The Nerdist

Quick Take

• Matt Hagen learns to control his power and unleashes his monstrous side in the final (and best) trailer for the DCU’s Clayface.
• Clayface stars Tom Rhys Harries and comes from director James Watkins with a script written by Mike Flanagan.
• Clayface has always been one of Batman’s most tragic villains, but he now looks poised to be one of DC’s best movie stars.

Matt Hagen has always been among Batman’s most tragic villains. Now he looks poised to be among DC’s most captivating leading men. The final trailer for Clayface shows the actor not just embracing his new powers. It shows him embracing his monstrous side, in a movie that looks poised to bring true horror to the DCU.

Oh, this is going to be good good, isn’t it? We already thought that, but this final trailer for the film is the movie’s best. It leans more into the darkness and violence that will consume Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries) as he realizes exactly what he’s capable of doing. And what he can do is hurt people while turning into a giant mass of moldable evil. Here’s the official synopsis from Warner Bros. Discovery:

Matt Hagen’s meteoric rise from Gotham street kid to Hollywood leading man is tragically cut short when a local crime boss’s actions leave him horribly disfigured. Abandoned by his team and with nothing left, Matt seeks out a cutting-edge treatment that miraculously returns him to his former self… but also unexpectedly affects his grip on reality, spiraling him down a destructive path of all-consuming revenge.

Warner Bros. Discovery/DC Studios

The film also stars Naomi Ackie, David Dencik, Max Minghella, Eddie Marsan, Nancy Carroll, and Joshua James. James Watkins (Speak No Evil) directs with a script from Mike Flanagan (which is reason enough to be excited about this movie even without all the great trailers).

Clayface arrives in North American theaters on October 23, 2026. The film will be the third big screen entry, following Superman and Supergirl, in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU. If It’s as good as we think it will be it will elevate Matt Hagen from one of the best, most interesting members of Batman’s rogues gallery to one of DC’s most interesting leading characters.

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

The post CLAYFACE Unleashes His Monstrous Side in the Final Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• It’s finally spooky season at long last. So what better way to celebrate than with a sinister Michael Myers Chia Pet using his look from Halloween II?
• What makes this Michael Myers the one from 1981’s Halloween II and not the original? It’s all about the bleeding eyes.
• Nerdist’s take: A Michael Myers Chia Pet is the perfect Halloween-season household decoration.

If you grew up in a certain bygone era, then the little advertising jingle “Cha-Cha-Cha-Chia!” will instantly flood your brain with memories of the ’90s/early 2000s. That’s when they’d advertise the Chia Pet, the perennial product sold on late-night television. But they’re still around, and now, and you can get Chia Pets based on all kinds of pop culture favorites. And just in time for spooky season, we have a Chia Pet based on THE slasher, Halloween’s Michael Myers, a.k.a. “The Shape.” Or we should say, Halloween II’s Michael Myers. You can check out images of the Halloween II Chia-Pet down below:

Click To View Gallery NECA/Universal Pictures Universal Pictures/NECA NECA/Universal Pictures Universal Pictures/NECA

The Halloween II Michael Myers Chia Pet includes a unique pottery planter, a convenient plastic drip tray and chia seed packets for three plantings. Owners can expect fulll growth in one to two weeks. In almost no time at all, your Chia Pet will achieve maximum growth and enjoy a luscious green coat. Each Chia Pet contains a simple six step care instruction on how to grow your own miniature embodiment of evil. Or, since there are no Star Trek Chia Pets, you can also just pretend this is a Captain Kirk Chia. Remember, Michael Myers’ mask is based on William Shatner’s face.

NECA

So why is this a Halloween II Chia Pet, and not just a Halloween Chia Pet? Well, it’s all about the rights. The original John Carpenter Halloween from 1978 is a seperate license from Halloween II, which was released by Universal Pictures. That’s why Michael Myers is crying blood out of his mask eye sockets, as that’s a unique look from that particular movie. You’ll probably notice most Michael Myers merchandise says Halloween II on the box, and not Halloween.

Nerdist’s Take: A Michael Myers Chia Pet Is Perfect Halloween Season Decor

If you’re looking for a fun decoration for your house, you can’t do much better for Halloween than the cinematic symbol of the holiday. And if you order one now, you can have your Michael Myers Chia Pet with a full head of hair to place right next to your Jack-o’-lantern on October 31. You can purchase one now from Amazon for just $21.16.

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

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

The post Welcome Halloween Season With a Michael Myers Chia Pet appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Wizards of the Coast just released a new Dungeons & Dragons sourcebook, Arcana Unleashed.
• The sourcebook expands the possibilities of D&D 5.5, introducing dozens of new spells and feats, as well as a range of backgrounds, factions, and subclasses players can use to build their characters.
• Nerdist‘s Take: This spell list is actually insane (positive), and the new subclasses, many of which fuse magic with martial, are very appealing to players like myself who usually avoid the more arcane side of Dungeons & Dragons.

On September 15th, the long-awaited Dungeons & Dragons sourcebook, Arcana Unleashed, finally hit shelves. TTRPG fans are clamoring over the eight new subclasses, nine new factions, and ten new available backgrounds. On top of that, the sourcebook introduces a whopping thirty-three new spells, and twenty-nine feats for players to explore. While the sourcebook focuses primarily on magic—hence the name—Wizards of the Coast hasn’t left martial classes out of the fun. I’m eyeing the Warrior of the Mystic Arts Monk, for instance. Punching the hell out of people, but with magic! What more could I ask for? Arcana Unleashed gives you the option to weave magic into pretty much any and all play-styles, making this a defining tome for D&D’s 5.5 iteration. Also, you can be a warlock serving a dead/dying god that follows you around as a familiar, or a ‘vestige’ as the sourcebook calls it. Isn’t that metal?

Wizards of the Coast

The nine new factions are available for politicking, joining, or eradicating as you deem fit. Or as the DM deems fit, depending! The factions range across the eight different schools of magic, with varying alignments and motives to play with. We have everything from studious thieving scholars to enchanting (literally) socialites on offer. The factions are clearly made to be more than nameless quest-giving machines or one-time employers. This allows plenty of space for drama and intrigue built seamlessly into the game.

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High-level campaigns get some tender love and care as well. The book introduces several new, higher-level spells, many of which change the landscape of an encounter in an instant. As a believer in the Dungeon Crawler Carl method (blow sh*t up and leave), I’m a big fan of the new Level 9 Evocation spell Detonate. A new mass damage spell is always worth celebrating. Another highlight is Fractured Awareness, a Level 7 Divination spell that allows you to show an enemy terrifying futures inside their mind. Unless they make the intelligence saving throw, this spell deals massive psychic damage.

The book has beautiful illustrations, and much like Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, there are notes from the in-universe author scattered throughout the thick tome, adding a wealth of personality and charm. The authoress is demi-god Alustriel Silverquill, daughter of the goddess of magic. There’s plenty of lore drops and in-universe references that tie the sourcebook together wonderfully.

I’ve just barely scratched the surface of everything Arcana Unleashed has to offer. I’m excited to see how it will change the landscape of Dungeons & Dragons 5.5. Happy dungeon-crawling, y’all!

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

The post DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: ARCANA UNLEASHED Sourcebook Has Arrived appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• LEGO released a teaser revealing that their will be an upcoming Dragonball set.
• Fans have been begging for a Dragonball set for years, often pitching it to LEGO Ideas.
• Nerdist’s Take: There are a million possibilities for a Dragonball LEGO set, and we’re hype to see what LEGO comes up with!

LEGO just dropped a sneaky teaser in our laps for a Dragonball LEGO set. The teaser only reveals the seven dragonballs, but sometimes a little says a lot. Fans are rejoicing after years of pitching their own Dragonball creations on LEGO Ideas. Their collaboration with Toei Animation, the studio behind Dragonball, is bound to have anime and LEGO fans alike grabbing their wallets.

願いを叶える準備はいいか…#大人レゴ #ドラゴンボール pic.twitter.com/3IKRnlII1G

— レゴ ジャパン公式 (@LEGO_Group_JP) September 22, 2026

LEGO has been on-fire with crossovers lately, and a few other anime-related sets may be on the horizon. Yu-Gi-Oh! is coming to the world of LEGO before too long as a LEGO Ideas set. There’s noise about a Naruto set as well, but nothing has been officially confirmed. (I’m crossing all my fingers and toes, though.)

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An Ode to Akira Toriyama and the Enduring Global Legacy of DRAGON BALL

LEGO partnered with Netflix last year with their series of One Piece sets based on the live-action show. This marked LEGO’s first venture into the anime world. The sets, released in 2025, have done numbers for LEGO, showing that anime fans are enthusiastic about the properties they love no matter the medium. LEGO released fourteen One Piece sets, with everything from Garp’s Marine Battleship to Hiriluk’s Hideout. Upon release, they sold-out almost immediately.

LEGO, Netflix

The possibilities are endless for Dragonball LEGO sets. Will we see a Castle of God set? We’ll surely get little brick versions of beloved characters like Goku, Krillin, Piccolo, and Vegeta. A big ol’ Golden Great Ape set—one of Goku’s Dragonball GT Saiyan transformations—would be insanely cool. And I’m willing to bet money we’ll see an appearance from Shenron, the series’ eponymous dragon.

Toei Animation

The sky is the limit when it comes to anime/manga partnerships with LEGO. I have a beautiful dream of being able to build The Bebop from Cowboy Bebop someday. Or maybe a BLAME! set with ever-releasing additions…okay, sorry, ignore me on that one. Let’s get hype for Dragonball LEGOs and stay hopeful for the future!

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

The post LEGO Is Finally Making a DRAGON BALL Set appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• While doing press for his Museum of Narrative Art, George Lucas recalls how upset fans got over the changes he made to the original Star Wars trilogy years later.
• Once again, George Lucas pointed out that the original Star Wars trilogy was never finished, just released to hit a release deadline. The Special Editions are what he considers his finished version.
• Nerdist’s take: If fan backlash over the Star Wars Special Editions caused George Lucas to sell Lucasfilm so he could focus on his amazing museum, maybe it was all for the best.

It’s been nearly three decades since George Lucas released his Star Wars trilogy Special Editions. And the acclaimed creator and filmmaking pioneer is still talking about how much hate he received from the public for making the changes he did. While doing press for his new (and amazing) Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, the subject of his tinkering with his original films came up again. And once more, Lucas mentioned how many fans found themselves upset with him over the changes. Here’s what he said in an interview with CBS (via IGN) about how he never saw his Star Wars films as finished:

Most movies aren’t finished, they’re simply yanked out of your hands and put in the theaters. So you’re always saying ‘oh, I wish I could have just finished that one piece of thing.’ But it’s not that way. You have a deadline, you’ve got to make the deadline. But then I went back, after Star Wars, and redid all the movies, in terms of finishing them. So that they’re actually finished. And of course, a lot of people got upset about that, because they said ‘you’re not allowed to do that.’ I said ‘fans are doing that. They’re making alternate versions and all kinds of stuff.

Lucasfilm

Lucas has a point there. If anyone has permission to make Star Wars content of any kind, it’s the franchise’s creator. We think he misunderstands why people were angry, however. It’s not that he made an alternate cut, which is totally his right. It’s that he put the original version in a vault and shut the door. A vault that has remained closed until next year. Because that’s when Lucasfilm releases the original 1977 version in theaters for its 50th anniversary.

Lucasfilm/CBS/YouTube Nerdist’s Take: If Star Wars Fan Backlash Led to Lucas Focusing on His Museum, Maybe It Was All for the Best

The backlash from the Special Editions (and especially the prequels) was so bad, Lucas chose to walk away from it, sell Lucasfilm to Disney, and focus on his museum. Even though he recently confirmed he did, in fact, have three more films in mind. (Again, after a decade of saying Revenge of the Sith was the end. The man loves to change his mind). But because he ultimately chose to let go, he was able to build this museum. And it will likely stand far longer than any new Star Wars films are being made. As they say, sometimes things happen for a reason.

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 George Lucas Defends STAR WARS Special Edition Changes appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• We like Taylor Swift’s music well enough, but we have to ask: is releasing The Life of a Showgirl‘s 35th version an insult to fans?
• At one point or another, you’ve probably released enough variants of your album, and it feels like The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore is that limit.
• This massive amount of releases feels like it’s insulting to fandom and bad for the music industry (and any industry) as a whole.

Listen, I know this is a little bit off-topic for Nerdist dot com. We don’t really cover Taylor Swift. But we do cover fans and fandom. And let me tell you, if a TV series we write about was releasing its 35th version of practically the same episodes, I really feel like we’d have something to say about it. So, as a person who loves fans, I really have to wonder: is Taylor Swift releasing a 35th version of The Life of a Showgirl kind of an insult to the people who love her the most?

Taylor Swift

I wouldn’t say I’m a Swiftie. But I went to the Eras Tour, and I enjoy Taylor Swift’s music. This is not a directed attack on Taylor Swift. Taylor Swift just happens to be the person who has released 27 physical editions (18 CDs, eight vinyl LPs, and one cassette) and seven digital download versions of the same album. And has now added one more to that total with the addition of four new songs, “Patient Zero,” “Cleveland!,” “Pink Clouding,” and “Babylon.”

But more to the point, I’m a Fannibal; I’m part of the Beautifully Unwell; I’m a huge The Lord of the Rings fan, and I’ve been in one fandom or another my whole life. I LIVE to buy merch. At points in the heights of my fannish love, I might have bought anything from my fandom of choice. (As long as it was cute.) I go to cons and buy fan art I don’t need all of the time. I understand fans live for merch and creators live to sell fans merch—that’s a natural part of fandom. But THIRTY-FIVE VERSIONS of an almost identical album? Where does putting out merch for your fandom end and taking advantage of your fandom begin? And yes, for now you can just listen to this album on Spotify, but we bet there will be ten different physical releases just around the corner.

And now, obviously, Taylor Swift isn’t making any single person buy all thirty-five versions of The Life of a Showgirl or however many editions of The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore there end up being. (The whole thing is strangely reminiscent of Avengers Endgame: Encore—something, we also, by the way, were not thrilled by). But when you have the love and obsession of so many fans, many of whom are young, you have a modicum of responsibility to not squeeze them for every penny or utility they’re worth. I mean, don’t we get enough of that from every angle? Do we really need it from beloved artists too? Obviously, Taylor Swift isn’t totally alone in this, other artists have put out quite a number of variants as well, of late, but none that I’ve seen get even close to this number.

It also feels especially bad when the most likely purpose of this The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore re-release is to artificially inflate sales or listens. And that’s not good for fandom, and it’s not good for the industry overall. As we talk about with streaming price hikes, password-sharing crackdowns, and ads, once one person starts pulling these kinds of shenanigans, other people are sure to follow. And that’s a journey that ends badly for the fans first.

Anyway, don’t come for me, Swifties. This isn’t a personal attack on Taylor Swift. But 35 releases of one album is a wacky thing to do! But hey, if it makes you happy, you can pre-order it today.

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 Is Taylor Swift’s 35th Version of LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL an Insult to Fans? appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Nerdist was among a very small handful of media taken inside a remodeled room currently being beta tested in Art of Animation’s Little Mermaid building, something few people will ever see.
• We also saw concept art for the remodeled rooms planned for The Lion King building at Art of Animation.
• Nerdist’s Take: While seeing a model room few others will ever get a chance to experience was fun and informative, getting a new appreciation of the work Imagineers do was even better.

It’s impossible not to appreciate Disney Imagineering when you’re in the parks. They are the main attraction of any visit, and eery ride, land, restaurant, building, and piece of decor in the parks is a reflection of Imagineers. But recently I got a unique chance to see another way they influence a major aspect of any visit. Nerdist was among the small handful of press allowed into a model Little Mermaid room currently being tested at Walt Disney World’s Art of Animation Resort. And seeing it made me realize I wasn’t paying enough attention to all the ways Imagineers immerse you in a Disney story.

Disney/Nerdist

Executives talk about Art of Animation with genuine reverence. Multiple cast members, independently of one another, used the word “special” to describe the large family-friendly resort when Disney hosted my family there recently. We were at Walt Disney World for “Stay in the Magic,” an event dedicated to highlighting the advantages of staying at a Disney property. During out visit I was also able to see something few, even those who work there, ever will: a model testing room.

Art of Animation opened in 2012 and has four different themed buildings of guest rooms. Three—Cars, The Lion King, Finding Nemo—feature family suites. The fourth is The Little Mermaid, which consists of standard rooms. Earlier this year, Disney announced that building would undergo a massive remodel. It’s the hotel’s first-ever major, top-to-bottom room refurbishment. (It’s also another project in what Walt Disney World’s ongoing focus to reinvest in classic rides and resorts. Recent examples include the major overhauls of Big Thunder Mountain and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. Next year, a new version of the Carousel of Progress will also open at Magic Kingdom.)

A current Little Mermaid room (Credit: Walt Disney World)

Back in May, when execs announced the refurbishment, these new rooms only existed in concept art. Now they exists as two fully furnished rooms inside the Little Mermaid building. Disney built them for beta testing. During our tour, hosted by the Imagineers leading the project, press was not given or allowed to take any images of the room because it’s not yet in its final version. But it is a full room. It’s been used by employees and their hosting families. Cast members, executives, and Imagineers have been staying there to see what works and what can be improved. What Disney ultimately settles on could be very different from what I got to see. But I doubt much will change.

The room is already a vast improvement over the current Little Mermaid rooms. (It’s no surprise this building is getting the first upgrade. It’s the one that needs it most.) Themed as an “Under the Sea” celebration, it’s full of character paintings on every wall. The aquatic color scheme is also lighter, brighter, and more varied than the current edition. The decor, while still overly playful, is also a significant upgrade. The model room hasn’t abandoned the joyful ethos of the current style, but it looks fancier and more expensive. The bureau is also much longer and that curtain divider for the bathroom is thankfully gone.

Nerdist

There are also fun touches throughout, like how the bureau has fork handles, a wonderful nod to Ariel’s misunderstanding of human items. My favorite element was a multi-dimensional custom light fixture that looks like the sun reflecting from above the water. It’s one of the many small aspects that really sells the theming of the room. You’re meant to feel like you’re under the sea with Ariel and her friends and you do. Some of those sea creatures are also hiding in spots meant for little ones to find. I only saw them because Imagineers cited them as one of their favorite special parts. That led me to searching for them at a toddler’s eye level.

The room is also more practical while being even more fun for kids. The model room provides much more space than a current Little Mermaid room despite the size of the room not changing. To help make Ariel’s rooms feel bigger, they are turning one of the two Queen-sized beds into a Murphy bed. That’s a fun feature on its own, as my 5-year-old found when we showed him how the table in our Cars suite was secretly hiding a bed in the wall. (Guess where he insisted on sleeping after seeing that?) In a Little Mermaid room, during the day a Murphy bed will allow for both a lot more space and a place to sit and eat. It’s a much needed pragmatic improvement for adults that also makes it more enjoyable for kids.

To get a sense of the layout, you can see what the recently refurbished rooms at the neighboring Pop Century Resort look like. The model room follows this general design from Pop Century seen below. But Art of Animation’s model room is much more immersive, colorful, and kid-focused. The Little Mermaid room is geared for families with youngsters, which is what Art of Animation does best.

Walt Disney World

After seeing the model room, we then headed to a presentation inside a current Lion King suite. It’s the next AoA building getting remodeled rooms. (The plan is to then do the same for the Finding Nemo and Cars buildings.) The new Lion King suite is still in the concept art stage. Imagineers say a model room is still at least a few months away. What we saw of the design is a more modern, more sophisticated, and lighter room. The current suites feature a very dark green, cartoon-like jungle vibe. This is what a current Lion King suite looks like. The decor had me singing “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King.” (I wish I were joking.) The art for the new design feels like the complete opposite. It’s much more modern, adult-oriented and calming.

Walt Disney World

When I pointed this big difference between the old design and the new one to the Imagineer leading the Lion King project, she said that’s very intentional. She described the general idea as “whimsical but tranquil.” It was a perfect description for the concept. But that would be totally wrong to describe the model Little Mermaid room which feels like its hosting a party. And that’s the point.

Imagineers, who consult with their predecessors who designed the original rooms, aren’t trying to make every Art of Animation building the same with only the IP changing. They’re trying to create something unique in each so that every stay feels different. They’re also trying to provide options so every guest, each with their own needs and preferences, can find what works best for them. If you have very young kids, the new “Under the Sea” rooms will appeal to them more than the serene approach Disney is taking with its refurbished Lion King suites.

For some it won’t matter which room they book, and I get it. The parks are always and forever the main attraction of any visit, and some guests view their room as “the place they sleep” and nothing more. I don’t and never have. I like when my room has a clear theme and vibe. But after getting a peak behind the test curtain I realize that, even though I do care about my hotel, its theming, and those fun extra touches that envelop you in the Disney bubble, I wasn’t paying enough attention to a side of Imagineering I’ve taken for granted.

Walt Disney World

Most (all?) of my conversations both with and about Imagineers has always been about what they do in the parks. But, like anyone who stays on property, the parks are just one aspect of any stay. The “story” of being at Disney doesn’t start or end when you enter or leave a theme park. It starts and ends in the place you start and end your day. And Imagineers put as much work, care, and passion into those resorts as they do the parks for that reason.

When I got back from my tour of the model Little Mermaid room and the Lion King suite refurbishment presentations, I started looking around my Cars suite. Despite it being my second time staying there I noticed things I never had before. There were fixtures I hadn’t paid attention to, both on the wall and on the furniture. I had somehow missed “obvious” things like the orange cone that holds up an end table. I had “seen” those elements dozens of times without processing them. The same was true when I then walked around the entire resort, something I hadn’t done before, the morning we left. I saw decorations and statues on buildings I had never thought to look at. I felt silly for having missed them, as though I had robbed myself of one of the best reasons to be on property.

Disney wanted press to see its model room to help publicize a big refurbishment coming to a signature resort. That was fun and informative, but it wasn’t what I found most interesting about the experience. Not as someone obsessed with Imagineering. After getting a chance to learn firsthand just how much storytelling, real-world testing, and tinkering goes into a single room in a single building at a single resort, I won’t make the mistake of taking that for granted again.

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

The post Come Inside a Model Test Room at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• After 30 years, original Spider-Man: The Animated Series showrunner John Semper returns to resolve the iconic ’90s series’ cliffhanger ending in a new comic book one-shot.
• After holding on to ideas for a potential sixth season of Spider-Man: TAS for nearly 30 years, John Semper will tell that story in Spider-Man ’94 Annual #1, set before last year’s Spider-Man ’94 mini-series.
• Nerdist’s take: Fans who grew up with Spider-Man: TAS have waited patiently for a resolution to that big cliffhanger ending, and Marvel has found a great way to tell that original story.

Last year, Marvel Comics announced a five-part Spider-Man ’94 mini-series, one that would resolve the cliffhanger ending of the iconic ’90s Spider-Man: The Animated Series. Millennial fans might remember that cartoon ended with Peter Parker’s beloved MJ lost in the Multiverse. With Madame Web’s help, Spidey goes to find her. But that storyline was never resolved. The series, written by Justice League International writer J.M. DeMatteis, took place after Peter brought Mary Jane home, but never explained how Peter ever found her. Now, Marvel has announced that original Spider-Man: TAS showrunner John Semper will finally tell that story in Spider-Man ’94 Annual #1, with art by Alessio Cammardella.

You can read the official synopsis for Spider-Man ’94 Annual #1, and check out the cover art, below:

Marvel Comics

John Semper Returns to Reunite Spider-Man With Mary Jane!

Last year, we brought you a continuation of the acclaimed Spider-Man: The Animated Series — now, a tale thirty years in the making, original showrunner John Semper returns to bring his vision for the reunion of Peter and Mary Jane to the page! Joined by artist Alessio Cammardella, the team brings to life the moments directly after the season-six cliffhanger for Spider-Man: The Animated Series and before the Spider-Man ’94 comic series! You’re not going to want to miss this one, Web-Heads! You’ve waited long enough!

John Semper Jr. made his official announcement of his return to the Spider-Man: TAS world via social media. When the first Spider-Man ’94 mini-series was announced last year, Semper made it clear that he was not involved, and that Marvel Comics had not contacted him. Clearly, they have since grown wiser and brought in Semper to finish his story some three decades later. The cover indicates Green Goblin, Carnage, and Madame Web will have some involvement in the story.

I'm thrilled to announce that with the upcoming Spider-Man '94 Annual #1, I will be returning to the world of Spider-Man. After 30 years, I'm finally getting to resolve the ending of my iconic animated series and tell the story of Peter finding Mary Jane. I want to thank everyone… pic.twitter.com/dxgfGZrZIc

— John Semper Jr. (@johnsemper) September 23, 2026 Marvel Comics

Speaking with Comic Book Resources, Semper said, “I left that tiny little door open, in case Fox came to me and said, ‘We want to do 13 more half-hours.’ I thought, ‘Oh, good. I’ll pick up with Peter finding Mary Jane.’ I didn’t realize what kind of trauma it was going to cause for millions of children across the world that I didn’t give them closure. So this is my gift to them. This is me giving them that closure.”

Nerdist’s Take: We Hope Spider-Man ’94 Leads to Some Kind of Animated Follow-Up

Could this mean Marvel brings us a Spider-Man ’94 animated series similar to X-Men ’97? We think it would be a no-brainer for Disney+. The first season of X-Men: The Animated Series actually let fans know that Spidey and MJ reunited by the time the events of that show take place. Maybe at some point, we’ll at least get an animated special. Here’s hoping these comics finding success could eventually lead to that.

Spider-Man ’94 Annual #1 arrives on December 9.

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

The post New Comic Will Resolve ’90s SPIDER-MAN: TAS Cliffhanger appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum first-look images reveal Elijah Wood’s Frodo returning to the Shire.
• In total, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum revealed 10 first-look images from the movie, including several of the other Hobbits and the Shire.
• Nerdist Take: These The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum images reveal that the spirit of the The Lord of the Rings movies is alive in The Hunt for Gollum and get us into an autumnal mood.
• Learn More: For all the details we know on The Hunt for Gollum, explore our piece here.

Soon, a cherished December tradition will return to us. In December 2027, a new The Lord of the Rings movie, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, will arrive in theaters. But the truth is that, even though watching The Lord of the Rings movies in theaters is a Christmas-time activity, it’s also something of a cherished fall tradition. Not only is Hobbit Day celebrated on September 22, the birthday of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, but there’s an autumnal sensibility to Middle-earth. Hobbits embody the harvest and the warmth of fall. And elves bring to life the beauty of the changing trees. And that’s why we’re thrilled to celebrate the start of autumn this year with first-look images from The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. And yes, that is Frodo Baggins in the Shire we see in this first-look from The Hunt for Gollum movie.

Warner Bros. Frodo Appears in First-Look Image from The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum

Why yes, that is Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins heading into Bag End. And doesn’t seeing Frodo in front of that iconic green door just fill you with all kinds of warm, nostalgic feelings? And YES, it makes sense for Elijah Wood’s Frodo to be present in the Shire in these The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum first-look images. The Hunt for Gollum actually takes place after Bilbo’s Eleventy-First birthday and before Frodo ever leaves the Shire, and then slides into what we’ve already seen in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. That means, Wood’s Frodo spends most of his time in the Shire during the timeline of The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum… And we’re very happy to see him. If you want to know more, pick up your copy of The Fellowship of the Ring today and explore Gandalf’s conversation with Frodo about the Ring as well as his recounting of his and Aragorn’s adventures at the Council of Elrond.

Other The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum Images Celebrate the Shire. Click To View Gallery Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Warner Bros.

The rest of The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum‘s first-look images take us back to the Shire. Hobbits galore! Pumpkins! And all kinds of autumnal majesty. It’s just as we left it. And it really does feel like our home away from home. Would that all our fall celebrations looked just like this. We haven’t seen too much from The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum yet—but we can absolutely sense that iconic spirit of The Lord of the Rings drenching these images. It feels just right. There are 10 first-look images of Hunt for Gollum in total, so savor every one.

RELATED ARTICLE

THE LORD OF THE RINGS and the Power of a Good Meal (or Six) Nerdist Take: Autumn Is the Perfect Time to Celebrate The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum has us ready to press play on our extended edition of The Lord of the Rings movies and sink back into the familiar world we know and love. We just need some Hobbit-sized pumpkins, some good stew, and a delicious tankard of ale (it comes in a pint!) to have the best fall night ever. We may even build LEGO’s The Lord of the Rings Shire set… If we’re feeling adventurous!

Even though The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum won’t release until December 17, 2027, these first-look images have truly gotten us in the -ber month spirit.

RELATED ARTICLE

14 Cozy Movies That You Have to Watch This Fall

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

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

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Quick Take

• Disney has increased the prices for both Disney+ and Hulu in such a way that a bundle of both is basically half off.
• An individual ad-free subscription to Disney+ or Hulu is now $21.49 per month, while a bundle of both is $21.99 total.
• Nerdist’s Take: This move seems less about taking in a lot more money and more about juicing the number of subscribes to both Disney+ and Hulu.
• Even More Streaming Nonsense: Disney+ will allow ads even in “ad-free” plans.

“Dog bites man” is the classic example of a common story not worthy of news coverage. Only, that’s never been true for the man who was bitten. That guy definitely cares about what happened to him. And that’s why, even though every day seems to bring another “streamer price increase” announcement we always report them. We’re the people being bitten! And the latest chunk being taken out of our bank account comes from Disney. The company is increasing the prices on both Disney+ and Hulu. It’s a move that clearly seems designed to make customers opt for a Disney+ and Hulu bundle.

Disney Here Are the Price Hikes Coming to Disney+ and Hulu

Bloomberg first reported Disney has raised the costs of its two streaming services exactly one year after the last bump. The ad-free tiers on both Disney+ and Hulu are each going up $2.50 per month. A subscription to either site’s ad-free option is now going to cost you $21.49 per month. The lower cost ad-supported tiers are increasing $0.50 cents per month to $12.49. That 50-cent increase also applies to the ad-free bundled package with ads. (You can see every streaming tier and option available here.)

Marvel Studios These Streaming Price Increases Are Meant to Drive You to Bundle

Disney doesn’t want you to pay for either Disney+ or Hulu alone. Those prices are so high they clearly want subscribers to opt for a bundle package. The Disney+ and Hulu bundle without ads went up $2 and is now $21.99 per month. That’s nearly 50% off the combined price of the two individual subscriptions. The same is true of the cheaper bundle with ads, which is now $12.99.

Hulu

For 50 cents more a month, a Disney+ subscriber can now get Hulu and vice versa. The bundles are basically a 2-for-1 deal. That’s something that seems likely to jack up the total number of subscribers of each. And that’s pretty clearly the point. It’s less about the amount of money these streaming sites are pulling in and more about how many subscribers they each have at the moment. Potentially, streamers also see subscribers as less willing to unsubscribe from a bundle, since they’d lose two streamers at once if they did. Perhaps Disney is hoping to combat the “subscribe and unsubscribe” model many users have been ascribing to.

RELATED ARTICLE

Will Streaming Price Hikes Backfire? The Era of Subscribing & Unsubscribing

Or, at least these are the stories for Disney and its stockholders. For the rest of us, it really is about the money. The streaming dog just keeps taking bigger bites out of us.

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

The post Disney Raises Prices for Both Disney+ and Hulu appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Streaming costs are increasing all the time—in 2026, we’ll keep track of all the price hikes that streamers levy on their subscribers.
• So far, we’ve had five total streaming price hikes in 2026.
• Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, Peacock, Apple TV, Hulu, and Disney+ have all increased costs this year.

Last year, we set out to chronicle the number of price hikes we’d see across streaming platforms. It had started to feel like every day, a streaming platform would raise its prices and increase its costs to subscribers. And that turned out to be… basically true. In 2025, we saw a total of SIX streaming price hikes — averaging out to about one cost increase every other month. While in a vacuum, streaming price increases can feel immaterial, taken altogether, the constant cost hikes are INTENSE. So this year, we’re doing it again. Join us as we take a look at every streaming price hike and cost increase in 2026. Will we be over or under the 2025 total? We’re already tied at 6 streaming price hikes in 2026 and 2025… So under is off the table… And over is looking likely.

Table of Contents; Jump To:

• All the Streaming Price Hikes in 2026
  • 9/23/26 – Disney+ and Hulu Raise Prices for the 4th Time in 4 Years
  • 8/26/26 – Apple TV Sets Price Hike
  • 8/18/26 – Peacock Raises Prices for All Tiers
  • 4/10/26 – YouTube Premium Raises Its Costs
  • 3/26/26 – Netflix Increases Costs Across All Subscription Tiers
  • 3/13/26 – Prime Video Increases Price of Ad-Free Tier
• How Many Streaming Price Increases Will We See in 2026?

All the Streaming Price Hikes in 2026 9/23/26 – Disney+ and Hulu Raise Prices for the 4th Time in 4 Years

Disney+ and Hulu saw all these other streamers raising prices and thought, hey, why not. The streamers have now officially raised prices for the fourth time in four years. Our least favorite annual event.

This time, Disney wants to push people to subscribe to its Disney+ and Hulu bundle and keep them from subscribing to each streamer separately by raising individual prices. This could be because people are less likely to unsubscribe from bundles or because having people suddenly subscribe to Hulu will look good for the streamer. It’s hard to say. But regardless, Disney+ and Hulu have raised prices.

Disney+ Premium and Hulu Premium, the supposedly ad-free plans, are seeing prices increase from $18.99 to $21.49/month, which means the costs are up 13%. Hence, to subscribe to both separately would be foolish when the Disney+ and Hulu bundle is just 50 cents more expensive. (But it did also see a price increase.) The Disney+/Hulu Premium bundle raised its price by $2/month, from $19.99 to $21.99.

Meanwhile, ad-supported plans for Disney+ and Hulu, where the streamers clearly want you to be, also increased in price, changing from $11.99 to $12.49/month each. Only the Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) bundle saw no price hike and remains at $12.99/month.

In 2023, the ad-free Disney+ plan cost $10.99 a month, which means it has basically doubled in cost in three years. The Hollywood Reporter notes that since 2022, streaming inflation has risen about three times faster than the broader inflation rate—which considering the times we live in, is a wild fact. And, of course, all of this comes on the heels of Disney+ blurring the lines of what an “ad-free” plan even means. We live in a society.

8/26/26 – Apple TV Sets Price Hike Apple TV

Apple TV’s latest subscription cost increase adds to our total of streaming price hikes in 2026. While we have loved Apple TV’s recent offerings, including Widow’s Bay and Severance, we’re not sure we love any one program enough to keep paying more and more.

Apple TV will now cost $14.99 per month, which is $2 price hike from its previous price of $12.99. The annual plan also rises to $119.99, a $20 increase in cost from its previous price of $99.

Apple’s bundle offering, Apple One will also become more expensive. Individual plans will see a price increase of $2, from $19.95 to $21.95 per month. Apple One bundles Apple TV, Apple Music, Apple Arcade, storage, and other features.

8/18/26 – Peacock Raises Prices for All Tiers NBC

There was a quiet stretch of no streaming price hikes from April to August in 2026, but Peacock broke that peace by instituting price increases across ALL its tiers. This is Peacock’s fourth increase in streaming prices in four years.

Here is the damage of this streaming price hike:

• A Peacock Select monthly subscription is now $8.99/month (up from $7.99). This is an increase of $1 per month.
• A Peacock Premium monthly subscription is now $12.99/month (up from $10.99). This is an increase of $2 per month.
• A Peacock Premium Plus monthly subscription is now $19.99/month (up from $16.99). This is an increase of $3 per month.
• A Peacock Select annual subscription is now $89.99/year (up from $79.99). This is an increase of $20 per year.
• A Peacock Premium annual subscription is now $129.99/year (up from $109.99). This is an increase of $20 per year.
• A Peacock Premium Plus annual subscription is now $199.99/year (up from $169.99). This is an increase of $30 per year.

Why is Peacock increasing its prices? Here’s what Peacock has to say about these price hikes: “These price changes allow Peacock to continue to create the best experience for its viewers, remain competitive in the marketplace, and deliver unique content across all genres. Current annual subscribers, or any users on active promotional offers, will continue at their current prices until those plans or offers expire. Subscriptions will then renew at the new price.”

In sum, the usual—the streamer needs a price hike to deliver unmeasurable content and use experience upgrades, while the consumer pays more in measurable cash.

4/10/26 – YouTube Premium Raises Its Costs

In April, it was time for the THIRD price increase of the year. Joining the streamers increasing their subscription cost is YouTube Premium and all its offerings: YouTube Premium, YouTube Premium Lite, and YouTube Music. Here’s the damage:

• YouTube Premium sees a $2 per month price increase, from $13.99 to $15.99.
• YouTube Music sees a $1 per month price increase, from $10.99 to $11.99
• YouTube Premium Lite sees a $1 per month price increase, from $7.99 to $8.99 
• The YouTube family plan is increasing by $4 per month, from $22.99 to $26.99. This tier allows up to six people in the same arbitrary household to access the account.

This is YouTube Premium’s first increase since 2023. YouTube cites new improvements to Premium as the reason for the cost increases… But ain’t that always the way.

3/26/26 – Netflix Increases Costs Across All Subscription Tiers Netflix

Nearly three full months into the year, we had our second streaming price increase. Netflix raised its costs across all streaming subscription tiers. Here’s the breakdown:

• Netflix’s Standard with Ads Plan went from $6.99 to $8.99/month.
• Netflix’s Standard (No Ads) Plan went from $17.99 to $19.99/month.
• Netflix’s Premium Plan went from $24.99. to $26.99/month. It inches VERY close to $30/month.

This time, we didn’t see any added perks associated with the 2026 price increase. AND this increase in Netflix cost comes just about ONE year after the last time the streaming platform raised its prices. You can read all about it here.

3/13/26 – Prime Video Increases Price of Ad-Free Tier Prime Video

We saw our first streaming price hike of 2026 in March. Prime Video raised the price of its ad-free tier for the first time. Nominally, we understand this increase to be aimed at driving subscribers toward subscription tiers with ads. But we have to ask. Once subscribers all move to ad-supported plans, will the subscription cost increases STOP? If not, then we again have to ask, where does it end?

Originally, the Prime Video ad-free tier cost an additional $2.99/month on top of the Prime subscription. Now, the Prime Video ad-free tier is seeing a price hike of $2/month, bringing the cost to $4.99/month. You can read all about it here.

How Many Streaming Price Increases Will We See in 2026?

So how will streaming price hikes stack up in 2026? It’s too soon to tell, but we’ve seen six price hikes already, the same as 2025 saw in total, so… right now, it’s looking like another year full of streaming cost increases. Will consumers finally have enough? Will moving to ad-supported tiers stop the price hikes from coming? Will we simply see a model where consumers subscribe and then unsubscribe? Only time will tell.

But what we can tell is that if you’re subscribed to most streamers, you’re paying AT LEAST around $15 more per month right now than you were in 2025. That may not seem like a lot… but there doesn’t seem to be a ceiling on price increases either.

RELATED ARTICLE

Will Streaming Price Hikes Backfire? The Era of Subscribing & Unsubscribing

Originally published in April 8, 2026.

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 Every Streaming Cost Increase In 2026: Disney+ Sees 4th Price Hike in 4 Years appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Daredevil: Born Again is ending with its upcoming third season, but we highly doubt that’s the last we’ll see of Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock.
• As one of Stan Lee’s creations from Marvel’s foundational era, we don’t believe Marvel Studios plans on shelving Daredevil for very long.
• Whether it’s a fifth Spider-Man movie, a Marvel Special Presentation, or a final Disney+ limited series, we are confident Daredevil will protect NYC once again.

For the second time in live-action television, a Daredevil series has been canceled. The upcoming third season of Daredevil: Born Again, which continues the adventures of Charlie Cox as attorney/vigilante Matt Murdock, will be its last. No matter how good season two was, we honestly can’t really get too sad about it, because between his original Netflix series and Born Again, Daredevil has logged more hours of streaming content than any other Marvel hero. However, even with that in mind, we highly doubt this is the last we’ve seen of the character in the MCU.

It’s Unlikely Marvel Will Retire Charlie Cox as Daredevil for Good Just Yet Marvel Television

We’re convinced Daredevil will be back for a few reasons. For starters, whatever the viewership numbers may be, Daredevil remains an iconic character. He’s “A-tier” Marvel. Stan Lee co-created him back in the ’60s, along with Spider-Man, Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men. That makes him one of Marvel’s foundational heroes. So Marvel won’t place him on a shelf forever. All this means is that his current series, Born Again, is ending. But there are several options for how Daredevil can return in a post-Secret Wars MCU. And here’s how we think he might pop up again.

Daredevil Could Appear in Spider-Man 5 Marvel Television/Sony

The most obvious answer for where we see Matt Murdock again in the MCU is in a fifth Spider-Man movie. No Marvel Comics hero has been as frequent an ally to Peter Parker as Daredevil has. They are both acrobatic street-level heroes who defend New York City. And most importantly, they share a major villain—Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin. But because of rights issues, Fisk has never appeared in a Spider-Man movie. But in recent months, Marvel’s Kevin Feige has suggested those rights issues are really not that complex anymore.

With Born Again ending, that leaves the character of Daredevil free and clear to use in Spider-Man 5. Fans have been waiting years to see Tom Holland’s Spidey come face-to-face with Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin. A grittier adventure, one with the Punisher as a featured character, proved to be massive at the box office for Brand New Day. So why not let Daredevil finally share the screen in a significant way with his old pal Spider-Man? For many fans, it’s been a long time coming.

Marvel Comics

A lot of fans believed the inclusion of frequent Daredevil foes the Hand in Brand New Day meant we’d see Matt Murdock. Well, that obviously didn’t happen. But with Born Again ending, now is the perfect time. Besides, thanks to his cameo in No Way Home, we know Peter knows Matt already. Oh, and if it does happen, can we finally have Matt wear a truly comics-accurate costume for once? Look how much everyone loves seeing Spider-Man wear a “straight from the comics” Spidey suit in Brand New Day. It would be the same for Daredevil.

A One-Off Marvel Special Presentation for Daredevil Similar to Punisher: One Last Kill May Be Another Option Marvel Television

After a two-season run, Jon Bernthal got to return in his own Marvel Special Presentation recently with Punisher: One Last Kill. We could easily see a return for Charlie Cox as Daredevil in something very similar. Marvel could produce this in tandem with an appearance in a Spider-Man film. After all, Punisher: One Last Kill was released a mere few months before Brand New Day, possibly in order to remind audiences about him before his big-screen debut. We could see the same for Daredevil. But even if there’s no Matt Murdock in Spider-Man 5, we could see Daredevil return in his own Special Presentation.

One Final Daredevil Limited Series on Disney+ to Wrap Up Charlie Cox’s Time as the Character Barry Wetcher/Netflix

We think after three seasons of Daredevil, then three seasons of Born Again, we highly doubt we’re getting another three seasons again. We imagine Charlie Cox doesn’t want to be tied down to the character forever. But if they do a limited series designed to only last one season, we could see that happening. We could see Daredevil: Man Without Fear as one final long-form story for the character. Although, we think if such a thing were to happen, it would be several years away. But after six seasons on streaming, we could see one short season to close things out for the character. At least the Daredevil played by Cox.

In any event, we still have one full season of Daredevil: Born Again to look forward to on Disney+. And it’ll reunite the entire Netflix Defenders cast together with Matt Murdock. Maybe this is the end of the road for those characters, or maybe Marvel is cooking something up for all of them. We’ll all just have to wait and see.

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

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 What Is Daredevil’s MCU Future After BORN AGAIN Ends? appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• The trailer for Nathan Fielder’s documentary about disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, You Can See Everything, is just as weird as you’d imagine.
• Fielder moved in with Holmes and her family the month before she began her jail sentence.
• Nerdist Take: Nothing about this movie sounds like it can possibly be real, but tickets are already on sale for select theaters.

It still seems impossible You Can See Everything is real because everything about it sounds completely made up. What do you mean the Theranos’s disgraced founder, convicted felon Elizabeth Holmes, allowed Nathan Fielder to move into her house so he and Lance Oppenheim could film a documentary about her and her family before she went to jail? Seriously, commercial pilot and the guy behind Nathan For You, Nathan Fielder? That’s who Holmes chose to try and make her look human? No, it can’t be. Right? Right? The mounting evidence continues to point to yes, because You Can See Everything now has a full trailer. And it promises to be one of the weirdest films ever made.

This is the most A24 trailer of all-time. This is like if a fever dream had a fever dream. Writer Kathryn Vanarendonk said it best on Bluesky when she wrote, “Nathan Fielder vs Elizabeth Holmes is like what if Wario had his own Wario.” Seriously, what has to be wrong with you to think Nathan freaking Fielder is the best choice to make you look sympathetic before you begin your lengthy jail sentence? I suppose that’s exactly what we’re going to find out when You Can See Everything releases. Maybe. Here’s the film’s official synopsis:

Thirty-four days before she’s sent to prison, notorious Silicon Valley founder Elizabeth Holmes invites a skeptical film crew to document her every move. What begins as an intimate portrait of an enigmatic felon becomes a mind-bending three-year journey into the abyss.

A24

A three-year journey that will apparently end with a truly surreal documentary that will likely haunt us for the rest of our lives.

Can’t wait.

Fortunately we don’t have to wait much longer. You Can See Everything will arrive in theaters on October 16. Tickets are already on sale in select theaters. They’ll be available to purchase everywhere starting on October 1. Which is more evidence that this movie that can’t be real really is.

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

The post YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING Trailer: Elizabeth Holmes’ Doc Is Insane appeared first on Nerdist.

Quick Take

• Brad Bird’s upcoming animated feature Ray Gunn, a future-noir detective adventure, drops its first dazzling trailer.
• The film will debut on Netflix in December, with select theatrical and 70mm screenings.
• Sam Rockwell voices the titular character with a star-studded cast including Scarlett Johansson, Tom Waits, Patton Oswalt, and Michelle Rodriguez.
• Nerdist take: It looks pretty incredible, like if Metropolis met Coruscant, but with Rick Deckard’s dress sense. What more do you need?

Brad Bird might be the filmmaker with the best eye and mind for retro-futurism. Before we had a deluge of it from video games, TV, and movies, Bird was out here giving us animated fare like The Iron Giant and The Incredibles. I kind of think he’d be the perfect person to helm a Rocketeer reboot. Disney, let’s do it, shall we? Until that happens, however, at least we have Bird’s latest. It’s a glorious, Art-Deco-inspired riff on things like Blade Runner and ’40s film noir about a private investigator. Behold the first trailer for Ray Gunn.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL-xjzQFWsY

The synopsis for the movie is as follows:

In Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future as seen from 1939, private eye Raymond Gunn (voiced by Sam Rockwell) is drawn into a case involving aliens, murder and a multimedia star named Venus Nova (voiced by Scarlett Johansson).  

In addition to Rockwell and Johansson, the voice you hear the most in the trailer is legendary musician Tom Waits playing Ray’s grizzled alien partner, Eyera. Get it, like Ira, but he has a big eye? The rest of the stacked cast includes Alan Tudyk, Matt Berry, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Chernus, Kether Donohue, Michelle Rodriguez, Aasif Mandvi, Matt Jones, Kathryn Hunter, John Ratzenberger, Justin Peck, and Patton Oswalt.

Netflix/Skydance Animation

I’ve always been a huge fan of this kind of science fiction landscape. It’s not dissimilar from the ahead of its time Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, itself taking inspiration from the Fleischer Superman cartoons from the 1940s. Unlike a lot of Bird’s earlier animated work, however, this isn’t a “kids” movie, as Ray Gunn deals with murder and contains violence, action, language, and suggestive themes. Shudder! These themes are so suggestive!

Netflix/Skydance Animation

This movie is apparently a passion project of Bird’s for nearly 30 years, dating prior to The Iron Giant. I think it looks pretty incredible, like if Metropolis met Coruscant, but with Rick Deckard’s dress sense. What more do you need?

Ray Gunn will premiere on Netflix on December 18, 2026. The film will also debut in select theaters and in limited 70mm on December 4.

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

The post Brad Bird’s Future Noir RAY GUNN Drops First Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.