The Nerdist

Quick Take

• The larger screen for SCREENX versions of the Avengers: Doomsday trailer suggests that Hawkeye’s Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) will appear in some capacity.
• A scene between Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) and his daughter Cassie (Kathryn Newton) in the trailer appears to take place in Kate Bishops’s apartment.
• Nerdist’s take: We think this is yet another indication that the Young Avengers/Champions have a big role to play in the finale of the Multiverse Saga.

Even though it has a massive cast already, Avengers: Doomsday still has even more cast members yet to be revealed. At least according to the Russo brothers. We’re pretty certain that Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are returning as Deadpool and Wolverine, respectively. And all signs point to those “Latverian Witches” being well-known MCU actors as well. But thanks to Comic Book, we’ve learned that the SCREENX trailer for Doomsday may have confirmed one more. The trailer shows more footage to the sides of the frame than usual. And eagle-eyed viewers have seemingly confirmed that one scene takes place in the apartment of another unannounced character — Kate Bishop/Hawkeye, played by Hailee Steinfeld.

Marvel Television

The scene in question is when Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) hugs his daughter Cassie (Kathryn Newton) during an emotional moment. But it appears that scene takes place in Kate Bishop’s apartment, last seen in Hawkeye. So what is Cassie doing there? Well, for those of you who saw The Marvels, the answer is right there. In one of the post-credits for that film, we see Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel appearing at Kate Bishop’s place. She’s there to recruit her into a new team. She mentions that “Ant-Man has a daughter,” who is, of course, Cassie. The assumption here is that Kamala and Kate go off to California to recruit Cassie into forming the Young Avengers. Or perhaps the Champions, another team of young Marvel heroes.

Nerdist’s Take: The Inclusion of Kate Bishop Suggests a Role for the Young Avengers/Champions in Doomsday and/or Secret Wars

So does this mean we’re seeing not only Cassie and Kate, but also Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan in Doomsday? Well, if we do, we suspect it’s a cameo, or just a post-credits tag leading to Avengers: Secret Wars. Rumors have been going around about a Champions Special Presentation in its early stages at Disney+. This could also be setting them up for that. For years, MCU projects have been introducing Young Avengers/Champions heroes in different projects, with the most recent ones being Wiccan in Agatha All Along, and soon, Speed in VisionQuest. We have a feeling they’ll have a big role to play in Battleworld, but if the SCREEENX trailer is to be believed, we may seem as early as Doomsday. Only a few months left until we know for sure.

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 DOOMSDAY SCREENX Trailer Seems to Confirm Kate Bishop/Hawkeye appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Dungeon Crawler World: Earth has hundreds, maybe even thousands of playable races to choose from. Some of these races are made up exclusively for the crawl, but many are real races from across the galaxy.
• The books reveal only a few of the potentially limitless race options for Crawlers.
• Nerdist’s Take: …but there’s still enough to rank some and snub others! Sorry Carl, your still-looks-human-Primal a** ain’t making the cut.

Dungeon Crawler Carl has taken the world by storm in a way that rarely if ever happens with books that don’t have some kind of screen adaptation. Yes, there is a Dungeon Crawler Carl show happening eventually but, in the meantime, there’s still an infinite amount to talk about with the books. For example, at the beginning of book two, Carl’s Doomsday Scenario, Carl and Donut are faced with race selection at the start of the third floor. Dungeon Crawler World: Earth offers a LOT of races to choose from, and we only know a few. BUT, out of what we know, what are the best races in Dungeon Crawler Carl? Let’s rank the best ones right now!

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7 LitRPGs to Read If You Loved DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL 10. Caprid

A race both inside the dungeon and out, Caprids are bipedal creatures that most closely resemble Earth goats. While the race doesn’t share a collective mind, they are a herd, which often means they move as one anyway in many scenarios. The IRL Caprids (aka “The Plenty”) are a powerful empire, known for having invented the tunneling system that allows shows like Dungeon Crawler World to air all across the universe. I’m putting them on the list because I love goats. This is the beginning and end of my justification. Things aren’t getting more objective from here, fair warning.

9. Amazonian

Oh Hekla, we hardly knew ye—or your selected race! But, in the immortal words of Steven Universe, “All I wanna do is see you turn into a giant woman (a giant woman!)” Amazonians are much taller than humans and resemble professional body-builders. While we can only speculate on the stat buffs the Amazonian race bestows, it’s a likely bet that the race comes with significant increases for both Strength and Constitution.

Ace Books 8. Tigran

Okay. I know, I know—the furry jokes are right there. Donut’s made them. Yes, my mental image of Tigran Crawler Daniel Bautista is basically just a Khajiit, a la Skyrim. Still—he’s a f*cking tiger guy! That’s so cool!

7. Changeling

Changelings can switch races to any race they’ve physically touched in the past, with a few caveats. Once shifted, the Changeling in question inherits abilities from the race they’ve transformed into. Most Changelings have total control over this power. Mordecai… doesn’t. But that’s his problem. The most powerful Changelings can shift independent body parts—like giving themselves the wings of a Skyfowl, the fists of an Igneous, and the legs and torso of a Sai. You… probably wouldn’t be able to fly being that heavy, but you would look very impressive!

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Everything You Need to Know About DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL 6. Frost Maiden

The Frost Maiden race is unsurprisingly ice magic-centric. For Crawlers who choose it, they’ll be transformed into a blue-skinned, fairy-like creature with flight capabilities. A great choice for older Crawlers, as we see with Elle McGibbons, the beloved and vulgar ninety-nine-year old woman Carl and Donut meet on the very first floor. Demented as all get out and coming down with a bad case of “natural causes,” choosing the Frost Maiden race gives Elle a new lease on life. Her brain function is completely restored, and ninety-nine never looked so good. Now, whose d**k does she have to suck to get a drink around here?

5. Igneous

Quiet but courageous Crawler Chris Andrews selects this race when he hits the third floor. The Igneous are a towering humanoid race comprised of rocks and lava. They’re walking heaters than can fire lava out of their bodies. The Igneous race can also meld entirely with the earth, moving around unseen underneath the surface, which makes them excellent forward scouts as well as tanks in their own right.

4. Obsidian Butterfly

Obsidian Butterflies are bada**. Gaunt and skull-faced, the Obsidian Butterflies almost look mummified—with that aspect only growing more intense as they level up. They’re wasting and thin, but their four wings are beautiful. They’re ethereal, passing through everyone and everything harmlessly. However, this is often how Obsidian Butterflies cast buffs on their allies, who briefly glow due to the healing/buff.

An Obsidian Butterfly’s wings are Monarch-like, with mixing vivid colors of orange, yellow, red, white, and black. Their wingspan is twelve feet. On the 6th floor, Crawlers who have chosen this race are faced with a choice between evolutionary lines. They must decide between solidifying their wings and gaining true flight, or leave the wings as they are—as a vessel for healing.

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Jeff Hays Joins DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL TV Series as Princess Donut 3. Changbi Demon

Possibly the most terrifying Crawler race in Dungeon Crawler Carl, Changbi Demons are a force to be reckoned with. When Li Na selects the race on the third floor, she is made taller and thinner. Her skin turns deathly pale, and her brow ridge becomes defined. Two short black horns push up through her hair. Her mouth is stretched to twice the size it once was. She looks scary as f*ck, and her race abilities match. Changbi Demons cause excruciating pain and poisoning whenever they touch someone, including allies. Changbi Demons are immune to acid attacks, can prevent people from healing, and can turn into smoke at will. You do NOT want to piss off a Changbi Demon.

2. Doppelgänger

“If she’s 90% flesh and 10% metal, she can make herself to look like a regular, unarmored human, but what you perceive as her bikini, or her feet, or her hands, can really be the material from the helmet. As long as it’s 10%, and it’s continuous. You can’t break up the item. Also, there’s some elasticity issues with certain enchanted materials, plus certain limits still exist, like she’s not allowed to grow four arms so she can wear forty rings, but you get the idea.” —Mordecai

Similar to the Changeling race, but with a twist. While Changelings can legitimately transform into another race, adopting their various strengths and weaknesses, and at least some of their skillset, Doppelgängers are a bit more complicated. Doppelgängers don’t get the racial properties of the species they portray—because they’re not really turning into said species, they just look like them.

Initially, you might think, “Oh, okay, so… they’re good for disguise, I guess?” That’s what I initially thought too, but no no no. Similar to what Mordecai says, a doppelgänger can be wearing an entire suit of armor, but be made to look like they’re wearing almost nothing at all. It’s unsurprising to learn that Strength and Constitution are the innate proficiencies of this race. Katia, for instance, can transform herself into whatever she wants, so long as she can correctly craft and maintain the form. She was an art professor before the Crawl, so she picks this up pretty quickly.

Only downside? It hurts to change. Katia doesn’t talk about it much, which is probably not a good sign.

1. Cat

“I choose cat. Next.” —Princess Donut

What, did you think it would be something else? As a card-carrying member of the Society for the Eradication of Cocker Spaniels, this was always going to be #1. Choosing any other race would be an outrage.

As the Dungeon Crawler Carl universe continues to expand, there will be even more to discuss, whether it’s races, classes, ships, or just the fact that Carl often has the emotional intelligence of a poorly-baked brick. I can’t wait to see the world open up even more, almost as much as I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, The Beautiful Place. While we wait, there’s the graphic novel retelling of the series, as well as a forthcoming canon side story about Florin, the Crocodilian. Much like with Dungeon Crawler World in canon, our universe can’t get enough of Dungeon Crawler Carl.

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

The post The Best DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL Crawler Races, Ranked appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• You can now watch the iconic dark fantasy short, The Traveler & The Troll.
• This incredible creation features a 6-foot-tall puppet and the talented work of Erika Ishii.
• We love the way this short takes us back to the days of iconic ’80s fantasy movies.

Do you have nine minutes to feel totally transported? We bet that you do. So we have the perfect offering for you—a brilliant short movie that captures the best of the ’80s fantasy genre, feels steeped in emotion and artistry, and will have you laughing, crying, and on the edge of your seat. C’mon, you have nine minutes for that. So press play on The Traveler & The Troll and go on your own fantastical quest, right from your living room or wherever you are. You won’t be sorry you did.

There’s just something to the fantasy movies of days gone by. ’80s movies have a real heart to them, a real depth. Humor, darkness, fear, and hope layer one onto the next in a way that feels rarer and rarer in our day and age. There’s a certain level of thought you can feel throughout those films.

But The Traveler & The Troll manages to perfectly tap into the vibes of those halcyon cinema days. The description for the fantasy short shares, “A Traveler stops to rest in a clearing of a long haunted forest. They soon learn they are not alone and have stumbled upon the lair of a terrifying troll. To survive the night. Much to the Troll’s surprise, the Traveler is more of an adversary than the Troll ever could have expected.”

Adam Murray

As we mused in a previous write-up, “It’s an excellent-sounding tale, but whatever you’re envisioning, the actual short is even better than that. In nine glorious minutes, it works its practical magic on you. The Traveler & The Troll immediately casts its spell deftly, taking viewers into a fully formed realm that feels both at once real and fabulously magical, and introducing you to its mythical troll and epic traveler. But, of course, both are more than meets the eye. And this short manages to be both enthralling, humorous, and emotional all in one go. We love its quick wit and banter, and star Erika Ishii very much delivers the true gravitas we want to see in our fantasy heroes in such a short piece.”

Naturally, then there’s the true star, THE TROLL PUPPET, a creation you really have to see to believe. But his greatness lies in the fact that he is a work of true art, an amalgamation of human craft resulting in unbelievable results.

Adam Murray

The creators of The Traveler & The Troll share, “The film was proudly shot in Los Angeles, at Laurel Canyon Stages, and features fantastic performances, incredible cinematography, along with fully practical special FX, original puppets, including a six-foot-tall troll, stop-motion and 2D animation, real sets, prosthetics, slime, and zero AI.” The real slime also truly won us over. We jest, but the movie is really just so beautiful.

Adam Murray

And we’re not the only ones who think so. Since its arrival on the scene, The Traveler & The Troll has won MANY awards. And, we mean, just look at it, this is one short that would be very hard to compete with. A relase notes:

The multi-award winning short film ‘The Traveler & The Troll’ is making its online premiere after an impressive two year festival run.

‘The Traveler & The Troll’ is a Horror-Fantasy Comedy, starring Erika Ishii (Dropout, Ghosts of Yotei) as a weary adventurer who stops to rest in a haunted forest, where they’re terrorized by a Troll, voiced by performer Dave Child (See You Next Christmas, Townies). The Traveler must answer the Troll’s three riddles to survive the night, but it turns out the Troll might have underestimated his prey.

After premiering at the Overlook Film Festival in 2025 and taking home the Audience Award for Best Short Film, the film was the official selection of over twenty different film festivals, including: Palm Springs International ShortFest, Fantasia, FilmQuest, Soho Horror, Chattanooga Film Fest, Philadelphia Film Festival, Fog Fest, San Diego Comic-Con, and won Best Horror Comedy at Midsummer Scream, Best Genre Short at Baton Rouge Underground, Best Film at Warped Witch, and Best Horror Comedy at HollyShorts Comedy Festival.

‘The Traveler & The Troll’ was written, directed, edited, and produced by Adam Murray and was majority funded through Kickstarter.

The film stars Erika Ishii, Dave Child, and puppeteers Brittaney Talbot and Chelsea Pickens Tonick

A generational run for a generational troll. And, as we said, if you want to see what all those folks at the film festivals saw, now you can! Just press that play button and be transported into a realm we can only dream of in reality.

Now that we’ve brough it up, we really feel like we have to watch it again. But honestly, we would love to see the further adventures of The Traveler and the Troll. It can’t really end there, can it? You can learn more about the project here.

Editorial Note: Adam Murray is employed by Legendary Digital Networks, of which Nerdist is a subsidiary.

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

The post Watch THE TRAVELER & THE TROLL Short: It has a SIX-FOOT Puppet appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• The first Game of Thrones movie, Aegon’s Conquest, will fly into theaters in the summer of 2029.
• The release date for Aegon’s Conquest is much farther away than we expected.
• Nerdist Take: HBO’s shows didn’t need three years to produce many more hours of television, so why does a single movie need three years?

HBO viewers watched House Targaryen try to reclaim the Iron Throne on Game of Thrones. They have watched those dragon lords fight among themselves to sit on their family’s famous chair on House of the Dragon. But Westeros fans will also get to see how that iconic seat was created in a new kind of adventure. Aegon the Conqueror, the legendary ruler who brought fire and blood to the Realm, is getting his very own Game of Thrones movie. His story will serve as the franchise’s first foray to the big screen. And now we know when he and his two sister-wives will fly into theaters. It won’t be anytime soon. Aegon’s Conquest will try to conquer the world of cinema in the summer of 2029.

HBO/IGN

Variety reports Aegon’s Conquest will premiere on June 6, 2029. That is much later than we expected. A big-screen take on Aegon’s conquest of Westeros has been in development for many years. The version we’re going to see, Owen Harris (A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms) directing a script by Beau Willimon (Andor), has been in the works since at least March of 2026.

Could the pending merger with Paramount (which is still not finalized) be the reason the Game of Thrones movie is still almost three years away? Absolutely. It’s also why we might never see it. But it could also be that Aegon’s Conquest will really take that much time to complete. Game of Thrones‘ final season was only six episodes long but took two years to make, in large part because of the amount of time needed (55 days) just to film “The Long Night.” Aegon’s Conquest will likely include the infamous Field of Fire along with other battles. His story will also include plenty of sequences with dragons. Forget all the other CGI and visual effects the movie will need. The dragons alone will lengthen the amount of time post-production will require.

HBO/IGN

Still, House of the Dragon season three had plenty of dragons. It also began and ended with huge battle sequences, and those eight hours of TV “only” took two years. So even if Aegon’s Conquest, with its one script and one director, runs three hours, three years is a long time.

If the Game of Thrones movie is good, it won’t matter. We just won’t find out if that’s the case for a long time.

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 GAME OF THRONES Movie AEGON’S CONQUEST Sets Summer 2029 Release appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: Minas Tirith set is enormous and totally incredible.
• Alas, this LEGO set also costs $649.99.
• The set has a hefty price tag, but it really is beautiful.

Here at Nerdist, we’ve been huge supporters of LEGO’s The Lord of the Rings sets. From the beauty of Rivendell to the menace of Barad-dûr, and everything in between, these builds have been a gorgeous gift to fans. And the newest entry to the LEGO The Lord of the Rings world does NOT disappoint. In fact, LEGO’s The Lord of the Rings: Minas Tirith set is one of its BIGGEST ever and truly an architectural marvel you can construct in your living room. Let’s take a closer look at what lies in store for your fellowship when they crack open LEGO’s 8,278-piece recreation of the iconic White City of Minas Tirith.

LEGO

In celebration of The Lord of the Rings‘ 25th anniversary comes one of the biggest sets that LEGO has ever created. LEGO Minas Tirith is even bigger than LEGO’s Millennium Falcon (though still smaller than the Death Star). But you’re going to need every one of those 8,000+ pieces if you’re going to create the massive towers, different levels, and ornate fixtures of this city of Gondor. The Age of Men is beginning, after all. And it needs to start in the finest of fashions. Honestly, we just can’t get enough of the way that stone outcropping juts out over the rest of the build. It is literally SO gorgeous.

Click To View Gallery LEGO LEGO LEGO LEGO LEGO LEGO LEGO LEGO LEGO LEGO LEGO

LEGO shares of this The Lord of the Rings Minas Tirith set:

Crafted from 8,278 pieces, this highly detailed set recreates the majestic city of Gondor – the legendary White City of Minas Tirith™. Designed as a striking display model, the build captures the towering architecture, layered walls and iconic citadel that defined one of Middle-earth’s most memorable locations.

The set features a hybrid-scale design, combining an expansive microscale cityscape with richly detailed minifigure-scale interior scenes. From afar, builders can admire the sweeping skyline and defensive walls of Minas Tirith. Up close, they can explore key interior spaces, including the throne room of the citadel, where pivotal moments from the story unfold.

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LEGO’s LOTR: Rivendell Set Takes You on an Epic Quest with Majestic Results

We can see why this Lord of the Rings build is deemed a display model. You would not want to accidentally shatter that many pieces into dust. Some builds, it’s best to just appreciate with the eye. Although that doesn’t mean that this LEGO Minas Tirith lacks humor—just take a look at Denethor and his tomatoes.

LEGO

Speaking of—this LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: Minas Tirith contains 10 minifigures. LEGO shares, “To bring the world of Middle-earth to life, the set includes 10 minifigures and the legendary Shadowfax™ horse figure. Characters featured in the set include Gandalf™ the White, Faramir, Denethor, Peregrin Took™, Aragorn™ as King Elessar, Arwen™, and four Soldiers of Gondor, along with themed accessories such as Gondor helmets, shields, and Aragorn’s crown.” We adore seeing everyone dressed up in their Return of the King finery.

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LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: Minas Tirith is now available for purchase.

LEGO The Lord of the Rings: Minas Tirith: Release Date, Pieces, Dimensions, and More

• Product Number: 11377
• Age: 18+
• RRP: £579.99 / €649.99 / $649.99
• Pieces: 8,278
• Dimensions: over 23.5 in. (59cm) high, 24.5 in. (62 cm) wide, and 14.5 in. (37 cm) deep
• Availability:
• LEGO Insiders Early Access: 1st June 2026
• For all: 4th June 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!

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

The post LEGO LORD OF THE RINGS Minas Tirith Is HUGE appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• A new LEGO The Lord of the Rings set is here: LEGO The Shire. This adorable set tells the story of Bilbo Baggins’ eleventy-first birthday.
• As new The Lord of the Rings movies set sail, get into the spirit of Middle-earth with this cozy LEGO set.
• Even More LEGO LOTR Fun: You can also snag Minas Tirith for an extra challenge.

If there’s one thing you need to know about Nerdist, it’s that we absolutely love LEGO. And more than anything else, we love The Lord of the Rings LEGO sets. So far, we’ve had an incredible time building LEGO Rivendell (one of the most exquisite sets to ever be made) and LEGO Barad-dûr, and could not more highly recommend them to all of you. And that’s why, it has absolutely made our day to hear that a new The Lord of the Rings LEGO set is joining the incredible collection for adults. Yes, heading our way is The Lord of the Rings LEGO Shire. And it has everything you need to tell the cinematic story of Bilbo Baggins’ eleventy-first birthday celebration. (One of the greatest fictional celebrations ever.) The best part of The Lord of the Rings LEGO sets is that they tell a true story, and we know that The Shire build will continue this storied legacy.

Here’s what you need to know about LEGO’s The Lord of the Rings: The Shire.

LEGO The Lord of the Rings: The Shire Is Full of Hobbity Goodness LEGO

We’ve visited LEGO elves and LEGO orcs and have gone on many an adventure with The Lord of the Rings builds. But we have not yet gone there and back again to The Shire. LEGO’s latest set spotlights a different part of Middle-earth, a place where the meals are large (and come often) and planting, singing, and a little gossip is the order of the day. Yes, the LEGO Shire is everything we dreamed it would be.

LEGO

A release shares of this LEGO set, “the breathtakingly detailed Shire set recreates the festive atmosphere of Bilbo Baggins’ eleventy-first birthday celebration. From Bilbo’s hobbit-hole, complete with its iconic round green door and richly appointed interior to… interactive elements include being able to transform a burning letter into The One Ring and make Bilbo vanish with a turn of a dial or recreating the dragon firework scene with interchangeable heads for Merry and Pippin. The set also includes Gandalf’s horse and cart, fireworks, a firework dragon figure, the Party Tree, a party pavilion, and Bilbo’s book, which can be displayed open or closed.”

We absolutely adore this tiny, magical Hobbit hole, full of lush greens, trees, flowers, and, very importantly, snacks. We also are so excited, of course, about the many stories it can tell. There’s nothing more beautiful than a build that drenches in story.

LEGO How Many Pieces Is LEGO’s The Lord of the Rings: The Shire Set? LEGO

The LEGO Shire set contains 2017 pieces in total. That makes it the smallest of The Lord of the Rings sets by a wide margin. And that makes a lot of sense because a) Hobbit’s are little folk and humble in their lives. They don’t look to be as grand as the elves of Rivendell or the Dark Lord in his tower, and b) because this setting comes at the beginning of the story. If you have younger children or folks new to The Lord of the Rings‘ world, an easier LEGO build can help them dip their toe into the water, as it were. (Before they end up running into the river Anduin and realizing they can swim.) It’s definitely nice to have a gorgeous The Lord of the Rings set that you’ll be able to put together quicker than some of the other ones.

What LEGO Minifigures Are Included in The Lord of the Rings: The Shire Set? LEGO

The Shire comes with nine LEGO Minifigures—these Minifigures are Bilbo Baggins, Frodo, Mrs. Proudfoot, Farmer Proudfoot, Merry, Pippin, Rosie Cotton, Samwise Gamgee, and Gandalf the Grey. In short, everyone you need in order to have a really good party before dramatically disappearing and running away from everyone you’ve ever known.

LEGO

We especially love the mischievous, up to no good, faces on Merry and Pippin’s faces.

How Much Does LEGO’s The Lord of the Rings: The Shire Set Cost? LEGO

All told, LEGO The Lord of the Rings: The Shire is very reasonably priced. The LEGO Shire costs $269.99. This set is also the cheapest of the The Lord of the Rings LEGO sets so far, so, once again, it’s a great place to start your collection.

When Will LEGO’s The Lord of the Rings: The Shire Release?

The LEGO Shire released on April 5, 2025.

At the time, LEGO Insiders received a very special LEGO The Lord of the Rings scene build and a dark one at that. This special gift with purchase will be a LEGO build of Gollum, when he was the Hobbit Sméagol, first finding the One Ring. And we all know what happens next to his poor friend Déagol. Yikes! But we love it. It really does fit the theme of the upcoming The Lord of the Rings movie, The Hunt for Gollum.

Alas, you’ll probably have to go on a quest to find this little set at this point.

LEGO Sean Astin, Samwise Gamgee Himself, Narrates the Beautiful Story of the LEGO Shire

In case that wasn’t enough to sell you on LEGO’s latest The Lord of the Rings set, Sam Gamgee himself, Sean Astin, is here to tell you a story about it.

LEGO

You can also check out Astin reminiscing about his time on The Lord of the Rings as he builds the Shire LEGO set. We highly suggest watching the adorable video.

We dare you to get through this beautiful mini-film without feeling like you need to get your hands on this set!

Originally published on March 25, 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!

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

The post LEGO The Shire Set Joins Epic THE LORD OF THE RINGS Collection appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• LEGO has released its first Dragon Ball set, a large model of the titular dragon Shenron, with a small, LEGO minifigure of Kid Goku.
• The Dragon Ball set will soon be available to pre-order. The intended release date is November 4th.
• Nerdist’s Take: From One Piece to Dragon Ball, LEGO is really leaning into anime. And we love it. We’re excited to see anime in this new form, and can’t wait for what’s next.

On September 22nd, LEGO put out a tiny teaser video, letting anime and LEGO fans alike know that a Dragon Ball LEGO set was on the horizon. Now just one week later, we know what our first set is—and hopefully it’s the first of many! This LEGO Icons set is of Shenron (the ‘dragon’ in ‘Dragon Ball‘) with a little Kid Goku LEGO minifigure to go with, of course.

LEGO, Toei Animation

The Dragon Ball LEGO set has 1,764 pieces, and stands at a little over a foot (32cm) tall, nine-and-a-half inches (24cm) long, and ten inches (26cm) wide, making it a perfect centerpiece for an anime nerd’s display shelf. The LEGO Icons set is intended for adult assembly and makes for a fun build whether by yourself or with a friend. While the set will come with paper instructions, you can find even more detailed instructions with 3D models on the LEGO Builder’s app.

LEGO LEGO, Toei Animation

Along with looking cool as all get out, LEGO Dragon Ball‘s Shenron will be somewhat posable. You can move both his head and his claws around, while his body remains in its dramatic coiled form—often how he appears in the anime/manga. You can also move around Kid Goku on his Kintoun as you like, as well. There’s a lot of unique LEGO bricks for this set, including the dragon balls themselves at the center of the base, with our favorite giant green dragon rising out of them.

LEGO, Toei Animation

If you’re looking to pre-order the LEGO Icons Dragon Ball: Shenron & Goku building set, it comes with the hefty price tag of $179.99 USD. So, the cost of two bags of groceries. Maybe. Still! You can’t pre-order LEGO Dragon Ball: Shenron & Goku yet. But rumor has it that the set will be available for pre-purchase beginning on October 4th. The LEGO Dragon Ball set will then release on November 4, 2026.

LEGO, Toei Animation From One Piece to Dragon Ball, LEGO is Embracing Anime

The One Piece sets flew off the metaphorical and literal shelves when they were released in 2025, and I’d place bets that Dragon Ball will do just the same. If you’re having a hankering for an anime LEGO set you can build today, we suggest you snag The Going Merry, Tony Tony Chopper, or Gum Gum Fruit LEGO sets today.

We can’t wait to see what other eye-catching nostalgic Icons sets LEGO will release in the Dragon Ball series!

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

The post LEGO Reveals DRAGON BALL Set appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Craft beer company Voodoo Ranger, known for its delicious IPAs, wants to give away free beer for a year to a person over 21 named Michael Myers.
• It is in celebration of the company’s Slasher IPA, which is inside of a limited-edition Halloween Hoppy Pack to celebrate spooky season and Halloween: The Game.
• The search will end on on October 7 at an NYC event where real-life Michael Myerses can show valid ID for a special reward alongside slashed bar tabs, game demos, and giveaways. Winners will be revealed on October 19.

There are some names that we cannot imagine having. Life must be pretty interesting for anyone named Michael Jordan or Michael Jackson, right? And we bet it is even weirder for someone named Michael Myers. We are sure that most parents did not intend to name their child after a slasher villain… or maybe they did. Us horror fans are a strange bunch sometimes. But there’s good news for all the people named Michael Myers in the world. Voodoo Ranger is doing a free beer for a year giveaway for a person legally named Michael Myers.

Voodoo Ranger

The company is cleverly calling this search Slasher Manhunt, and it celebrates the Slasher IPA, which is a part of a limited-edition Hoppy Pack. This contest is also a partnership between Voodoo Ranger and Halloween: The Game.

Anyone with the legal name Michael Myers can run to this website and enter. The search for the luckiest Michael Myers will end on October 7 in NYC at Party Without Fear, a special activation where a bunch of folks with same name can get special rewards, drink, game, and score giveaways. The Michael Myers who gets free beer for a year will be announced on October 19, which is the silent killer’s actual birthday. Now this is a fun bit of marketing.

RELATED ARTICLE

7 Games to Play This Fall With Cozy and Spooky Vibes

“Being named Michael Myers has come with enough baggage, so we’re here with the beer,” said Kiron Chakraborty, Marketing Director of Voodoo Ranger. “We’re rewarding real Michael Myerses with a year’s supply of Voodoo Ranger because Halloween deserves to be celebrated, not endured. And when it comes to Halloween, there’s no better beer than Voodoo Ranger.”

People will all names who are of drinking age can score the Hoppy Pack before it runs out.

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 Voodoo Ranger Wants to Give Every Michael Myers Free Beer appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Futurama finished its 14th season at Hulu with no plans for another season. That means Futurama has ended, again.
• However, Matt Groening is confident this latest ending also won’t be the end of the show. And that feels likely.
• Futurama is always ending and beginning again.

Futurama has ended. Again. But don’t worry, Matt Groening says it will return. Again. And no, this is not an old post you’ve read roughly seventeen times. It’s just that when it comes to the sci-fi animated series “Time Keeps On Slippin'” across a flat circle where Futurama is simultaneously always canceled and always on.

20th Television Animation

Matt Groening spoke to Variety about the ending of Futurama‘s 14th season that just aired on Hulu. While three Futurama specials are coming to the streaming site, the season finale— the very meta-named finale, “Final Ending: The Last Conclusion”—is currently poised to be the show’s last official regular episode. That makes this Futurama ending roughly the 18th series finale in its series history. If Groening has anything to say about it, though, it won’t be the last last episode. “They can put us in a coffin. They can nail the lid shut, but they can’t bury us. We will rise again,” Groening told Variety. He then added, “I guess I’m not too worried.”

Why would he be? Futurama is the ultimate TV phoenix. Futurama “ended” for the first time in 2003. After a revival at Comedy Central in 2008, it then said goodbye again in 2013, only to get another reboot at Hulu in 2023. Each run also ended with an episode meant to serve as a series finale (In fact, writers have actually written six episodes that serve that purpose.) Groening and the writers even made fun of that with this most recent farewell that likely won’t stick.

The creators of Futurama certainly don’t want the show to end. “We have lots more stories to tell,” he said. “The animators and the actors and the writers all would love to do more stories and we’ll see. You never know.”

I mean, yes we do, right? If there’s one thing about Futurama we know is that every goodbye means a Futurama hello.

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 FUTURAMA Has Ended (Again) But Matt Groening Is Confident It Will Return (Again) appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• A Spider-Man: Brand New Day “re-release” with extra scenes could be coming to theaters immediately, and it’s another bad sign that movies are entering their DLC era.
• The Spider-Man: Brand New Day re-release will feature Rosario Dawson’s cut scenes as Claire Temple, along with other surprises.
• Nerdist’s Take: An instant re-release for a multi-billion dollar blockbuster is a greedy attempt to prey on fans who helped it set box office records.

A new report from Deadline says work is underway on a Spider-Man: Brand New Day re-release. This obviously sounds absurd because the movie is still in theaters. It’s currently “released.” So what the hell could Disney and Sony be re-releasing? :deep sigh: A version that features extra footage, same as Avengers Endgame: Encore, which just arrived in theaters. And that’s why this news feels like an ominous sign. Cinema could be ushering in a terrible new era: the DLC-ification of movies.

Marvel/Nerdist

According to Deadline‘s Anthony D’Alessandro, a Spider-Man: Brand New Day version that includes the cut scenes of Rosario Dawson’s Claire Temple will be coming to theaters. The bonus footage will also feature “more surprises.” This news comes immediately after Avengers Endgame: Encore‘s “opening weekend,” which pulled in $86 million at the global box office. Would Disney be considering an immediate second dose of Spider-Man: Brand New Day if not for Avengers Endgame: Encore‘s success? It’s easy to say “no,” but that misses the point. This Spider-Man: Brand New Day re-release is nonsense no matter what!

Tom Holland’s fourth solo outing is still doing gangbusters at the box office. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is sitting at nearly $2.5 billion globally, and that number is only going up since it’s still screening everywhere. How much more radioactive spider blood do the studios want to squeeze out of moviegoers? To attend this Spider-Man: Brand New Day re-release, fans will need to buy a whole other ticket, along with whatever drinks and snacks they want, and give up their whole night to see a few extra minutes of scenes that literally weren’t important enough to include originally?

Marvel Studios/Sony

It’s not like Disney is planning to do this in five or ten years when it might be fun to see the movie on the big screen again. While there’s no date for “Bonus New Day,” it sounds like the Spider-Man: Brand New Day re-release could be imminent. And, again, you can see the movie in theaters right now. All of which makes this seem like an absolute, shameless money grab. This is a way to get fans to pony up even more money for a film they might have already seen multiple times. Only this is somehow so much worse than Avengers: Endgame: Encore, because that at least had the gimmick of “connecting to Avengers: Doomsday.”

(Even then, not everyone who saw it got every scene! The most important addition was only included in premium format screenings, which only adds to our worries about what all of this portends for cinema at large.)

MArvel Studios

A quick theatrical re-release with bonus scenes is not entirely new. Films like Napoleon Dynamite and 28 Days Later both started showing screenings with extra or deleted scenes before the original cuts left theaters. (I know, because I saw both.) But both were also much smaller, standalone films that most people still hadn’t seen at the time of the re-release. (I hadn’t.) They weren’t multi-billion dollar juggernauts clearly targeting diehard fans. Those movies were trying to entice new viewers. Blockbusters, like Spider-Man: Brand New Day, are preying on those who will feel as though they’re missing out if they don’t see the “extra” scenes in the re-release immediately.

Sony Pictures/Marvel Studios

For a movie at this scale, this is the equivalent of downloadable content. This is like selling gamers the base game, but then immediately telling them they now have to pay for a whole bunch of extra things if they want to fully enjoy the experience. (Ask older gamers if they prefer life before DLC and microtransactions, and they’ll turn into Grandpa Simpson.) It’s pure greed. It’s taking advantage of the very people who just helped Spider-Man: Brand New Day set box office records. (Those people also might have held off on a second showing if they had any inclination that a longer version was just weeks away, which makes this even worse.)

Marvel Studios

And for all that extra money, what are audiences even getting? The kind of bonuses appended to the Avengers Endgame: Encore or Spider-Man: Brand New Day re-releases used to be standard fare on DVD and Blu-rays. Extended scenes, deleted scenes, and commentaries used to be some of the best reasons to buy home releases. And that was part of the deal. You paid for a movie ticket to see a single, finished film in a theater, and then the studio got a second bite of the apple by selling you a copy full of extras you owned. Instead, this time you’ll get to buy a ticket for a movie you were falsely told was finished, then you buy a second ticket for more scenes that will barely increase the run time and won’t change the film in any meaningful way, all before you pay a monthly fee for Disney+ so you can watch it at home.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day‘s re-release will probably be successful, same as Avengers Endgame: Encore. No one is being forced to spend their money on an immediate re-release, either, so what’s the problem? The problem is that just because something makes money, or is technically, “allowed,” it doesn’t mean it’s ethical. But even if you don’t care about this one re-release or Avengers Endgame: Encore, you should care what the future might look like. From streaming blurring its own lines to the 35th version of the same album being released in the world of music to these theatrical “re-releases,” all over, consumers seem to be getting charged more to receive less. If this trend continues, you won’t even be able to go see a movie without wondering if you’re wasting your money by not waiting to see how much the film’s theatrical DLC will cost.

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 SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY Re-Release and the DLC-ification of Movies appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Longstanding cookie company Nutter Butter is causing a stir on social media with its very unhinged approach to advertising.
• The company has been using creepy images and a strange lore that includes a villainous Nutter Butter Man since at least 2024, but many people are just now discovering it.
• Nerdist’s Take: If you want to get Gen Z to buy your cookies, you gotta get absurdist and weird, so bravo to Nutter Butter for being bold.

At Nerdist, we are experts at delivering comprehensive television, film, and comics coverage. We can spot Easter eggs with ease, or give you all the info you need in an explainer piece. But we also like to write about some pretty weird stuff, from an obscure video on the internet to food that frankly no one should be eating. Some things are so incredibly disturbing that we have to make sure that we aren’t the only ones who saw it. That’s what happened when we stumbled upon the very wild social media pages of Nutter Butter, who have taken their ad campaign strategy in a fever dream-like and horrifying direction. 

Nutter Butter/Facebook

For those who aren’t familiar, Nutter Butter is a longstanding peanut butter cookie company. It’s classic cookie has two peanut shaped and wafer designed cookies that sandwich a center made with peanut butter. The company has been around over 50 years, and apparently Nutter Butter’s ad marketing team decided that absurdist horror images are the new way to drive engagement and keep people interested in its brand.

And honestly, they aren’t wrong. There’s some sort of ongoing lore on the page featuring a villain called the “Nutter Butter Man.” It’s like someone made a creepy fan page and started making up fanfic, except this is real.

RELATED ARTICLE

Walton Goggins’ Grinch Is a Career-Making Performance (for an Unhinged Walmart Ad) Nerdist’s Take: Nutter Butter Is Clearly Targeting Gen Z and Gen Alpha, and We Are Actually Here for the Weird Ads

Nutter Butter’s weird social media ads are racking up numbers, with the company having almost three million followers on TikTok. We are sure that the creepypasta-loving Gen Z and Gen Alpha crowd makes up a big part of that number. Our staff is comprised of olds, but we are not made at the company’s approach, even if it baffles us a bit. Some folks online say they feel dark and demonic energy from the Nutter Butter posts, which is leading to some interesting discourse. In the end, it is all getting more attention for the company, and presumably making them money.

While it is new to our eyes, Nutter Butter has apparently been up to shenanigans since at least 2024, with some saying they started this in 2022, eschewing traditional advertising with whatever is going on here. The Nutter Butter videos will make you feel like you’ve taken some sort of hallucinogenic drug. Going viral is the pathway to staying relevant, and that’s what this company is doing. 

RELATED ARTICLE

OREO Serves Up Thanksgiving-Flavored Cookies (Yes, There’s a Turkey & Stuffing Flavor)

So there you have it. We hope those images are seared into your brains, just like they are in ours.

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 Nutter Butter’s Unhinged Ads Make Adult Swim Bumps Look Tame appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• The upcoming Disney+ series VisionQuest looks to bring Marvel’s first superhero, the Human Torch, to the MCU, fifteen years after a Captain America: The First Avenger Easter egg.
• The synthetic hero appeared in 1939’s Marvel Comics #1, along with Namor the Sub-Mariner. As an android, he retains a strong connection to Ultron and the Vision.
• Nerdist’s take: It may just be a flashback or a cameo, but the Torch’s appearance confirms there were other extraordinary people in Captain America’s original World War II era.

Marvel Studios loves its Easter eggs and post-credits scenes. Some of those paid off spectacularly, like Thanos in the original Avengers. Others, like everything teased in Eternals, are still waiting on a shelf five years later. But other times, they play the long game. Such as how Marvel teased the Leader in The Incredible Hulk in 2008, only for him to finally arrive in 2025’s Captain America: Brave New World. And now, on the upcoming VisionQuest series, it looks like Marvel may finally be paying off another ancient Easter egg, and introducing Jim Hammond, the original Human Torch, who first appeared (sort of) in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger.

A Human Torch Easter Egg Appeared at the Stark Expo in Captain America: The First Avenger Marvel Studios

In the early scenes of Captain America: The First Avenger, we see pre-Cap Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and his best friend Bucky (Sebastian Stan) go to the Stark Expo in 1942. This is shortly before Bucky ships off to war. Among the futuristic tech Howard Stark was showing off at his expo, we see a glass tube with a blonde man in a red costume. Above the tube, it reads “Dr. Phineas Horton Presents: The Synthetic Man.” This is the Human Torch, Marvel Comics’ first superhero. Created by Carl Burgos, he first appeared in Marvel Comics #1 in 1939, along with Namor the Sub-Mariner. It’s just a fun Easter egg for comic book fans, but it confirmed that the WWII-era hero existed in the MCU. Then, for 15 years, we heard nothing.

The Human Torch’s Comic Book Origins Go Back to 1939 Marvel Comics

In the comics, Dr. Phineas Horton was a brilliant scientist working out of Brooklyn. He learned under Victor Timely, who Loki fans might remember as the time-traveler He Who Remains/Kang. His artificial man contained everything a human possessed, using synthetic cells cultivated in a lab to recreate internal organs, blood, everything. So he was technically an android, but more in the Blade Runner sense, rather than an android in the Data from Star Trek sense.

Marvel Comics

However, when Horton revealed his synthetic man to the world, he came with a unique quirk. His entire skin lit on first upon contact with oxygen. At first branded a freak, he eventually got his flame powers under control and became a superhero. He took on the name Jim Hammond, and became an NYC police detective. And as the heroic Human Torch, he fought Namor in the very first Marvel character crossover. He received his own Human Torch series, along with a kid partner named Toro. He fought the Nazis in World War II alongside Captain America and Namor. In fact, Marvel eventually revealed that it was the Human Torch who killed Hitler in his bunker, burning him to death! (High five, Jim.)

The Human Torch Becomes The Vision (Or Does He?) Marvel Comics

As the 1940s wrapped up, superheroes lost their popularity. The Human Torch, who headlined his own series, was shelved and mostly forgotten about for years. When Marvel launched The Fantastic Four in 1961, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby gave Johnny Storm the Human Torch name and powers. But eventually, Marvel remembered the original Torch that launched a publishing line. After a brief reintroduction in 1966, Marvel explained that the evil AI Ultron used Torch’s body to construct the android Avenger, the Vision. Torch’s mind and memory were wiped, and the Vision was a different entity using Hammond’s body.

Marvel Comics

But eventually, in the 1980s, that retcon itself became retconned. Marvel revealed that Ultron constructed Vision from the spare parts of the Human Torch, and was a distinct and separate being. That allowed the original Human Torch to return to the Marvel Universe, where he became an Avenger. And he’s more or less stuck around ever since. Even if his popularity as the Human Torch has long been eclipsed by Johnny Storm. But as Marvel Comics’ first superhero, he retains significant importance to the Marvel universe overall.

The Human Torch Will Finally Appear in VisionQuest on Disney+

Although not officially confirmed, it seems obvious now that the Human Torch will appear in VisionQuest. At a booth at D23, Marvel showed production art of a man standing in a room lit on fire. And he doesn’t seem to be contorting in pain. Then, the trailer for VisionQuest briefly showed a man igniting, further confirming that we’re about to see that Human Torch Easter egg from The First Avenger pay off at last. Good things come to those who wait, as the saying goes.

Nerdist Nerdist’s Take: The Original Human Torch Confirms Cap Was Not the Only Enhanced Person Operating During WWII in the MCU

Certainly, some things will be different in the MCU. It’s clear from Age of Ultron that Vision was not made using Hammond’s inert body. But clearly, whatever Dr. Horton created back in 1942 inspired Ultron, and worked as a blueprint for Vision. Maybe we only see the Torch in flashbacks, or maybe his programming exists inside Vision’s mind. So far, we have no idea who Marvel has cast as the Human Torch, so it’s possible it’s a name actor. Did this version of the Torch work alongside Captain America in WWII, as he did in the comics? We’re excited to find out. And we’re glad Marvel’s first superhero has finally arrived in the MCU at last.

VisionQuest premieres on Disney+ on October 14.

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 VISIONQUEST May Pay Off 15-Year-Old CAPTAIN AMERICA Easter Egg appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Alan Cumming spoke again about filming Avengers: Doomsday.
• This time, the actor said he doesn’t know what happens in the plot of the movie.
• Cumming also shared he had a scene with Yelena Belova but never met Florence Pugh on set.
• Nerdist take: At some point we’d love to hear who Alan Cumming actually did scenes with.

I love Alan Cumming. Above and beyond how good an actor (and host) he is, Cumming is one of the most likeable dudes in Hollywood. And he tells it like it is. This guy is just so up front about everything, it’s honestly refreshing. He’s broken Marvel embargo yet again to talk about his time filming Avengers: Doomsday, which more and more seems like just a thing he did for the stories. He certainly (it seems) didn’t spend much time with other cast members. Their stunt doubles? Much more so.

20th Century Studios

When speaking to SiriusXM (via Variety) about The Traitors: New Blood, the candid actor explained he has next to no idea what is happening in his return to the role of Nightcrawler. “To be honest, I don’t fully understand the plot,” Cumming said. Now, comic book movies have pretty complicated plots anyway. Dealing with incursions as we are with Doomsday is much more so. Hell, I’m not convinced the Russo brothers understand the movie and it isn’t even out yet. But, Cumming, who I’m sure doesn’t have a super large role in the movie, seems just happy to be there.

“There was a bit when we were shooting a scene, and it was one of the rare scenes when I was actually on the backlot and not in front of a blue screen,” Cumming said. “And this man came and said, ‘So right now Alan, these giant robots are blah blah,’ and started to tell me the thing, and I was like, ‘You know what, thank you so much, but just tell me where I point my, whatever I point. And I’ll do that. Really, I just know I’m here to run around.’”

Marvel Studios

Cumming also let slip that, just as he never actually met Pedro Pascal during Nightcrawler’s fight with Reed Richards, he never filmed with the real Yelena Belova. “And I saw Florence Pugh yesterday at the Emmys,” he added. “And I said, ‘Gosh, it’s so funny. I’ve never met you, but you lay on top of me, or your body double did.’ And she goes, ‘Yeah I lay on top of you as well, but it was your body double.’”

I’m sure it’s next to impossible to get an eight hour chair video’s worth of actors in one place at one time. But, at some point I’d love to hear who Alan Cumming actually did scenes with. So far it sounds like he hung out on green screens with stand-ins. Anyone else?

Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters December 18.

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

The post Alan Cumming Doesn’t Understand AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY Plot appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Ian Alexander joins The Last of Us season three alongside John Goodman.
• Alexander and Goodman will play original characters in The Last of Us world, described as ‘Heroes of the Highway.’
• Nerdist Take: While these characters sound like fun, we feel it was a missed opportunity not to cast Ian Alexander as the character they voice in The Last of Us: Part II video game, Lev. Since Lev is a transgender character and Alexander is a transgender actor who already knows the role, it seems like the obvious choice.

Sometimes, TV series have a really obvious decision to make… And they just don’t make it. In this case, basically every The Last of Us fan out there wanted Ian Alexander to play the character of Lev. Alexander voices Lev in The Last of Us: Part II video game, after all, and the consensus seems to be that they would be perfect for the live-action role as well. Lev, in both the game and the season, is a transgender man, and Ian Alexander is as well. Not to mention, Alexander already knows all the nuances of the role. But alas, Ian Alexander will play a different role in The Last of Us season three, and a non-trans actress will play Lev. Actor John Goodman has been cast alongside Ian Alexander, and the pair will play Joey and Paco.

HBO/Bianca Catbagan/Naughty Dog

A release from HBO shares that in The Last of Us season three, John Goodman plays “Joey” and Ian Alexander plays “Paco,” and the pair are “a friendly duo who dub themselves ‘Heroes of the Highway.'” Unlike many of the side characters that populate The Last of Us‘ TV universe, Joey and Paco are original creations from the series and are not based on any characters from The Last of Us: Part II video game or the original The Last of Us game.

HBO Nerdist Take: Not Casting Ian Alexander as Lev in The Last of Us Season 3 Is a Missed Opportunity

The pair of characters do sound like a surprisingly sweet duo for the The Last of Us world. And we have no doubt they will be a really fun set of characters that add some levity and light to the dark world awaiting us in The Last of Us season three. We’re also glad to see Ian Alexander be a part of the live-action series in some capacity, especially acting with a beloved actor like John Goodman.

But ultimately, we would have loved to see Ian Alexander play Lev. We’re glad Lev will remain a transgender character in The Last of Us season three; however, this story decision would be even more potent if it gave a transgender actor the chance to shine in a role made for them. It feels like a huge missed opportunity not to have cast Ian Alexander as Lev… Especially when it feels like the choice should have been an obvious one.

The Last of Us seasons one and two currently stream on HBO Max.

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

The post Ian Alexander Joins THE LAST OF US Season 3, But Not as Lev (A Missed Opportunity) appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Laura Bailey is playing Elizabeth in The Last of Us season three.
• Elizabeth is a leader of The Last of Us‘ Seraphite faction and does briefly appear in the game.
• Bailey, who voiced Abby in the game, will likely meet live-action Abby, played by Kaitlyn Dever.

It’s happening! Critical Role star and original Abby voice, Laura Bailey, is joining The Last of Us season three. Laura Bailey, of course, is an acclaimed voice actress beyond her work as many different Dungeons & Dragons characters on Critical Role, the franchise where we know her best. To some, she will always be the voice of Abby in The Last of Us: Part II video game. And that’s admittedly, no minor role. The Last of Us series has opted away from casting voice actors in the roles they originated, but they have enjoyed sneaking in voices from the video game where they can. Thus, Laura Bailey will not, of course, play Abby on The Last of Us TV series; instead, she’ll play “Elizabeth.”

Naughty Dog/Critical Role Jump To:

• Who Is Laura Bailey Playing in The Last of Us TV Series? Elizabeth, Explained
• Is Laura Bailey’s The Last of Us Season 3 Character From the Games?
• We Bet Abby’s Voice Actress and Her Live-Action Actress Will Meet in The Last of Us TV Series

Who Is Laura Bailey Playing in The Last of Us TV Series? Elizabeth, Explained

In The Last of Us season three, Laura Bailey will play Elizabeth. The series notes that Elizabeth is “one of the leaders of the religious sect known as the Seraphites.” We briefly met the Seraphites in The Last of Us season two and learned they were a group organized around their shared worship of a figure called “The Prophet.” The Seraphites shun modern technology and are in direct conflict with the W.L.F., the militaristic Seattle faction Abby is part of.

With The Last of Season 3 going back in time to tell the tale of season two from Abby’s point of view, there’s no doubt we’ll see a ton more from both the Seraphites and the W.L.F.

Is Laura Bailey’s The Last of Us Season 3 Character From the Games?

Yes, Laura Bailey’s character in The Last of Us season 3 comes from The Last of Us: Part II video game. However, in the video game, Elizabeth is mentioned as a Seraphite mother but is never seen. Abby and Lev overhear Elizabeth’s husband discussing the death of their son. Elizabeth’s son was killed by the W.L.F. while on patrol with her husband, but Elizabeth would not accept the new child offered to her by the Seraphite Elders. This description does not quite match up with the one we receive of Bailey’s Elizabeth from The Last of Us TV series. But the show is famously good at taking minor video game characters and expanding their arcs. No doubt, for someone of Laura Bailey’s esteem, The Last of Us season three will do an amazing job crafting a compelling role.

We Bet Abby’s Voice Actress and Her Live-Action Actress Will Meet in The Last of Us TV Series HBO Naughty Dog

Abby is about to meet Abby. In The Last of Us season three, Kaitlyn Dever will again play Abby as the audience gets to know her point of view. But we have no doubt that Dever’s Abby is about to meet the voice of Abby, Laura Bailey, on the big screen. Seeing the pair interact will no doubt be a special treat for The Last of Us fans across mediums. That’s two Abbys for the price of one.

The Last of Us seasons one and two currently stream on HBO Max.

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

The post Who Is Laura Bailey Playing in THE LAST OF US Season 3? appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• HBO’s Lanterns has introduced many people to the characters of Hal Jordan and John Stewart, and these DC Comics Green Lantern stories served as inspiration.
• These stories span the 1970s to the modern day, from renowned creators like Denny O’Neil, Neal Adams, Len Wein, Dave Gibbons, Darwyn Cooke, and Geoff Johns.
• Nerdist’s take: If you love Lanterns, you’ll find something to love in most or all of these classic Green Lantern tales from across the decades.

Lanterns has become a sensation on HBO Max, giving viewers a gritty take on the Green Lantern mythology. Although far more grounded than the stories it’s based on, Lanterns nevertheless draws plenty of inspiration from several Green Lantern comics from across DC Comics history. Here are seven we think Lanterns‘ newer fans would enjoy, and we explain how they influenced the current DCU streaming series.

Green Lantern/Green Arrow: Hard-Travelin’ Heroes (1970-1972) by Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams DC Comics

Even though Green Lantern has long been a series about cosmic threats, it needed a modern refresh in the early ’70s. So DC Comics hired Batman creative team Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams to rebrand it as Green Lantern/Green Arrow. DC now paired Hal with the liberal activist vigilante Ollie Queen, the Green Arrow. The two men journeyed across America in an effort to “find themselves,” and connect with folks in everyday America. The two would argue constantly and challenge each other’s values, all while finding a way to fight evil together. The vibes of this series definitely informed much of what the Lanterns creators are doing. Only on Lanterns, with Hal and John instead of Hal and Ollie.

Get Green Lantern/Green Arrow: Hard Traveling Heroes Omnibus

Green Lantern/Green Arrow #87 (1972) by Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams DC Comics

Technically, this issue is one of the stories in “Hard-Travelin’ Heroes.” But it’s worth singling out this one issue. If you love Aaron Pierre’s portrayal of John Stewart in Lanterns, we highly recommend you read the issue where it all began for him, in the story “Beware My Power.” This issue by O’Neil and Adams from 1972 introduced John as DC’s first superpowered African-American superhero. This is long before he was retconned into being a US Marine. But John’s earnestness, social activism, and belief that he’d make the superior Lantern are baked in from the very beginning. And it all started right here for the character.

Green Lantern Vol. 2 #182-199 (1984-1985) by Len Wein, Steve Englehart, Dave Gibbons, and Joe Staton DC Comics

John Stewart famously first appeared in 1972’s Green Lantern #87, as mentioned above. He then made a mere four appearances throughout the rest of that decade, functioning only as Hal’s ‘backup.’ But eventually, Hal quits the Corps to stay with his girlfriend Carol Ferris on Earth. As a result, the Guardians of the Universe elevate John Stewart from backup to the main Green Lantern of Sector 2814. John holds that position for the better part of two years. Although at first he wears a mask, he eventually reveals his true identity to the world. These are the first stories where John Stewart truly takes over as Green Lantern, elevated to more than a replacement when Hal is injured. So these issues are highly influential on Lanterns.

Get Green Lantern Sector 2814 Vol. 2

Green Lantern: Secret Origin (2009) by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis DC Comics

DC Comics has explored Hal Jordan’s past as a test pilot before, starting in the 1989 series Emerald Dawn. Especially his relationship with his famous pilot father, Martin Jordan, who tragically died in a fighter jet accident when Hal was a kid. But it was in Geoff Johns’ storyline Secret Origin that really fleshed out Hal’s complicated relationship with his father, and the legacy he felt he had to live up to his whole life. Much of Hal’s early childhood, and the father/son dynamic we see in Lanterns, comes directly from how Johns and Reis portrayed it in Secret Origin.

Get Green Lantern: Secret Origin

Justice League #5 (1987) by Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire DC Comics

In episode six of Lanterns, we see that Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) has installed a “Green Lantern signal” in the town of Rushville. Something he did to mimic (and probably mock) that “Bat-guy in Gotham.” The way he spoke about Batman suggests that Guy does not have warm feelings toward him. In the comics, the two served on the Justice League International together. And in 1987’s Justice League #5, Guy attacked Batman without his ring to prove a point about his manliness, and Batman famously knocked him out cold on the floor after one punch. Guy would lie on the floor of JL headquarters for a good couple of issues. But this is where the long-running Guy vs. Bat animosity truly began.

Get Justice League International Book One

Action Comics Weekly (1988) by Christopher Priest and Gil Kane DC Comics

In 1988, DC’s long-running Green Lantern series, which began in 1960, came to an end with Green Lantern Corps #224. In that issue, the central power battery on Oa collapses, leaving only three power rings in the cosmos, one of which was Hal Jordan’s. As a result, John Stewart goes back to Earth to resume civilian life in the short-lived Action Comics Weekly. But after his wife Katma Tui gets murdered by Star Sapphire, John’s life unravels. Hal’s ring goes to him when he becomes incapacitated, but he angrily rejects it, after being falsely arrested for his wife’s murder. This story is the first time John rejects the power ring out of righteous anger, and it’s an action that would happen on screen in live-action in Lanterns. Sadly, this story isn’t collected at all, but some issues are available on the DC Universe Infinite app.

DC Comics: The New Frontier (2004) by Darwyn Cooke DC Comics

Although technically an Elseworlds tale, Darwyn Cooke’s DC: The New Frontier places DC’s heroes in the historical era they first appeared in. In this instance, that means the late ‘50s/early ‘60s, at the dawn of the space age. Our POV character throughout much of New Frontier is test pilot Hal Jordan, and Lanterns creators Tom King and Damon Lindelof cited it as a major inspiration for Hal Jordan’s gung-ho pilot portrayal in Lanterns. You can definitely view the Hal from this comic as the younger version of Kyle Chandler’s Hal. Also, New Frontier showcases novice heroes working with veterans to solve a cosmic mystery on Earth. All of which is very similar to the story of Lanterns.

Get DC: The New Frontier

DC Comics

Lanterns drops new episodes every Sunday on HBO and HBO Max.

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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 These DC Comics Stories Are Perfect for LANTERNS Fans appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• We are all used to silencing our cell phones at the movie theater, but today I urge you to consider turning off your smartwatch as well.

The cast of Avengers: Doomsday came together to share an important PSA: Silence your cell phones at the movie theater! And that IS an important message. But it’s one we feel like everyone has basically heard. And, more or less, people do follow that specific rule. Do people keep their phones in their pockets at the movies? Not as much. Generally, though, they silence them. But today we are here to talk about the silence menace that’s become more and more of an issue at the movie theater: SMARTWATCHES. Some smartwatches light up ambiently all the time, even when they aren’t actively delivering notifications, and they definitely flash when they do. And when people wear said smartwatches to the movie theater, they are a CONSTANT source of distracting light.

Marvel Studios/Apple

Maybe you’re not thinking about the impact of your smartwatch at the movies. We guess that’s fair; after all, no fancy Avengers are reminding you that the light from your watch can be highly irritating. But now, I’ve brought this critical issue to your attention. So you can’t pretend no one has ever made you stop and consider whether your wrist is actively annoying everyone around you in the darkened theater. It IS! Turn that Smartwatch off or remove it from your wrist before you head to the movies. Don’t make me have to say it again!

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How Popcorn Became the Premier Movie Theater Snack

In the meantime, I’ll personally call up Thor to see if he can help spread awareness about this issue. But seriously, cell phones, smartwatches, your glowing alien egg, whatever it is, if you’re heading in to see a movie, you don’t need those things. And the people around you certainly don’t need or want them either. Just let the movie you’re there to see do all the glowing and pulsing. Trust us, you’ll have a much better time if you do.

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

The post Turn Off Your Smartwatch at the Movie Theater!!! appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Members of the Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Four assembled for a very funny PSA to remind Doomsday audiences to silence their phones.
• This PSA is one of the most star-studded ever recorded.
• Nerdist Take: While this promo might be funny, it’s also important. Using your phone in a theater can ruin the movie for everyone else.

The Avengers saved the world from both Loki and Ultron. Earth’s mightiest heroes also brought back half the universe and defeated Thanos for good. But all of that pales in comparison to their latest heroic achievement. The Avengers joined their new friends from across the multiverse to tell moviegoers to silence their phones during Avengers: Doomsday. You can watch the multiversally important Avengers: Doomsday “Silece Your Phones” PSA below.

Ahead of Avengers: Doomsday, members of the Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Four got together for a very funny PSA. The short ad begins as a normal Avengers: Doomsday promo. At first we see the memorable moment from the film’s trailers when Thor confronts Doctor Doom. After tossing the God of Thunder aside easily, the infamous Latverian then uses sorcery to bring Sentinels back to life. Only, before he can announce himself, a ringing cellphone ruins the whole thing. That’s when we then see the audience, where Gambit, Shuri, Yelena Belova, Shang-Chi, Cyclops, Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Thor (awkward!), Captain America Sam Wilson, Red Guardian, Bucky, M’Baku, Namor, John Walker, Ava Starr, Mystique, and Joaquin Torres sit in their superhero costumes. (And if you can believe it, that’s not nearly the whole Avengers: Doomsday cast.)

Marvel Studios

Everyone in this Avengers: Doomsday PSA is played by their actual MCU actors, though, making this one of the most star-studded PSAs in history. It’s also one of the most important ever.

Nerdist Take: It Shouldn’t Take a PSA By the Cast of Avengers: Doomsday to Get You to Silence Your Cell Phones, But We’ll Take It If It Does

This is a cause near and dear to our movie-loving hearts. It’s also a PSA that applies to more than just Avengers: Doomsday. It’s important to remember that for all movies you go see in the movie theater, you need to silence your phones. You also need to keep them in your pocket, because the screen is distracting. And don’t forget those APPLE WATCHES. One of the best reasons to see a movie in a theater is the opportunity to lose yourself in the film. If you don’t feel that way, it’s fine. To each their own. But that doesn’t mean you should take that away from people who do. It’s a shared experience in a communal space. If you want/need to use your personal phone, leave the theater.

And if you don’t? Then we have no problem if the Avengers don’t come to your rescue during Doomsday. They already did their job warning you.

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 AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY Cast Assembles for ‘Silence Your Phone’ PSA appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Merlin Entertainments and Mojang Studios have announced they’re teaming up on Minecraft World in the UK, the first-ever Minecraft theme park.
• Minecraft World will feature the Escape the Nether roller coaster.
• Minecraft World will open in 2027 at at the UK theme park and zoo Chessington World of Adventures in Greater London.

Minecraft is the greatest selling video game of all-time. It’s live-action movie also pulled in nearly one billion at the global office and is getting a highly-anticipated sequel next year. And you know what? It’s not enough. The franchise is building on its success by building a theme park in Greater London. And Minecraft World will open next year.

Merlin Entertainments/Mojang Studios

Merlin Entertainments and Mojang Studios have announced they’re teaming up on the first-ever Minecraft theme park. Minecraft World is set to open at the UK theme park and zoo Chessington World of Adventures in 2027. The £50 million project (which sounds much better than its concept art looks) will feature new attractions, including a “world-first” Minecraft coaster. It will send visitors on minecart as they try to Escape the Nether. Here’s the coaster’s official description:

On this exciting new adventure, you’ll join Steve and Alex to battle your way through the Nether, coming face to face with hostile mobs before launching back to the Overworld. Will you escape? And yes, there’s lava. Lots of lava.

Merlin Entertainments/Mojang Studios

The immersive park will also have “interactive adventures” and “epic block-built playscapes.” And of course you’ll also find merchandise stores and dining options like an underwater-themed restaurant. Those who build their vacation around the park will also find “lush caves, mineshafts and plains of the Overworld.” And you’ll “meet mobs for real.” And the park’s official site also shows the experience will include a Minecraft-themed hotel.

The official announcement also says the park will feature “fan favourites and ridiculous fun from the Minecraft universe.” And the two companies partnered with Minecraft creators to enhance the authenticity of the park, which is 35-minute by train from London Waterloo.

Merlin Entertainments/Mojang Studios

“Minecraft World represents a meaningful milestone in our ongoing journey to expand the Minecraft universe,” said Torfi Frans Ólafsson, Senior Creative Director of Entertainment at Minecraft in a statement. “We’re thrilled to have partnered with Merlin Entertainments to realise a place where you can literally be in the Minecraft Overworld and have an adventure of your own with your family and friends. The team at Merlin Entertainments and Mojang have worked hard to craft an experience that feels immersive, authentic and welcoming, and we can’t wait for our community to experience it.”

Will fans flock to Minecraft World? Uh, yeah. Minecraft fans turn every endeavor by the franchise into a towering success. The only question is how long will it take them to build a second theme park.

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 Minecraft World Theme Park Opening in Greater London Next Year appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Superstar comic book artist Alex Ross revealed that he nearly illustrated a Superman/Star Wars crossover comic several years ago.
• Among the battles we would have seen were Superman vs. Darth Vader and Batman vs. Boba Fett.
• When Lucasfilm and DC Comics couldn’t figure out how to split the profits, the project was canceled.
• Nerdist’s Take: With a Marvel/Star Wars crossover happening soon, and many recently released Marvel/DC crossovers in the past year, we could see this happening at some point down the line.

It was recently announced that for Star Wars’ fiftieth anniversary next year, the inhabitants from the galaxy far, far away would cross over with Marvel’s biggest heroes in a comic book event series. This will be the first major Star Wars crossover with another well-known IP ever. But according to a post from Marvels and Kingdom Come artist Alex Ross, there was very nearly a Superman/Star Wars crossover at one point. And the iconic artist even did several concept paintings for the series, which never came to be. He talked about it in a video he posted to social media, which you can watch below:

A lot of this art has circulated for many years, but most fans believed it was just private commissions. One features Superman fighting Darth Vader. Kal-El is literally holding the blade of Vader’s lightsaber in his indestructible hand in this one. Another shows the two main heroes of their respective universes, Luke Skywalker and Superman, standing side-by-side. Boba Fett battles Batman in another image, which makes us feel very sorry for the bounty hunter. (Sorry, but Bruce clears Boba.) And finally, there’s one that recreates the iconic A New Hope poster, only with the rebels alongside the Justice League. And looming behind them is Lord Vader and Darkseid. JLA/Avengers crossover writer Kurt Busiek has said he would have been the one to write it.

Click To View Gallery Alex Ross/DC Comics/Lucasfilm DC Comics/Lucasfilm/Alex Ross Alex Ross/DC Comics/Lucasfilm Lucasfilm/DC Comics/Alex Ross

So why didn’t it ever happen? According to Ross, they couldn’t come to an agreement on how the profits would break down between Warner Bros. and Lucasfilm. Obviously, this is not a problem that the upcoming Marvel/Star Wars crossover has to contend with, because Disney owns both Lucasfilm and Marvel. But with DC Comics and Marvel doing crossovers again in a big way, who knows what the future holds? If it does happen, we certainly hope Alex Ross gets to be the artist to do it. We’d love to see the power of Darkseid and the power of the dark side try to take down the Justice League.

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 Alex Ross Almost Drew a Superman/STAR WARS Crossover Comic appeared first on Nerdist.