we deserve, we guess. And why shouldn’t Mad Libs get a “story by” credit, you know? Here’s what it came up with for the latest Christmas movie from the star of Jingle All The Way:

When Santa’s iconic red bag is stolen by a rogue elf with a grudge, Christmas is suddenly at risk. With his biggest night of the year fast-approaching, Santa recruits a thief from his ‘Naughty List’ who quickly assembles a crew of criminally skilled misfits — with a little help from elves and reindeer — to pull off the most unexpected heist of their lives.

Prime Video also says The Man with the Bag is a “holiday heist adventure” about “second chances, unlikely friendships, and discovering that sometimes even Santa needs a little help delivering Christmas.”

Well, yeah. That’s why he has elves. He always needs help delivering Christm…no. No. We said we’re gonna get silly, and silly is what we’re going to do.

Prime Video

Joining Arnold Schwarzenegger as Santa in The Man with the Bag is Awkwafina, who plays the vengeful elf who threatens Christmas. Reacher star and large man Alan Ritchson plays the crook Santa turns to for help. The movie also stars Berkeley James, Michael Cyril Creighton, Liza Koshy, Kyle Mooney, Jane Krakowski, and Ken Jeong.

The Man With the Bag comes from director Adam Shankman (Hairspray, A Walk to Remember). Allan Rice (Stuck in the Middle) wrote the script.

Will Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Santa movie spread holiday cheer? We’ll find out after the spooky season ends and Christmas movie trailers become Christmas movie releases. And this one will arrive on Prime Video December 2, 2026.

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

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Quick Take

• Sony and Prime Video are developing a series based on Marvel Comics’ Spider-Man Clone Saga, which is all about characters who discover they are cloned from Spider-Man’s DNA. Does this mean younger lookalikes of known Peter Parker actors like Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield, and Tobey Maguire?
• The Clone Saga series will focus on Spider-clones from the pages of Marvel Comics like Ben Reilly and Kaine Parker, among other Spider-Man clones.
• Nerdist’s take: Unless Sony can find a way to mention the words “Spider-Man” and “Peter Parker” in this series, we just don’t see how a Clone Saga show works

Sony and Prime Video are currently developing a live-action series based on the infamous ’90s Marvel Comics Spider-Man storyline, the Clone Saga. In that story, which lasted two years and covered dozens and dozens of comics, Peter Parker discovered there were several clones of himself running around, some of them for years. One of them, Ben Reilly/Scarlet Spider, even took over as Spider-Man for a hot minute. There were others too, including Kaine Parker. But if Sony is adapting the Clone Saga, and they can’t use the MCU Peter Parker, or even Andrew Garfield’s or Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parkers, will they start looking for lookalike actors? And could that even work?

Sony Is Making a Series About Spider-Man Clones That Can’t Utilize Spider-Man Himself Marvel Studios/Sony Pictures

The way the Spider-Man live-action rights are divied up is a tad confusing. Sony, not Marvel Studios, has the rights to make live-action series based on the Spider-Man IP. However, because of Peter Parker’s connections to Disney’s MCU, they can’t uctually use Spider-Man as a character himself. Or, more specifically, they can’t use the names “Peter Parker” or “Spider-Man.” That’s why Nicolas Cage’s character in Spider-Noir was just “the Spider,” and his civilian name was Ben Reilly. It’s why Kraven, Madame Web, and Morbius couldn’t even mention Spider-Man. But what could this mean for a story all about characters cloned from the DNA of famous superhero, Spider-Man? To get anyone to care about this, we really think Sony simply has to find a way to utter the words “Spider-Man” and “Peter Parker” in this show, or just don’t bother.

Could They Cast Younger Lookalikes of Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield, or Tobey Maguire for a Clone Saga Series?

First off, we think that even if a deal between Disney and Sony can be reached to use the names “Spider-Man” and “Peter Parker” in the series, this show won’t be set in the MCU. It’s just too complicated to coordinate with the existing MCU Spider-Man movies. All of which are still coming out in theaters and making money hand over fist. So no, not only do we not expect to see Tom Holland, we doubt they’ll cast any young Tom lookalikes.

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Currently, the Andrew Garfield Amazing Spider-Man universe is sitting there unused, and could make sense in this context. Could Sony coax Andrew Garfield to return for the right price for a small role? And could Sony start looking for some Andrew Garfield doppelgangers? Again, assuming they work out a deal where the names of Spider-Man and Peter Parker can be mentioned, of course.

Of All the Spider-Mans, Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker Should Be the Clone Template Sony Pictures

Finally, there’s the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man from Sam Raimi’s trilogy. He’d be the most interesting and best option, as he’s been Spider-Man for nearly 25 years now. Conceivably, a scientist could have gathered his blood from a battle, and used it to create several clones. All of who would now be of an adult age. This scenario would be the most interesting one by far. And Tobey would frankly be the easiest actor of the three to bring back in a bit part, as he’s not as booked and busy as Holland and Garfield. But none of this works unless Sony and Marvel can work out a deal to at least be able to mention the character in the series.

Nerdist’s Take: A Clone Saga Series Hinges On Establishing a Known Spider-Man in That Universe

A series based on the Spider-Man Clone Saga hinges on being able to establish a Spider-Man within the universe of the show. Otherwise, it’s just a generic sci-fi show about clones using names from Marvel Comics that carry no weight. Of course, they could always introduce a new Spider-Man variant we’ve never met before as that world’s Spidey. If the Spider-Verse movies have taught us anything, it’s that Peter Parkers exist across the Multiverse. But we don’t think that would work as well than having a clone based on a Peter Parker we already know and love. Here’s hoping that Sony, Prime Video, and Marvel get all their ducks in a row to make this work. Otherwise, we predict another Madame Web or Kraven style misfire.

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

The post Could a CLONE SAGA Series Use SPIDER-MAN Actor Lookalikes? appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Voiced by Andy Samberg, the Scarlet Spider is one of the many Marvel Spideys in Across the Spider-Verse. But who is this hoodie-wearing clone?

Few Marvel characters exemplify the ‘90s more than Ben Reilly, the Scarlet Spider. He was, in many ways, the epitome of comic book trends of the era. First, the Scarlet Spider was popularized in a major “status quo-shaking” Marvel Comics event. Second, he was an edgier version of an iconic hero. These were key ’90s comics ingredients. Nowadays, Scarlet Spider has made his big screen debut in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, voiced by Andy Samberg… and he might even be starring in his own Sony universe TV series on Prime Video, focusing on the Clone Saga comics. But who is Ben Reilly, the infamous alternate Spidey? And why were folks so excited to see him return? Here’s the lowdown on Peter Parker’s broody clone, the Scarlet Spider.

Marvel Comics Table of Contents; Jump To:

• The Scarlet Spider’s Groovy ’70s Marvel Comics Origins
• Scarlet Spider Returns in the ’90s, Following Comics Trends of Darker Doppelgängers
• Scarlet Spider Becomes Spider-Man and Ben’s Untimely Demise
• The Scarlet Spider’s Modern-Day Resurrection
• The Scarlet Spider Becomes a Movie Star in Across the Spider-Verse
• Ben Reilly Could Be Heading to a Prime Video TV Series

The Scarlet Spider’s Groovy ’70s Marvel Comics Origins

The roots of the Scarlet Spider didn’t actually begin in the ‘90s. They went back even further, to 1975. In that year’s Amazing Spider-Man #149, Peter Parker’s college professor Dr. Miles Warren, also known as the Jackal, created a fully grown version of Parker to destroy Spider-Man. Why did he hate Spidey so much? Well, it turned out Dr. Warren was a super creep. He was obsessed with his much younger student Gwen Stacy, whose death he blamed solely on Spider-Man. And he was a brilliant scientist who studied under none other than the High Evolutionary. That association always leads to trouble.

Marvel Comics

When Gwen died at the hands of the Green Goblin, a death Spider-Man could not prevent, Warren snapped. He developed an alternate persona to deal with his feelings of guilt—the Jackal. As the furry costumed Jackal, he cloned Gwen and Spider-Man, thus learning that the wallcrawler was his other student, Peter Parker. This clone had all of Peter’s memories and was designed to fight and kill his doppelgänger. However, he seemingly died in the very issue they introduced him in. And that would be the last we’d hear of this Spider-Man clone for nearly two decades. It was all meant by writer Gerry Conway as a one-off story, but it ended up creating Marvel Comics’ Scarlet Spider.

Scarlet Spider Returns in the ’90s, Following Comics Trends of Darker Doppelgängers Marvel Comics

In the early ‘90s, one of the biggest comic trends was replacing iconic heroes with darker, edgier versions of themselves. In 1992 Superman died, and one of his replacements was the evil Cyborg Superman. Batman’s back was broken, and then the ultra-violent Azrael wore the batsuit. At Marvel, someone remembered the clone from 1975 and had an idea. What if maybe the Spider-Clone didn’t die and had been living in secret for years? Even more tantalizing for Marvel, they teased readers with the notion that this character was actually the Peter Parker we’d been reading about for years, while the newly emerged “clone” was the real thing.

Marvel Comics

When Marvel brought back the Spider-Clone, they revealed that after his apparent death, he realized he was a mere copy of Peter Parker and not the original. He decided to leave New York and became a drifter wandering America. He bleached his hair blonde and took the name Ben Reilly. Ben after his deceased uncle Ben, and Reilly since it was his Aunt May’s maiden name. He continued his scientific studies, this time under Dr. Seward Trainer (yet another acolyte of the High Evolutionary). He suffered many tragedies during his exile, making him a darker and more bitter version of his (now happily married) genetic twin. But when he learned that his Aunt May was near death, he went back to New York, and revealed his existence to Peter.

Ben Reilly and Peter Parker first resented each other and had an uneasy relationship. There was a good deal of spider-on-spider violence. Eventually, Dr. Trainer performed blood tests on both heroes, only to determine that the Peter Parker fans had been reading about for 20 years at Marvel was the clone, and Ben Reilly was actually the first Peter Parker. Ben then decided to stay in New York City and fight crime under a new name—the Scarlet Spider. Sales soared for the Spider-Man titles during this time, and it seemingly encouraged Marvel editorial to keep the newly coined Clone Saga and Scarlet Spider going for as long as possible. And they did.

Scarlet Spider Becomes Spider-Man and Ben’s Untimely Demise Marvel Comics

In late 1995, Marvel decided that Peter Parker and MJ would retire to married life and start a family, and Scarlet Spider would take over as Spider-Man. He was “the real deal” after all. Scarlet Spider became the new friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, taking over all five Spider-Man ongoing books and getting a new costume. Although some fans felt betrayed that the Spidey they’d been following for years was a copy, Ben Reilly persisted. In fact, in the epic Marvel vs. DC crossover event that year, it was actually the Ben Reilly Spidey that fought DC’s heroes, not Peter.

Marvel Comics

Eventually, after more than two years, sales of the Spider-Man books (and comics overall) began to plummet. Marvel decided it was time to end The Clone Saga and get back to basics. It was revealed that a returned Norman Osborn/Green Goblin—who had at that point been dead for almost 25 years—had been behind everything. He planted fake evidence that Scarlet Spider was the real Peter Parker, as a way of tormenting Peter Parker himself. Ben Reilly died in battle with the Goblin and literally liquified. Thus proving he was the actual clone all along. At the time, people were mostly glad the story was finally over. It seemed no one would miss old Ben.

The Scarlet Spider’s Modern-Day Resurrection Marvel Comics

But as we know, nostalgia makes even the worst stories look better. Kids who grew up with The Clone Saga and the Scarlet Spider actually loved that event looking back. By the 2010s, these kids were now adults, and begged Marvel to bring back the Scarlet Spider. In 2015, Marvel finally did. In The Clone Conspiracy, Marvel revealed that the Jackal had collected the DNA of Ben Reilly from his death site and attempted to bring him back, memories and all, 26 times.

The 27th clone was stable and lived, but held traumatic memories of each painful death. Ben freed himself from the Jackal, and resumed a heroic career. At first, he took the name Anubis, after the Egyptian God of Death. Eventually, he took on the name and mantle of the Scarlet Spider once more. And thus, the Scarlet Spider returned to Marvel Comics. ‘90s nostalgia was in full swing. He was the hero of Las Vegas for a time before returning to New York City. Scarlet Spider’s last major storyline was Marvel Comics’ Dark Web, where he became entangled with Marvel’s other most famous clone, Madelyne Pryor, herself a disregarded genetic copy of the X-Man Jean Grey.

The Scarlet Spider Becomes a Movie Star in Across the Spider-Verse Sony Animation

With his appearance in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Ben Reilly’s Scarlet Spider finally made it to the big screen. He appeared in the ‘90s Spider-Man: The Animated Series a couple of times, right around the time of his comics heyday. But aside from showing up in the recent Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon series, there were not many appearances by Scarlet Spider outside the comics. But with Across the Spider-Verse, that finally changed.

Sony Animation

In Across the Spider-Verse, Ben Reilly is used as a kind of comedic meta-commentary on the overly angsty Marvel comics of the ’90s. Ben is part of Spider-Man 2099’s squad sent to go after “fugitive spider” Miles Morales. He spends most of his screen time brooding and constantly commenting on his situation, giving voice to an old-school comics thought balloon. His look was very much like the art style of his co-creator, the late Tom Lyle. Will Scarlet-Spider switch sides in Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, and choose to help Miles instead of hunting him? We’ll find out when the third chapter finally releases in 2027.

Ben Reilly Could Be Heading to a Prime Video TV Series

But that’s not all for the old Scarlet Spider. Reports reveal that Prime Video is putting together a Sony Universe TV series that revolves around the Clone Saga storyline from Marvel Comics. And you guessed it, this series will focus specifically on two Spider-Man clones, Ben Reilly and Kaine Parker. The Scarlet-Spider could soon arrive to the small screen.

Originally published June 1, 2023.

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

The post Who Is the Scarlet Spider? The SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE Hero, Explained appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Spider-Man’s infamous Clone Saga from the comics is being developed as a live-action series for Prime Video, using the characters Ben Reilly and Kaine Parker.
• The series is being developed by American Born Chinese creator Kelvin Yu, and will focus on the struggle of the two spider-powered clones grappling with their true identities as genetic copies.
• Nerdist’s take: We’re not quite sure how a show about Spider-Man clones can work without using Spider-Man, or even a Spider-Man we’re already familiar with.

Spider-Noir may have been canceled rather abruptly, but that doesn’t mean Sony is done developing live-action series based on the Spider-Man IP. According to a report coming from Deadline, Sony and Prime Video are in the early stage of creating a series based on one of the most controversial (and often hated) Spider-Man comic book stories of all time: the Clone Saga. This storyline literally ran for two years in the comics back in the mid-’90s, and saw Peter Parker replaced as Spider-Man by his own clone, Ben Reilly. Another clone, Kaine Parker, also first appears in this story. Fans don’t view it as a high point for Spidey as a character, but apparently, Sony sees opportunity in this storyline.

Marvel Comics

The new series is being written and developed by written by American Born Chinese creator Kelvin Yu. Apparently, the series would follow Ben and Kaine “as they grapple with their newly discovered identities as clones while also facing other clones.” One of those clones could be Spidercide, an actual evil clone of Peter Parker. Marvel’s Ultimate line of comics in the 2000s also adapted the Clone Saga, which introduced a female clone of Spider-Man, which is something the series could also adapt.

The seeds of the Clone Saga go back to the mid-’70s. In a two part story, the villainous Jackal cloned Spider-Man, complete with memories and all of his powers. That clone seemingly died at the end of that story. But two decades later, Marvel revealed he didn’t die, and simply went into hiding. He dyed his hair blonde, and changed his name to Ben Reilly. He took on a new superheroic identity, the Scarlet Spider. This name comes from his late Uncle Ben, and his Aunt May’s maiden name of Reilly. The Clone Saga also introduced a darker Peter clone named Kaine Parker.

Marvel Comics

Eventually, Marvel Comics revealed he, Ben Reilly, was the true Peter Parker, and the Spidey fans had been reading about for two decades (who married MJ) was the clone. Ben officially took over as Spider-Man. And fans hated it. Marvel reversed its decision in 1996, and revealed that the Peter Parker of the past two decades was the true Spider-Man after all, and Ben Reilly died. But, even the most hated elements of ’90s comics find themselves reevaluated over time. In recent years, Ben Reilly has returned, and he even appeared in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse in a small role.

Marvel Comics Nerdist’s Take: We Think Making a Spider-Man Clone Saga Without Using Spider-Man Will Be a Very Tall Order

We can’t help but wonder what this means for the series. If these are two clones of Peter Parker, shouldn’t they look exactly like Tom Holland? Or, if it takes place in the Andrew Garfield universe, shouldn’t they look like him? How much impact can the show have if they are clones of a Peter Parker we’ve never met before? We know that the Sony live-action shows can’t actually use the name “Spider-Man.” So we’d bet this show is called Scarlet Spider. But adapting a saga about Peter Parker’s clones without being able to use Peter Parker himself? This seems like a fool’s errand. But hey, people really loved Spider-Man: No Way Home, which was partially based on a very hated Spidey storyline. Maybe this despised storyline can find redemption in live-action too.

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!

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

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