The Nerdist

⚡ Quick Take

• Nathan Fillion is set to play Guy Gardner in the DCU. Fillion’s Gardner first appears in Superman.
• We share the history of the Green Lantern Corps’ most insufferable member, from first appearance to animation and beyond.
• Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner will appear in several upcoming DCU projects, including Mister Miracle and Lanterns.

When people think of DC Comics hero Green Lantern, they tend to think of one of two characters — Hal Jordan, or John Stewart. But there’s another Lantern from the planet Earth who debuted after Hal, who has his fair share of fans, and has since the mid-‘80s. We’re talking about Guy Gardner, the loud-mouthed insufferable braggart with a power ring. And now, Firefly and Castle actor Nathan Fillion will play Guy Gardner in Superman, and even beyond, according to James Gunn. But who is Guy Gardner, and why do people even like this big jerk?

Warner Bros./DC Table of contents

• Guy Gardner: Earth’s First Backup Green Lantern
• Guy Gardner Becomes the Green Lantern of the ’80s
• Guy Gardner Becomes the Justice League’s Useful Idiot
• Warrior: Guy Gardner’s New Superhero Alias
• Guy Gardner Undergoes His Own Green Lantern: Rebirth
• Guy Gardner Trades a Green Ring For a Red One
• Nathan Fillion Will Play Green Lantern Guy Gardner in James Gunn’s DCU — Superman, Lanterns, And Beyond

Guy Gardner: Earth’s First Backup Green Lantern DC Comics

Although he’s thought of as an ‘80s character primarily, Guy Gardner first appeared in 1968’s Green Lantern #59. In that issue, they established that the dying alien Abin Sur, who bequeathed his Green Lantern power ring to pilot Hal Jordan in his famous origin story, only gave it to him due to close proximity. Guy Gardner was Abin’s other choice, but was simply too far away to be eligible for selection. In this early appearance, Guy was a physical education teacher, and also a football player. He’s chosen as Hal’s backup as Green Lantern of Sector 2814 whenever Hal was incapacitated, but his time as Hal’s replacement was short-lived.

DC Comics

Guy Gardner ended up hit by a bus while trying to save one of his students during an earthquake, resulting in a brain injury. Hal’s new backup Lantern then became John Stewart, who was far more popular with readers. Guy only made a handful of appearances for much of the next decade following John’s introduction. He was eventually knocked into the Phantom Zone, home of Kryptonian criminals like General Zod, who tormented him for an undetermined period of time. Although he was eventually rescued by Superman and Hal Jordan, his mind was shattered. He ended up in a deep coma for years.

Guy Gardner Becomes the Green Lantern of the ’80s DC Comics

During the ‘80s, Hal Jordan quit the Green Lantern Corps, and John Stewart became the permanent ring slinger of Sector 2814 (which included Earth). Guy was all but forgotten by DC writers, left to languish in a permanent off-panel coma. But during the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths, Guy awakened finally. The Guardians of the Universe, the Green Lantern Corps’ immortal alien bosses from the planet Oa, offered Guy a permanent power ring at last.

However, Guy’s traumas—his head injury, his time in the Phantom Zone, and his subsequent coma—had left him brain-damaged. He was also not happy to find that Hal Jordan was dating his girlfriend Kari Limbo when he was gone. During this era, they also revealed that he suffered an abusive childhood at the hands of his father while growing up in Michigan. His personality was no longer that of a kindly teacher. He was now brash, antagonist, and rude. They gave Guy a new costume, designed by artist Joe Staton, and he really became a whole new character. One with a fairly ridiculous (yet iconic) new bowl cut to match his new attitude.

Guy Gardner Becomes the Justice League’s Useful Idiot DC Comics

Guy became super jingoistic, a parody of “rah-rah” ‘80s Americanism. He loved to quote Ronald Reagan, and tried to emulate the action movie characters of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. The other members of Earth’s Green Lantern Corps all couldn’t stand him, so he joined the newly formed Justice League International in 1987. There, Guy’s popularity soared, mainly as the member readers loved to hate. He constantly rallied to be elected leader of the team, even if no one else wanted it in the slightest.

DC Comics

His braggart, bullying ways constantly got on his fellow Leaguers’ nerves, until finally, Batman sucker punched him. Guy awoke from this latest head injury now a sweet, kindly sap. Irritating his fellow Leaguers in all new ways. But eventually, his “jerk” persona reemerged. Despite this, he began a romance with Ice, the only JLI member who saw Guy’s good side buried underneath the bravado. JLI writers Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis wrote Guy as the butt of the joke, but one that readers grew to love regardless.

Warrior: Guy Gardner’s New Superhero Alias DC Comics

In the ‘90s, Guy underwent several transformations. He decided he was tired of being second and third fiddle to Earth Lanterns like Hal Jordan and John Stewart. He challenged Hal Jordan to a ring-free fistfight over who is the greatest Green Lantern. Hal won, leaving Guy humiliated and defeated. He turned in his power ring, and his role in the Corps. But he was later able to procure the villain Sinestro’s yellow power ring, and became a superhero once more. Finally, wearing the old yellow-powered Sinestro ring, he got his own ongoing series, simply titled Guy Gardner.

Although this iteration of Guy Gardner with the Sinestro ring lasted a few years, even helping Superman fight the monster Doomsday. Passed over to be Earth’s Green Lantern for new kid Kyle Rayner, eventually Guy received yet another makeover in the mid-90s. It was revealed to him that he had alien DNA, passed down from a race called the Vuldarians. These Vuldarians had tampered with mankind’s genetic code, particularly those of Gardner’s ancestors. With the genetic code unlocked, Gardner could now shapeshift his body into literal weapons. The unlocking of his code also cured him of many of his personality disorders, making him far less of a jerk than before. He took on the codename Warrior, and they changed his series to Guy Gardner: Warrior. He also opened a bar for the superhero crowd, appropriately named Warrior’s.

Guy Gardner Undergoes His Own Green Lantern: Rebirth DC Comics

In the early 2000s, writer Geoff Johns reinvigorated the Green Lantern franchise, turning it into one of DC’s biggest sellers, right next to the Batman titles. He brought Hal Jordan back to life in Green Lantern: Rebirth, after ten years of being dead. He also removed all traces of the Vuldarian DNA from Guy Gardner, and returned him to Green Lantern status. This included his classic costume as well. Guy was brash again, but less of an outright jerk and bully. The Guardians of the Universe tasked Guy with training the next generation of Lanterns, and he reluctantly agreed. He fought in several significant battles during this era, like the Sinestro Corps War, the Blackest Night, and others.

Guy Gardner Trades a Green Ring For a Red One DC Comics

During this time, Guy Gardner joined the Red Lantern Corps. Rage fueled the Red Lantern rings, much as pure willpower fueled the Green Lantern rings. Although he was seemingly a member of these anger-fueled ring bearers, he was actually still working undercover for the Green Lantern Corps, under orders from his frenemy Hal Jordan. He was a main character in the series Red Lanterns, where he tried to turn the crimson warriors into a force for good. Not long after, he was able to wield both red and green rings. But eventually, Guy’s Green Lantern ring purges the red energy, and Guy became a true Green Lantern again.

Nathan Fillion Will Play Green Lantern Guy Gardner in James Gunn’s DCU—Superman, Lanterns, And Beyond

Guy has had limited exposure in most outside comics media. Hal Jordan was the Green Lantern in the Super Friends cartoon, while John Stewart was the resident Lantern of the Justice League animated series. However, Guy Gardner has made a few appearances over the years, including guest-starring roles in series like Young Justice, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and the 2011 Green Lantern animated show on Cartoon Network. But now, Guy Gardner has his biggest audience of all time, thanks to the Man of Steel.

Marvel Studios/DC Comics

After many years of fans dream casting Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern Hal Jordan, he eventually played the role in animation three times. First in Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, then in Justice League: Doom, and Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox. But most recently, James Gunn cast his old friend in Superman as Green Lantern Guy Gardner. That made Fillion the first big-screen Green Lantern since the 2011 Ryan Reynolds movie.

DC Comics

Fillion shared of his DCU role:

The reality is that people have flaws. We all have quirks. We all have vulnerabilities. You could have the most wonderful family, but be like, ‘Oh, my God, my dad drives me nuts. He’s got this one thing.’ Everybody’s got something, and I love to lean into those faults and flaws. It’s what makes people real and what allows audiences to relate, because we all know what that is. We all have our own. We witness it in other people. Guy Gardner is 90% flawed and doesn’t care. That’s one of his flaws. I think there’s a real freedom in playing that. So, for a guy who likes to play flaws and flawed people, Guy Gardner is a gold mine.

Additionally, Fillion added the following comments about his take on Gay Gardner in Superman, “He’s a jerk! What’s important to know is, you don’t have to be good to be a Green Lantern; you just have to be fearless. So Guy Gardner is fearless, and he is not very good. He’s not nice, which is very freeing as an actor because you just think to yourself, what is the most selfish, self-serving thing I can do in this moment? And that’s the answer. That’s what you do in that moment. I think if he has a superpower, it might be his overconfidence, in that he thinks he could take on Superman. He can’t!”

DC Studios

Gunn promised that Fillion’s Guy Gardner would continue on in the DCU. Although the upcoming Lanterns series will focus on Hal Jordan and John Stewart, Fillion will appear on it once at least once as Guy Gardner. Additionally, Fillion will return to voice Guy Gardner in the DCU’s Mister Miracle animated series.

For someone once viewed as the “third most famous Green Lantern,” Guy Gardner has a bright future ahead.

Originally published on July 13, 2023.

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 Guy Gardner, DC’s Most Obnoxious Green Lantern, Explained appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Cynthia Addai-Robinson teases that Elendil is Míriel’s “partner in crime” in The Rings of Power season 3.
• The relationship between Elendil and Queen Míriel is one that fans are excited to see evolve, and we are excited to hear it will continue to grow.
• Addai-Robinson hints that fans should “keep their eyes peeled for what will happen with the two of them.”

One of the most gorgeous and nuanced relationships that we’ve seen emerge in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is between Elendil and Queen Míriel. Between them lives such a mature and layered blend of admiration, loyalty, desire, and love in its purest forms. But, of course, as with many Rings of Power relationships, the connection is tinged with the feeling of impending tragedy. The whole of Tolkien’s universe is going down a dark road, and Míriel and Elendil’s kingdom of Númenor more than most. But as always with The Lord of the Rings, where there is darkness, there is light. And Míriel actress Cynthia Addai-Robinson is teasing some fun for fans of Elendil and Queen Míriel in The Rings of Power season three.

When asked about what’s in store for Míriel in The Rings of Power season three, Addai-Robinson laughed, “Oh gosh. So many thoughts and feelings and questions [arise for her]. But I will say, Elendil, my lovely partner in crime, Lloyd Owen, he’s definitely still the right-hand man. But now Míriel’s sort of sent Elendil off, if you recall, at the end of The Rings of Power season two, with Narsil for those Eagle Eye observers. And he’s helping to gather that army that’s going to sort of get Queenie back in her rightful place on the throne. So it’s like the revolution has begun. They’re kind of on separate areas of the island because it is a pretty big island. But I would say keep your eye peeled for what will happen with the two of them.”

Prime Video

Big day for fans of well-written yearning! And we fully support getting Míriel back on the throne she deserves… Perhaps while also falling in love with Elendil on the way? We wouldn’t mind it.

Míriel, Elendil, and the rest will return when The Rings of Power season three premieres on Prime Video on November 11. The full release schedule can be found here. If you’d like to get yourself ready for this return to Middle-earth, you can pick up The Fall of Númenor: And Other Tales from the Second Age of Middle-earth or The Silmarillion and read more about Tolkien’s vision of the time when the show takes place.

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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 Elendil Is ‘Míriel’s Partner in Crime’ in RINGS OF POWER Season 3, Says Cynthia Addai-Robinson appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• From Widow’s Bay to Wonder Man, these are our favorite TV shows of 2026.
• The year still has many more shows to go, so stay tuned to see what we add next!
• Compare and Contrast: Take a trip down memory lane and check out our Best TV Shows of 2025!

A multitude of great TV series have dropped this year, and now that we’re halfway through 2026, we can start to look at them retrospectively. From comedy horror to superhero animation, we have stayed fed when it comes to content. At Nerdist, we have plenty of strong opinions to go around, so we think these are the best TV shows that have come out this year so far, in no particular order.

Table of contents

• Widow’s Bay
• Invincible (Season 4)
• A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
• The Boys (Season 5 )
• One Piece (Season 22)
• One Piece (Season 2)
• Wonder Man
• Star Wars : Maul – Shadow Lord
• The Vampire Lestat
• The Pitt (Season 2)
• Fallout (Season 2)
• X-Men ’97 (Season 2)
• What TV Shows Will Arrive Next on Our Best of List?

Widow’s Bay Apple TV

This year’s biggest Apple TV success was definitely this small-town comedy horror set on an island off the East Coast. The series follows the mayor of (you guessed it) Widow’s Bay, as he tries to gain respect from the townspeople and increase tourism. The place has plenty of haunting mythology, which the mayor refuses to believe… until he sees it himself.

Comedy and horror are certainly hard to combine, but this show does so masterfully. With lovable, slightly odd characters and disgustingly horrifying monsters, it really does try to do it all, and succeeds.

Widow’s Bay debuted in April this year, and since then, critics and fans alike have praised it. In June, before the premiere of the first season’s finale, Apple TV greenlit the renewal of the show for season 2. There will be plenty more laughs and screams to come, but Apple has yet to reveal the release date. We can’t wait for more of this easy best of 2026 TV contender.

Invincible (Season 4) Prime Video

Based on a comic series containing 114 issues, Invincible has been Prime Video’s geekiest crown jewel since 2021, when season one dropped.

This adult animated series follows a young superhero as he struggles with morality, his complicated (to say the least) relationship with his father, and one potentially world-ending catastrophe after another. Mark Grayson (Invincible) always pulls through, and season 4 was yet another series of those events. It was packed full of the gory action and well-animated fight scenes the series is known for. That said, it also showcased the more emotional side of all of the characters involved.

Invincible has a season 5 on the way, and a season 6 renewal came to the show on June 24. Its popularity definitely gave Prime Video the confirmation it needed to proceed with two more seasons. That, and the comic series it is based on, is not even close to over.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms HBO

If we had to guess, George R. R. Martin is making crazy money this year. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was adapted from his novella, The Hedge Knight, published in 1999. The series follows Dunk, a knight, and his squire Egg. The two exist within the same world as Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, but the tone of their story is entirely different, focusing much less on royalty and more on the “little guy,” so to speak. According to our very own Michael Walsh, who reviewed the series, the vibe is much more “whimsical,” but it doesn’t take away from the high production value that fans know and love.

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The season only had six episodes, each between 30 and 36 minutes long. Season 2 is expected to come out next year and will be based on Martin’s second novella, “The Sworn Sword.” The series’ director, Owen Harris, told Awards Buzz the next season will be more of a “road movie,” putting his own spin on the source material. We’re excited that this long-awaited Game of Thrones show made it onto our best TV of 2026 list.

The Boys (Season 5) Prime Video

The Boys was popular from the beginning; however, this final season got more attention than ever.

The series is political and social satire disguised as a superhero show. It follows a group of ragtag revolutionaries as they attempt to stand up to what seems to be unyielding, absolute power of Vought and its bad supes. The fifth and final season of the show brought absolutely everything to a head (har har). Without significant spoilers, let’s just say most of the loose ends left from the first four seasons were tied up.

One Piece (Season 22) Toei Animation

If you’ve asked yourself how a show can possibly continue after 1,155 episodes, the answer is having a massive number of manga volumes the show is based on. As of March, the One Piece manga series has over 1,100 individual chapters. And boy, does the anime use the source material.

One Piece seasons have always varied in length, but none have been as short as this one with 12 episodes. One Piece season 5 was the closest in 2002, with only 13.

Season 22 follows the “Elbaph” story arc from the manga. In this storyline, the Straw Hat crew and the giants arrive in Elbaph, the Land of Giants. It focuses, too, on the Holy Knights of God and their plan to take over Elbaph

Monkey D. Luffy sails with his crew of Straw Hat Pirates through the Grand Line to find the treasure One Piece and become the new king of the pirates.

Since the series premiered in 1999, episodes have come out year-round. Now, the schedule has been changed so that only 26 episodes maximum are released each year. Netflix is also making its own The One Piece anime, which will debut in 2027.

One Piece (Season 2) Netflix

One Piece is incredible any way you slice it. And the live-action One Piece continues to do the impossible by being a perfect anime live-action adaptation. It’s a rarity for a series to be adapted with such naunce and depth, but Netflix’s One Piece live-action keeps all the heart of the original, but deftly evolves it into a whole new medium. The found family, earnestness, and true joy of the anime comes to beautiful life. And in season two of One Piece, the series even managed to introduce live-action Chopper and make him a believable, adorable part of the journey. Truly, one Netflix’s One Piece is one of the best TV series of 2026.

Wonder Man Marvel Studios

Marvel’s TV series Wonder Man follows Simon Williams, a Hollywood star who gained his fame starring in a movie called Wonder Man. The series focuses on his relationship with fellow actor and comic relief character Trevor Slattery, who masqueraded as the Mandarin in Iron Man 3.

Wonder Man was a long-forgotten seventh Avenger who appeared in Marvel comics starting in the 1960s. Needless to say, this adaptation was long overdue. Even more niche Marvel heroes appeared in this show, such as Doorman, who appeared in the joke series Great Lakes Avengers.

Originally, his backstory included a deep hatred for Iron Man after Stark Industries beat out his family’s company, Williams Innovations. His involvement in the Avengers started merely as a way of getting back at Stark, but during his time there, his mind changed. Unfortunately, the show doesn’t delve into that story, but what is left is still a delightfully fresh take on the day-to-day life of a superhero.

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The series has been renewed for a second season, but Marvel has not yet announced a set release date.

Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord Lucasfilm

Another mature/adult animated series to top our best of 2026 TV series list is Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord. Expectedly, the series follows the fan-favorite Sith lord, Darth Maul. Identifiable by his double-bladed red lightsaber, Maul spends the show’s first season gathering his bearings, rebuilding his criminal empire, and plotting his revenge against Emperor Palpatine.

The series takes place about a year after the Clone Wars, during the Galactic Empire’s reign. While it is very action-heavy, there are certainly still emotional stakes for Maul. In an interview with StarWars.com, Lucasfilm president and Maul creator Dave Filoni said that the character is “relatable.”

He makes mistakes. He’s not perfect. He desires power, and then he gets toppled. That’s relatable. You know, we all probably feel like that when we have a low moment. He just doesn’t deal with it well. He keeps trying to attack his problems the same way. He can’t ever really let go of his hatred and his anger.

Though definitely more detailed and updated, the animation style is reminiscent of older animated Star Wars content, like Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Even ahead of season one’s debut, Maul was renewed for a second season. Disney has not revealed an official release date.

The Vampire Lestat AMC

Five decades after its publication, Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles receives a fresh life on AMC, and we’re so glad. Interview With the Vampire deftly told its tale for two dense, delicious seasons, and now The Vampire Lestat continues the story with a whole new rock and roll energy.

This season, Lestat, played by the exceptional Sam Reid, shatters all your expectations about what you think you know about The Vampire Lestat. The series turns into a whole new kind of art piece, one that, like the diva himself, demands a lot from you. Reid delivers a performance that defies mortal ability, allowing Lestat to possess him, as he’s by turns tragic, hilarious, petty, cutting, devastated, and devastating. It’s a performance we feel lucky to witness. Did we mention The Vampire Lestat also has incredible original songs to set the scene? Fans absolutely adore the way the music underscores of all Lestat’s emotional states and muses. And in a fit of brilliance, Lestat even performed in concert in New York City this June.

Additionally, fans love that the queer elements baked into the original story are made overtly clear—not swept under the rug or written off. All hail, Lestat. Truly, if this were the only series on our best of 2026 TV list, we would not feel sad.

The Pitt (Season 2) HBO Max

There is nothing people love more than a good medical drama. Grey’s Anatomy has run for 22 (soon to be 23) seasons, after all. But The Pitt is something unequivocally fresh and new. This HBO Max series is like Grey’s Anatomy—if it were much darker. It takes place at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center, and it shows in great detail the emotional and physical struggle of healthcare workers and their patients. Noah Wyle stars as Dr. Michael ‘Robby’ Robinavitch, the center’s Chief of Emergency Medicine.

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The show stays very current and realistic, dealing with real-life issues like ICE detainments and the inaccessibility of healthcare. It also portrayed violence against healthcare staff in a terrifyingly raw way.

The Pitt season one came out last year, becoming an instant hit, and even before the second season premiered, it had been renewed for a third, which can be expected to drop in early 2027. It’s no surprise this one makes it onto the best of 2026 TV series list.

Fallout (Season 2) Prime Video

This apocalyptic sci-fi favorite show is based on a video game series by the same name. After a nuclear apocalypse rocked the world, humans retreated to underground bunkers, where they have lived for decades. Generations later, one “vault dweller” named Lucy, played by Ella Purnell, ventures onto the destroyed surface after her father was kidnapped.

The second season continued to develop Lucy’s story, as she encountered people and creatures on the surface and got closer to uncovering the inner workings of big bad corporations, Vault-Tec and The Enclave. Making its mark as a true best of 2026 TV series, Fallout continued to expertly combine heart, humor, tragedy, camp, and horror. It also confidently added to the video game canon while remaining true to everything that has come before it. Several difficult needles to thread, but Fallout season two threaded them.

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The Prime Video series came out in 2024, with its second season dropping this year and a third coming soon. If you love the Fallout story and want to see more, Prime Video is coming out with a reality series based on the vault society aspect of the show, dropping contestants into a bunker environment where they will complete challenges and compete for a cash prize. Fallout Shelter has no set release date.

X-Men ’97 (Season 2) Marvel Television

X-Men ’97 has done it again with another season. After establishing this world to fans both old and new in its first season, the series took things up a notch. We got to meet the X-Force, led by Cable, and the big villain of this season, Apocalypse, who has quite the massive comic book history. There are plenty of nods to comics and previous material for those who love Easter eggs, yet the storytelling always feels fresh. It is such a delight to have an animated series on that takes us back to our cartoons and cereal days. Bring it on, season three!

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We are only halfway through the year, and we already have such an extensive list of fantastic TV series. That said, there is much more to come. Elle, a prequel to the 2001 movie Legally Blonde, and Lanterns, focusing on notable Green Lanterns John Stewart and Hal Jordan, are just two that we are already excited about. Hopefully, this list will continue to grow as the year goes on!

Originally published on June 26, 2026.

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

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⚡ Quick Take

• Lanterns delivers the goods, mainly thanks to the standout performances of leads Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler.
• Although more grounded than cosmic, Lanterns honors the legacy and lore of the DC Comics characters.
• Many elements from decades of comics get a reference throughout the series.
• Nerdist’s take: While it might disappoint some comic book fans for how Earthbound it is, Lanterns fully delivers as a compelling character drama.

DC Studios head James Gunn promised that each of the projects released by the studio would have its own flavor and feel. However, the recently released Supergirl felt very much in the Gunn sensibility, leading many to wonder if DC’s third live-action project, HBO’s Lanterns, would be more of the same. We are happy to say it’s very much its own thing, and in fact, it’s some pretty great television, anchored by two absolutely stellar performances from actors Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler, as Green Lanterns John Stewart and Hal Jordan, respectively. While it’s not always perfect as a comic book show, it’s pretty close to perfect as a compelling character drama. And usually, that’s enough.

HBO Max/DC Studios

The early descriptions for Lanterns described it as “True Detective with superheroes,” and it turns out, the description was 100% accurate. Actually, “True Detective with aliens” is a more apt description, as there’s not a ton of actually superheroing in this show, although the characters talk about being heroes a whole lot. The basic plot for Lanterns has veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan, who has been Earth’s resident Lantern since at least the ‘90s, training his backup Lantern, ex-Marine John Stewart. As Jordan trains the much younger Stewart, the two investigate a mystery in the small town of Rushville, Nebraska.

HBO Max/DC Studios

We won’t get into exactly what the mystery is, but yes, it is otherworldly. So if you were worried that two Green Lanterns would be investigating a crime you’d see on Dateline NBC, you needn’t. This is worthy of superheroes with extraordinary cosmic powers being on the case. Lanterns also fully realizes the tiny town of Rushville and its inhabitants, particularly Kelly Macdonald as the exasperated Sheriff Kerry, and Poorna Jafannathan as Zoe, one of the townsfolk who has secrets of her own. All we’ll say is Zoe has pretty palpable chemistry with John Stewart, and leave it there. Series writers Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King know their Green Lantern mythos, but also understand how to deliver compelling character drama.

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What makes this show truly stand out is the excellent dynamic between Hal and John. Some were worried that the series made Hal too old. But it turns out, making Hal a grizzled veteran with a chip on his shoulder absolutely works. Chandler plays Hal like the most likeable asshole ever, which is exactly as he should be portrayed. We as the viewers can tell he’s threatened by rookie Lantern John Stewart, but that also deep down he respects the hell out of him. This Hal is a man whose best days are behind him, and he knows it, whether he can admit to that publicly or not.

HBO Max/DC Studios

Meanwhile, Aaron Pierre as John Stewart is simply stellar. He’s stoic but charming, and you constantly feel the burden of his quest to be worthy. There’s an interesting wrinkle to his backstory not from the comics, which we won’t give away. But it adds a ton of unexpected depth to his character. Kyle Chandler is excellent, but it’s Pierre’s John Stewart that is the true standout here. Talk about being born for this particular role. (Although we must say, he’d make a great Blade for Marvel too, now that the position is open).

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For those worried that Lanterns would de-comic book the concept, it both does and doesn’t. All the key aspects of the Green Lantern lore are absolutely canon to the series. A dying Green Lantern named Abin Sur still recruited Hal. The immortal Guardians of the Universe on the planet Oa are his bosses. Sinestro, the former Green Lantern who went rogue, still trained him as a rookie. All of that is canon here. The show even includes comic-booky details like Hal Jordan keeping his power battery in a pocket dimension, and mentions of the alien chipmunk Lantern, Ch’p.

HBO Max/DC Studios

Having said that, there’s a lot of telling and not showing. Lanterns barely shows Hal in uniform. The one scene you see in the trailers is the one time he wears it. Yes, he can conjure constructs with his ring, but he doesn’t do it much for a show called Lanterns. We don’t know if that’s a budget thing. It may just be a deliberate choice to make the show more palatable to the typical Sunday night HBO audience. If you’re a Green Lantern comic book fan as we are, this will no doubt annoy you. No matter how good a dramatic series this is, you want to see these guys in space. The series mostly talks about the comic booky stuff without showing it, which is sometimes grating.  

HBO Max/DC Studios

But what will keep viewers engaged each week are the performances of the two men at the heart of Lanterns. This is a show about what it means in our culture to be past your prime as a man. And also what it means for someone who is not a straight white man to have to fight twice as hard to earn what’s his. All of that character stuff is twice as interesting as the mystery at the heart of the show. But that’s not to say that the X-Files-esque plot isn’t engaging. Although we can’t help but wonder if the references to Green Lantern lore throughout will be confusing to general audiences. Green Lantern isn’t Superman, Batman, or Spider-Man. His mythology isn’t a given to most people. We as nerds know what all the cosmic stuff the characters reference is, but will everyone watching? That remains to be seen.

The tone for Lanterns could not be more different than Gunn’s Superman. Yet it lives comfortably in the DCU that his film set up. And yes, we do get an explanation why Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner is the Lantern of Earth in Superman, when there’s only supposed to be one. You just have to be patient. Lanterns may not be what fans were expecting when they announced a Green Lantern series. But it’s nevertheless very good television that’s worth your time. And it couldn’t come at a more necessary time for DC Studios, which has to prove it’s more than just Superman and pals. Green Lantern debuted in DC Comics way back in 1940, before even Wonder Woman. The title (and many characters who’ve used the name) is one of DC’s most storied properties. Lanterns finally gives it the respect on screen fans have been waiting for.

DC Studios/HBO

⭐ (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 LANTERNS Is a Welcome Change of Pace for Superhero TV (Review) appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• We have an exclusive clip from Season 14, episode four of Futurama, where Leela, Philip, and Bender enter the world of Steamboat Willie.

This season of Futurama has been swinging for the fences and truly delivering on its promise to bring us a “non-stop onslaught of swaggering space pirates, lab-grown meats, sexy scams…” and more. We don’t know about you, but we were absolutely obsessed with Season 14, Episode 3’s spoof of Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride. But Futurama is just getting started when it comes to the House of Mouse. It’s Nerdist‘s extreme pleasure (and delight) to bring you an exclusive clip from Futurama Season 14, Episode 4 that mashes up Futurama and Steamboat Willie in one incredible musical parody scene. In the August 17 episode of Futurama, “Lords of the Ring,” the crew crash-lands in a world inhabited by intelligent rats… And what better celebration of intelligent rats is there than getting our Steamboat Willie on? You can check out this exclusive Futurama clip below.

Exclusive Clip: Futurama Meets Steamboat Willie in Season 14, Episode 4

Whistle a happy tune! Don your rat ears, nose, and whiskers prosthetics! Then sit back and enjoy this hilarious parody mash-up of Futurama and Steamboat Willie. It’s pure Disney delight… with a few Futurama twists, of course. Steamboat Willie may have wished he could swear in his heart, but he probably wasn’t doing it AS colorfully as Steamboat Leela. We’re also totally obsessed with Philip J. Fry’s whistling abilities, 10/10. And, of course, Bender was born to be a part of the Steamboat Willie ensemble. 10/10. Honestly, that was so much fun; we have to watch it again. Futurama, this Steamboat Willie parody sequence might be your best one ever.

Bill Odenkirk and Crystal Chesney-Thompson Break Down the Futurama x Steamboat Willie Mash-Up

But don’t take our word for it. Futurama writer Bill Odenkirk and director Crystal Chesney-Thompson share with Nerdist how this Steamboat Willie parody came to life. Odenkirk notes, “The idea came from our head writer, the brilliant David X. Cohen. Discussing the story development of the episode, David saw a moment to insert this homage to the classic cartoon. The sequence fit with the story of the Planet Express crew attempting to pass themselves off as rats in the lab-rat world. It fit but was a bit of a stretch given that the rat/mouse disguises the crew put on would probably fool no one. But perhaps the highly intelligent rats are also highly nearsighted as well.” And who doesn’t want to be fooled by a fun musical adventure?

Hulu

Digging deeper into the heart of the Steamboat Willie and Futurama mashup, Odenkirk adds, “We wanted the whole Futurama sequence to immediately “read” as a lighthearted parody of Steamboat Willie, so the design rendered in black and white was an obvious place to start. The steamship’s dancing smokestacks echo the original short as well. We also wanted to mimic the “cycled” movements of the characters as was often the style in these old, animated shorts, so we had the crew stand repeating the same bouncy gestures in unison. Fry at the wheel of the steamship basically repeats Mickey Mouse’s dancing and actions as well… Given all this, if viewers were at all confused by what we were playfully imitating, they were probably asleep or recently born.”

Hulu

Meanwhile, Chesney-Thompson adds, “As a fan of classic animation, I was thrilled to get to pay homage to Steamboat Willie. The design of the steamboat itself was heavily influenced by the stylized simplicity of black-and-white cartoons. We even gave the boat bouncing smokestacks, merrily emitting puffs of smoke in time with the music. We animated the characters with more ‘rubber-hose’ style movement and bouncy cycles that are reminiscent of the old music-driven shorts. Fry’s animation, in particular, very carefully reflects Mickey Mouse’s iconic dance at the helm. To top it all off, the entire sequence is rendered in black and white, to drive home the vintage look.”

The Steamboat Willie parody of it all also let some of Futurama’s characters behave in ways they may not ordinarily… While keep true to the core of them, of course. Odenkirk notes, “Fry at the helm of the ship runs counter to our general understanding that Leela is the ship’s captain and Fry is a seat-filler. About the only character who acts in accord with their personality is Bender, who buries the entire scene in a cloud of cigar smoke at the end. He has a very big personality, as we know.”

Hulu

But, of course, we do get Leela’s iconic angry fist going. Chesney-Thompson notes, “While most of the characters dance together in old-timey, jaunty style. Leela and Fry, play out another homage to classic animated shorts, when his cheerful whistling causes his cute little rat teeth to hit Leela, and she responds with the quintessential angry fist shaking. At the end, Bender, in classic Bender-fashion, puffs smoke in time with the music, eventually cover the entire crew… and the entire scene.”

The scene was also specifically meaningful for Chesney-Thompson because it drew from something close to him. She notes, ” This homage was particularly special to me due to its roots in my personal inspiration as an animation artist.”

But the best part of Futurama‘s take on Steamboat Willie, “The absurdity. The episode is built around a densely layered backstory bordering on the Baroque. The addition of this needless parody of Steamboat Willie, along with a departure from our usual design style, bordered on the Rococo. Or should I say “Ro-coo-coo”? No, I shouldn’t say that.  Please forget I said that.” (Please forget he said that!) “Anyways, I simply love the nonsense of it. We are having fun with the absurd nature of the crew’s adventure and hoping the viewer will welcome this reprieve from the otherwise deadly-serious themes of our show about talking rats in a space ring world.”

RELATED ARTICLE

Get an Exclusive Look at THE ART OF FUTURAMA Book’s Concept Art and Sketches Futurama’s Intelligent Rat Concept Art From “Lords of the Ring”

In addition to this exclusive Steamboat Willie parody clip, we have more looks at the creation of the intelligent rats that inhabit the world of Futurama, whose main form of transportation happens to be the Steamboat. Check out this cool Season 14 concept art of Dr. Verminus, a character who meets the cast when they crash-land on his planet. The other rat in this concept art is Dr. Pestia…a colleague of Verminus. We smell a rat! Or two! But salute the name “Verminus.”

Hulu Hulu Hulu

Futurama season 14 airs weekly, Mondays on Hulu. Tune in on August 17 to catch Futurama‘s Steamboat Willie parody fun.

Hulu 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 FUTURAMA Goes STEAMBOAT WILLIE In Our Exclusive Season 14 Clip appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• The year is already halfway over, and plenty of good movies have come out so far! Here are our favorites of 2026.
• Our list includes horror flicks like Obsession to Christopher Nolan’s great epic The Odyssey.
• We Love TV, Too: Check out our list for the Best TV Shows of 2026 so far!

This year has been a great year for movies. From horror stunners like Obsession to nerdy favorites like The Mandalorian and Grogu, 2026 has covered a wide scope of genres—and it’s only halfway over! At Nerdist, we hold movies near and very dear, and so we have compiled a list of our favorites, in no particular order. Here are the best movies of 2026 so far.

Project Hail Mary Amazon MGM Studios

Project Hail Mary kicked off the year with a feel-good space drama. It offered a little bit of everything. The deep emotions of an astronaut lost alone in deep space, complemented by star Ryan Gosling’s quippy humor and—who could forget—a lovable alien creature, Rocky.

This movie knew when to be serious, and it definitely knew when to be funny. It was heartwarming, too, exploring complex relationships between humans as well as humans and aliens, and the meaning and significance of sacrifice. If you loved Project Hail Mary as much as we did, you can show your affinity for Rocky with this super funny T-shirt.

RELATED ARTICLE

PROJECT HAIL MARY Made Me Romantic About Movies (Review) Hokum NEON

Switching gears entirely, supernatural horror film Hokum will have you chilled to your core. Adam Scott of Severance and Parks and Rec stars as Ohm Bauman, an author who decides to spread his parents’ ashes where they took their honeymoon. He finds himself in a haunted hotel in Ireland where he must face the evil trapped there.

Hokum was created by Damian McCarthy, an Irish filmmaker. He drew inspiration from Gaelic myth, where he got the cailleach concept. In mythology, a cailleach is a mythical “hag” with power over the landscape. While not an inherently evil being in myth, she certainly felt evil in this movie. Bauman faces the witch herself alongside visions from the past.

RELATED ARTICLE

HOKUM Is a Delightfully Chilly Haunted Hotel Flick (Review) Is God Is Orion Pictures

Is God Is was an emotionally moving tale of twin sisters on a journey to kill their abusive father. Aleshea Harris’ directorial debut, based on her off-Broadway stage play of the same name, is a thriller, a dark comedy, and a revenge film rolled into one. It also explores the tensions within a cycle of abuse.

The two girls suffered life-changing first-degree burns at their father’s hands when they were children. Despite its characters’ traumatic backstory, the movie manages to be darkly comedic.

RELATED ARTICLE

IS GOD IS: A Cathartic and Brutal Exploration of Black Girl Rage (Review) The Devil Wears Prada 2 20th Century Studios

Picking up where the first installment of Andy’s story left off 20 years ago, The Devil Wears Prada 2 was a glorious return to Runway magazine. Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci, and, of course, Anne Hathaway graced our theater screens once again. Despite two decades passing, we could be convinced the second movie had been filmed the day after the first—the stars appeared almost identical to their 2006 counterparts.

The story follows Andy and Miranda, both down on their luck. It deals with the realistic struggles of print magazines in moving to digital, clickbait-heavy formats. It also discusses the looming threat of A.I. taking over the journalism field (gulp). Amidst these heavier issues, the characters navigate the complex reality of their careers, their relationships with each other, and their own personal flaws.

RELATED ARTICLE

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2 Is 2026’s Most Important Movie—Here’s Why It Matters (Review) Backrooms Kane Pixels

After his YouTube series The Backrooms gained immense traction, a creator known as Kane Pixels found himself directing a feature-length psychological horror based on the story he had been developing for years.

He created his YouTube series in a found-footage style, exploring a liminal, empty mass of endless hallways. The landscape resembles an abandoned department store, with fluorescent ceiling lights to boot. Parsons’ first episode was a “short film” published in 2022, and the story developed from there as he continued making videos for three years. You can read more about the internet “creepypasta” that inspired his work here.

The movie is set in the same location as his shorts and follows researchers as they investigate the realm of “the backrooms.” Getting lost in the hallways is scary enough, but when it turns out some sort of entity is there with them, the scientists have to fight for their lives.

RELATED ARTICLE

The 8 Scariest Levels of the BACKROOMS Obsession Focus Features/Universal Pictures

2026 truly is a year of good horror, with Obsession being another box office smash. It has also had its moment on the internet, with stills of star Inde Navarrette’s intense frown going viral, alongside her other facially uncanny moments.

More is disturbing about this movie than just the “be careful what you wish for” trope. In some ways, it is about the world of romance we live in today, the idealization of being in a relationship or being loved. Having a partner who has no personality outside of loving you may, in fact, be more terrifying than the natural character flaws that being an individual, an independent person, would bring.

The underlying messages of the movie are what take it from scary to horror.

RELATED ARTICLE

OBSESSION Is a Classic Story with an Uncanny Horror Twist (Review) The Mandalorian and Grogu Lucasfilm

For the Star Wars nerds out there, your favorite world has never stopped expanding. The Mandalorian show has been wildly popular in the years since it began its run. And now the creators have taken a more cinematic direction with The Mandalorian and Grogu.

The two-hour long feature film actually replaced the show’s fourth season. Director Jon Favreau mentioned that writing for season four was underway in 2023 but, in a statement to SFX Magazine, said they trashed those scripts entirely to write the feature film.

The episodes would have been aiming to continue where season 3 had left off and set up the Ahsoka show. However, the movie took a different direction, something that would be appealing to the audience whether they had watched the previous content or not.

“As long as you understand the archetypes of this hardened warrior with their vulnerable young apprentice, you’ll know these characters well, even if you’ve never seen the show,” Favreau said. “But there’s still a lot of Star Wars in there.”

Masters of the Universe

Based on the 1980s animated show, He-Man and The Masters of The Universe, this nostalgic movie did the series justice. He-Man, played by Nicholas Galitzine, is your average Joe working in an office cubicle and yearning for the day he can return to Eternia. Luckily, he does—it would have been boring otherwise—and along the way encounters Skeletor, the classic villain, along with other characters from the series.

Amazon MGM

This is the second time He-Man has been adapted in live-action. In 1987, the first adaptation was made, featuring an oddly shiny blonde man and a tacky skeleton mask. On the surface, not much changed, but this film is a step up.

RELATED ARTICLE

MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE Is a Colorful Retro Adventure (Review) Toy Story 5

If you thought Toy Story 4 was the end, you’ve officially been proven wrong. Despite what seem to be repeated conclusive finales to the series, fans love Toy Story enough to bring it back to the theaters a fifth time. Nostalgic characters accumulated over the first four movies return and grapple with their place in the age of the internet.

Pixar

1990s toys meet electronics, and parents face criticism in this new story. A review from Indiewire points out the blatant complacency with which many parents now operate, surrendering their children to the teachings of mindless internet use. This movie calls that out and emphasizes the importance of imaginative play in childhood, and this makes it one of the best movies of 2026.

RELATED ARTICLE

TOY STORY 5 Cements the Franchise as Cinema’s All-Time Best The Odyssey Universal Pictures

Christopher Nolan, you genius of a creative. One of this year’s most hyped and highly-anticipated films, The Odyssey, absolutely lived up to expectations of this enduring and beloved epic. The mind-blowing cinematic scope, impeccable casting, thrilling fights, and enthralling moments made this epic truly worth seeing on the largest screen possible. Now that’s what we call cinema!

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Sony Pictures/Marvel Studios

Is there any surprise that this is on our list. Tom Holland’s fourth round as Peter Parker / Spider-Man in this film, which is setting records for how quickly it is raking in dough, cements why he defines this character for a generation. Peter’s journey to reclaim himself, find healing, and establish balance between his normal life and saving NYC is truly what fans want in a Spider-Man film. Equally grounded yet delivering enough action to satisfy the always fervent Marvel fandom, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a dazzling delight.

Originally published on June 22, 2026 with additional reporting by Ella R. Dunn.

Nerdist writes about movies, TV, games, comics, and all things nerdy for Nerdist.This post has affiliate links, which means we may earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, we just have to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!

The post The Best Movies of 2026 (So Far) appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Durin and Elrond will reunite in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season three, confirms actor Owain Arthur.
• Durin and Elrond are our favorite relationship from the series, and we’re glad to hear they’re “still in love.”
• However, Arthur wouldn’t confirm how much screen time Durin and Elrond will share in The Rings of Power season three.
• Go Deeper: Learn more about Durin and Elrond’s friendship in The Rings of Power and why it’s important.

One of our absolute favorite relationships in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has been between the unlikely duo of Elrond and Durin. In season one of The Rings of Power, Elrond and Durin spent much of their screen time together, forging bonds between dwarves and elves, and unknowingly finding a way to save all of elf-kind… Though not without a price. Sadly, The Rings of Power season two, Durin and Elrond weren’t together very much, each of them drawn down their own complex paths. Although Durin did show up for Elrond, albeit not personally, right at the moment when the elf needed him the most. But what does The Rings of Power season three hold in store for Durin and Elrond? And will they spend more time together this season? Durin actor Owain Arthur can’t make any promises… But he can assure us that Durin and Elrond are still “in love.” (And that’s what we like to hear.)

Arthur laughs as I ask after Durin and Elrond’s relationship in The Rings of Power season three, and how much time we can expect the pair to spend together. “Yeah, it’s tough to keep them apart, that’s for sure.” He grins, assuring us all, “They are still in love with each other.” Naturally.

More to the point, Arthur confirms that Durin and Elrond will spend SOME time together in The Rings of Power season three. “You do see them together in season three, that’s for sure. I can promise you that.” The actor confirms, “How much I can’t explain, but I have a feeling there’s more to come.”

Prime Video

Well, just knowing we’ll see Elrond and Durin reunite at least for a little bit in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has us excited for the season all over again. We have a dwarf’s promise on the matter, and that is word of stone. “More to come” also sounds promising. But please, just let Durin and Elrond be happy. Is that so much to ask?

RELATED ARTICLE

Robert Aramayo Talks THE RINGS OF POWER’s Finale, Elrond and Durin, and His Current Favorite Tolkien Tale

Durin, Elrond, and the rest will return when The Rings of Power season three premieres on Prime Video on November 11. The full release schedule can be found here. If you’d like to get yourself ready for this return to Middle-earth, you can pick up The Fall of Númenor: And Other Tales from the Second Age of Middle-earth or The Silmarillion and read more about Tolkien’s vision of the time when the show takes place.

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’s still hoping for that Adar resurrection in The Rings of Power season three.

The post Durin and Elrond ‘Are Still in Love’ in RINGS OF POWER Season 3, Shares Owain Arthur appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• We can’t find where the real dragons are hiding, but we can own this adorable House of the Dragon Squishmallows set.
• There are four Squishmallows dragons included: Caraxes, Vhagar, Syrax, and Seasmoke.
• Dive Deeper: These dragons and their riders are all still alive, but here is who died in House of the Dragon season three.

House of the Dragon season three ended with smoke, flames, and lots of death, none of which make our hearts happy. As we wait for what the fourth and final season brings, we wonder who will ultimately win this Dance of the Dragons. Honestly, at this point, all we can do is root for the dragons because the Blacks and Greens are all being very dumb. And while we can’t seem to find where the real dragons are hiding on Earth, we can own this adorable House of the Dragon Squishmallows set featuring four of our favorite fictional beasts. 

Click To View Gallery Squishmallows Store

The set includes Daemon’s dragon Caraxes, Rhaenyra’s dragon Syrax, Addam’s fire-breathing buddy Seasmoke, and the legendary Vhagar, ridden by Aemond. Well, previously ridded by him. It seems that Vhagar is a free spirit who is doing what she wants to do, and we love that for her. They look incredibly adorable and not at all like they would BBQ a legion of your enemies. We love how true their colorways are very representative of how they all appear in the HBO series.

These House of the Dragon Squishmallows are far tinier than their television counterparts at only 5 inches big. That’s the perfect size to bring the spirit of Westeros to your desk. You can find them on Amazon for a little over $20 and have four new fierce friends in just a few days.

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.

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

The post HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Squishmallows Are Fiercely Adorable appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• The internet has fan cast Assad Zaman as Nightcrawler in the MCU’s X-Men and we agree that this is one spectacular idea.
• To make their point, fans have put together glorious fan art and fan vids that have amassed millions of views.
• Zaman is a tremendous actor and his past performances more than proved he’d be able to deliver one incredible Nightcrawler.
• Learn More: At Nerdist, we dove deep into Assad Zaman’s The Vampire Lestat character in our Armand Character Profile.

There’s much conversation about who will make the cut to be part of the MCU’s first X-team in the upcoming X-Men movie. Fans have waited a long time to see the MCU’s version of this mutant team, so it’s no surprise the internet is rife with ideal fan castings for the many beloved characters from this franchise. Recently, though, one particular fan cast has taken the internet by storm. And that’s the (very good) idea that The Vampire Lestat/Interview with the Vampire‘s Assad Zaman should play Nightcrawler in the MCU’s X-Men movie. In true fandom fashion, this vision of Zaman playing Nightcrawler has arrived with fan art, fan vids, and millions of views, all of which make for a compelling case. Let’s take a look at all the excitement.

Marvel Studios/AMC

The casting of Assad Zaman as Nightcrawler in the MCU’s X-Men makes a lot of sense to us. After all, Nightcrawler is known for his quirky sense of humor, tragic past, complex relationship with religion and family, sensitivity, yellow eyes, and fluffy hair—all things Zaman has more than demonstrated himself capable of bringing to our screens in the finest of fashions. Zaman is also just a tremendous actor, full stop, and he has a background in theater, which makes perfect sense when it comes to Nightcrawler’s background of live performing. And, we mean, we feel like all of this Assad Zaman as Nightcrawler fan art that talented denizens of the internet have created really underscores the point.

my humble contribution to the assad zaman as nightcrawler agenda https://t.co/Incu16Xjpd pic.twitter.com/aiqxebNBCE

— ً (@tendertiefling) August 12, 2026

neuron activation então rabisquei rapidinho https://t.co/NFKMzqvqUK pic.twitter.com/X2hcKVLPx1

— Autunno (@outonopriv) August 10, 2026

assad zaman nightcrawler i think abt u all the time pic.twitter.com/4k070GfRRT

— nat 🌙 (@_souperstar) July 24, 2026

been thinking abt assad zaman nightcrawler recently,,,,, pic.twitter.com/SOZmgAsFZf

— nat 🌙 (@_souperstar) December 5, 2025

i know next to nothing about nightcrawler but if assads there so am i https://t.co/Gi020izeKe pic.twitter.com/NBgMrSDjFf

— MAC 🦇 (@armandseyepatch) August 12, 2026

Decided to edit one myself with Assad zaman as nightcrawler pic.twitter.com/QJgGTNqmLX

— dagger⚔️ (@pmkntwo) August 12, 2026

Fans of Assad Zaman as the MCU’s Nightcrawler have even taken things to a live-action place, so any Marvel execs out there can really SEE the vision. (And hey, doesn’t this excited fan base make a good case for the casting all on its own?)

Encantada, tudo o que eu precisava era de artes e edits do Assad Zaman como Kurt / Nightcrawler. https://t.co/0DFdTcca7m pic.twitter.com/omalP8XqfL

— Liz ᵀⱽᴸ (@lestatgothic) August 10, 2026

growing very fond of these assad zaman as nightcrawler edits. marvel lock in pic.twitter.com/wunJH1cPqc

— 🗡️ (@slasherscott) August 11, 2026

Honestly, we could be here all day sharing compelling fan arguments for why Assad Zaman would make an incredible Nightcrawler in the MCU’s X-Men movie. And that’s pretty loud all on its own. What we’ve shared here is just the tip of the iceberg of what’s out there.

But all of that aside, Assad Zaman is just an incredible actor. Cast him as Nightcrawler. Cast him in everything!

RELATED ARTICLE

Eric Bogosian and Assad Zaman Discuss All Things Armand and Daniel in THE VAMPIRE LESTAT Rotem Rusak is the Editor-in-Chief at Nerdist. She is a great lover of the anti-hero, including Zaman’s Armand, 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 The Internet Wants Assad Zaman to Be Nightcrawler in the MCU’s X-MEN (And We Do Too) appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Those Mighty Morphin Power Rangers will not get to have any adventures at Disney+ after the streamer cancelled its live-action series.
• Reports cite that the cancellation stemmed from budgetary constraints.
• Nerdist’s Take: Considering Amazon MGM’s success with Masters of the Universe from a streaming perspective, Hasbro could partner with them to bring a live-action Power Rangers series to fruition.

No No Power Rangerssss. Those Mighty Morphin Power Rangers will not get to have any adventures at Disney+ after the streamer cancelled its live-action series. This project by Percy Jackson and the Olympians showrunners Jonathan E. Steinberg and Dan Shotz began development back in 2024. And sadly, it never even made it out of the development stage. It’s been a rough road for Power Rangers fans for many years, with a few unrealized projects and meh-to-decent movies. 

RELATED ARTICLE

A POWER RANGERS Series at Disney+ Is in the Works

According to Deadline, the reason why Disney+ cancelled the live-action Power Rangers series isn’t about creative differences, but budgetary ones. Bringing the spectacle that many modern and potentially new fans will want to see is a big investment for an IP that Disney does not own. Of course, the Power Rangers brand is owned by Hasbro. The company wants to get a live-action series going for a new generation. There was some nostalgia-driven success at Netflix with Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always, a reunion special in 2023. 

Nerdist’s Take: Hasbro Should Partner With Amazon MGM Studios and Bring a Live-Action Power Rangers Series to Prime Video  Netflix

Amazon MGM Studios and Hasbro are currently working on a Jem and the Holograms live-action series. And, Amazon’s Masters of the Universe film, while not a box-office success, got a love of streaming love and overall praise from fans for capturing the world’s goofy spirit. MOTU and Power Rangers feel like distant cousins in terms of their foundations. Both are nostalgia-driven franchises looking to tap into those now-adult fans and bring their kids into the fold. 

They both have similar themes like cosmic elements, hidden identities, monsters of the week and recurring villains that resonate with fans. Considering how well Amazon did with bringing MOTU to life via allowing creatives to adapt material in ways that felt right and that the company certainly has the money to pour into a series, it wouldn’t be a bad move to partner with them. 

Hopefully, Hasbro will find the right place to make a live-action Power Rangers series happen after this unfortunate cancellation at Disney.

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 Disney+ Said No No POWER RANGERS Live-Action Series appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Avengers: Endgame‘s final scene is important for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.
• In Avengers: Endgame, Steve Rogers went back in time. We break down what happened, who he married, and more.
• We also explain how Endgame could result in Steve Rogers’ return in Avengers: Doomsday.

The events of Avengers: Endgame left us reeling when we first saw them. The original Avengers all got their moments to shine in the 22nd Marvel movie, but, of course, the end of the movie focused on one: Captain America. It’s hard to believe that seven years later, we’re revisiting that final Avengers: Endgame moment and opening it up again as Steve Rogers begins a new journey in the MCU and returns to the MCU in Avengers: Doomsday.

At the time of Endgame, we knew it had to happen. Since his very first film, Captain America: The First Avenger, Steve Rogers has dreamt about his dance with his one true love, Peggy Carter. In his final moments before crashing into the Arctic, just before he was frozen in the ice for seven decades, Steve thought of his dance date with Agent Carter. “I’m gonna need a rain check on that dance.” Peggy, knowing full well he was about to die, comforted him through tears. “Alright, a week next Saturday at the Stork Club. Eight o’clock on the dot, don’t you dare be late. Understood?” After his rescue and restoration by S.H.I.E.L.D., he thought only of that dance – for years and years.

Marvel Studios

That dance is part of why Steve Rogers’ ending in Endgame is such a tearjerker. After Thanos is defeated and the vanished are brought back to life, Steve steps back in the Quantum Realm time machine to take the Infinity Stones into the past and put them back, closing the time loops. But instead of returning to the present, he travels further into the past, where he presumably marries Peggy. The film closes with a flashback of them dancing together in their living room.

It’s a beautiful moment, but one that poses a lot of timeline questions. How far back did Steve go? What about Peggy’s husband that she mentions in The Winter Soldier? How does Steve Rogers now return in Avengers: Doomsday? Here’s a rundown of Endgame‘s final moment, what it means, how it works, and what it could mean for the future of the MCU.

Where did Old Steve come from in Avengers: Endgame?

If we’re going off the time travel logic presented to us in Endgame, then Steve went back to 1970, when he and Tony traveled to in an effort to get the Tesseract prior to when Loki ran away with it. Also to acquire more Pym particles to continue their time-traveling efforts. By going back to that time, as well as the times and places visited by the other Avengers, Steve would have effectively closed the time loops the Avengers created. But instead of jumping back to the present, he decided instead to go back in time – most likely to the 1950s, a.k.a. after the events of ABC’s Agent Carter – to live out the rest of his days with his long-lost love.

Marvel Studios

That means the elderly Steve we see at the end of Endgame is actually present-day Steve, who presumably lived in hiding and away from the major events of the Avengers films. He went back in time and stayed there, aged normally, and waited until the exact moment he could pass along his shield to Sam Wilson.

Who Is Steve Rogers’ Wife in Avengers: Endgame?

Old Steve Rogers is wearing a visible wedding ring when Sam speaks to him. Sam asks who the lucky lady is, and Steve respectfully refuses to talk about it. We can assume, given the scene we see next, that the woman he married was Peggy. That lends a whole new perspective to the scenes we see in films like The Winter Soldier and Avengers: Age of Ultron. Knowing that Steve and Peggy were married all along makes their “reunion” in The Winter Soldier more layered. Peggy is saying goodbye to the young Cap – “it’s been so long” – while her husband, the aged Cap, is somewhere offscreen.

But this does present another possible wrinkle in the timeline…

What About Peggy’s Husband?

In The Winter Soldier, we see Peggy in the WWII museum talking about her husband, a man who served as the member of a battalion over one thousand soldiers and was rescued by Captain America. Fans have wondered since Agent Carter‘s cancellation who this mystery man might be. It was never answered on that show, or in the films, but Endgame presents a few possibilities. The first is that Peggy married some random veteran we’ve never met, and the second is that this whole interview was a smokescreen to hide her secret marriage to Steve Rogers.

The latter seems more likely. Especially when you re-watch her scene in The Winter Soldier. On her deathbed, Peggy talks to a young Cap, and we see photographs of her children on her bedside table. Conveniently, there are no pictures of her husband, meaning he could be anyone. It’s likely, then, that the husband Peggy refers to in the film is actually Steve, and she never mentions their peculiar situation to his younger self because she knows it would compromise the series of events that led them to one another. Instead, she acts as if she hasn’t seen him in decades.

So How Does Steve Rogers Return in Avengers: Doomsday?

We see Steve pass the torch (shield, really) to Sam Wilson at the end of Endgame, and he becomes Captain America. We don’t, however, get a definitive “death scene.” For a long time, it seemed like Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers would not return to the MCU. Evans said for a long time that his time was up. But in the run-up to Avengers: Doomsday, we learn that Steve Rogers will absolutely return for that movie. 

But how can that be? Well, in the MCU, anything is possible. Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers might be the Steve Rogers who lived his life with Peggy, arrived via time-travel shenanigans. When Steve decided to stay with Peggy, he almost certainly created a branching timeline in the MCU, meaning there’s a second Steve Rogers timeline where different things happened to him. Alternatively, Avengers: Doomsday Steve Rogers might be an alternate-universe Steve Rogers who’s come from some totally other reality. 

Ultimately, we don’t yet know how Steve Rogers will return in Avengers: Doomsday. But we’ll find out when Avengers: Doomsday releases on December 18, 2026.

Originally published April 25, 2019.

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

The post Steve Rogers’ ENDGAME Ending, Explained—and What It Means for AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY? appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Beware Boiúna is an all-new snake horror set in the Amazon.
• The movie follows a team of doctors sent to the rainforest on a medical mission, only to come face to reptilian face with something deadly and, worse, vengeful.
• Boiúna might just be the first good creature feature this year.

Beware Boiúna is bringing back the creature feature! Featuring… an absolutely enormous snake. The Anaconda reboot must have been an inspiration to Hollywood, because this snake is much bigger and much scarier than a boring old water boa.

The new trailer shows a group of doctors sent to the Amazon rainforest, who encounter a threat much more terrifying than they had imagined. Take a look below:

The Amazon sounds terrifying enough with the palm-sized spiders, but you couldn’t pay me any amount to spend time in there with Boiúna. This isn’t purely an animal horror movie, either. There seems to be a supernatural/mythical element to it, with the snake being a strategic and smart predator rather than simply an animal following its nature.

Deep in the Amazon, a medical mission spirals into a fight for survival when Boiúna, a colossal ancient predator, awakens to reclaim her domain. In the jungle where nature holds absolute power, she decides who lives and who dies.

One good sign for Boiúna‘s success is that everyone working on the movie seems to get horror. The movie will be directed by Mike P. Nelson, who has worked on other very campy projects like Silent Night, Deadly Night and Summer School. The stars include Logan Marshall-Green from The Odyssey, Jessica Rothe from Happy Death Day, and Kiana Madeira of the Fear Street trilogy.

Lionsgate

2026 seems to be a big year for the animal horror subgenre. However, despite their best efforts, recent movies have tried and failed to do the creature feature well. Killer Whale (2026) has perhaps the worst Rotten Tomatoes score I’ve ever seen, and Grizzly Night (2026) didn’t do well among audience members or critics, either. Hopefully, Beware Boiúna can turn the trend around. The movie comes to theaters on October 2, just in time for the season of all things spooky.

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

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⚡ Quick Take

• Ken Russell’s 1971 film The Devils will see an uncut, NC-17 version this October.
• The movie, depicting carnality within, without, and for the Catholic Church, was immediately controversial upon release.
• Russell assembled a director’s cut in secret in 2004 but Warner Bros. refused to release it…until now!
• Nerdist take: The Devils is one of cinema’s most troubling masterpieces, and seeing it uncut will be a revelation.

Most movies with extreme content from days of yore will see an uncut release at some point. As censorship regulations decrease or tastes and permissiveness change, usually a movie will see an unrated version, if not in theaters, at least in home media. In the case of Ken Russell’s 1971 film The Devils, the movie has remained nigh-impossible to see in a complete format. Russell, who also directed other controversial movies like Women in Love, Tommy, and Altered States, had trouble with The Devils from the start. Warner Bros. deemed its shocking content unsuitable for audiences, even well into the new millennium. What makes the uncut version of The Devils so controversial? In a word, blasphemy.

Now, over 50 years later, Russell’s uncut vision of “my most…indeed, my only…political film” will premiere for one week on the big screen this October. And in a brand new 4k restoration to boot. Check out the trailer below, but BEWARE INTENSE FLASHING.

Russell based the movie on the historical nonfiction novel, The Devils of Loudon by Aldous Huxley. The story takes place in the 1600s in the walled French city of Loudon. It follows the iconoclastic (and not altogether holy) Catholic priest, Father Grandier (Oliver Reed) as he tries to keep the control of the citizenry from the corrupt Cardinal Richelieu (Christopher Logue) and his serpent-like thrall over the insane King Louis the XIII (Graham Armitage).

Playing into the Cardinal’s hand is Grandier’s all-too-human desires. Grandier is a big fan of sleeping with women in his parish, for example. But it’s also the desires of the cloistered Ursuline nuns nearby. Specifically Sister Jeanne (Vanessa Redgrave) who is obsessed with Grandier and resentful that she cannot have him for herself. The movie depicts a kangaroo court wherein accusations of Satanic fraternization lead to hysteria, panic, torture, and worse.

Warner Bros. Clockwork

I’ve seen this movie a few times over the years and it’s one of the most arresting movies I’ve ever seen. The Devils is upsetting and scary and weird and certainly doing its own thing. But almost no one who has seen the movie has seen Russell’s original vision, which WB released heavily cut even back in the 1970s.

“The restoration of the material is like cleaning the Sistine Chapel with saliva. It is insane, the epic size of the film. I mean, I’ve seen it on the big screen in Telluride at a theater – but I’ve never seen the movie until I saw this restoration.” – Guillermo del Toro

Assembled from the original camera negative, this new 4K restoration presents Ken Russell’s definitive vision of The Devils by referencing the edit he privately constructed in 2004. Ken Russell’s The Devils is the uncut and unfiltered theatrical experience that Russell always envisioned – and the first time the film will be presented restored and in 4K. Russell died in 2011.

This new cut of The Devils has a rating of NC-17 for “sexual content and graphic nudity.” What it doesn’t say is “involving religious relics and the clergy.” North American audiences will get to see the movie in select cinemas for one week, beginning October 14, 2026. I’ll be there.

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

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⚡ Quick Take

• Matthew McConaughey revealed during his Happy Sad Confused podcast interview that he turned down the leading role as Joel in The Last of Us.
• At the time, the actor said he was focused on writing and leadership roles, so being in TLOU wasn’t “for him” at the time.
• Nerdist’s Take: While Matthew McConaughey is a great actor, Pedro Pascal’s IRL charismatic personality resonates perfectly in this role.
• Go Deeper: Will The Last of Us season three will end this show’s saga or is the four season plan still in play?

The Last of Us is one of the most emotionally resonant and entertaining video game adaptation series in existence. The initial story of Joel, a man hardened by an apocalyptic situation and Ellie, a young girl who could hold the cure, truly blossoms into something special. To us, casting Pedro Pascal as Joel was a brilliant move but little did we know that he almost didn’t get the role. During his Happy Sad Confused podcast interview, Matthew McConaughey said he turned down the role of Joel in The Last of Us. 

His reasoning behind this decision was rather simple: it was not for him at the time. 

“I wasn’t really acting at that point,” McConaughey told podcast host Josh Horowitz. “That was when I was doing more writing and looking at leadership roles in life. It was really good. I was excited. Correct me if I’m wrong, I’m not a huge TV watcher, we pulled off a real coup with True Detective at a time when series were not something that actors like myself or Woody Harrelson would hop over and go do. That one succeeded in a real royal fashion. Last of Us was really good but it wasn’t for me at the time.” 

That’s a fair point. If someone wants to focus their creative talents on behind-the-scenes work, they probably wouldn’t want to take a leading role in an HBO series. This is especially true for something like The Last of Us, which has fervent fans and would require a ton of an actor’s time, at least a couple of years of their lives. 

YouTube/HBO Max Nerdist’s Take: Pedro Pascal Has the Perfect Offscreen Persona That Makes Him a Great Joel (No Offense to Matthew)

Matthew McConaughey is certainly far from the worst actor, and probably would have been good if he hadn’t turned down the role as Joel in The Last of Us. But there’s something so incredibly charming and vulnerable about Pedro Pascal both as a person and in this role. Either way, it is another interesting “What If?” for the entertainment world. 

The Last of Us is gearing up for season three, but you can always relive the first two seasons by streaming them on HBO Max. And, if you want to make sure that you truly have this gem of a series forever, you can own The Last of Us season two in 4K UHD.

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.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!

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⚡ Quick Take

• The X-Files creator Chris Carter thinks that Scully will be in Ryan Coogler’s reboot, but he is not reading the script on purpose.

As of now, we still don’t know much about Ryan Coogler’s The X-Files reboot besides a few cast members. Danielle Deadwyler and Himesh Patel will be its leads as two FBI agents who bond when they start working in a newly reopened division investigating weird things. Amy Magidan, Steve Buscemi, and Ben Foster, among others, will also be in this reboot. Many fans are speculating that Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny could appear as Mulder and Scully in Coogler’s The X-Files, too. One person who might truly know and isn’t actually confirming is the show’s creator Chris Carter. 

RELATED ARTICLE

Gillian Anderson Says THE X-FILES Reboot Script Is ‘Really Good’ Chris Carter Thinks Mulder and Scully Will Appear in Ryan Coogler’s X-Files 

When Polygon asked Carter about whether there would be a continuation of the OG series with Mulder and Scully, he said the following, “At least Gillian, I think, is going to appear in the Coogler version. And I’m assuming David will too, so you will see Mulder and Scully there.” 

He told the outlet that he does not know the details of the reboot, so this is not a confirmation of their return. However, considering that he’s the creator of this universe and knows both actors on a personal basis, he would know if they were in talks to return or not. It is probably not his business to tell, even if he does actually know more than he suggests. Even Gillian herself said that the script is “really good,” so she’s read it for some reason besides her own enjoyment, right?

Chris Carter Admits That He Hasn’t Read Ryan Coogler’s Script… And He Doesn’t Want To 20th Century

Carter reaffirmed in a recent interview with us at Nerdist that he has not read the script at all. “I’m very curious what Ryan Coogler is doing,” Carter told us. “My name is on the show, but I have not read the script by choice. I’m waiting to see. I want to be surprised. I want to watch that pilot episode like everyone else is watching it as a fan of the X-Files franchise.” Check out more of that interview in the link below:

RELATED ARTICLE

Chris Carter On Adding Horror Back to THE X-FILES Movie

Well, there you have it. We will just have to wait and see if Mulder or Scully appear in The X-Files reboot in some way, even if just for a very brief cameo.

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

The post Chris Carter Thinks Scully Will Be in THE X-FILES Reboot (But Won’t Read Coogler’s Script) appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Star Trek: Zero Point introduces us to the crew of the starship Endeavour, commanded by Captain Raffi Musiker from Star Trek: Picard.
• The series picks up five years after the events of the last season of Star Trek: Picard.
• Zero Point introduces an AI character who takes on the image of Lt. Uhura.
• Nerdist’s Take: Zero Point will give fans the post-Star Trek: Picard adventures they’ve been craving.

While the Enterprise is traditionally the flagship of the Federation, we all know Starfleet has many legendary vessels. Voyager, Defiant, and Discovery are all iconic names too. Now, for Star Trek‘s 60th anniversary, IDW Comics is exploring one of those ships in a new series. And it stars one of Star Trek: Picard’s breakout characters, Commander Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd). Only she’s no longer just a commander, she’s captain of the starship Endeavour. And in the new series Star Trek: Zero Point, by the creative team of Charlie Jane Anders, Isaac Sánchez González, and Jodie Troutman, we follow Captain Musiker as she takes her new starship on a special mission of the utmost importance to the Alpha Quadrant. You can check out several pages from Star Trek: Zero Point, along with multiple variant covers, down below:

Star Trek: Zero Point Click To View Gallery IDW/Paramount Paramount/IDW IDW/Paramount Paramount?IDW IDW/Paramount Paramount/IDW IDW/Paramount Paramount/IDW IDW/Paramount Paramount/IDW IDW/Paramount Paramount/IDW IDW/Paramount Paramount/IDW IDW/Paramount

In Zero Point, after five years at the side of Captain Seven of Nine on the Enterprise-G, as her first officer and as her wife, Raffi gets a command of her own, the U.S.S. Endeavour. And her new crew has a very dangerous (and secret) mission ahead of them. You can check out several pages from the first issue, which include none other than Voyager’s Admiral Janeway, and even a new artificial lifeform that’s a little bit of Data from The Next Generation and Lt. Uhura from the original series. Her name is Sybil, and she may already be the best Trek character of 2026. You can read the synopsis for Star Trek: Zero Point #1 down below:

IDW/Paramount

The tie-in series to Star Trek (2026) starts here! From Nebula and Hugo Award–winning writer
Charlie Jane Anders (New Mutants, Lessons in Magic and Disaster) and artist Isaac Sánchez
González (TMNT, Godzilla) comes an extremely CLASSIFIED mission. A starship graveyard on the moon. A captain haunted by failure. A mission that could change the future of the Federation…or end it entirely.

Raffi Musiker takes command of the U.S.S. Endeavour—and is immediately handed a classified
directive from Starfleet. Follow the guidance of a powerful, untested A.I., that can predict threats
before they happen. But these missions aren’t exploration—they’re a gamble. As systems fail, pressure mounts, and missions spiral out of control, Raffi must decide who to trust: her crew…or the machine guiding them. Because some discoveries are better left buried. And some warnings come too late.

Paramount/IDW

For Star Trek: Zero Point writer Charlie Jane Anders, a lifelong Trekker, getting to tell this story in the Trek galaxy has been a dream come true. Here’s what she had to say about shepherding this exciting new addition to Star Trek lore:

I’ve loved Star Trek my whole life, and I’ve been reading Star Trek comics forever. Somewhere
I have a compilation of the Gold Key comics that contains my childhood scribbles in the
margins. Star Trek: Zero Point is my tribute to decades of brilliant Trek storytelling — but it’s
also me trying to do things I’ve never seen a Trek comic do before. The format of Zero Point, in
which a friendly supercomputer predicts possible future threats and sends one starship to deal
with them, has turned out to be a great way to launch all kinds of different stories.

But it’s also provided a way to carry on a fun debate about how Starfleet should deal with the scary stuff on the horizon, the threats that lurk in the future. Is it better to be proactive to the point of paranoia,or to simply hope for the best? I’ve also been having a wonderful time writing the traumatized Raffi Musiker and the science-loving, idealistic D’Vana Tendi as captain and first officer. Their scenes together are always my favorite thing to write. All in all, I’ve been having a blast writing
this, and I am so overjoyed at how Isaac Sanchez Gonzalez’s art and Jodie Troutman’s lettering
have turned my weird ideas into a thing of beauty.

IDW has several Star Trek comics celebrating the franchise’s 60th anniversary, including Starfleet Academy and the upcoming Holo-Ween II Special. Star Trek: Zero Point #1 goes on sale October 14. Pre-orders are due September 7.

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 STAR TREK: ZERO POINT Warps Into the 25th Century (Exclusive Preview) appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Lanterns is DC Studios’ upcoming prestige TV adaptation of the Green Lantern comics. Here’s everything we know so far about the series.

James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU is officially off and running. And next up is Lanterns, a Green Lanterns series that follows “new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.”

With the release of Lanterns just around the corner, HBO Max has released the first five minutes of the series for your viewing pleasure. And yes, it features Hal Jordan in his Green Lantern suit. You can watch the beginning of Lanterns above.

HBO

What else can we expect from the show when it does premiere? Here’s everything we know so far about Lanterns.

Title

The title of the series is simply Lanterns. The green is implied, I guess.

DC Studios Lanterns Plot

In his initial video announcing the DC Studios slate, James Gunn described the show John Stewart and Hal Jordan investigating a “terrifying mystery” that has huge ties to the entire franchise. He likened the “Earthbound” story to True Detective.

Later descriptions include a fuller look at the plot. “Lanterns follows new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.” The series full trailer proved Gunn’s description was very accurate.

Behind the Scenes

Ozark showrunner and True Detective: Night Country producer Chris Mundy will serve as Lanterns‘ showrunner. Mundy along with comic writer Tom King (Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow) and Damon Lindelof (Lost, Watchmen) have written the series pilot and bible.

James Gunn and Peter Safran said of the announcement: “We’re thrilled to bring this seminal DC title to HBO with Chris, Damon and Tom at the helm. John Stewart and Hal Jordan are two of DC’s most compelling characters, and Lanterns brings them to life in an original detective story that is a foundational part of the unified DCU we’re launching next summer with Superman.”

“When we first started the DCU, the first couple of weeks of heading this out, we got together with a group of writers, and Tom King was one of those writers, and we were in this room, and we came up with sort of this concept for Lanterns. It’s a much more it’s a very grounded series, a very real series, which is a strange thing to say about a Green Lanterns show. But it’s going to be something like nobody’s ever seen before.”

James Hawes, director of series like Doctor Who, Penny Dreadful, and Black Mirror, will direct the the first two episodes of Lanterns. He, along with the writers above, will serve as executive producers.

Lanterns‘ Cast John P. Johnson/HBO

The series will focus on the veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan working a case with rookie GL John Stewart. In order to play these roles, DC would need some heavy hitters. And heavy hitters they got! Kyle Chandler (Bloodline, Friday Night Lights) plays Hal Jordan.

NBC/DC Comics

To play the role of John Stewart, DC cast Aaron Pierre. Pierre had a big 2025 with both the Netflix thriller Rebel Ridge and as the titular voice in Disney’s not-live-action live action film Mufasa.

“Aaron Pierre is somebody who I’ve wanted to work together with for a long time,” said James Gunn during an NYCC panel. “People don’t know, but he was almost cast as Adam Warlock. He’s an amazing actor, and I just really admired him from the beginning of his career. Seeing him read with Kyle was one of those miraculous moments. I don’t care what they’re saying, I just love what they’re saying together.”

Max PR/Warner Bros Animation

Boardwalk Empire‘s Kelly Macdonald also joins Lanterns as “Sheriff Kerry, a no-nonsense woman deeply devoted to her family and close-knit town. Her resilience, shaped by a complex past that’s hardened her resolve, anchors her when the community’s secrets begin to surface.” According to Deadline, Kelly Macdonald’s character may also “be a potential love interest for Chandler’s Hal Jordan.” Very interesting.

Additionally, Jason Ritter joins Lanterns as Billy Macon. The official description for this character notes, “Billy Macon is a good-looking charmer who does his father’s bidding. Capitalizing on his family’s reputation, he clings to his small-town ego and has everything to lose.” Ulrich Thomsen will play villain Sinestro.

RELATED ARTICLE

LANTERNS Casts Sinestro, Danish Actor Ulrich Thomsen Will Play Iconic DC Villain

Finally, Deadline revealed that J. Alphonse Nicholson, known for his role on P-Valley, will have a recurring role as a younger John, Sr. in the series. Sherman Augustus will have a more regular role as the the current John, Sr.

Lanterns‘ Release Date

Lanterns will debut on August 16, just a month after Supergirl and a couple of months before Clayface.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

Originally published on December 30, 2024.

The post Watch the First 5 Minutes of LANTERNS appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• An Achilles and Patroclus movie is in the works. This movie aims to adapt the iconic Greek myth in a way that focuses on the love story and characters.
• Achilles and Patroclus is an independent film and needs your support to become a reality. You can check out its Seed&Spark page to help it come to life.
• This will be the first short film in a larger anthology called Mount Pellion, which aims to adapt the myths that explore heroes before they become legends.
• More Mythology: If you’re in the mood for more myths, check out our deep dive into The Odyssey‘s Sinon.

It’s an exciting time for fans of Greek mythology. One of the world’s biggest movies, The Odyssey, is breaking records and captivating minds, bringing the ancient myths back into the pop-culture zeitgeist and reminding us why the stories themselves are immortal. The world of Greek myths has long captured the imagination of many, though. And while it’s wonderful to see one of these mythological Epics play out on our biggest screens, we still feel hungry to see different visions of these classic stories come to life. We crave these bedrocks of storytelling to be imagined through different lenses, not only to explore the spectacle of mythology, but also the nuanced characters and tangled stories of humanity it bring us. And let’s be honest, isn’t it time for a truly queer version of one of history’s gayest periods to splash onto our screens? We think it is, and so does the director/writer of Achilles and Patroclus, L.E. Woods. Achilles and Patroclus is the first in a collection of short movies dedicated to bringing myths to life intimately, romantically, and representatively. If this sounds exciting, you too can be a part of the creation process.

Mount Pelion Film

“Representation isn’t about rewriting history. It’s about allowing stories to reflect the complexity and humanity that has been there all along.” Says Woods, and I know I just felt a shiver of excitement run up my spine. The Achilles and Patroclus movie, Woods continues, “is inspired by the forgotten spaces [left behind by myths], imagining the lives that unfolded before history turned two young men into legends.”

And truly, isn’t it absolutely insane when you think about it that we haven’t ever received a cinematic version of the love story between Achilles and Patroclus? The pair are one of the most romantic duos ever to exist, have persisted through mythology and into pop culture, have existed in fiction for literal centuries, but have never ONCE been given a true love story we can see? Of course, we honor the work of The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. But just as far as an Achilles and Patroclus movie goes… This EPIC relationship has never received a true adaptation.

I mean, come on, Patroclus told Achilles, “Never bury my bones apart from yours, Achilles, let them lie together… just as we grew up together in your house.” They are the moment.

Table of contents

• What We Know About the Achilles and Patroclus Movie
• Make the Achilles and Patroclus Movie a Reality with Your Support
• Achilles and Patroclus Is Only the Beginning, Meet Mount Pelion

What We Know About the Achilles and Patroclus Movie

And now IS the time for an Achilles and Patroclus movie. The synopsis for this short film reveals, “Achilles and Patroclus is a fantasy coming-of-age drama inspired by the Epic Cycle, the lost collection of Ancient Greek Poems that expanded the world before Homer’s Iliad. Rather than focusing on the Trojan War, the short film explores the quiet moments that came before it, the friendship, first love, and destiny that shaped the mythology.”

We’re SOLD. Especially as we come to understand that this retelling will focus not on war, but on the time before legends are legends, when they are just two young people, reaching for one another, finding each other. Woods notes, “At a time when the world feels increasingly divided, the story of Achilles and Patroclus looks beyond war and heroism to reveal the quiet humanity behind one of mythology’s most enduring stories, reminding us that love has always been part of the legends we inherit.” Beautiful.

Make the Achilles and Patroclus Movie a Reality with Your Support

But to tell such a story is a work of independent filmmaking and passion. There’s a reason why we haven’t gotten an Achilles and Patroclus movie yet. And that means a little support is required. If you’re dying to see an Achilles and Patroclus movie come to life, please check out the film’s Seed&Spark crowdfunding page to help finance production.

Making a movie is no easy feat and if this is one movie you want to see, it’s a great time to support. Achilles and Patroclus will be heading to GREECE to film on-location, so you know it’s a serious project. Every contribution helps bring this story one step closer to the screen. 

As Woods notes, “Independent filmmaking has always been an act of community.” If you can, support yours today—whether that be with a donation or just spreading the word!

Bonus: If you’re in NYC and a supporter, you can join in on an epic day of CAPTURE THE FLAG: GREECE VS. TROY on Saturday, August 23.

Achilles and Patroclus Is Only the Beginning, Meet Mount Pelion

The tale of Achilles and Patroclus told in this short movie is only the beginning. Achilles and Patroclus is a proof of concept for Mount Pelion, an hour-long mythic anthology told through a collection of shorts. Set in Ancient Greece and inspired by the lost Epic Cycle, the series explores heroes before they became legends. It will have the heart of Black Mirror, the soul of The Twilight Zone, and the spirit of Love, Death + Robots. 

Mount Pelion Film

You see, before The Iliad and The Odyssey, there lived a body of interconnected myths known as The Epic Cycle, a collection of ancient stories that traced the lives of heroes before, during, and after the Trojan War. Unlike Homer’s surviving epics, much of the Epic Cycle has been lost to us, surviving only in fragments passed down through oral tradition. Mount Pelion “imagines these lost epics not as missing texts, but as living stories, kept alive through performance.”

In addition to a short movie about Achilles and Patroclus, the first cycle of Mount Pelion will depict the stories of Thetis and Peleus, Jason and the Argonauts, the Apple of Discord, and Chiron, the healer, and the Gift.

For our money, we NEED an Achilles and Patroclus movie like air. Let’s all help make this one a reality.

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 ACHILLES AND PATROCLUS Movie in the Works (But It Needs YOU!) appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• American Horror Story’s clown heavy season 13 teaser trailer brings back big characters from previous seasons.
• Nerdist’s Take: The teaser doesn’t reveal much but returning faces are enough to make us want to watch, and we know what to rewatch to prepare!
• AHS: Season 13 has thirteen episodes that have an odd release schedule starting September 24.

American Horror Story built its anthology foundation upon a slate of solid and quite famous actors including Jessica Lange, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Sarah Paulson, and Emma Roberts. And for many seasons, the FX series has kept us enthralled with a whopping twelve chilling seasons since 2011. That feels like a miracle considering how many shows can barely make it past a couple of seasons these days. And American Horror Story isn’t done with us yet, as evidenced by its clown heavy season 13 teaser trailer that brings back the above famous faces and more. 

While recent seasons of AHS have garnered mixed reviews among critics and fans for good reason, this teaser feels like a return to the franchise’s peak glory days. We get to meet Twisty the Clown, played by John Carroll Lynch, and he’s kinda giving Pennywise a run for his money. There’s a ton of creepy imagery and a strong suggestion that this thirteenth season will have connections to favorites like Coven, Murder House, and Apocalypse. There are terrors awaiting us and, if the trailer for American Horror Story season 13 is any indication, this will be a great spooky season, indeed. 

Nerdist’s Take: The AHS Season 13 Teaser Trailer Doesn’t Show Much, But Tells Us What to Rewatch

Seeing Angela Bassett reprise her infamous role as Marie Laveau (Coven and Apocalypse) is enough to make us want to tune in. But, when you add in Emma Roberts as Madison Montgomery (Coven and Apocalypse), Jessica Lange’s Constance Langdon (Murder House and Apocalypse), Sarah Paulson as Cordelia Goode (Coven and Apocalypse), Evan Peters as Kai Anderson (Cult), Jamie Brewer as Addie Langdon (Murder House), and Mena Suvari as the Black Dahlia (Murder House and Apocalypse), that totally seals the deal. After 15 years, it feels like the optimal time to tie many previous seasons together and tip its hat towards the past.

It sounds like it is time to brush up on our AHS history and rewatch those key seasons!

The Release Date and Schedule for American Horror Story Season 13  FX/Hulu

AHS will drop the first three episodes of season 13 on September 24 on FX, Hulu, and Disney+. Unsurprisingly, there are thirteen episodes total. Three more will be released in week two, and then just two episodes each week until the finale on October 29. 

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. She is beyond ready to see Angela Bassett as the fantastic Marie Laveau once again!

The post AMERICAN HORROR STORY Season 13 Trailer Teases Clowns and Past Connections appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Nerdist spoke with The X-Files creator Chris Carter about The X-Files: I Want to Believe – Vrach Frankenshteyn.
• The writer-director explained having an idea for a really scary episode he was never able to realize on screen.
• Carter says the original movie ended up focusing more on Scully and Mulder’s romantic relationship.
• On Ryan Coogler’s remake, Carter says “I’m very curious what he’s doing. I want to be surprised.”

Six years after the culmination of the mammoth nine-year phenomenon that was The X-Files, its creator, Chris Carter, had more to say. He still had an idea for a new case for FBI Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, but, as it turned out, that idea was darker and less PG-13-friendly than 20th Century Fox wanted at the time. The result, 2008’s The X-Files: I Want to Believe, is not the movie Carter first had. Now, two reboot seasons and almost 20 years later, Carter got a chance to revisit his imperfect creation. The new cut, fittingly entitled The X-Files: I Want to Believe – Vrach Frankenshteyn, will debut on Hulu August 14.

Nerdist got a chance to speak to Carter about unearthing this new version, what he changed to make it, and why he’s looking forward to Ryan Coogler’s reboot.

20th Century

Nerdist: I had read that you had been thinking about this cut of this movie for a while, but what was it about now that you thought was the right time to revisit it?

Chris Carter: It really came as an opportunity just presented itself. I was talking to the guy who runs the movie division at 20th Century Fox, and just on a whim I said, “Would you ever consider doing a director’s cut of I Want to Believe?” And he jumped. At first I thought, “Nah, they don’t want to spend any money.” I thought they were not going to be behind this, that it was a good idea, but nothing that would ever come to light. And sure enough, they gave us room, they gave us backing, they gave us their blessings, and we got to do the cut that we really wanted to do.

This isn’t simply a case of adding more footage. It is a different cut entirely. What was the process of revisiting it and figuring out how the new footage would be integrated in and what the new cut would look like?

Let me go back just a little bit. The original idea came from something I read, about a doctor who had transplanted the head of a monkey onto another monkey successfully. And I said, “This is X-Files territory. It’s got X-Files written all over it.” And I actually flew out to Cleveland, Ohio to meet this doctor. We sat at a bar and he explained to me how you transplant the head of a monkey onto another body and wonderful.

So, we, Frank Spotnitz and I, set out to do a story, a Frankenstein story as an X-Files. And I always felt that that story got buried under the weight of some other stories that felt that they stole [focus]. And by that I mean that the studio, I originally showed it to the studio executives when we made the movie in 2007, 2008, and I showed them a cut and the lights went up in the screening room and they were outraged. They said, “This is not the PG-13 movie promised us.”

20th Century

Anyway, so we had to cut it back to what they accepted. Then we had to cut it back even further for the ratings folks. I always felt that what happened is it became a kind of Mulder/Scully romance relationship movie, and it wasn’t a good scary X-Files story. And so now we have taken the weight off of the one thing and put it on the right thing. To do that, we took seven minutes out.

Also, during the time between then and now, there have been two X-Files reboot seasons. So I felt that the audience had gotten a lot of the Mulder and Scully relationship in those reboots.

It’s interesting watching it because I kind of expected it to be gorrier, if you know what I mean. By today’s standards, it really feels like it could have passed for a PG-13 and been fine.

I completely agree with you. I’ve added this title, Vrach Frankenshteyn, to the movie because my feeling. We always set out to do a Frankenstein movie, but the audience by and large didn’t know that because it’s only touched on at the very end of the movie when Mulder’s pinning up a newspaper clipping. So, when you know the sequence where the search party is with Father Joe and they dig up that arm in the snow, it doesn’t quite make sense. It’s like it is more of a confusing element than an intriguing element. And I wanted people to know this is a Frankenstein story from the get-go.

Hulu

Throughout the show, you’ve done a few kind of Frankenstein riffs. Is that a favorite story of yours?

I love the Frankenstein story. I love the idea of breathing life into a new being and the idea in this case, if your head is put on another body, are you that new person? Are you the person whose head you the body? I just love this idea. I’m certain down the line we are going to say this is not science fiction anymore, that this is going to be medical science that a head can be transplanted onto another body. This may be the key, in fact, to everlasting life when you can transplant the head of someone onto a young body.

Given the kind of streaming landscape and how much kind of content that you can get away with now versus when you were making the show back in the ’90s, do you see episodes where you would’ve pushed the envelope even more now?

Well, it’s interesting because, the television censors were more permissive than the movie censors. I could have told a scarier story on network television than I was allowed to tell for the big screen to get that PG-13 rating, which is so ironic. I just wanted to tell a really good, scary X-Files story.

20th Century

The X-Files is coming back, obviously, with Ryan Coogler. Do you think that there’s a future forever for The X-Files? Is there something kind of intrinsic to humanity that will always want to visit the X-Files?

Because it’s a show about science as it pertains to science fiction, I think that there’s always interesting territory in which to explore the intersection of Mulder and Scully’s belief systems. I’m very curious what Ryan Coogler is doing. My name is on the show, but I have not read the script by choice. I’m waiting to see. I want to be surprised. I want to watch that pilot episode like everyone else is watching it as a fan of the X-Files franchise.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Letterboxd.

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