Season two of Netflix’s One Piece will soon set sail. And that means we’ll be seeing more familiar faces come to life on our screen. Recently, Netflix has shared a string of new casting announcements for season two of live-action One Piece. But who are the new cast we’ll see on the high seas? From Smoker to Baroque Works Agents to everyone else in between, here the actors joining the cast of One Piece season two and the new live-action characters they’ll play.

One Piece Season 2 Casts Joe Manganiello as Mr. 0 and Lera Abova as Miss All Sunday

In its most exciting piece of casting yet, Netflix has cast Joe Manganiello as Mr. 0 in live-action One Piece season two. Mr. 0, of course, is also known as the villainous Crocodile, a Warlord of the Sea and the president of Baroque Works. Crocodile is one of the most nefarious villains in One Piece‘s world. Additionally, Lera Abova joins as Miss All Sunday… also known as one Nico Robin… she may or may not be destined to join the Straw Hat Pirates along with another teased character, Chopper. Fans will surely delight in seeing these iconic characters brought to life by such masterful actors.

One Piece Season 2 Casts Charithra Chandran As Miss Wednesday

It seems that Netflix will slowly trickle out a large number of new cast members for One Piece season two. A beloved anime favorite character, Miss Wednesday, will be played by actress Charithra Chandra. We love to see it!

Netflix’s Live-Action One Piece Season 2 Casts Sendhil Ramamurthy as Nefertari Cobra

According to Variety, there’s yet another cast announcement for One Piece season two. Sendhil Ramamurthy will play Nefertari Cobra, the King of Alabasta and the patriarch of the Nefertari family.

Netflix’s Live-Action One Piece Season 2 Casts Dr. Kureha and Dr. Hiriluk

The Great Medical Land of Drum is in the house. For a long time, fans hoped that the iconic Dr. Kureha would be played by Jamie Lee Curtis. But alas, that casting did not work out. Instead, Dr. Kureha will be played by Katey Sagal on One Piece season two. In One Piece‘s world, Dr. Kureha is an elderly doctor who some think of as a witch, and an ally to the Straw Hat pirates. Dr. Kureha is Chopper’s adoptive mother, which likely means Chopper’s reveal is just around the corner.

Additionally cast for One Piece season two is Dr. Hiriluk, who will be played by Mark Harelik. Dr. Hiriluk is a complicated character with a good heart and a tragic story. He is Chopper’s original father figure, but alas, their story ends in great sadness. It will be interesting to see just how the live-action One Piece series adapts Chopper’s backstory and Dr. Hiriluk’s tale.

One Piece Season 2 Casts Smoker, Tashigi, Wapol & Dalton

A very anticipated casting for One Piece season two is that of Smoker. This villainous figure was teased at the end of One Piece season one. In One Piece‘s world, Smoker is a marine on a mission… A mission to capture Luffy. And now we know that Monarch‘s Callum Kerr will play Smoker in One Piece season two as the character arrives in full.

Additionally, Netflix has cast Tashigi, Wapol, and Dalton to join the pirate-fun. Tashigi is also a marine who serves under Smoker. Tashigi is a skilled swordsman and we’ll no doubt see her clashing blades with Zoro in One Piece season two. Julia Rehwald has been cast as this new One Pieces season two live-action character.

Wapol, meanwhile, is a selfish character who used to be the king of his kingdom (called Drum). However, when pirates attacked, he fled his people in a cowardly way and became a pirate himself. He’s eaten of the Baku Baku no Mi Devil Fruit which allows him to eat nearly everything and then take on the characteristics of whatever he’s consumed. No doubt, Luffy will be a bit jealous of this eating ability. Rob Colletti will join the cast as Wapol.

Finally, One Piece season two has cast the live-action character of Dalton. Dalton is the new King of Wapol’s former kingdom and a friend to the Straw Hat Pirates. Ty Keogh has been cast as Dalton.

Crocus, Brogy, and Dorry’s Actors Join Live-Action One Piece Season 2

Additionally, One Piece revealed that actors Clive Russell, Brendan Murray, and Werner Coetser will join the season two cast as Crocus, Brogy, and Dorry.

Crocus, Clive Russell’s new character on One Piece season two, is an ally of the Straw Hat Pirates. He’s a lighthouse keeper, but also an exceptional doctor who was a part of Gol D. Roger’s crew.

Meanwhile, Brendan Murray, who has been cast as Brogy in One Piece season two, will play a giant on the series. He’s one of the two captains of the Giant Warrior pirates alongside Dorry. Dorry, also a giant, will be played, as mentioned, by Werner Coetser.

David Dastmalchian Will Play Mr. 3 in One Piece Season 2

We’re particularly excited to see David Dastmalchian cast in One Piece season two. Dastmalchian will play the devious Mr. 3, a member of the Baroque Work Agent crime syndicate. Mr. 3 has consumed the Wax Wax devil fruit and has total control over candle wax. This is definitely a unique and terrifying ability, especially in Dastmalchian’s hands.

One Piece Casts Three Other Baroque Work Agent Characters

But David Dastmalchian’s Mr. 3 isn’t the only Baroque Works Agent to join the cast of One Piece season two. Jazzara Jaslyn will play Miss Valentine, who has the Devil Fruit power of manipulating her body weight. Camrus Johnson joins the cast of Netfix’s live-action One Piece as Mr. 5. Mr. 5 has the deadly ability to create explosions from his body without harming himself. And finally, Daniel Lasker has come aboard as Mr. 9. The newly cast Mr. 9 will bring his metal bats to One Piece season two.

We’re sure these number/holiday-named agents will be up to no good in the season.

More New Characters and Cast Are On the Way for One Piece Season 2

One Piece teases that they’re just getting started with new season two cast announcements. We can’t wait to see who will appear on the horizon next.

The post Live-Action ONE PIECE Season 2 Casts Joe Manganiello as Mr. 0/Crocodile and Lera Abova as Miss All Sunday appeared first on Nerdist.

Check out the latest odds and ends of entertainment news.

Voltron: Legendary Defender

Netflix’s Voltron: Legendary Defender has experienced many ups and downs during the course of its existence. But now reports indicate it could leave Netflix in December of 2024. That would be a blow to fans because the series was created for Netflix. However, as always with TV series, there are many cooks in the kitchen and complicated contractual nuances in play.

Official accounts have weighed in the question of whether Voltron will be removed from Netflix, noting “Discussions are ongoing. When we know, you’ll know.”

Mr. Crocket

Get ready for a creepy children’s show to come to life, complete with an eerie jingle. Mr. Crockett is here to snatch children and kill parents. Yikes!

YouTube

YouTube will soon allow creators to organize their contents by “season” and “episode” on its platform. YouTube Chief Product Officer Johanna Voolich shares in a blog post, “To help our creators’ content shine on TVs, they will soon be able to organize their content into seasons and episodes, making it easy for viewers to tune into the new must see TV… We’re making other improvements to the TV experience with immersive content that plays directly from a creator’s channel, streamlined subscription options and easier access to links in descriptions.” This update will arrive in 2025.

Time Bandits

Alas, although fans were excited about the Time Bandits series reboot/adaptation of Terry Gilliam’s cult favorite movie and seemed to like it overall, it was not meant to be. Joining a pile of other Apple TV+ series that somehow didn’t manage to make a big mark despite a big budget and a good amount of star power, Time Bandits has been canceled after one season. It seems like Time Bandits just didn’t garner a large enough audience. And so, to the canceled heap it goes. We barely knew you!

For the interested, The Time Bandits season one synopsis shared:

Guided by Lisa Kudrow, the eccentric crew of bandits embark on epic adventures while evil forces threaten their conquests, and life as they know it. As the group transports through time and space, the gang stumbles upon fascinating worlds of the distant past while seeking out treasure, depending on Kevin to shed light on each situation. The “Time Bandits” witness the creation of Stonehenge, see the Trojan Horse in action, escape dinosaurs in the prehistoric ages, wreak havoc during medieval times, experience the Ice Age, ancient civilizations and the Harlem Renaissance, and much more along the way. 

Spirit Halloween

Spirit Halloween is here to make Halloween miracles come true. Now you can dress like a Cinnabon Box or an Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Nuggets Cup. Isn’t that what every little kid dreams of? We just have to wonder if these costumes also include a Cinnabon and Auntie Anne perfume spray to really set the scene.

The Lord of the Rings

Wētā Workshop can’t recall how many Hobbit feet its made, but does recall Elijah Wood looking for his perfect fit.

MCU – Beast

Kelsey Grammer surprise reprised his role as the X-Men’s Beast in The Marvels. But Grammer can’t say much about whether his Beast will return to the MCU in the future. He notes that there have been “some conversations” about Beast returning to the Marvel franchise. These, he seems to imply, are bolstered by the “overwhelming” response to his cameo. In full, Grammer shares, “There’s nothing I can talk about. What I do know is that there was a huge sort of outburst when I showed up at the end of The Marvels; I guess it was. The response was really almost… it wasn’t unexpected. There’d be some response, but it was pretty overwhelming, and so there are some conversations.”

MCU – Scarlet Witch

Elizabeth Olsen recently gave voice to what some MCU fans of the character have themselves felt. She noted, “It’s a character that I love going back to when there’s a way to use her well, and I think I have been lucky that when I started I was used well. I think people didn’t know what to do with me for a second there… if there’s a good way to use her I’m always happy to come back.”

She seems to imply Marvel wasn’t super sure what to do with her character for a time, but the good news is Olsen is always happy to return as Scarlet Witch… If there’s a reason.

MCU – RDJ’s Return

We were shocked when it was announced Robert Downey Jr. would return to the MCU as Doctor Doom. And we weren’t the only ones. MCU co-star Don Cheadle shared his reaction was about the same. He revealed, “I was like, ‘What the f*ck?’ I think that’s exactly what I said,” 

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom almost had a much more spoilery name. Producer Eiji Aonuma shared more about the title in Tears of the Kingdom‘s art book. In it, Aonuma notes, “One of the candidates for the title that made it to [the] end [of development] was ‘Tears of the Dragon,'”But it would be a bad idea to have the keyword ‘Dragon’ in the title, and we wanted to have dragon patterns in the logo, but decided otherwise. It’d emphasize the Light Dragon, after all.”

The game’s development team didn’t want to emphasize the Light Dragon too heavily in the title because it would have pointed to a huge game spoiler. The Light Dragon is, of course, Princess Zelda herself. To save her kingdom and restore the Master Sword to its full power, Zelda sacrifices her humanity and becomes the dragon. In this way, Tears of the Kingdom also makes perfect sense but doesn’t draw too much attention to The Light Dragon and her identity.

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Although it will not belong to the main on-screen DC Universe, we were very happy to hear that The Batman – Part II will continue on in DC’s new world order. Under James Gunn and Peter Safran, The Batman – Part II will belong to DC’s Elseworlds Projects. These projects will take place in TV, movie, or game form but will not factor into the main universe story. Still, they play a critical role in keeping the DC Universe varied and interesting.

Fans of the franchise will likely be wondering how The Penguin ties into The Batman – Part II. In answer to that, Matt Reeves shares, “there’s a period of time” that The Batman – Part II will jump to, and “Oz does become one of the entry points into the movie… I can’t tell you where it goes from there, except to say that we’re super excited about it.”

Here’s everything we know about The Batman – Part II.

Title

For now, the sequel to The Batman carries the descriptive title of The Batman – Part II.

The Batman – Part II‘s Plot

We don’t know much yet about The Batman – Part II‘s plot. But we do know that a cinematic universe is building for The Batman. Next up, we’ll see a Penguin series on HBO Max, and that will tie directly into the coming sequel.

One thing is clear about The Batman – Part II; its focus will stay on Batman, a.k.a Bruce Wayne. Reeves shares:

To me, the thing that I really feel is that I also believe that Rob [Pattinson] is so special in the role. My goal has always been to do these point-of-view stories that allow the character to always be the emotional center of the story. Because a lot of times what happens is, after you do the first one, then suddenly other Rogues Gallery characters come in, and they kind of take over, and then Batman takes a backseat sort of character-wise, or emotionally.

The Batman – Part II‘s Cast

For now, we know Robert Pattinson will return as our Bruce Wayne/Batman. It just wouldn’t be a The Batman movie without him. In addition, an article in GQ notes that Matt Reeves has confirmed Andy Serkis’ return as Alfred Pennyworth in The Batman – Part II.

A February 21, 2024 interview on Vanity Fair also confirmed Barry Keoghan—who had a brief cameo in the first film as the Joker—will return, presumably in a much bigger role, for The Batman – Part II.

Behind the Scenes

Matt Reeves is returning to write the sequel to The Batman. But this time, he will find a co-writer in Mattson Tomlin. We assume Reeves will also direct The Batman – Part II.

The Batman – Part II Release Date

The Batman – Part II will release on October 2, 2026.

Originally published on February 8, 2023.

The post Matt Reeves Says Oz Cobb Is an Entry Point Into THE BATMAN – PART II and Its ‘Specific Time Period’ appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s here. And we don’t just mean the return of Bucky Barnes’ long hair. (Although we’re thrilled to pieces to see that as well.) The teaser trailer for the MCU Thunderbolts* movie has arrived. This exciting MCU entry promises to be “not like other movies” as it features a team that’s “not like other teams.” These unlikely antiheroes are all coming together to become more than the sum of their parts. And the soundtrack is already rocking.

Check out the teaser trailer for the MCU’s Thunderbolts* movie below.

Thunderbolts*, of course, will tell the story of Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine, Ghost, Red Guardian, Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes (a.k.a Winter Soldier), US Agent, and Taskmaster. But how will all these very different characters from very different movies come together into one team? Well, it’s not so different than how the Avengers did when you get right down to it. Thunderbolts* first teaser trailer gives us a glimpse. (And yes, this is the Thunderbolts* trailer that was shown at SDCC.)

Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine is playing the role of Nick Fury tonight, and she’s assembling her antiheroes. There are no good guys and bad guys; she tells her motley crew. There are only bad guys and worse guys. Honestly, that’s fair enough. Because if you break down the collateral damage of each MCU hero and the trouble they got themselves and the world into… That idea really tracks.

Marvel has indicated that this movie will have a different tone than other MCU movies. And the teaser trailer for Thunderbolts* does seem to indicate something a little more grounded on the horizon. All our antiheroes are drifting and kind of lost as they look for a direction to head in. Everyone’s favorite depressed-in-bed anthem even plays in the background. (Pixie’s “Where Is my mind.”) But that’s not to say there isn’t still room for laughs. There’s a ton of banter… and Bucky Barnes’ arm in a dishwasher. Bless.

Of course, this teaser trailer leaves us with a key question… Just who is Bob? For now, the trailer doesn’t reveal it. But it appears that Bob is actually the MCU’s Sentry. Also, why is Bucky shooting at a car containing Yelena, Red Guardian, and US Agent? Trouble is definitely afoot.

The release for Thunderbolts* that accompanies the teaser trailer plays at the emulating the tone of this snarkier MCU entry as well, by sharing:

Today, the teaser trailer and poster for the upcoming feature film,  “Thunderbolts*” debuted.  Marvel Studios and a crew of indie veterans who sold out present “Thunderbolts*,”an irreverent team-up featuring depressed assassin Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) alongside the MCU’s least anticipated band of misfits. 

The film also returns to the screen Marvel Cinematic Universe characters Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), in addition to some exciting new faces.

“A crew of indie veterans who sold out present.” Yep, we feel that acerbic tongue-in-cheek energy in spades. It looks like Yelena will be at the center of this one and more Florence Pugh is always a good thing. And we’ll just have to wait to understand more of the story that this Thunderbolts* teaser trailer begins.

Thunderbolts* releases on May 2, 2025.

The post THUNDERBOLTS* Teaser Trailer Reveals the Creation of an Unlikely MCU Team appeared first on Nerdist.

‘Tis the season for many things—pumpkin spice lattes, apple picking, and… video game adaptations. Yes, more than ever, our favorite games are turning into series for our viewing pleasure. Next up, the popular video game Devil May Cry is heading to Netflix in the form of an anime series. In this current gaming adaptation age, we bet the results are better than ever. Although we don’t yet have a release date for this anime, Netflix did share a teaser trailer for the series. Here’s what we know about the Devil May Cry series heading to Netflix.

Devil May Cry Official Teaser Trailer and Release Date Window

In celebration of Geeked Week 2024, Netflix teases that Dante is on his way. The streamer released an official teaser trailer for Devil May Cry and it is action-packed and epic. This Devil May Care teaser made a few things clear: his name is Dante, he’s a demon hunter, and he can sure shoot those two guns. In addition to a million awesome looking demons, the teaser spent most of its time focusing on Dante. But it also introduced us to the villain of Devil May Cry season one, the dastardly White Rabbit, also called Rabi. He can’t wait for the gates of hell to open. And we’re pretty sure that’s bad news. Either way, we’re hyped!

But that’s not the only exciting piece of news, Netflix revealed that Devil May Cry will release in April 2025. We love a release date window.

Devil May Cry Series Announcement Teaser Trailer

Conversations about the Devil May Cry animated series have been circulating since 2021. So we feel glad to finally see it coming to fruition. Netflix’s original teaser for Devil May Cry didn’t show us too much from the anime show. But it did set the tone just right. The quick scenes of action and the hard rock music certainly have us ready to dive into an episode. And the animation looks incredibly good.

The only character we see in the above Devil May Cry teaser is Dante. He’s got his red jacket, his guns, his white hair, and he’s ready to go. But in earlier conversations, creator and showrunner of the series Adi Shankar confirmed we’d see other familiar Devil May Cry characters. He noted, “I can confirm that Vergil is in it, as well as Lady, and of course Dante as well.” We can’t wait to see how these characters transform for the show.

The Anime Series Synopsis

Netflix also shared a logline for the Devil May Cry series; it notes:

In this animated adaptation of the popular Capcom game, sinister forces are at play to open the portal between the human and demon realms. In the middle of it all is Dante, an orphaned demon-hunter-for-hire, unaware that the fate of both worlds hangs around his neck.

We do love a sinister force. And an orphaned demon-hunter-for-hire. Dante certainly does not seem aware the fate of multiple worlds is on his shoulders in the teaser clip, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens when he does.

Devil May Cry‘s Episode Count and More

Devil May Cry will be eight episodes long. Adi Shankar, as mentioned, is the showrunner and creator. Alex Larsen is the writer on the show. The series comes from Netflix, Capcom, and Studio MIR, so we know it is in good hands.

Shankar noted, “I’m honored that Netflix and Capcom have entrusted me to shepherd the Devil May Cry franchise. Alex Larsen and I love these characters; we are part of the fandom, and vow to surpass the exceptionally high bar we set for ourselves.”

Hopefully, we will know more about Devil May Cry very soon.

Originally published on September 27, 2023.

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The time has finally come to set sail for more adventure and dream-chasing. One Piece season two has officially begun production and is one step closer to coming back onto our screens. Netflix revealed, that, of course, our Straw Hat pirates would all be returning for One Piece season two—but not alone. In addition to a host of new characters joining the cast, a few other familiar faces from season one will be back in One Piece‘s second season. Namely, Alvida, Buggy, and Gold Roger will once again be in the mix of One Piece‘s live-action story.

Let’s take a look at everything Netflix has shared to celebrate One Piece season two.

Netflix’s Live-Action ONE PIECE Season 2 Teases Chopper

During Geeked Week, Netflix shared a sneak peek at live-action One Piece season two… And this inside look included a tease at fan-favorite Chopper. We, as they say, are seated.

You can check out the full table read video, below.

Jeff Ward Takes Us on a Set Tour of One Piece Season 2

Jeff Ward, who plays Buggy the Clown, on One Piece, and will return for season two, takes on a behind-the-scenes tour of the show in celebration of Netflix’s Geeked Week. This tour gives us our best look yet at the world of One Piece season two. Although, of course, spoilers are carefully blurred. Ward shows us the costume department, the prop department, hair and makeup, and production design. Of course, there are some tantalizing hints to be gleaned. The video notes we’ll be visiting Drum Island, where it’s winter all the time, a challenge for One Piece’s South African-based filming location.

We even get to see inside Twin Cape lighthouse, which is the home of One Piece‘s Doctor Crocus. Additionally, in the props department, we see a giant syringe…

Eiichiro Oda Teases Season 2 Story Arcs and More New Characters

A letter from Eiichiro Oda delivered via Netflix has shed a lot of light on the story arcs we can expect in season two and more about the upcoming episodes. In the letter Oda notes that “The story will cover Loguetown, Reverse Mountain (Twin Cape), Whiskey Peak, Little Garden, and Drum Island!” Additionally, he teases Vivi, Miss All Sunday, Chopper, and more casting announcements are on the way.

The full text of the note is below:

Yes, the live-action One Piece is currently in production, with filming well underway. The story will cover Loguetown, Reverse Mountain (Twin Cape), Whiskey Peak, Little Garden, and Drum Island! Think about it. Imagine how much it’ll cost! Lol. But whether it’s the script or the cast, I continue to insist on this or that, which makes Matt the Showrunner go “Aaarrgh!” and Netflix go “Noooo!” and Tomorrow Studios go “Whaaaat” as they all pull their hairs out. All that, even though we grew so close making season 1.

But it’s because we all share the same passion for this show! Just as with last season, they’ve gone out of their way to promise that they won’t put the show out until I’m satisfied. This isn’t in the contract, you know. It’s a verbal pledge. I hope you can appreciate how amazing and determined they are for keeping their word. And they’ve certainly proven their ability to bring this world to the screen. I just can’t wait to see it! 

Meanwhile, the previously announced cast is compiled on the official X account, so go check it out. The Grand Line is an even more expansive “World”. You may wonder, what was the inspiration behind that kingdom? How would it connect to the real world? Naturally, the distinctive cast members have been assembled from around the world, and I can’t help but get excited thinking about how the adventure has already begun! 

Among those yet to be announced, what about Vivi? And Miss All Sunday? What’re they doing with Chopper? We can’t announce everyone all at once, but starting tomorrow, we’ll be announcing more cast members over three days: August 21, 22 and 23. 

Look out for those, and stay tuned for more exciting updates to come!

One Piece Teases Season 2, Episode 1

We don’t know the exact plot of live-action One Piece‘s season two. But we do know the title of its first episode. One Piece season two, episode one will be called, “The Beginning and the End.” It will be written by Matt Owens and Ian Stokes. We’re ready to hear all the fan theories about what that title implies.

One Piece‘s Main Cast Reunite as Production Begins

As Taz Skylar notes, these are happy tears! And what a glorious reunion it is. The Straw Hat Pirates have all traveled to Cape Town, South Africa, to film the next chapter of their One Piece adventure. Iñaki Godoy (Monkey D. Luffy), Mackenyu (Zoro), Emily Rudd (Nami), Jacob Romero (Usopp) and Taz Skylar (Sanji) are all back together again once more as production begins for One Piece season two. We absolutely feel the love and crew bond between them all.

One Piece Season 2 Cast, Revealed

In a release celebrating season two’s production started, Netflix also shared that additional returning One Piece cast include “Ilia Isorelys Paulino as Alvida, Jeff Ward as Buggy, and Michael Dorman as Gold Roger.” Jeff Ward’s Buggy was a true fan-favorite, so it’s no surprise he’ll be back. No word yet on other season one standouts like Steven John Ward, who played Dracule Mihawk, or Peter Gadiot, who played Luffy’s red-headed mentor, Shanks. But hey, they still could be back. Netflix reveals that additional One Piece cast will be announced at a later date.

Of course, in addition to old One Piece favorites, “new cast members joining season two include Brendan Sean Murray as Brogy, Callum Kerr as Smoker, Camrus Johnson as Mr. 5, Clive Russell as Crocus, Daniel Lasker as Mr. 9, David Dastmalchian as Mr. 3, Jazzara Jaslyn as Miss Valentine, Julia Rehwald as Tashigi, Rob Colletti as Wapol, Ty Keogh as Dalton, and Werner Coetser as Dorry.” You can learn more about these new One Piece season two characters with our piece, here.

When Live Action Will One Piece Season 2 Release?

There’s no word yet on any release date for One Piece season two. But now that production on the show has started again, we’re sure we’ll get many more tantalizing treasures from Netflix sooner rather than later.

Originally published on July 1

The post Chopper Arrives on Netflix’s Live-Action ONE PIECE Season 2 appeared first on Nerdist.

It sure feels like we’ve been waiting for Stranger Things season five for roughly a decade. The final season of the beyond-popular Netflix paranormal series will apparently come out in 2025, but beyond that, we have no idea. Geeked Week, Netflix’s festival of teases and trailers and things, has provided us with something ahead of the new season. No, it’s not a trailer or a first look at new monsters. Instead, it’s a video showcasing two young fans’ tour of the set in Atlanta, GA, with tour guides Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, and Gaten Matarazzo.

The fans, Amy and Elycia, get a firsthand look at the various departments behind the scenes in Stranger Things land. They have a surprisingly vivid photographic memory for little bits of the series’ previous seasons. First, they head off with Wolfhard into the archives to look at character- and season-specific props from the past. Among the best stuff is the actual Demogorgon D&D piece from the show’s first episode and the box of Eggo Waffles that Eleven covets.

Next up, McLaughlin takes the fans into the costume room to look at favorite ’80s clothes from the show. They are particularly excited to see Steve Harrington’s costume, as he is their favorite character. (Sorry guys.) Finally, Matarazzo takes them into a room specifically housing the miles and miles (yes literally) of Upside Down black vines which are actually just hundreds of thousands of pool noodles. The Stranger Things production kept a whole business afloat (ha!) with their orders.

The one actual bit of teaser we get from the video is what Lucas, Mike, and Dustin look like in the final season, since the actors lead the tours in costume. Lucas’ flattop has reached skyscraper height while Mike has finally cut his ridiculous stringy hair. But the biggest “aw” moment appears to be that Dustin has grown his hair out and wears a Hellfire Club t-shirt in memory of the fallen idol that is Eddie Munson. Adorbs.

And that’s kind of it! A fun video and actors in costumes. But, you know what? We’ll continue to eat up all the scraps we can get before we finally see Stranger Things 5 next year.

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.

The post Take a STRANGER THINGS Set Tour with the Cast as Part of Geeked Week appeared first on Nerdist.

So far in live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender, we’ve had: Water, Fire, Air… but one element and one important character have been conspicuously missing. Who is that, you might ask? Why, it’s Toph Beifong. Toph is the last official member of Team Avatar, or The Gaang, that still need to be introduced into Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender. But everything has changed now that… Netflix has officially announced Toph’s casting for the live-action Avatar series. But just who is it that plays our favorite earthbender in Avatar: The Last Bender? It’s actress Miya Cech. Let’s dig into it.

Who Plays Toph Beifong on Netflix’s Live-Action Avatar: The Last Airbender?

Netflix has officially revealed that Miya Cech plays Toph Beifong on live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender. Here’s what Executive Producers Christine Boylan and Jabbar Raisani had to say about her casting as Toph.

We make a point of reviewing submissions separately and after countless tapes, we both had the same reaction … Miya is our Toph! Miya is a brilliant performer who knows how to precisely balance the sarcastic sense of humor, stubbornness, and vulnerability that is Toph Beifong. Her physicality and emotional dexterity really put her in a class of one.

It seems that although Netflix put out a special open casting call for Toph which noted “Actors who are blind or low vision are encouraged to submit,” Cech is not herself blind or low vision. However a release notes that “Cech will also work with a producer and consultant who is blind and a professional from the blindness community, to make sure the blindness community is represented appropriately.”

Meanwhile, Chech seeks to also represent the communities she is a part of. She notes of playing Toph in the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender, “I personally am of Chinese and Japanese American descent and I’m so excited to represent my Chinese heritage in Toph Beifong… One of the most incredible aspects of this show is the diversity of the Asian cultures in the ATLA world. Even though the universe is fantasy, it feels like every culture is represented in some way and tied to the history and traditions of that culture or country. Just a few years ago, you might have seen one or two of these actors in a show or movie, but on this show we are all able to represent this world together and work together and collaborate. It’s really amazing and a gift as an actor.”

Our First-Look at Live-Action Toph in ATLA

Toph’s great strength lies in her feet. She sees the world through them and kicks some serious butt with their powers. Honestly, this Avatar: The Last Airbender season two teaser of Toph stomping her Earthbending powers to life is point-perfect. It gets us seriously excited for what’s to come in the series. We can just hear Toph saying, “Hey Twinkle Toes,” to Aang. And we just can’t wait to see The Gaang complete. After Toph comes aboard in ATLA season two, we just need Zuko to get his act together, and we’ll be set. We hope the series gives us some more time with all five members as a full team. That’s the best part of Avatar, after all.

Why Is Everyone So Excited For Toph to Join Live-Action Avatar Season 2? Who Is Toph?

In a word, Toph is badass. We said it. Toph is a snarky, sassy, unafraid tank and she knows how to conquer the earth and dish it out with the best of them. We love Katara, Sokka, and Aang, (and Zuko, of course), but Toph adds a little something special. In the anime, Toph is the daughter of a rich Earthbending family, the Beifongs, who think she’s a fragile doll. But in secret, Toph spends her time taking down master Earthbenders in the fighting ring. She becomes Aang’s Earthbending master and though her style is not quite his, they come to understand each other on a deep level. Toph’s frenemies to friends relationship with Katara and her semi-flirtatious relationship with Sokka are also quite fun. Maybe live-action Toph will eventually get to take that field trip with Zuko that she never got to in the anime.

In any case, we’re so excited that Miya Cech has been cast as Toph in live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender season two, and we can’t wait to see where the story will go.

Netflix’s Avatar The Last Airbender Also Begins Production

In addition to this casting announcement, Netflix also revealed that Avatar: The Last Airbender season two is now in production.

Producers Christine Boylan and Jabbar Raisani notes of the start of live-action ATLA season two’s production, “We’re looking forward to working with all of our actors again and digging into the deeper, more complicated relationships that develop as their journey continues in Season 2. We are going to show the real-world versions of iconic scenes from the original, and explore some of the stories that the animation didn’t. Mainly — we’re looking forward to seeing our gang all together again… We’re going to challenge our characters with more complex and nuanced obstacles as they navigate a more tactile world. Just as the animated series matured and progressed, the live-action will also take these characters and worlds and grow them.”

Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender season one is now streaming on Netflix.

The post Toph Arrives! Live-Action AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER Reveals Toph’s Casting appeared first on Nerdist.

Halloween Horror Nights is an incredible tradition. Not only does it bring the spirit of Halloween to life in full, but it’s also an exquisite meeting of screams, scares, art, theater, craftsmanship, and delight. Halloween Horror Nights brings weird to the forefront, which we could not mean in a more complimentary way. It’s honestly a boo-tiful thing. At Nerdist, we had the pleasure of visiting Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando this year during the park’s media preview. And we were absolutely stunned by the eerie array of delights. From delectable themed treats (that were as terrifying as they were delicious) to a ton of thematic atmosphere to huge crowds of horror fans passing out friendship bracelets and celebrating their favorite genre, Halloween Horror Nights had it all. But, of course, the main thing on offer was the theme park’s Haunted Houses. While they were all spectacular, we wanted to share our final rankings of Universal Orlando’s 2024 Halloween Horror Nights haunted houses with you.

It’s hard to rank Universal Orlando’s 2024 Halloween Horror Nights Houses from worst to best. That wouldn’t be right. But we’ll just rank them from awesome to TOO AWESOME TO FOR WORDS instead. Here we go.

10. Major Sweets Candy Factory

Major Sweets Candy Factory is one sweet scare. This house is actually a prequel to Universal Orlando’s 2022 Halloween Horror Nights House, “Sweet Revenge.” In that house, Major Sweets gave kids some candy and they went rabid and murderous. Major Sweets Candy Factory takes place prior to that and tells the tale of a field trip from Progress County to the candy factory. Guests of horror nights are the chaperones on the field trip, but alas, the children get samples of some of the sweets, and the results are deliciously murderous.

This was a fun house and very gory. But I felt it could have leaned into the candy theme a little more. I was imagining something a bit more Willy Wonka-esque (and maybe a little bit more aesthetic), but instead, it was really more just GROSS. For some, that might mean a lot of fun. But for me, it wasn’t the most immersive house I visited. Still, the presence of GATS or “Guest Activated Triggers” made for some excellent surprises! And this house absolutely put some yuck in the yum of candy, in a good way. There was also some intense rattling and slamming, which gave me quite a jump.

9. Triplets of Terror

Triplets of Terror pic.twitter.com/qJdw8xlYvI

— Rotem Rusak 🔜 NYCC (@Moondancer1626) September 18, 2024

Unfortunately for Triplets of Terror, I just so happened to visit it after I visited my favorite house, which you can scroll down to learn more about. And so, I think the comparison just made this house feel a bit flatter. The story is that the Barmy triplets killed their entire family on their 9th birthday, and every ten years, they reenact the murder, killing more people throughout. In 2024, they’re celebrating the 40th anniversary of the deaths, so they are out for some blood. The house was definitely creepy and very bloody, and the jump scares were a lot of fun.

But for me, the story wasn’t that salient, making me less connected overall. Once again, I think I’m just more naturally drawn to houses that are a bit more fantastical. This one felt of a slasher movie and had a very realistic energy, which could work well if that’s your taste!

8. The Museum: Deadly Exhibits

The Museum: Deadly Exhibits pic.twitter.com/t8yoTqrUPS

— Rotem Rusak 🔜 NYCC (@Moondancer1626) September 18, 2024

Prepare to rot! The Museum: Deadly Exhibits features a museum of folklore (not the Taylor Swift album) that has received a new exhibit, the Rotting Stone. The Rotting Stone has a hold not only on the people but also on the museum itself, rotting it from the inside out. For me, this Halloween Horror Nights Universal Orlando 2024 hour was a sleeper hit. I’m not really a person who goes in for rot, mold, and pestilence. But it turns out the museum was done up with all kinds of historically oriented art and decor; it really told a compelling tale of the Rotting Stone throughout the ages and took us on a very resonant adventure. The attention to detail was honestly iconic.

Not to mention, the rot was really artfully created in a way that worked for me. Unlike Major Sweets’ factory, this gruesome exhibit leaned into the beauty and seeping terror of its decay. That said, I will say this house had a bit less space than some of the others, and many people were in it with you at once, which made the experience a bit more crowded and a little less magical.

However, I did enjoy the true sense of urgency and tension inside The Museum: Deadly Exhibits, with alarm bells and frantic security system recordings that were very immersive. As I said, I expected very little from this one and was pleasantly surprised. It also definitely called to mind The Last of Us, with some mushroom-like creatures invading the world of the house.

7. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire pic.twitter.com/cOcwWERH96

— Rotem Rusak 🔜 NYCC (@Moondancer1626) September 18, 2024

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire was absolutely a delightful haunted house! For me, it’s in the middle of the pack because while I enjoyed its homages and very clever Easter eggs (Hello Slimer!), it wasn’t really very scary. And that makes a ton of sense. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is more about fun and nostalgia than true overwhelming fear. The house was super cute and some of its effects, like its falling snow, were nothing short of amazing. It was also quite hard to tell the difference between animatronics and scare actors, which is a real credit to the experience. Also this house brought in Garraka to great effect. This ancient deity was serving, and I loved it.

6. Slaughter Sinema 2

Slaughter Sinema 2 pic.twitter.com/4bu07P8BUn

— Rotem Rusak 🔜 NYCC (@Moondancer1626) September 18, 2024

Slaughter Sinema 2, baby! This is another example of a 2024 Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights House that ranked much higher for me than I thought it would. Slaughter Sinema 2 is the sequel to the 2018 Slaughter Sinema Horror Nights House. Both are about B-rated movies, where B obviously means best. But this time, the camera has turned to show us some true cinematic fun.

The truth is, B-rated movies are not preferred horror movies, either. But Slaughter Sinema 2 totally won me over; it is a cheesy, gory, good time. I just had a blast in this house, and the ideas are so, so good. Slaughter Sinema 2 hits at all the best tropes: a Western horror movie, a shark scare, killer clowns, evil machines, cannibals, aliens, mermaids, I could go on. Of course, the mummy strippers sold it. You’re still getting scared, of course, but you’re giddy to be so.

Slaughter Sinema 2 was so camp and so queer. I absolutely adored it.

5. Goblin’s Feast

A Goblin’s Feast pic.twitter.com/0fI0pOWPnV

— Rotem Rusak 🔜 NYCC (@Moondancer1626) September 18, 2024

A Goblin’s Feast is the winner of my heart, but not my top-ranked house, objectively. But this Halloween Horror Nights Orlando 2024 haunted house really understood me. If you love dark folklore or Dungeons & Dragons, this house is for you too. In it, the goblins and orcs are celebrating their favorite holiday. But when an orc is cooking, you’re on the menu. It might be a good time to mention that I’m an orc apologist. This house was super beautiful and took care to build out its fantastical nature scenes. It made you feel like you’d wandered right into a treacherous fairy tale of the best kind.

A Goblin’s Feast brought high-spirited energy to the table; it was all about a celebration, after all. Additionally, the monsters were crafted with such care (and there were so many of them) that you really did believe you stumbled into a Goblin Thanksgiving. I also felt like I really got to know the culture of these creatures as I screamed, and that was beautiful to me.

Also worth noting is that the exterior of Goblin Feast was the absolute best. The house turned into a snug little fae cottage with a cozy chimney blowing smoke. I was obsessed with it.

In sum, witches, goblins, and forest spirits, oh my!

4. A Quiet Place

A Quiet Place pic.twitter.com/SiUpV7hPqG

— Rotem Rusak 🔜 NYCC (@Moondancer1626) September 18, 2024

The A Quiet Place house at Halloween Horror Nights Universal Orlando 2024 tells the story of the first two A Quiet Place movies and the Abbott family. Of course, the house beautifully and hauntingly brought you through to all your favorite scenes and settings from the movies. Most importantly, it created absolutely wild versions of the monsters from A Quiet Place that were point-perfect to the terrifying creatures in the films. There was also a lovely incorporation of American Sign Language throughout the house, which Halloween Horror Nights took great care to get right.

But the bar-none best part of the house was that it let you answer for yourself the question that A Quiet Place makes us all ask ourselves. Could I keep quiet? When I was in this house, everyone was deadly silent. No one wanted to be the one who wouldn’t make it through the movie. I myself did not scream once. But this personal challenge brought to life really added stakes to this house. And that’s why A Quiet Place is up there in my rankings of Universal Orlando’s 2024 Halloween Horror Nights House offerings.

3. Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America

Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America pic.twitter.com/80wIS5BhmU

— Rotem Rusak 🔜 NYCC (@Moondancer1626) September 18, 2024

Monstruos, wow. Monstruos is an incredible Halloween Horror Nights haunted house. At its core it brings us three myths from Latin America: Tlahuelpuchi, a vampiric witch, La Lechuza, a witch who can shapeshift into an owl, and El Silbón, a damned lost soul. Death, of course, is our guide. This house was gory. There are no two ways about it. There was blood seeping and carnage at every turn. But it was magnificent. Some parts of this house manifested fear, some, tragedy, and others still, beauty. Gorgeous music accompanied your screams at every turn. And the creatures themselves were a sight to behold. It was an aesthetic nightmare, and that’s all I want from my haunted houses. The surreality of Monstruos makes it one Halloween Horror Nights House I would want to return to over and over again.

2. Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines

Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines pic.twitter.com/PcD3L6Ihfz

— Rotem Rusak 🔜 NYCC (@Moondancer1626) September 18, 2024

Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines, BABY! Never has a haunted house has been so exquisitely queer. In it, you follow the story of Saskia Van Helsing, the last surviving member of the Van Helsing family, who takes down monsters. She is getting revenge for the murder of her family. On her quest, she teams up with an unlikely ally in the Bride of Frankenstein, together they take down Dracula’s daughter, She-Wolf and many others. This house has an all female cast, female show director, female hair and makeup, and it shows. Because damn, you feel like the heroine of dark romance as soon as you set foot in it.

A haunted cathedral in the snow is one of the first sights that greet you. And that has stayed with me. The gorgeous gothic sensibilities of this house, its elegant decay, and its epic monsters come together to make it one of my highest-ranked houses from Halloween Horror Nights 2024.

1. Insisidous

Insisidous pic.twitter.com/6bw8fVW89w

— Rotem Rusak 🔜 NYCC (@Moondancer1626) September 18, 2024

Insidious: The Further is everything. So many of the houses were scary, campy, fun, and gorgeous, but Insidious was emotional. It resonated. You could feel everything locked in the movies inside of you as you traversed through. And that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t super scary. All of Insidious‘ best demons came out to greet you. The Long-haired Fiend, The Bride in Black, The Lipstick Face Demon, and more were all present and terrifying. I don’t think I’ve ever screamed so much in such a short period of time. But something about this house felt deep and moving.

It felt like there was a story aching there at every turn in the house. In one of the rooms, Insidious‘ iconic fairy lights lay on the bed, a little light in the darkness. And that really touched my heart. Insidious stayed in my heart the whole night, even though it was the first house I visited. And that’s why it’s a the very top of my Halloween Horror Nights Universal Orlando house rankings.

The post We Rank the 2024 Houses at Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights appeared first on Nerdist.

Castlevania: Nocturne fans have a lot to celebrate. Netflix just announced the release date window for season two of the series, which will feature Richter Belmont fighting alongside everyone’s favorite character Alucard. That’s arriving to us in January 2025. But the exciting Castlevania: Nocturne news doesn’t end there. Nerdist is thrilled to exclusively reveal new incredibly gorgeous Castlevania: Nocturne PVC figures from Dark Horse Comics and Netflix, which take the form of Richter Belmont and the ancient vampire Olrox.

While two new Nocturne figures would be thrilling stuff, Dark Horse Comics is casting a spell of its own and actually releasing two variants each of the Olrox and Richter Belmont PVC figures, for a total of four new collectible figures. Not only will Olrox and Richter receive a Dark Horse Deluxe figure, available widely wherever collectibles are sold, but they will also each receive a special Dark Horse Direct Exclusive figure, which will be available through Dark Horse Direct’s website.

A true gift to fans of vampires and vampire hunters everywhere. Join us as we take a closer look at the new Richter Belmont and Olrox Castlevania: Nocturne PVC figures below.

Jump to:

• Dark Horse Direct Exclusive Olrox Figure // Dark Horse Deluxe Olrox Figure
• Dark Horse Direct Exclusive Richter Belmont Figure // Dark Horse Deluxe Richter Belmont Figure

Castlevania: Nocturne Olrox PVC Figures: Dark Horse Direct Exclusive and Dark Horse Deluxe Versions

Elegant, powerful, and dare we say it, sexy, Castlevania: Nocturne‘s Olrox brings to life, or more accurately, undeath, everything we could want in a character. After all, who doesn’t love an ancient vampire with tendencies toward good and evil and the incredible powers to turn into a serpent-like dragon, which calls to mind mythology’s Quetzalcoatl? No one, that’s who. And personally, for us, the fact that he’s queer just makes him even more of an icon. So there’s also no question that fans of Netflix’s Castlevania: Nocture series are itching to add Olrox to their collection of figures. And Dark Horse Comics and Netflix are here to answer that call.

As mentioned, two Olrox figures are actually heading in the direction of your shelves. Dark Horse Comics will release a Dark Horse Direct Exclusive PVC Olrox figure and a Dark Horse Deluxe PVC Olrox figure. What’s the difference? Well, the Dark Horse Direct Exclusive features a little bit more Olrox goodness, including a point-perfect homage to his dragon form. Here’s what each figure entails.

Dark Horse Direct Exclusive Castlevania: Nocturne Olrox PVC Figure

Olrox is the vampire who set Richter Belmont on his vampire hunter journey when he took his revenge on Julia Belmont for killing his lover. And on that fateful night, Olrox rose from the mist to exact his vengeance. This Dark Horse Direct Exclusive figure captures that moment in all its dramatic glory, mist and all. The exclusive version of Olrox comes with “an alternate arm and an alternate back plate, which shows Olrox’s dragon transformation appearing from a portal on one side and spectral skulls from the other.” It makes for a hauntingly beautiful vision. You can take a closer look at Olrox from all angles below.

The Dark Horse Direct Exclusive Castlevania: Nocturne Olrox PVC Figure costs $99.99. The edition size for this figure is 1,500. This figure is now available for pre-order on Dark Horse Direct’s website. This Olrox figure is expected to ship to customers between April and June 2025. It’s worth noting that if you pre-order two or more figures from Dark Horse Direct (that could be Olrox and Richter Belmont for those playing along), you get 10% off your order as a pre-order bonus!

Here’s What’s Included When You Purchase Olrox’s Dark Horse Direct Exclusive Figure and Other Details

• Castlevania: Nocturne – Olrox PVC Figure
  • This figure is is 11.25” tall by 5.5” wide by 6” deep
• Alternate right arm (behind his back or snapping)
• Alternate backplate revealing Olrox’s stunning dragon form
• Edition Size: 1,500
• Cost: $99.99
• Expected Ship Date: April – June 2025

Dark Horse Deluxe Castlevania: Nocturne Olrox PVC Figure

The Dark Horse Deluxe version of Netflix’s Olrox is no less stunning than the exclusive version. It just doesn’t include some of the additional grace notes of the exclusive Castlevania: Nocturne figure, such as the dragon transformation backplate or the eerily lovely spectral skulls. But you still get Olrox in all his majesty, either holding his iconic obsidian dagger behind his back or getting ready to summon his otherworldly magic with a snap of his fingers.

The Dark Horse Deluxe Castlevania: Nocturne Olrox PVC Figure costs $79.99. This figure is available for purchase wherever collectibles are sold and should be available for pre-order now. The Deluxe version of Olrox will become available on March 5, 2025.

Here’s what’s Included When You Purchase Olrox’s Dark Horse Deluxe Figure and Other Details

• Castlevania: Nocturne – Olrox PVC Figure
  • This figure is is 11.25” tall by 5.5” wide by 6” deep
• Alternate right arm (behind his back or snapping)
• Cost: $79.99
• Available on March 3, 2025.

Jump to:

• Dark Horse Direct Exclusive Olrox Figure // Dark Horse Deluxe Olrox Figure
• Dark Horse Direct Exclusive Richter Belmont Figure // Dark Horse Deluxe Richter Belmont Figure

Castlevania: Nocturne Richter Belmont PVC Figures: Dark Horse Direct Exclusive and Dark Horse Deluxe Versions

But, of course, we wouldn’t want Olrox to get lonely on the shelf. After all, what good is an anti-hero if he can’t sometimes square off and sometimes assist the forces of good on your shelf? And that’s where Richter Belmont comes into the picture. Like Olrox, Dark Horse Comics’ Richter Belmont PVC figure comes in two versions: a Dark Horse Direct Exclusive version and a Dark Horse Deluxe version. Here’s what fans of the Netflix series can expect from these vampire hunter figures.

Dark Horse Direct Exclusive Castlevania: Nocturne Richter Belmont PVC Figure

You know him, you love him, Richter Belmont is the last of the Belmont clan and he knows how to kill a vampire. After an encounter with the vampire Olrox, Richter set out on his path to become a vampire hunter, and throughout the Netflix series, we see him grow, evolve, and step into his many strengths. From a scared child to a natural vampire hunter, Richter Belmont protects France from the chaos of vampires. (And we can’t wait to see him team up with everyone’s favorite half-human, half-vampire Alucard in season two of Castlevania: Nocturne.)

The Dark Horse Direct Exclusive Richter Belmont PVC figure captures all of these facets of the character. Richter comes with an alternate head and weapons, an incredible amount of weapons. These include his sword, knives, ice gauntlet, fireball, and his signature flaming whip! But hey, with so many vampires around, you always need to be ready. You can look closer at this magnificent version of Richter Belmont above and below.

The exclusive version of Richter Belmont is limited to 1,500 units. It costs $99.99 and is now available for pre-order on Dark Horse Direct’s website. This exclusive Richter Belmont Castlevania: Nocture figure is expected to ship to customers between April and June 2025. Once again, we’re reminding you that if you pre-order two or more figures from Dark Horse Direct, you get 10% off your order as a pre-order bonus.

Here’s What’s Included When You Purchase Richter Belmont’s Dark Horse Direct Exclusive Figure and Other Details

• Castlevania: Nocturne – Richter Belmont PVC Figure
  • This figure is at 9.2” tall by 8” wide by 6.4” deep
• Alternate head.
• Alternate right arms (curled whip, extended flame whip)
• Alternate left arms (ice gauntlet, knives, fireball, sword)
• Accessories: Sheaths (with & without hilt)
• Edition Size: 1,500
• Cost: $99.99
• Expected Ship Date: April – June 2025

Dark Horse Deluxe Castlevania: Nocturne Richter Belmont PVC Figure

Once again, this Castlevania: Nocturne Richter Belmont Dark Horse Deluxe figure is still pretty incredible. He just doesn’t include the alternate head, the alternate right arm options, and the left arm ice gauntlet and knives of the exclusive. That means Richter has fewer weapons to fight off vampiric threats, but he’s still pretty well prepared. The Dark Horse Deluxe version of Richter Belmont instead features him brandishing his sword or manipulating his iconic blue flames. This figure also has a coiled version of Richter’s whip in his right arm which the exclusive does not contain.

The Dark Horse Deluxe Castlevania: Nocturne Olrox PVC Figure costs $79.99. This figure is available for purchase wherever collectibles are sold and should be available for pre-order now. The Deluxe version of Richter Belmont will become available on March 5, 2025.

Here’s What’s Included When You Purchase Richter Belmont’s Dark Horse Deluxe Figure and Other Details

• Castlevania: Nocturne – Richter Belmont PVC Figure
• This figure is at 9.2” tall by 8” wide by 6.4” deep
• Accessories: Alternate left arms (fireball, sword) and sheaths (with & without hilt).
  • This figure is is 11.25” tall by 5.5” wide by 6” deep
• Cost: $79.99
• Available on March 3, 2025.

We Can’t Wait to Own These Castlevania: Nocturne Figures

Netflix’s Castlevania: Nocturne is one of the most beautiful shows around, so it’s only right that the figures based on it are equally glorious. We can’t wait to bring home Olrox and Richter Belmont… We just hope they don’t make a mess of our shelves.

Jump to:

• Dark Horse Direct Exclusive Olrox Figure // Dark Horse Deluxe Olrox Figure
• Dark Horse Direct Exclusive Richter Belmont Figure // Dark Horse Deluxe Richter Belmont Figure

The post New Richter Belmont and Olrox CASTLEVANIA: NOCTURNE Figures Come in Two Gorgeous Versions appeared first on Nerdist.

HBO’s The Penguin is bringing to life a new chapter of The Batman universe. And this time, it’s all about, you guessed it, Penguin. Armed with a new name, Oz Cobb, and a gritty street-level series the likes of which has never quite been seen before, Colin Farrell’s Penguin is ready to take the crime underworld of Gotham by storm. He’s a man on a mission and he is not stopping. Through Oz’s many schemes, betrayals, wins, and losses, the audience will get a front-row seat to the innermost workings of this Batman villain like never before. In celebration of The Penguin, Colin Farrell, who, as mentioned, plays Oz Cobb in a deeply transformative turn, spoke to Nerdist and other press about the character at its NYC premiere.

According to Farrell, we’re in for a wild ride with Oz in The Penguin. This series will take us all the way back to Oz’s childhood. “There are some extraordinary scenes, flashback scenes, and scenes in the present that kind of refer to certain things that happened in his childhood. Oz is someone who is not to be trifled with and he can be extraordinarily cruel, it’s a descent into his psychosis really in the show in many ways, I say that not lightly.”

That said (with gravitas), Farrell is very clear that nothing in Oz’s past seeks to absolve him of his bad behavior on The Penguin. And yet, seeing some of what transpired in his life does help to understand the person he has become in this The Batman series. Farrell continues, “There’s no justification for so many of the things he’s done. But you can kind of see how somebody who might have been born a little bit broken already. But if he was, that break was agitated and was magnified by certain things that took place in his early years.”

As to how The Penguin connects to The Batman series as a whole, Farrell tells the press in a question asked by Comicbook, that Batman is not top of mind for one Oz Cobb. “Oz has other things on his mind.” Farrell offers. “He’s trying to keep his shit together, and he’s trying to fill the power vacuum in Gotham. Maybe he has a passing thought [about Batman], like, is that guy gonna turn up? But there’s so much happening to him already that the immediate present is really the most important thing.”

Like Oz Cobb, Farrell himself had things on his mind other than The Batman movies while creating The Penguin. “It wasn’t so much for me about the things that connected The Batman and The Penguin.” He notes about his time as Oz Cobb in this spinoff in a question asked by The Mary Sue, “It was more the stuff that I got to experience anew. Working with Cristin [Milioti] as Sofia Falcone, she’s extraordinary. The relationship between Rhenzy [Feliz]—the relationship there is really interesting.”

Ultimately, though, the black heart of the series lies in the relationship between Oz and his mom. Farrell notes of the Penguin’s familial ties. “The relationship between Oz and his mom… really, there’s something so anchoring and deeply meaningful about the relationship between Francis, Oz’s mom, so wonderfully played by Didi [Deirdre O’Connell] and myself, as Oz. I loved those scenes. There’s something so heartfelt about those scenes. And I think that’s where you see Oz at his most vulnerable, when he’s with his mother. And there’s so much carnage around that. Any time you get to see Oz’s true vulnerability is always interesting to show and access.”

And indeed, The Penguin is all about carnage of many kinds. Colin Farrell makes his grand return to the villainous Batman character in The Penguin, which premieres on HBO and Max on September 19 at 6pm PT/9pm ET.

The post Colin Farrell Talks ‘The Carnage’ of Oz in THE PENGUIN and Batman Not Being Top of Mind appeared first on Nerdist.

Breaking! A Joan of Arc movie, titled Jehanne d’Arc, is on the way, and it’s coming from, drumroll please, Baz Luhrmann. Honestly, we couldn’t have picked a better director for a Joan of Arc movie. We’re sure it will be extravagant and lushly surreal. It’s what any good woman warrior tale deserves. (We’re also keeping our fingers crossed that it’s a queer film.) For now, we just know the broad strokes of Luhrmann’s Joan of Arc movie—that it will tell the tale of a young French peasant who believed God commanded her to lead an army that would save France from the Hundred Years’ War.

No more specific plot than that has been released so far. But casting for Jehanne d’Arc has begun. A casting call notes that it’s seeking a young woman to play, “the ultimate teenage girl coming of age story, set in the Hundred Years’ War.”

Well, if Luhrmann needs inspiration for his Joan of Arc movie, we’ll just point him to Chappell Roan’s performance of “Good Luck, Babe!” at the 2024 VMAs.

We can’t wait to hear more about this movie. Maybe Roan can come aboard for the soundtrack.

The post Baz Luhrmann Will Direct a JOAN OF ARC Movie, JEHANNE D’ARC appeared first on Nerdist.

Something new is coming to the world of tabletop roleplaying games, and that’s Critical Role‘s answer to Dungeons & Dragons, Daggerheart. Critical Role shares, “Daggerheart [is] our contribution to the world of high-fantasy tabletop roleplaying games. Daggerheart is a game of brave heroics and vibrant worlds that are built together with your gaming group. Create a shared story with your adventuring party, and shape your world through rich, long-term campaign play.” And now, you can officially pre-order Daggerheart and get ready to play. Critical Role’s original TTRPG game is available to purchase now in a standard “Core Set” version or as a limited-edition collectible which will feature “a GM screen, a dice set, a rip pad of character sheets, and tokens, as well as a sweeping alternate cover art treatment.” Daggerheart will officially ship/release in Spring 2025.

As far as game mechanics go, in Daggerheart will “players roll one HOPE die and one FEAR die (both 12-sided dice), which will ultimately impact the outcome for your characters. This duality between the forces of hope and fear on every hero drives the unique character-focused narratives in Daggerheart.” The game will also involve a card system that “makes it easy to get started and satisfying to grow your abilities by bringing your characters’ background and capabilities to your fingertips.

Ancestry and Community cards describe where you come from and how your experience shapes your customs and values. Meanwhile, your Subclass and Domain cards grant your character plenty of tantalizing abilities to choose from as your character evolves.”

Daggerheart Open Beta Playtest has now launched globally.

The post DAGGERHEART, CRITICAL ROLE’s Answer to DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, Sets Release Window and Opens Pre-Orders appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s time to say Sul Sul and O Vwa Vwaf Sna to a new movie adaptation of a beloved game. But this one might be just a little different than the recent gaming adaptations we’ve been seeing. Yes, Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap company will be producing a new The Sims movie directed by Loki‘s Kate Herron, and Amazon MGM has officially confirmed the movie is on the way. And if Barbie is any indication, this upcoming The Sims movie is going to be truly weird, filled with existential dread, and a lot of fun. Honestly, we feel really good about it. Although The Sims is very much a game that lives in the eye of the beholder, it also has a few touchpoints that any player will recognize and a few core throughlines that can easily take it into the comedic and yet absurd/horrific space.

The Sims Movie From Margot Robbie and Katie Gerron Is Officially In the Works

EA Entertainment President Laura Miele recently announced:

As we approach the incredible milestone of 25 years of The Sims – which is an incredible feat of longevity in today’s world of entertainment and pop culture – I am thrilled to confirm that The Sims will be coming to the big screen. Teaming up with renowned Hollywood powerhouses, this exciting new chapter for The Sims will bring its magic to millions more fans. It’s a testament to the enduring power of this beloved franchise, which has captivated more than 500 million players for a quarter of a century. Our commitment to innovate across The Sims universe of experiences and products will inspire all generations of Simmers.

What Will The Sims Movie Be About?

Meanwhile, EA’s vice president and general manager of The Sims franchise Kate Gorman revealed more about what The Sims live-action movie will be about. Gorm shared:

What I will tell you is it’s very much rooted in The Sims universe. And what we want is to have a truly authentic Sims experience brought to a theatrical release. So what you’ll see from us is that we have been wanting to get this right. We wanted the right partners and to make an impact the size of something like a Barbie movie is exactly what we want. And we know there’s so much love and nostalgia, probably beyond what we would even realize, for The Sims and so many people like us have played throughout generations. So we want this to be an experience that reflects all that amazing history and play of so many people in this world, but also is something that you can share across generations and to be part of pop culture and culturally relevant.

Additionally, Gorman notes “there will be a lot of lore” and shares:

You will see a lot of The Sims universe come to life, and you will see a lot of the classic experiences that our players have in the games come to life in the movie. And that’s what we really want to deliver on, is just an authentic Sims experience, and really have the most expansive Sims offering we’ve ever had to bring that delight and share the experience of playing The Sims with so many people or their friends or families who may not have actually played The Sims, but you can help tell that story through watching a theatrical release about The Sims universe.

Of course, The Sims Easter eggs in the movie are a given. Gorman reveals, “There will be Freezer Bunnies. I’m sure a pool without a ladder is somewhere in there, but we haven’t finalized any of those details. But that’s the idea, is to say that it lives within this space. It’s a nod to all of the amazing play and creation and fun that people have had over the last 25 years within The Sims.”

We’re Excited About The Sims Live-Action Movie

Now that we’re thinking about it one The Sims movie isn’t nearly enough. Although one The Sims movie from Margot Robbie might go pretty far. Which direction will the story go? Will the movie feature a set of Sims suddenly realizing all their life choices are being made for them? The horror. The Sims does get a little dark if suddenly your characters have actual consciousness as will surely happen in the movie.

The Sims movie might also see Sims getting set on fire and drowning in a pool with no ladder as Gorman mentions above. (Don’t look at me like that; that’s not how I play the game, but I know it’s how you do!) But it’s not all doom and gloom. We bet there will be a fun Build Mode montage. And maybe we’ll visit Willow Creek, Forgotten Hollow, Glimmer Brook, Sulani, Chestnut Ridge, and more. Will we see a new The Sims game upgrade mid-movie, and suddenly, the visuals are entirely different? What happens when someone adds a new expansion pack? We definitely need to leave space for entering cheat codes in The Sims movie. Cha-ching. It’s a lot to think about.

One thing feels likely: that recognizable blur of nudity will emerge at some juncture, and maybe even some suspicious cover shifts. But this will probably go the way of Barbie and Ken talking about reproductive organs, to which we say, woohoo! We also feel curious to see whether The Sims movie will partially be in Simlish. And what about mods gone wrong? Eerie ghosts? And climbing the career ladder? Someone tell Margot Robbie we need an anthology of The Sims movies.

For now, we know that Margot Robbie, Josey McNamara, and Tom Ackerley’s LuckyChap will produce The Sims movie alongside Roy Lee for Vertigo Entertainment. Loki director Kate Herron will direct the movie and co-write a script with Briony Redman. 

We wonder what cinematic masterpiece the trailer for The Sims movie will reference. Regardless, jadosi!

Originally published on March 21, 2024.

The post THE SIMS Movie Confirmed—Film Coming From Margot Robbie and LOKI Director appeared first on Nerdist.

LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy is here. And we could not more highly recommend that you watch it. In addition to being a perfect love letter to Star Wars and LEGO, the series brings hilarious inversions of our favorite Star Wars characters, gorgeous animation, and a rich poignancy. In celebration of the miniseries’ release, Nerdist spoke to writers Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit about the true meaning of the series. Hernandez and Samit broke down how they chose which Star Wars bits to include and gave a truly beautiful breakdown of LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy‘s ending. Truly, this series encapsulates some themes that will resonate with kids and adults.

You can check out our full LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy interview below.

Nerdist: This show is a true love letter to the Star Wars fandom. How did you decide what facets of lore to bring into the more official series like Jedi Bob and Darth Jar Jar, and how fun and or nerve-wracking was it to bring them to life?

Benji Samit: I mean, it was exceptionally fun and exciting to bring some of these things to life, and those two that you mentioned were right at the top of our list of things. From almost day one, we knew that we wanted to get in there. But we wanted to pick everything. It was not easy because we essentially took the bin of every Star Wars LEGO piece ever, dumped it on the ground, and got to build our own thing. I think the initial drafts were just way too long. We tried to get every character we love in, every creature, every ship, every planet. And eventually, they said, you got to stop.

This couldn’t be a 20-piece special. It had to be four pieces. So the way we really, at the end of the day, started winnowing things down and figuring out what we wanted to focus on was the stuff that really served the story we were trying to tell. It would’ve been very easy to start to turn this into something that was almost just like a series of sketches, just silly gags in the Star Wars world. And it would’ve been funny, but it would’ve probably gotten old pretty quickly. So it was important to us that at the core of this was a real Star Wars story. And so everything else that came around that was to serve that greater story.

Dan Hernandez: Yeah, I mean for me it really was about telling a story that is foundationally Star Wars. How can we do that while using all of the unique and incredible things about LEGO and LEGO Star Wars and the tone and the comedy of that. But also, I did ask myself, what aspects of Star Wars would I personally like to explore a little bit more? Who are the characters I’d like to spend a little bit more time with or explore if they had gone a different way?

Darth Rey is something that we see for a minute in the sequel trilogy, but we don’t spend a ton of time on that; that felt like something that was really provocative and really something I wanted to see more of, and who that evil version of Rey was. And it’s one thing to be nobody and decide to go on the right side of things, but it’s very different to see a world in which she didn’t do that. So that was something that I was excited to see.

It’s the same thing with Rose Tico, a character that I love, and a performance I love by Kelly Marie Tran, who is one of the most brilliant performers we’ve ever worked with. And to let her cut loose, to let her see her anger… In the Star Wars movies she leads with compassion, but she lost her sister. What if the bitterness of that infected her entire being? Her everything. And so it was things like that that were really fun for us. And that really informed a lot of the storytelling because once you sort of identified, okay, here’s a plausible reason that this character might have gone a different way, then you started to see where do they fit in a greater context of this mixed up galaxy.

We played with things like expectations, where Sig, who thinks he knows everything about “our galaxy,” sees Darth Maul in the new galaxy and immediately assumes, based on the way he looks and the way that he has acted, that he’s a bad guy and guess what? He’s the nicest guy in the world. So that was also interesting for us. There is a poignancy to say sort of letting go of what your expectations are of people, but also of what a Star Wars story might be or could be or who a character is or how they behave. And those were all of the things that excited us when we talked about how to recombine all of these different aspects of Star Wars.

I think that’s really beautiful and I think it really did come through one part of this series. I also thought that the ending of LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy was incredibly lovely and really well done, and it was kind of bittersweet in this way that few series are brave enough to attempt. You all said, here’s this ending where it’s not going to go back to the way it was, and maybe it never will. Did you know all along that was how it would play out?

Hernandez: I’m so glad that you pointed that out and asked that because it was one of the things that we both felt very passionately about. And the reason is that I think that’s how life is. I think that’s how life functions, which is you can be an expert on something, you can think that you’ve prepared for a situation, and then life throws something at you that you never could have anticipated, and you kind of have to deal with it. And so resetting the galaxy back to the way that it used to be felt a little bit like it would have been cheap, not how life is.

Things happen and the only thing that you can truly control is your response to it, whether you choose to move forward and try to find your own way in whatever the new circumstances are or if you find yourself held back by the way things used to be. And then you end up in a paralysis, you get bitter, you get angry. You’re stuck thinking, I wish things could have been the way that they used to be. And to us, we felt like it was a message for kids, of course, but also for adults to say there are things in this life that you can’t get back. You can’t make it go back to the way it used to be.

And specifically, in the case of Dev and Sig and that bittersweet ending that you were talking about, Sig never gives up hope. Not really. He believes that there is a piece of that brother that he used to know inside of this version of his brother. And I hope that the way that people feel at the end of the special is, “I’m not sure. I think maybe Sig is right, but we don’t know for sure.” But the reason that Sig is ultimately a hero is that he believes it and he’s willing to fight for that.

And ultimately, I think that the reason that Dev doesn’t strike him down is that on some deep level, that Dev maybe would never admit to, he hopes that too. And that also felt like a really powerful message that is very much in keeping with the spirit of redemption and keeping with the spirit of that people can fall into darkness, but they’re not beyond hope. That hope informs everything in the Star Wars galaxy.

Samit: And we also want it to be true to the spirit of LEGO itself, which is: you build something, sometimes you break it. But if your brother smashes your LEGO set, you can rebuild it. If it’s an original creation of yours and it gets smashed, you can rebuild it. But it’s probably going to be different. It’s never going to be exactly the same, but nothing is ever broken for good in the world of LEGO.

Other toys, model kits, this, that you break it and it’s broken. But the beautiful thing about LEGO is nothing is ever truly broken. It’s just broken down to its component parts and you put ’em back together however you want. And we wanted the series to feel like that.

All four parts of LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy are streaming now on Disney+.

The post LEGO STAR WARS: REBUILD THE GALAXY’s Writers On Its Ending and Beautiful Message appeared first on Nerdist.

Jedi Bob is an iconic Star Wars figure. After all, he started life as just an anonymous Minifigure and then fans gave him a name and a legacy. Now, Jedi Bob will finally get a real story of his own in LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy. Bobby Moynihan, who voices Jedi Bob, sat down with Nerdist to dive deep into the beloved character. Among other things, Moynihan spoke of the adventure of fleshing out Jedi Bob, Jedi Bob’s relationship with Sig Greebling, and the character’s ambitions to start Star Wars‘ version of WWE.

You can check out our full LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy conversation below.

Nerdist: You’ve voiced several animated Star Wars roles before, but your LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy role feels like the biggest one yet. What was it like returning to the galaxy far, far away as a main character? And what’s your favorite part about dipping your toes in the Star Wars world?

Bobby Moynihan: That’s it. I think that’s so funny you say that. I just saw the trailer again this week because it’s coming up, and I watched the trailer again, and there’s a line where I say “Punch it!” And I really went like, man, I’m in fully in Star Wars. I’ve been in them before, but this one’s nuts. It’s the best. It’s not lost on me. It’s super fun. And to get to create a character that’s already beloved in both universes is such an insane gift that I will cherish forever.

My next thought was actually about Jedi Bob, who found life because Star Wars fans rallied around him and gave this LEGO minifigure a name and a life, and he’s a legend now. How much lore did you know about Jedi Bob before you got started?

Moynihan: I was pretty familiar with Jedi Bob. I knew the story, I am a collector of things, and I enjoyed that story about how he was just a generic Jedi. And then I had a Jedi Bob Minifigure before I got cast. Yeah, I knew all about it. Then, I met Dan [Hernandez] and Benji [Samit] through writing something else for Star Wars, some jokes for a different Star Wars project. And they thought of me for this, and I have thanked them… I’ve sent them praises every day. I sent them LEGO lightsabers recently. I am very thankful to them for this.

And what do you think the best thing is that LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy adds to Jedi Bob to build his lore?

Moynihan: Oh gosh. I mean everything. He was just this nameless figure with a smile. Now we know all about him, and hopefully, we’ll know more. Yeah, that was kind of the funnest part, was taking this thing that just had a face and giving it a whole backstory and an attitude and a reason to be around now. Although, his original reason was pretty great, it was just to be a Jedi. That’s it. He never wanted to be famous; he just wanted to be part of it.

I think you can kind of feel that energy in LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy as well. So I think it’s a beautiful honoring of that character and his legacy. The relationship between Jedi Bob and Sig Greebling is really beautiful in this series. Can you talk about its importance to Jedi Bob and what it means for the character?

Moynihan: I think for Jedi Bob, his relationship with Sig is something he’s not used to, which is someone looking up to him and someone counting on him and expecting him to be a good Jedi, which is a lot like being a father. And I’m going through that, that part of it was interesting. I realized that through recording; I was like, “Oh, I’m not playing the kid who looks up to somebody like I normally do. I’m playing the mentor this time.” But also getting to do it in this universe and being funny was absolutely amazing. But yeah, the relationship between him and Sig is something in Star Wars that we don’t see often, a a good relationship, a good father figure. Not many good dads in Star Wars.

Were there any other Star Wars Jedi or characters that you looked at or thought about when you were building the sound and energy of Jedi Bob?

Moynihan: Yeah, I mean, I like to think that Jedi Bob, he wants to be like Obi-Wan Kenobi or Qui-Gon. He wants to be one of those… He just wants to be British. No, he wants to be like a Jedi. Like, you’re supposed to be a high-falutin Jedi, but he’s kind of just a mess, just like everybody else. And he’s working real hard to pretend.

It’s true. The high-falutin Jedi are kind of a mess, too, though, so it’s all good.

Moynihan: Very much so. Very much so.

LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy ends in a way that invites more adventures for Jedi Bob and Company. Where would you really like to see him go next?

Moynihan: Jedi Bob, I mean Jedi Bob Variety Show. Maybe he’s hosting a variety show. Maybe he’s like the Vince. Also, I keep pitching this to Lucasfilm. I really want to do it, so I’ll bring it up here. I think Jedi Bob is going to be like the leader of the WWE in the Star Wars universe. It’s Punta Night Slam. It’s just what they watch in the Cantina at night. It’s their version of professional wrestling. I think that’s what he does.

I think Star Wars is missing its professional wrestling arm. So Jedi Bob… call him!

Moynihan: Jedi Bob started it all.

What was your personal favorite Star Wars inversion that popped up in the show this time around?

Moynihan: I have to see it again. There are so many good ones, and I was so blown away by listening to myself in Star Wars that I didn’t pay attention more…

Darth Nubs. I really enjoyed his little cameo in there. There are so many fun little things. I keep saying this in every interview.

Darth Maul, in this universe, who is wearing young Lando’s shirt kills me. I love that. It’s just like in this world, Darth Maul is like a clothes hound, and that just makes me laugh. It’s very funny to me, all of it. But that’s the best part is getting it all mixed up.

You know what I’ll say, since I’ve already given you five answers, I’ll say Jedi Darth Vader this time.

And is there any character that you like in Star Wars that didn’t appear in LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy this time around that you would be gungho to see a version of?

Moynihan: Yeah, I mean, I love all of the obscure characters. I’m like, who didn’t appear in this one though?

Who would I like to see? Man, you know what I want to see? I want to see R2-D2 in a giant mech outfit. Like the Hulk Buster, but R2-D2 in there. I always see designs of R2-2D getting some sort of insane transformer suit. Let’s see that. Let’s get that for a little while, and let’s get some of the weirder characters like Jaxxon the rabbit and stuff in there. That’s what I want to see.

All four parts of LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy are streaming now on Disney+.

The post Bobby Moynihan Talks Giving Jedi Bob Life, STAR WARS WWE, and Clothes-Hound Darth Maul in Celebration of LEGO STAR WARS: REBUILD THE GALAXY appeared first on Nerdist.

Nerdist recently sat down with the stars of LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy to chat about the fun and fan-forward new entry in Star Wars‘ world. Gaten Matarazzo and Tony Revolori voice the main characters, Dev and Sig Greebling, in this fantastical new tale. But the duo is also well known for playing two other beloved figures in nerd-favorite properties. Matarazzo brings Stranger Things‘ Dustin Henderson to life, while Revolori is MCU Spider-Man‘s Flash Thompson. Dustin, of course, is a nerd genius himself, while Flash pretends to be cool, but we know he has a nerdy heart. But what would these two characters think about LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy? Matarazzo and Revolori gave us a little insight into that question, and their thoughtful answers also shed some fun new light on their Stranger Things and Spider-Man characters.

Here’s what they had to say:

Matarazzo: I think Dustin is very critical of the stuff that he watches and is a big Star Wars fan himself. But I have a hard time believing that Dustin wouldn’t have secret YouTube accounts where he comments the same mean comment on trailers. But this is when he’s 40, and his kids catch him. His kids are like, “Dad, why do you need nine YouTube accounts all devoted to how bad you think this trailer is? I think that’s what his vibe might be.

Revolori: I think Flash would secretly absolutely love this. He would have a secret tattoo of the brothers, and if anyone asked him about it, he’d be like, “No, no, no. That’s a kid show. No. Yeah, no, it’s stupid.” He’d completely deny it. But he would love secretly it so much.

We’re obsessed with the headcanon of Stranger Things‘ Dustin Henderson being a secret hater of fun. But we bet Steve Harrington would absolutely love LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy, much to Dustin’s total dismay. Perhaps you doth protest too much, Dustin. But we love even more Revolori’s vision of Flash being absolutely invested in LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy. This endearing fact makes us like Flash so much more.

All four parts of LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy are streaming now on Disney+.

The post Would STRANGER THINGS’ Dustin and SPIDER-MAN’s Flash Enjoy LEGO STAR WARS: REBUILD THE GALAXY? Gaten Matarazzo & Tony Revolori Chime In appeared first on Nerdist.

LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy is the latest entry into the incredible LEGO Star Wars world. At the heart of the miniseries are siblings Sig and Dev Greebling and their fabulous friend Yesi Scala. In celebration of this new entry into the Star Wars universe and its release, Nerdist sat down with Gaten Matarazzo, Tony Revolori, and Marsai Martin, who voice Sig, Dev, and Yesi, respectively. We chatted with the stars of this new Star Wars entry about their excitement for the series, what’s at the heart of their characters, and how fun it was to create a true love letter to Star Wars that’s by fans for fans.

You can check out our full LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy conversation below.

Nerdist: Were you all Star Wars fans before the opportunity to be a part of LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy? And what was your favorite thing about jumping into the galaxy, far, far away?

Tony Revolori: Yeah, I was a big fan. I’ve been a fan since I was a kid, so this was a great huge honor. I am so excited for people to see it. And then my favorite part of the series so far probably has to be Darth Jar Jar, just because I think he’s so funny. And I love the wish fulfillment of it because it’s something that I would do.

Marsai Martin: I have only been a Star Wars fan for so little time. I only know a few little things. But to be able to jump into the franchise and to talk to Dan [Hernandez] and Benji [Samit], who are our amazing writers, that was incredible. They really talked to me about their passion and their love for this project, and that really made me say an absolute yes to it.

And, of course, I know LEGO, and I have everything LEGO, and so does my sister. So, to be able to have those two worlds collide is such a dream and something to constantly keep learning about. And I feel like in the Star Wars franchise, there is so much to learn, so many layers, and it’s a constant thing that I’m very excited to jump to.

Gaten Matarazzo: I’ve been a massive Star Wars fan since I was seven years old. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. It’s the reason that I love cinema as much as I do. It’s what’s propelled my love for movie making and sci-fi as a whole, and it’s a primary cornerstone reason as to why I do what I do. So, I’m forever grateful for the franchise, and to actively be a part of something that is so fresh and fun for the world of Star Wars is just such an honor, and to do it with such an amazing group of people. Then to also be part of something that’s so low-stakes and fun and made for fans by fans is more than I could have ever asked for. It’s an absolute dream project.

Gaten and Tony, the relationship between Sig and Dev Greebling on LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy is one of the most beautiful sibling relationships I’ve seen portrayed on screen. How did you work together to create that dynamic?

Revolori: I want to say that we did so much together: that we watched movies, we had FaceTimes that lasted till three in the morning, and we were just in bed talking like, Hey, bro. But unfortunately, this is the first time I’m really getting to talk and hang out with Gaten. So, we never really got to work together on this. But I will say both he and I have siblings and brothers, so I think it wasn’t a far cry for us to have imagined each other’s characters as our brother, which helped us create that. And then I’ll give the credit to the editors for picking the right takes to make everyone well up in tears.

Beautiful! And Marsai, I love Yesi so much. She’s so naturally cool, brave, and driven, and when the Galaxy rebuilds, she really has to pay a big price for it. What are your favorite parts of Yesi, and what do you think of each of the two versions of her reveal about the character?

Martin: Ooh! My favorite parts of Yesi are how energetic she is and how excited she is to just go for anything that comes her way, no matter how much of a challenge. She’s just ready to fight; she’s ready to do whatever, and I’m down for that. Yesi is the best friend that I really would want. We’d be besties. I know she’s got my back. I also think that I feel like regardless, in both worlds, I think she’s very empathetic and very open, and you see a bunch of different emotions from Yesi overall. And that lets her formulate who she is and who she wants to become.

It just makes sense for the franchise and for them to be rebuilding the galaxy and her being a homegirl, being like, I got your back. So, it’s literally the perfect character for me, and I couldn’t be more grateful. Hopefully, we will be able to see where she goes from here.

Yes, we all hope for more from LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy!

Gaten, if Sig Greebling hadn’t been in the temple when the Galaxy changed, what do you imagine he would’ve become in an alternate galaxy?

Gaten Matarazzo: I think playing to the opposites has always been really fun. So, I think that he would be… I have this idea, it may be too along the line of what Dev is like, but I think he’d be like an Evel Knievel daredevil bounty hunter. I think he would have a really cool speeder and he’d be like a Western gunslinger type. That could be really, really fun. Or, I think he might be a right-hand man to an Imperial officer or something like that. The one who goes out and does the dirty work, who, you know, what I mean? But also he talks like this. [the last part said in a slimy, unctuous kind of tone] Like a little henchman.

A little Hux, maybe?

Matarazzo: Yeah. Yeah, exactly. I love that. That would be really fun.

Tony and Gaten, you’ve both been in some big nerdy properties before. What do you think Stranger Things’ Dustin and Spider-Man‘s Flash would think of LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy?

Matarazzo: I think Dustin is very critical of the stuff that he watches and is a big Star Wars fan himself. But I have a hard time believing that Dustin wouldn’t have secret YouTube accounts where he comments the same mean comment on trailers. But this is when he’s 40, and his kids catch him. His kids are like, “Dad, why do you need nine YouTube accounts all devoted to how bad you think this trailer is? I think that’s what his vibe might be.

Revolori: I think Flash would secretly absolutely love this. He would have a secret tattoo of the brothers, and if anyone asked him about it, he’d be like, “No, no, no. That’s a kid show. No. Yeah, no, it’s stupid.” He’d completely deny it. But he would love secretly it so much.

And Marsai, do you think you have a character who I absolutely love or hate this show in your repertoire?

Martin: I know Diane (from Black-ish) would hate this. Only because she don’t like nobody, she don’t like nothing. That’s the very first thing I thought when you asked that, I’m like, Diane ain’t going to like this. So I don’t want this question to go to me, but it don’t matter because Marsai is in love with it, and we don’t care what Diane thinks.

And we at Nerdist love it, too! And hope to see more from the series sometime soon.

All four parts of LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy are streaming now on Disney+.

The post The Stars of LEGO STAR WARS: REBUILD THE GALAXY Dive Into Their Love Letter to STAR WARS appeared first on Nerdist.

Price increases are coming to Disney+ this October. These price hikes will hit every tier currently available to Disney+ subscribers. Disney+’s ad-supported tier will go from $7.99 a month to $9.99 a month, that’s a $2 increase. Meanwhile, Disney+’s ad-free tier will go from $13.99 to $15.99, which is another $2 increase. That’s a very salient $2 theme. But in the spirit of it, there’s one more $2-based idea in play from Disney+, and consumers might light it a bit better. For a little while, you can pay only $2 a month for the streamer. But you’d better act quickly if you want to snag this lower price point.

As of September 12, new and returning U.S. Disney+ customers can sign up for the ad-supported Disney+ Basic plan for $1.99/month for the first three months. After that, the plan will revert to the now-increased Disney+ Basic plan cost, $9.99 per month.

This $2 for Disney+ deal only lasts until September 27, however. So you have a couple more weeks to save $24 bucks. That may not seem like a lot, but with the cost of streaming services these days, you’ll probably be glad you did. Plus, $2 months just feels a lot better than $10. In fact, we like it so much we’d love it if Disney+ made it the permanent price.

For those of us who are already subscribed to Disney+, we say Godspeed as we hunker down for the price increases to hit in October. May there not be more price hikes on any streamer for a good long time after that.

The post Before Price Increases Hit Disney+ in October, Get the Streamer for $2/Month appeared first on Nerdist.

Colonel Sanders is coming to Funko Fusion. Yes, the KFC mascot, based on the real person who created the chain, will be shooting at monsters with a bucket full of chicken nuggets. He, also, of course, has his cane at the ready for bashing in opponents. I wouldn’t want to cross Colonel Sanders on the battlefield myself. You can check him out in action below. You can also dress Colonel Sanders in two additional outfits, Mecha Colonel Sanders or Chef Colonel Sanders, if you’re a member of KFC Rewards Members.

A release shares the following:

The outfits for Mecha Colonel Sanders and Chef Colonel Sanders are redeemable exclusively for KFC Rewards members in the United States of America via the KFC app, beginning this Friday. Redeem the exclusive Chef Colonel outfit immediately (no points needed) and redeem 250 KFC Rewards points to get the Mecha Colonel outfit. KFC Rewards is KFC’s loyalty program, allowing customers to earn 10 points for every eligible dollar spent, which can be redeemed for free food and special offers such as these characters. 

1. Sign up for free or sign in to your existing Rewards account at https://www.kfc.com/login 
2. In the rewards section, click “Redeem” to claim your reward (KFC Chef Colonel or KFC Mecha Colonel). 
3. Receive a unique code on your KFC Rewards registered email.
4. Enter the code on www.funkofusion.com/redeem and follow instructions to unlock your limited-edition Colonel outfits in Funko Fusion.

In addition to playing as KFC’s Colonel Sanders in Funko Fusion, players can play as Shaun from Shaun of the Dead, He-Man, Marty McFly, and The Walking Dead comic books’ Rick Grimes and Michonne. (Whom we love.)

Funko Fusion released on September 13 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, and will release on November 15 for PlayStation 4. Funko Fusion launches digitally for Nintendo Switch this December, with the Nintendo Switch physical edition launching in March 2025.

The post KFC’s Colonel Sanders and His Chicken Nugget Blast Gun Join FUNKO FUSION appeared first on Nerdist.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power tells the tale of Middle-earth’s Second Age, a time described by Tolkien in The Silmarillion and other texts. That means those who have delved into the world of The Lord of the Rings in some capacity have a pretty good idea about the fates that await certain characters. Still, adaptations occasionally make changes to the narrative where relevant, and The Rings of Power has introduced many beloved original characters—more than enough to keep fans at the edges of their seats worrying over their fates. The Rings of Power is bound to have its fair share of character deaths in a season. And so, for the morbidly curious, we’ll keep track of all the The Rings of Power season two’s major characters deaths below.

Here’s who faded away in season two.

The Rings of Power, Season 2, Episode 5 Deaths

Valandil’s Death Leaves The Rings of Power Fans Shocked and Sad

Say it ain’t so! After we sadly lost Ontamo in The Rings of Power season one, Isildur has now lost his other best friend, Valandil, and he doesn’t even know it yet. We’re honestly really sad about Valandil’s death in The Rings of Power season two. Although we didn’t spend too much time with him, Valandil seemed like a great character. He was loyal, hardworking, and a little snarky. And in these dark times, he proved that he was made of some strong stuff. Unfortunately, Valandil’s loyalty was also his undoing. He just couldn’t stomach the wretched Kemen and his arrogant and humiliating ways. When Kemen came to destroy a holy shrine, mocked its priest, and disrespected Elendil, it was too much for Valandil.

Brashly, Valandil attacked Kemen, but in the end, did not kill him. Alas, Kemen has no honor and stabbed Valandil right in the back, literally, killing him in the shrine. It’s a death that makes sense for Valandil in The Rings of Power but nevertheless, one that shocks and saddens us. Sometimes, deaths are not necessary. And here, it feels like Valandil could have served a much greater purpose alive. Valandil’s death does offer a lovely evolution to The Lord of the Rings’ lore, though. Isildur’s fourth and youngest son is named Valandil in Tolkien’s world. And now we know why. Excuse us while we find some tissues.

The Rings of Power Season 2, Episodes 4 Deaths

The Barrow-wights Lead to the Elf Daemor’s Death

Alas, we barely knew him, but one of Elrond’s company is killed by the Undead Barrow-wights in episode four of The Rings of Power. Sadly, the elf Daemor meets his death.

The Rings of Power Season 2, Episodes 1-3 Deaths

Sauron’s Post-Morgoth Form “Dies”

In season one of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Adar tells Galadriel that he killed Sauron. And we do see Sauron meet a death of sorts in the opening scene of The Rings of Power season two. Sauron, played by Jack Lowden in the opener, moves to assume power after Morgoth’s defeat. But Adar and the Orcs, having suffered much mistreatment at Sauron’s hand and having endured for long enough, have other ideas for him. Instead of crowning Sauron, Adar stabs him with his very own helm and is joined in his attack by the masses of Orcs gathered at the would-be coronation. After enough hits rain down on Sauron, he dramatically explodes, turning the fortress into an icy sepulcher.

Of course, as a Maia, Sauron is much harder to kill than that, and his dark spirit lives on. We see it return to life later in the episode, transforming into the Charlie Vickers form we now know as Sauron. But, in a sense, one version of Sauron did go to his death. Gold star to you, Adar.

Waldreg Meets His Death at the Hands of Sauron

Poor Waldreg. He was so ready to serve Sauron but abandoned that desire to loyally serve Adar, his Lord Father, instead. And Waldreg was a loyal servant. Unfortunately, in episode one of The Rings of Power season two, he meets his death thanks to Sauron.

Waldreg had been in charge of torturing the prisoner whom he’d thought to be the King of the Southlands, Halbrand. And Waldreg took his job very seriously, tormenting and taunting the captive. Of course, Halbrand is really Sauron in disguise, and it’s not really wise to anger the Dark Lord. Using his considerable powers, Sauron manipulated the Warg in his cell to follow his commands. And after convincing Adar to set him free, he left a gift behind for Waldreg. On Sauron’s orders, the Warg attacked Waldreg after Sauron had gone, presumably mauling him to death in The Rings of Power episode one. Sauron, of course, found the whole affair to be very funny.

The Rings of Power Confirms Bronwyn Died From Her Season One Wounds

Alas, we saw this death coming after Bronwyn’s actress, Nazanin Boniadi, announced that she was leaving The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. But, still, it hurt when season two, episode three of The Rings of Power confirmed that Bronwyn, indeed, died. Arondir shares that even though Bronwyn appeared to heal, the orcish arrow that had struck her contained a slow-acting poison that brought about her death in the end.

Though Bronwyn and Arondir had seemed like they were heading for a happy ending, it was not meant to be for the two. In the early episodes of The Rings of Power season three, we see Bronwyn’s funeral pyre as her body is set aflame. This heartbreaking scene is gorgeously tragic and creates a new story for those Bronwyn left behind. Instead of a love story, Arondir will now grapple with grief. And the death of Bronwyn on The Rings of Power leaves a tremendous gap between her son Theo and the elven archer. We’ll see if the pair can work together to begin healing from this pain.

Many More Deaths Are Likely on Season 2 of The Rings of Power

With evil on the rise during season two of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, surely more deaths will follow. After all, even among immortal beings, the cost of war is high. We bet there will be plenty of casualties on the side of good and evil before the season is out. We guess we will just have to hope Sauron doesn’t cast his eye on any of our very favorites.

Originally published on August 29, 2024.

The post Every Major Character Death in THE RINGS OF POWER Season 2 appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s hard when a ship is separated by the narrative. (Although, the most amazing thing ever when the story brings them together.) And for Haladriel/Saurondriel shippers, who are legion in The Rings of Power‘s world, it’s been an especially trying time. For those not in the know, Haladriel shippers is the name for fans who love the relationship between Galadriel and Sauron (formerly known as Halbrand). But although the pair are parted, it seems that The Rings of Power wants shippers to know: it’s going to be okay. Sauron is definitely still thinking about Galadriel. (Although he’s being kind of a creeper about it!) Here are The Rings of Power season two’s most distinct Haladriel crumbs to date.

In season two of The Rings of Power, Sauron heads off to Eregion to manipulate Celebrimbor into making more Rings of Power. But Celebrimbor isn’t the only elf in Eregion that Sauron has been influencing. He also seems to be having quite an impact on Celebrimbor’s student and protege, the elven smith Mirdania (played by actress Amelia Kenworthy). And there is something about Mirdania. Something very… Galadriel-esque. In fact, in the lead-up to The Rings of Power season two, fans even speculated that Mirdania was Galadriel’s daughter Celebrían, whom the show has still not introduced. But it turns out the resemblance has a bit of a different purpose, and we’re not the only ones who have noticed. In The Rings of Power season two, episode five, Sauron and Mirdania share a moment that’s all about Galadriel.

Sauron has been extra honey-tongued and solicitous toward Mirdania since he arrived in Eregion. And we learned a big reason why in The Rings of Power season two, episode five. Sauron is slowly setting the scene to turn the other elves of Eregion against Celebrimbor. He wants the elves to feel Sauron/Annatar is the force of good and calm in the kingdom. Thus, Sauron can alienate Celebrimbor and make him easy prey to his gaslighting ways. But amid this manipulation, Sauron finds time to be just a little extra creepy to Mirdania, talking suddenly about how she reminds him of Galadriel. This The Rings of Power scene both highlights to us that Sauron is not our friend and gives Haladriel shippers cause to rejoice.

Sauron says to Mirdania, “How strange. When the light caught your hair for a moment, you seemed her perfect likeness.” And when Mirdania asks, “Whose likeness?” Sauron responds with, “Why Lady Galadriel’s, of course.” And then strokes her hair. Ahhh (don’t touch her!), or AHHHH (Haladriel!), as you prefer. The moment is so icky and yet so good. Clearly, Galadriel is very much on Sauron’s mind. She’s someone he’s seeing in the shadows and on the faces of others. And there is something incredibly intimate and darkly romantic about it. Especially since it comes complete with a hair touch. It definitely adds to the gothic romance energy that is slowly descending upon Eregion. And clearly, although he’s presently wooing Celebrimbor, Sauron thinks he and Galadriel are the stars of this twisted movie.

It’s not as good Galadriel and Sauron/Halbrand spending a whole season together in The Rings of Power‘s first chapter. But it’s certainly something. Congratulations Haladriel shippers, that was intense.

The post Sauron’s Creeper Scene Offers Us Haladriel Crumbs on THE RINGS OF POWER appeared first on Nerdist.

Toward the end of The Rings of Power season two, episode four, the series brings us a beautiful and deeply emotional scene that meditates on some truly powerful themes. The elf Arondir, an Ent, and an Entwife find and offer one another forgiveness for wounds dealt, and a moment of peace arrives in an otherwise ominous season as healing rains fall. It’s an incredible sequence and one of the most Tolkien-esque we’ve ever seen on screen to date. Lurking in the backdrop of this momentary lightness, however, in its shadows, some might say, is the specter of darkness. But, here, specifically, that darkness takes the form of The Rings of Power‘s orcs. The orcs are directly responsible for the Ents’ pain and Arondir’s, past and present. And still, the juxtaposition of their presence against the idea of forgiveness and serenity invokes one of the most complicated series of questions that The Rings of Power has proposed for itself. Are the orcs deserving of healing? Can they find forgiveness? And should they get to know peace?

It’s clear we’re meant to share in the heartbreak of the Ents as they mourn the destruction of their forest. And we undoubtedly do. The Ents’ pain manifests as grief in broader strokes, over the destruction of nature, and grief in more emotional strokes, over the loss of family. It’s great pain and all too resonant in both regards. It feels impossible not to ache with the Ents as they recount sundering and felling, burning and snapping. The Entwife Winterbloom wails in pain when Arondir speaks of the orcs to her. And her husband, the Ent Snaggleroot, tells Arondir, “Winterbloom nourished many of those trees from seed and sprout. Do not ask her to speak more of it.” In short, Winterbloom and Snaggleroot appear to us as grieving parents. Winterbloom has lost children.

But intended by the narrative or not, this invocation of children in the scene evokes another grief for another set of children. Indeed, grief for the culprits of destruction themselves, the orcs. After all, The Rings of Power has taken great pains to link the orcs, or Uruk, as they prefer we call them, with the idea of children. The character of Adar’s very name, which means Father in elvish, reminds us constantly that at least one figure sees the orcs as children. And so when there is mention of offspring and a conversation about orcs at once, the concept becomes especially highlighted. In this case, the scene with the Ents sets up a fascinating dichotomy: that of trees as children and orcs as children.

It might be easy in this moment of great grief when a tearful Ent is discussing its burned offspring to imagine trees as children and the great injustice done to the forest by the orcs. It is harder, it seems, to do so when it’s a single tear in Adar’s scarred face. But ultimately, The Rings of Power presents the question, is an elf felling an orc different than an orc felling a tree? 

The Ents say that the orcs were “maiming and murdering as they marched.” And that is wince-inducing. But not so long ago, it feels quite certain that orcs were saying the same thing about Galadriel and the elves. When season one of The Rings of Power began, the elves seemed quite sure they had meaningfully eradicated the orcs. Galadriel even says, “To the ends of the earth we hunted Sauron.” (Orcs implied.) And Elrond asks Galadriel, “Do you truly believe seeking [Sauron] out will satisfy you? That one more orc upon the point of your blade will bring you peace?” The implication here is that there have been quite a few on the point of that blade already. And that some portion Galadriel’s peace has been won by spilling that blood, the blood of Adar’s children, in great quantities.

Though Galadriel is not at peace, she has known it. As have Ents. And that’s what allows them both to mourn the loss of it. The Ents grieve the destruction of their forest, their home. They wish for it to be untouched; they wish for it to be left alone. They wish for it to be able to heal to its fullest form and them with it. But, ultimately, that’s what the orcs seek as well on The Rings of Power, though blindly. Their entire journey has been about finding a home where they can settle, rest, and stop the long journey of enduring, knowing that they are finally safe. They are on a quest for a peace they have never tasted.

The orcs here have hurt nature, and it is easy to empathize with nature being so hurt. But are the orcs not too part of nature, though nature turns its back on them? Adar tells Galadriel, “We are creations of The One, Master of the Secret Fire, the same as you. As worthy of the breath of life, and just as worthy of a home.” Adar essentially tells Galadriel that he and the orcs are a part of nature and that they, too, have “a heart, a name.” The presence of orc babies in season two of The Rings of Power further underscores this. Does an orc baby breathe its first breath desiring to fell a tree? Probably not. But an orc baby does not ever know the peace the Ents and their tree children know. From an orc’s first moment of existence, the very progenitor of nature, the sun itself, shuns them, burns them as aberrations. And so, why should the orcs take nature into their hearts? One might even propose that without ever fully having known peace, it is quite difficult for Uruk to understand the ways in which their ruination of it deeply wounds.

For the orcs, there’s a very real sense of generational trauma in place, a perpetuating cycle of abuse. Sauron lays it out for us in episode one of The Rings of Power season two. He tells Adar and the orcs, “You have nowhere else to turn. The Valar will never forgive you. Elves will never accept you. Men will never look upon you with anything but horror and disgust, a corrupted and ignoble race-worthy only to be hunted and slaughtered.” After which, of course, Sauron turns and slaughters an orc. But he’s right, and every race in Middle-earth comes together together to make the narrative true. The orcs do maim and murder, but it is all they have ever known and all they have been shown. And what better outcome waits for them? To be maimed and murdered instead? No one has ever offered peace to the orcs on The Rings of Power save Adar. And choicelessly, that peace cannot come peacefully, because no one in Middle-earth will permit it.

The Ents have the protection of allies, the shield of their innocence. We mourn for them, for the pain the orcs have wrought on them as the forest burns. But in the subtext, the truth remains that the orcs do not have that; they have never had it. No one except Adar has ever promised an orc that time will make their lives better. And this picture invites us to mourn for the orcs, too. Would they have burned this forest if they had a safe place of their own? The Rings of Power tells us the orcs likely would not have.

But, despite it all, Adar plants a seed in the ground and prays to Yavanna, the Valar who watches over growing things, the very Valar who created the Ents, to protect his children. And are the orcs not growing things? Should the gods not protect them as they do the trees? Should the orcs, who are, too, children, Adar’s children, their parents’ children, who have children of their own, not then also deserve to know peace?

Isildur asks of the Ents, “Think they know what peace is?” But the Ents do know that, and it’s critical that they do. The knowledge of peace gives them precious hope and allows them to feel forgiveness. But the Orcs do not know what peace is. And perhaps, if they did, things would be different. And, indeed, if The Rings of Power has the courage of its convictions, new bark will come to cover old scars for the orcs (and Adar!) as well in the space of the series.

We’ll keep our fingers crossed. Forgiveness, as they say, takes an age, but eventually it arrives.

The post The Orcs, The Ents, and the Question of Peace on THE RINGS OF POWER appeared first on Nerdist.

The streaming bundles just keep bundling. But now there’s a brand new kind of bundle coming to us. This time, a linear/traditional TV platform is bundling with a streamer. Yes, in the newest deal between Charter Communications‘ Spectrum TV and  Warner Bros. Discovery, Spectrum TV customers will receive the Max streaming service at no extra cost.

Details of the deal further reveal that Spectrum TV customers will receive an ad-supported version of Max, which includes HBO and MAX content, and they will also receive Discovery+. David Zaslav notes, “This innovative partnership with Charter recognizes the value of our linear content and the investments we’ve made in premium original programming, sports and news, while also significantly expanding the distribution of Max’s ad-supported service to Spectrum’s millions of Select customers.” It’s definitely an interesting move.

The fate of linear TV and streaming TV has been shaky for a while. Not too long ago, it seemed that linear TV would be replaced by streaming. But, of course, streaming has been undergoing intense shifts and shenanigans as well. The glut of streaming channels has made maintaining all of them very expensive to the consumer. And streamers are finding their audiences tapped out. So, naturally, streamers began exploring bundles, which essentially make streaming and cable/linear/traditional TV one and the same. The “innovation” of a bundle that combines streaming and linear TV, as we see in this Spectrum TV and Max deal, makes this all the more salient. Perhaps the demise of linear TV was greatly exaggerated.

For our part, we just want the next change to be for the best of the consumers. It seems like neither streaming nor linear TV quite has the answer at the moment. But we guess it’s good news for Spectrum TV customers who love Max… today, anyway. Hopefully, this messy landscape will find its way.

The post Max Will Be Bundled Into Spectrum TV for Free in New Deal appeared first on Nerdist.

On The Rings of Power, Ismael Cruz Córdova plays Arondir, the most elven elf of them all. Through Arondir, we meet a whole new kind of elf, one full of rich complexities and new perspectives. And Cruz Córdova, who has long desired to play one of Tolkien’s mythical beings, brings this role to life with absolute perfection. In season two of The Rings of Power, Arondir’s journey takes a turn into grief when he loses his great love, Bronwyn. For Cruz Córdova, this journey hits intensely close to home, creating “a difficult but beautiful experience” that, indeed, many of us sadly share. But as we walk with Arondir in season two, his story becomes one of the most resonant and human tales that The Rings of Power has to offer its fans.

Ahead of The Rings of Power season two, Ismael Cruz Córdova sat down with Nerdist to discuss Arondir’s unique perspectives, how the elf contends with grief and darkness, his relationships with humans and other elves, and how nature and nurture conspired (much to our joy) to help him become The Rings of Power‘s Arondir.

Nerdist: In many ways, Arondir is one of the true MVPs of The Rings of Power. He’s soft but strong. He has a keen sense of what’s right, and yet he has an empathy for everyone around him. Where do you think that compassion comes from for Arondir, and what is it like balancing all the layers of the character?

Cruz Córdova: I think, in life, when you are someone that is perhaps at the bottom of things, at the bottom of the pyramid, you tend to have nowhere else to look back up. And so I think that kind of being gets a more global sense of things and is able to hold more complexity and often is able to hold more empathy as well as resentment for the things that are happening. You can understand things, but also you can resent others. And I think that balancing creates a very rich being.

And I think so far, we’ve seen elves that are regal or have high political positions, positions of power, more “blessed,” more comfortable. We haven’t seen this perspective before, which to me is very; I think that’s why he sees humans as closer than perhaps other elves see them. And this fascination for them and this respect for them and trying to understand his own emotions and how is it to balance that? I think to balance that is just how we balance our every day. The complexity of emotions that you may have in a day, I’m sure that I have in a day. It’s very similar to what this guy is going through.

In season one, encountering darkness actually pushes Arondir to evolve in certain ways and take charge of himself and those around him. But as the darkness continues to grow, do you think it pushes him to thrive and take on these leadership roles? Or does it entangle him in its grasp?

Cruz Córdova: I think there’s a little bit of both. I think he steps up when it’s needed. That’s something that we know about him. He will step up. But, of course, this grief and this darkness… I know it first-hand, and it can entangle, and it really does make you question just about everything.

I’ve experienced great loss in my life, and it’s defined my character, and it’s defined my journey through my twenties and thirties. I lost my sister when I was 20 years old, and it’s definitely a great force to try to survive. It’s something that you really have to push against and survive from, and it completely changes your perspective on things. But you’re called upon to do other things as well. I was called upon to continue my journey, to keep my dreams, to finish college, to do right by that wonderful, wonderful best friend of mine. And I think that in answer to, “What did you draw upon?” I didn’t have to move that much.

I have this little tattoo in honor of my sister, so I only had to look at that. I actually got it right before the season. And I have that hand wrap [that Arondir wears], funny thing is that I was like, let me get it right there [on the forearm] because you won’t be able to see it. But when we went to the season, and I put the hand wrap on, it ended right before!

But it was beautiful, still, too. I could see it and connect with her. My own experience was informing this character. And it was a beautiful, difficult but beautiful, experience to have to bring that to the screen and bring that reality that many of us have had to experience. This reality that is so hard to talk about, but I think people can feel it more when they see it.

Absolutely, and, as you’re mentioning, Arondir does suffer the great loss of Bronwyn this season. How do you think that changes him and shift his motivations?

Cruz Córdova: I mean, it does both. It poses existential questions. It brings about new responsibilities because now Theo is very, very strongly his responsibility, and he promised Bronwyn that he would keep him safe.

So there’s this motivation to be a father, this is motivation to be a leader, but it’s very hard to fight against that loss. So there’s also, I feel that it definitely awakens other darker motivations, motivation for vengeance and motivation for maybe some recklessness as well. Because you’re like, “Why am I here? What is this experience of living? Is this it?” So I think it definitely awakens a set of very important new aspects of him that can definitely take him left or right.

In season one of the most compelling scenes to me was between Arondir and Adar. And I love that of all the characters, only Adrondir seemed to acknowledge Adar’s elven roots and their shared origins and the tragedy of him. Could you discuss their relationship a little bit more and how Arondir views it?

Cruz Córdova: We talked earlier about empathy when you’re coming from a lower aspect of things. In that place, things are not black and white. There’s a lot of gray. And you recognize that there’s darkness as much as light in everyone. That everyone has a story. That often there’s a hair between a hero and a villain. That often villains, perhaps, are almost more noble than heroes in their pursuit of things. In their reality, they carry a sense of nobility. And Arondir sees that in Adar. He sees his relationship with his orcs, his children, as he calls them, and they call him Adar, they call him father. And so it begs the question, who is the villain?

Arondir is extremely curious. So it’s like: How did this man get here? How did this happen? Adar said, “You’ve been told many lies,” and that really awakened something in Arondir that I think carries through to the season. It’s like, “What does he feel about it all really?” And now, with this loss, is it going to spark danger in him? Where is he going to go?

Do you think we’ll see Adar and Arondir interact more this season? And does that nascent empathy he feels for Adar survive the explosion of Mount Doom and Bronwyn’s death?

Cruz Córdova: I can’t tell you much about their interaction. You’ll have to watch and see. I think that certain events complicate that empathy and I think it definitely has an impact on him that we see play out later in the season.

In broad strokes, what do you think the main themes of Arondir’s storyline are this season?

Cruz Córdova: It’s pushing through. It’s battling sadness and pain, grief and duty. It’s putting one foot in front of the other. It’s reminding yourself of who you are, trying to dig deep to stay true to your beliefs while opening yourself up for different knowledge and different people. Though my pairing with Isildur, for example, that forces me to interact through grief, but also with an unlikely guy, this slow human, speed-wise. He’s like, “I don’t do fast,” and it’s like I have to drag this human around. So yeah, I mean, I think he’s trying to make it.

That’s all we can do! Speaking of his relationship with Isildur, how would you describe the duo’s dynamic and how it evolves?

Cruz Córdova: It is so improbable, but it happens, and it’s good, and it’s so unpredictable, and it’s refreshing. But it’s also mutual discovery, mutual respect. I think there’s a part of Arondir that is both equally curious about Isildur and equally annoyed, in some moments. He’s skeptical of Estrid as well. I’m equally, again, equally as admiring of humans as I am skeptical of them. I can see what they can do as well and what their motivations are.

And were there any parts of Tolkien’s lore that you were especially excited to see come to life this season?

Cruz Córdova: Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. And that I can’t really tell you. But I read the script, and I definitely think that there are many, many moments that are sprinkled through the season that the fans are going to be so excited about. They are just cool, great moments. I have a couple of those. One specifically that I’m very much looking forward to seeing on the screen and sharing with the fans.

And then, just to finish off, you’ve spoken before that you had a long-time desire to be an elf. What drew you to the elves? And now that you are an elf, what has your perspective on elves changed at all?

Cruz Córdova: Yes, I had a very long-standing desire to be an elf. And what drew me to be an elf is… I don’t know, nature or nurture, I can’t tell, it’s chicken or the egg kind of thing. I grew up in the mountains in Puerto Rico, very rural. I was very contemplative. I didn’t really have a lot of friends, and I was a little bullied in school, a little… I was quite bullied in school. But also my environment growing up poor, and we didn’t have a TV, and, so I spent a lot of time just outside and by myself. I was sketching, and playing with flowers, and making ink out of flowers, and climbing trees. And one of my best friends was a mango tree that I loved, absolutely loved. I would climb it every afternoon and do my homework there after school.

And once I got my hands on The Lord of the Rings and the movies, it felt so familiar. The elves felt so familiar to me, with the reverence that they have for nature, and the whimsy and the contemplation. I would look at the clouds and just try to figure out “What is that?” I was mesmerized by everything: these giants, and the sun, and the soil, and I still am. I respect and revere it.

So yeah, that’s what drew me to want to be one. And after playing one, has my opinion changed? No, I think they’re great. I still think they’re great. I still think they’re just magical and badass. But I love to see the more questionable aspects of them that The Rings of Power is bringing. You are like, “Hmm, you’re not the elves that I thought you were.” The decisions that you’re making, some rash decisions, some money inequality. You see that they have a hierarchy that includes just like drafted soldiers essentially. I’m from Beleriand and I was a grower and how do I end up in the military? Was I drafted? Was I taken away? Is this forcible? Do just lower, lesser elves get the appointed in these position?

I like that it’s complicating it for us and showing different heroes that are not just the regal royal elves.

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The issue of recreating the likenesses of dead actors is certainly one that is on the minds of many in the entertainment industry. In the most recent Alien: Romulus movie, for instance, the digital recreation of Ian Holm caused quite a bit of controversy. As AI becomes increasingly popular and technology improves, the idea that actors could be resurrected digitally for complex scenes has become a practical reality. Of course, given the newness of this particular ability, the legal practicalities are still catching up. And now, it seems a new court case regarding a familiar instance of likeness recreation is set to address the issue. Film producer Kevin Francis is suing Lucasfilm (and, by proxy, Disney) over the reproduction of Peter Cushing’s image in Star Wars: A Rogue One Story. In the film, the deceased actor was digitally resurrected to take a post-humous turn as Grand Moff Tarkin.

Here are the details of the case. Kevin Francis, an old friend of Peter Cushing, claims to have a signed agreement from Cushing in which “the actor agreed not to grant permission for anyone to reproduce his appearance through special effects without his [Francis’] authorization.” As such, Francis is suing Lucasfilm and Lunak Heavy Industries (UK) for “unjust enrichment” and is seeking less than £500,000.

According to a report from The Times, Peter Cushing signed an agreement that states he would not allow his image to be used without Francis’s permission in 1993. The pair were working on a TV movie called A Heritage of Horror, which it seems never got made.

Although this all seems to be a bit extraordinary, Disney could not successfully have the case over Peter Cushing’s recreation in Rogue One dismissed by the High Court in London. A judge, Master Francesca Kaye, originally rejected Disney’s petition to have the case dismissed last year. And though Disney appealed, Judge Tom Mitcheson upheld the original ruling this week. He noted that he was “far from persuaded” that Francis would emerge victorious in the case. However, Judge Mitcheson also revealed, “I am also not persuaded that the case is unarguable to the standard required to give summary judgment or to strike it out” and additionally, wisely remarked, “In an area of developing law it is very difficult to decide where the boundaries might lie in the absence of a full factual enquiry.” And so it seems this legal suit over Peter Cushing’s CGI recreation in Rogue One will continue.

For its part, Disney/Lucasfilm claims that it does have the right to reproduce Cushing’s CGI image and digital likeness/appearance in its properties. The report notes, “The Disney companies claim they did not believe permission was required to recreate Cushing because of the terms of his contract in the original film and the nature of the special effects.” Additionally, Disney paid around £28,000 to Cushing’s estate for the use of his image in Rogue One. As such, Disney notes there is no “unjust enrichment” at hand. And that instead, Disney is the “bona fide purchaser for value” for the rights to Cushing’s likeness and digital resurrection.

Of course, how one can judge the worth, cost, and ownership of dead person’s image is quite a complex question. But we’ll cross our fingers that as time goes on, there will be clearer pathways to establish this in the law, ones that respect the humanity of those who have passed away. The California senate recently passed a law requiring consent “for the use of dead performers’ likenesses for AI-created digital replicas.” And we can only hope to see more legal precedents established on such matters. For now, we’ll have to wait and see what happens with his lawsuit over Peter Cushing in Star Wars: A Rogue One Story and how it might impact future cases.

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Deadline reports that production on Good Omens season three, the third and final season of the show, has paused amid allegations of assault centering on creator Neil Gaiman. Gaiman, of course, is the executive producer, writer, and showrunner of Good Omens. And so, understandably, among multiple allegations of sexual assault, the series has paused its work for now. Deadline reports that “there are discussions about possible production changes.” However, Amazon has not made any official announcements at this time.

The latest reports now share that Neil Gaiman has offered to step aside from Good Omens season three so the production can continue. Deadline shares, “We understand that Gaiman has made an offer to Amazon and producers to take a back seat on the latest season so that it can continue amid crisis talks over the Terry Pratchett adaptation’s future.” However, the publication further notes that Gaiman’s offer to recuse himself from season three of Good Omens should not be taken as an admission of guilt regarding the assault allegations centering Gaiman.

At this time, reports suggest that Amazon is considering Gaiman’s offer but have come to no final decision. Neither Amazon nor Gaiman’s representatives have directly commented on the status of Good Omens season three.

Presently, at least five women have accused Gaiman of sexual assault. Gaiman has denied the allegations against him. An investigation is currently underway by authorities in New Zealand. In addition to this Good Omens pause, Disney’s adaptation of Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book has also been put on hold. And Netflix recently canceled Dead Boy Detectives. IndieWire reports “multiple factors went into the decision” about The Graveyard Book. Nothing regarding Gaiman was cited in the Dead Boy Detectives cancellation news.

Good Omens was gearing up to begin production on season three when Amazon paused work on the project. Fans of the show undoubtedly hope the series can proceed in the best possible way. And likely, further updates will come soon.

If you or someone you know is suffering from sexual abuse, contact the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.

Originally published on September 10, 2024.

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This news might turn some fans into Unhappy Gilmores or into Really Happy Gilmores, but regardless of how anyone feels about it, a Happy Gilmore sequel is heading to Netflix. According to Deadline, Netflix announced that a sequel to Happy Gilmore had been greenlit during its Upfront presentation. Netflix confirmed that Adam Sandler would return for Happy Gilmore 2, which we’re going to call Happier Gilmore for now. But no logline for the movie is available at present. However, we recently received a casting update. Bad Bunny will join Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore 2 and two original actors are also back on the golf course.

In addition to Bad Bunny and Sandler, The Hollywood Reporter shares that Julie Bowen and Christopher McDonald are returning for Happy Gilmore 2. Bowen reprises her role as Virginia Venit, the love interest for Adam Sandler’s character, and McDonald is back as Shooter McGavin, the villain of the movie.

For those who are somehow not in the know, Happy Gilmore is a golf movie and one of Sandler’s most famous. Its synopsis reads:

All Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler) has ever wanted is to be a professional hockey player. But he soon discovers he may actually have a talent for playing an entirely different sport: golf. When his grandmother (Frances Bay) learns she is about to lose her home, Happy joins a golf tournament to try and win enough money to buy it for her. With his powerful driving skills and foulmouthed attitude, Happy becomes an unlikely golf hero — much to the chagrin of the well-mannered golf professionals.

Well, we did just see a tennis movie hit our screens, so why not bring back golf? We’ll just have to wait and see what the Happy Gilmore sequel is all about. Maybe it will bring back Sandler’s alien co-star from Spaceman. That would be fun. Happy Gilmore 2, it’s your swing.

Originally published on May 15, 2024.

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There and back again, as the famous saying goes. Bilbo Baggins felt that was the theme of his life in The Hobbit, and now life is reflecting art. We are all going there and back again to the world of The Lord of the Rings. In early 2023, we learned that new live-action The Lord of the Rings movies were in the works at Warner Bros. Discovery. And now, our most recent updates reveal that Peter Jackson will once again craft these fantasy films. Additionally, we will see these new live-action The Lord of the Rings movies sooner than we think. The first of the new The Lord of the Rings films will release in 2026. (Yes, that’s 2026, not 2006, we had to check too.) It will be titled Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum and will focus on Andy Serkis’ Gollum.

Sir Ian McKellen recently shared more about his possible return as Gandalf in The Hunt for Gollum. He notes he expects to see a script in 2025 and then he will decide if he should go back. But more interestingly indicates that this new The Lord of the Rings movie is actually two The Lord of the Rings movies. “I’m told it’s two films.” McKellen says.

Additionally, Orlando Bloom, who plays the elf Legolas in The Lord of the Rings movies, expressed interest in returning for the film. But his tease of what the future would look like had fans raising their eyebrows. Bloom shared, “Oh, man, those things are amazing. Yeah. I don’t know how they’d do it. I guess with AI you can do anything these days. But, if Pete [Peter Jackson] says jump, I say, ‘how high?’ I mean, he started my whole career.”

Bloom also noted, “I really don’t know what [they are planning]… I did speak to Andy [Serkis] and he did say they were thinking about how to do things. I was like, ‘How would that even work?’ And he was like, ‘Well, AI!’ and I was like, ‘Oh, OK!’ It was a pretty magical time in my life, and it’s one of those things where there’s not a downside to it.”

Personally, we’d prefer recasting these iconic roles and giving new actors a shot instead of using AI on actors who have already had their turn, depending on how heavily AI is applied in the scenario. Of course, Bloom was speaking casually, so it’s too soon to understand what level of AI might be involved. Even still though, we feel wary of the note. But we guess we’ll have to wait and see what Peter Jackson has in store.

Here’s what we know about The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum movie so far.

What Will the New The Lord of the Rings Movie, The Hunt for Gollum, Be About?

But what story will this new The Lord of the Rings movie tell? Well, Zaslav initially noted that it will “explore storylines yet to be told.” That could mean many things. But we certainly have a few ideas of what The Lord of the Rings tales we’d like to see on-screen. However, per Variety, the working title of the movie is The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum and it will star Andy Serkis’ Gollum. Andy Serkis will also direct the movie.

“Yesssss, Precious,” shared Serkis, “The time has come once more to venture into the unknown with my dear friends, the extraordinary and incomparable guardians of Middle Earth Peter, Fran and Philippa. With Mike and Pam, and the Warner Bros team on the quest as well, alongside WETA and our filmmaking family in New Zealand, it’s just all too delicious…”   

Warner Bros. Discovery’s Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy further noted, “For over two decades, moviegoers have embraced the Lord of the Rings film trilogy because of the undeniable devotion Peter [Jackson], Fran [Walsh] and Philippa [Boyens] have shown towards protecting the legacy of Tolkien’s works, and to ensure audiences could experience the incredible world he created in a way that honors his literary vision. We are honored they have agreed be our partners on these two new films. With Andy [Serkis] coming aboard to direct Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum (working title), we continue an important commitment to excellence that is a true hallmark of how we all want to venture ahead and further contribute to the Lord of the Rings cinematic history.”

Peter Jackson Will Be Involved in the New The Lord of the Rings Movie

Zaslav also revealed that the genius behind the first set of live-action The Lord of the Rings movies, Peter Jackson, will return for these new films. He notes that Peter Jackson and his writing partners, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens “will be involved every step of the way.” The trio is producing the Gollum movie. Walsh and Boyens will also be writing the script. They will be joined by Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou.

Jackson, Walsh, and Boyens noted of The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, “It is an honour and a privilege to travel back to Middle-earth with our good friend and collaborator, Andy Serkis, who has unfinished business with that Stinker — Gollum! As life long fans of Professor Tolkien’s vast mythology, we are proud to be working with Mike De Luca, Pam Abdy and the entire team at Warner Bros. on another epic adventure!”

Recently, the movie’s creators shared a little bit more about why they chose to center Gollum in the upcoming Lord of the Rings movie.

Will We See Other The Lord of the Rings Characters or Familiar Actors in The Hunt for Gollum?

Peter Jackson revealed a bit of insight into the decision and also noted that it’s too early to tell whether other The Lord of the Rings character will appear in The Hunt for Gollum. He said, “The Gollum/Sméagol character has always fascinated me because Gollum reflects the worst of human nature, whilst his Sméagol side is, arguably, quite sympathetic. I think he connects with readers and film audiences alike, because there’s a little bit of both of them in all of us. We really want to explore his backstory and delve into those parts of his journey we didn’t have time to cover in the earlier films. It’s too soon to know who will cross his path, but suffice to say we will take our lead from Professor Tolkien.”

Serkis also teased a bit about whether other familiar characters and their original The Lord of the Rings actors could appear in The Hunt for Gollum, noting, “That’s a difficult question to answer right at this moment in time, because we’re really in the nascent stages of what it is exactly where we’re doing, and where the story’s going to take us. So I don’t want to commit anything right now. I mean, because it’s so raw and so raw and wriggling, and we are just literally having very early state script discussions and ideas of exactly where and how we’re going to drop anchor with the character and his journey and how he is or comes into contact with other characters, and the characters that we know and don’t know. So still, I would hate to say anything that’s going to commit us at this point, because it’s literally all up for grabs.”

Would Any of the Original Actors Return for the New The Lord of the Rings Movie?

We haven’t yet heard from too many The Lord of the Rings actors, other than Serkis, about a return in the new The Lord of the Rings movie. But Viggo Mortensen did recently reveal that he would return as Aragorn in The Hunt for Gollum if it was right for the character.

Ian McKellen also shared he would happily return as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings movie… as long as he’s alive. McKellen has also noted that production has indicated they would like him to return.

Why Gollum as the Star of this New The Lord of the Rings Movie?

Additionally, Boyens added of selecting Gollum’s story, “Gollum’s story is one of the most compelling to us in terms of a character that we couldn’t go as deeply into as we wanted to before, which sounds strange when you say that, given how familiar he is to everybody. Gollum’s life span takes place in such an interesting period of Middle-earth. When the question was first asked, this was the first story we thought of. Because I can tell you, and people might not believe this, but we had zero expectations of going back to this. It wasn’t something we were looking to do, particularly. So when the question was asked, it was, what would draw you back? And it was about working with the people we we’re working with. It was also about the chance to work with Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy at the studio. Alan Horn is now back at the studio. It just felt right.”

Once the story of the movie settled on Gollum, Serkis was the natural choice for director if it wasn’t going to be Peter Jackson. Boyens adds, “We wanted him to tell the story of Gollum and the hunt for Gollum as soon as we decided, okay, that’s the story. And Pete knew he didn’t want to direct go back into the world of Middle-earth again. [Peter] really enjoyed working with Kenji Kamiyama, who directed War of the Rohirrim. As soon as Pete decided, okay, I’m not going to direct it myself, and it’s going to be Gollum’s story, I swear to God, there was no one else but Andy Serkis.”

Finally, Serkis revealed, “Gollum has always stuck with me throughout all of these years. I’ve read audio books of the trilogy and the Silmarillion and The Hobbit, so Tolkien’s world has never left me in all of that time since we did the first films. And the character particularly has remained such an enormous part of my life. So it’s absolutely thrilling to be able to go back and do a deep dive into his world again, and specifically into Gotham’s psychology. I know we’re all interested in investigating on a deeper level who that character is, and on top of that, to be able to direct and hopefully create a film which has its place within the canon, but also something that’s fresh and new and a different approach.”

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum Is Coming in 2026, Other New Movies on the Horizon

During Warner Bros. Discovery’s first-quarter earnings conference call, which we first saw on Variety, CEO David Zaslav dropped the precious news. He shared that Warner Bros. Discovery is “now in the early stages of script development” for the first of the new The Lord of the Rings movies. And that the company “anticipates” that The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum will “release in 2026.”

Zaslav additionally noted, “Lord of the Rings’ is one of the most successful and revered franchises in history and presents a significant opportunity for theatrical business.” With a 2026 release date, we guess we’ll hear more about these The Lord of the Rings movies sooner rather than later. Of course, given the “opportunity” here, we wouldn’t be surprised to hear about more new The Lord of the Rings movies very soon.

Originally published on June 10, 2024.

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It’s with a sad heart that we share that James Earl Jones has died at the age of 93. The beloved actor gave voice to some of the most iconic characters of our generation and acted in too many iconic roles to count, and he will be missed. James Earl Jones’ credits before his passing include, of course, acting as the voice of Star Wars‘ Darth Vader from 1977 all the way up until 2022. Jones also voiced everyone’s favorite fatherly lion, Mufasa, in The Lion King and acted in the seminal sci-fi movie Dr. Strangelove.

The loss of James Earl Jones is no small one for Hollywood. James Earl Jones brought joy to our hearts; by turn, he also wrought fear and made us cry. His range as an actor is simply unparalleled. In sum, he was one talented guy. We dare you to watch the clip from Field of Dreams below and not feel something magical stirring in your heart.

Over his long and storied career, James Earl Jones was nominated for an Outstanding Lead Actor Oscar for his work in The Great White Hope. He was awarded an honorary Oscar in 2012. Jones also won two Emmys in his career and was nominated eight times. Not to mention, the actor had many successful turns on Broadway and twice won Tonys for Best Actor in a Play. But these awards barely scratch the surface of his greatness.

There is no cause of death yet given for James Earl Jones. However, the actor passed away at 93, an age we can all only aspire to reach. We are grateful to have witnessed his talent over such a long and varied career. Although we’ll keenly feel the loss of James Earl Jones after his passing, we know we’ll revisit the magnitude of his talent all of the time. The great kings of the past look down on us from those stars, after all.

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The Boy and the Heron finally sets a US streaming release date. Meanwhile, Baldur’s Gate 3‘s Karlach and Astarion strike out on their own adventure (and also get featured on Magic cards). New Disney American Girl dolls have arrived. So did Borderlands, but not to great applause. Here are all these news odds & ends, and more.

Andrew Garfield Says He Will NOT Be in Spider-Man 4

In an interview with IndieWire, Andrew Garfield shut down the rumors that his Spidey would appear in the MCU’s upcoming Spider-Man 4. “The internet is a big place,” Garfield said. “I think there’s a lot of people who will just say anything to get clicks. So you might have been duped, I’m afraid.”

I mean, he could be lying (again) about playing Spidey in a new movie (again). We shall see…

Star Trek Day

Star Trek Day is coming on September 8! To celebrate, the premiere episodes of several series and Short Treks will be available to watch for free from September 7-13 on Amazon, Apple, Roku, Paramount+’s Official YouTube page, Pluto TV and on the Paramount+ free content hub (in the US only). Here’s the total list:

Terrifier 3

Terrifier 3 released a teaser trailer for its Christmas-themed outing. In addition to many jump scares, it includes Art the Clown making blood angels… Very festive. And now it’s followed up with an officially naughty trailer. Check them out above and below.

Terrifier 3 releases on October 11. Its description notes, “In Cineverse and Bloody Disgusting’s Terrifier 3, directed once again by Damien Leone, Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) is set to unleash another round of chaos on the unsuspecting residents of Miles County as they peacefully drift off to sleep on Christmas Eve.”

Twisters and Superman

The Twisters cast adorably celebrated the news that their fellow co-star David Corenswet had been officially cast in the DCU’s Superman by James Gunn.

Star Wars

Get ready for a Star Wars wedding. Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III – The Wedding Spectacular One Shot reveals the gorgeous wedding of Lula Talisolia and Zeen Mralia, freedom fighters gathering the resistance against the Nihil. It will bring together the talents of creators Daniel José Older and Harvey Tolibao along with Toni Bruno, Nick Brokenshire and many others. Additionally, the one-shot features “main cover art from Cherriielle,” and “two incredible variant covers that fans will need to collect to see every inch of the beauty this wedding has to offer. 5healthMONO showcases their energetic style in one variant, while Priscilla Bampoh’s iconic artistry completes the variant set.”

The description of the Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III – The Wedding Spectacular One Shot shares:

The time has finally come to gather the resistance forces on Eriadu to witness Lula Talisola and Zeen Mrala, the young freedom fighters championing the fight against the Nihil, join hands in marriage. Friends and family throughout the galaxy will be joining in the celebration of light, life and love. But just in case, the dress code does include holstered weapons, as war could break out at any moment!

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III – The Wedding Spectacular One Shot releases in stores on December 18, 2024. You can make sure you have a copy waiting at your local comic shop today, the one shot will cost $5.99.

Baldur’s Gate 3

If you’re a Baldur’s Gate 3 fan with a bit of chaotic evil in you, strap in. Larian Studios has shared a teaser for a new Dark Urge game ending. But beware spoilers abound.

Other evil endings are also on the way. These will come in Patch 7, releasing this September.

LEGO Pixar: Bricktoons 

A new LEGO series is here, LEGO Pixar: BrickToons. A release shares more about this brand-new series of shorts featuring classic Pixar characters. It notes, “Join some of your favorite LEGO Pixar characters for all-new adventures!  Sing along with Miguel in the Land of the Dead, help Merida and her brothers through a beary rocky situation, take an epic field trip with Nemo, Marlin, and Dory, watch the Parr family try to save their neighborhood from Syndrome, and join Mater as he prepares Lightning McQueen for his next big race!”

All five episodes of LEGO Pixar: BrickToons release on Disney+ on September 4.

Pacific Rim

A Pacific Rim prequel series is on the way from Legendary Entertainment and Eric Heisserer. Little is known about the series yet except that it will serve as an origin story for the Pacific Rim world.

Indiana Jones

An Indiana Jones hat worn by Harrison Ford in Temple of Doom just sold at auction for $630,000. The hat belonged to Ford’s stunt double Dean Ferrandini, who also wore the hat in the film. You can spy this expensive headwear in the Temple of Doom scene where Wilhelmina “Willie” Scott, played by Kate Capshaw, Short Round, played by Ke Huy Quan, and Indiana Jones, played, by Ford, use a raft to jump from a crashing plane to safety.

Pokémon

All your favorite Pokémon are now the stars of a flight safety video. You can learn how to correctly buckle your seat belts and what to do in the event of an emergency with Pikachu and the gang. Check it out above.

Baldur’s Gate 3 (Part 2)

Astarion and Karlach, two of our favorite Baldur’s Gate 3 companions will be featured in a Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair drop celebrating Dungeons & Dragons. The Secret Lair x Dungeons & Dragons® 50th Anniversary Superdrop will feature, among others, the following two cards:

• Secret Lair x Dungeons & Dragons®: Astarion’s Thirst 
• Secret Lair x Dungeons & Dragons®: Karlach’s Rage 

In addition to the above, we now know which four other cards are included in the Astarion’s Thirst Secret Lair drop. In total the five Astarion cards are: Astarion, The Decadent, Exquisite Blood, Anguished Unmaking, Sanguine Bond, and Mortify. Check them out below.

Click To View Gallery

We can’t wait to roll for these. The Astarion drop will be accompanied by four other Magic: The Gathering drops. These Secret Lair drops will arrive on August 27. Each one will cost $29.99, with foil variants available at $39.99 each.

RSVLTS @ D23

If you’re heading to D23, make sure to stop by RSVLTS’ booth, Booth #8002, also known as the Workshop of Wonders. There you’ll find some very special exclusives that come from the minds of Disney imagineer Tony Baxter and the dynamic artist/creative tandem of James C. Mulligan & Michael Mulligan, alongside the RSVLTS team. The theme of this ten-shirt collection is “Magic & Mystery,” so of course, there’s no one better than experienced Disney creative minds to have along.

RSVLTS will also showcase eight officially licensed Disney x RSVLTS pins that match the shirt designs available at D23. It’s truly a magical line-up. You can take a look at what’s available below. We know we’re obsessed with that Lion King button-up.

Borderlands

The Borderlands movie reviews have started to arrive and things don’t look too great for the movie. Borderlands debuted on Rotten Tomatoes with a 0% rating (and remained there after more than 20 reviews had been shared). It has since climbed up to 7%.

The CEO of Take-Two, the company that owns Gearbox, which created and owns the Borderlands franchise, is not despairing, though. Strauss Zelnick notes, “Let’s give the film a chance. A lot of people worked really hard on it. The underlying intellectual property is phenomenal, the cast is amazing, and I think the look and feel are really terrific. So let’s see what audiences have to say.”

It’s always possible the audience score and the critical score could be vastly different. But that is quite a rocky start for Borderlands.

Deadpool & Wolverine

One of the funniest “jokes” in Deadpool & Wolverine involved the idea that Hugh Jackman would play Wolverine for Marvel Studios until he was 85. Whether or not that’s the reality of things, Hugh Jackman is mentally preparing himself for it. Check out his dread-filled Instagram post that simply says, 2058. Good luck with playing Old Man Logan, Hugh Jackman. The concept is right there, after all…

Pierre Escargot

The people spoke, and Kenan Thompson brought back Pierre Escargot. It’s pretty hoh-hoh-hilarious. Check it out above.

Disney x American Girl

American Girls have been icons of the doll world for generations. And now they’re teaming up with some even bigger super stars. That’s right, you can now American Girl versions of Ariel, Cinderella, and Tiana. And newly added to the collection are Frozen‘s Anna and Elsa and Rapunzel. It’s the greatest crossover the world has ever seen. These iconic dolls are available for purchase now.

Click To View Gallery

The Boy and the Heron

Hayao Miyazaki’s award-winning film The Boy and the Heron is finally coming to streaming in the US. The Studio Ghibli movie will stream on Max beginning on September 6. It joins the rest of the Studio Ghibli library exclusively available on the streamer.

A synopsis of the The Boy and the Heron shares:

After losing his mother in a hospital fire, young Mahito moves to his family’s estate in the countryside. There, a series of mysterious events lead him to a secluded and ancient tower, home to a mischievous gray heron. When Mahito’s new stepmother disappears, he follows the gray heron into the tower, and enters a fantastic world shared by the living and the dead. As he embarks on an epic journey with the heron as his guide, Mahito must uncover the secrets of this world, and the truth about himself. Featuring the voices of Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Willem Dafoe, Karen Fukuhara, Mark Hamill, Robert Pattinson, and Florence Pugh.

Baldur’s Gate 3 (Part 3)

Two of your favorite Baldur’s Gate 3 companions, Karlach and Astarion, recently teamed up to go on an adventure all their own. Samantha Béart, who voices Karlach, and Neil Newbon, who voices Astarion, participated in GenCon’s live Dungeons & Dragons show and explored what the duo might get up to if Tav didn’t invite them into their party. The description for the video shares, “Astarion and Karlach from Baldur’s Gate 3 strike out on their own adventure after Tav doesn’t choose them for their adventuring party, meeting new friends and encountering challenges as they explore the Underdark.”

Sounds delightful!

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

Originally published on August 7, 2024.

The post Andrew Garfield Will NOT Be in SPIDER-MAN 4, A STAR WARS Wedding, and Other News Odds & Ends appeared first on Nerdist.

The Phantom of the Opera, he’s there… on Disney+. Deadline has revealed that the streamer is looking to make a reimagined Phantom of the Opera movie with a YA twist. This piece of IP has, of course, seen numerous adaptations over the years and it’s no surprise another one is in the works. But the idea that this film would be a “YA movie re-imagination” of The Phantom of the Opera has its fans raising their eyebrows for several reasons.

Firstly, The Phantom of the Opera already basically appeals to the YA demographic in pretty much every way. I know I was in the YA age range when I first encountered the story, and many others online appear to express similar sentiments. So then, what will it even mean to have a “YA” specific version of The Phantom of the Opera? For some reason, I imagine a high school alternate universe where Christine is a shy singer type, and the Phantom is that loner kid skulking under the bleachers.

Secondly, that said, although The Phantom of the Opera does appeal to the YA among us, it very much deals with adult themes. When you brush away the dust of gothic glamor, Phantom highlights incredibly twisted relationships, sexual awakenings, and some fairly dark themes of murder, mistreatment, and obsession at the end of the day. That’s all wonderful to explore, but it doesn’t totally feel like it aligns with the rest of Disney’s YA fare. But hey, who knows?

The truth is we still have very few details about Disney+’s YA The Phantom of the Opera movie. All we know, aside from its demographic skew, is that Kenny Ortega, who has overseen Disney’s High School Musical and Descendents franchises, will take the helm here. Theater kids indeed love High School Musical and Descendents, but once again, I’m having visions of Christine Daae trying to get the lead in the school musical… and I’m not sure how to feel about it yet.

Fans of The Phantom of the Opera will also no doubt want to know if the Broadway musical’s iconic songs will feature in the Disney movie version, but there remains no word on that for now.

The post Disney+ YA PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Movie Is Raising Eyebrows appeared first on Nerdist.

Celebrimbor is a name that The Lord of the Rings fans may recognize as an important one in Middle-earth. In short, Celebrimbor is the elf responsible for forging the Rings of Power alongside Sauron. However, like many of Tolkien’s characters, Celebrimbor has a complex history and lineage in The Lord of the Rings world, and he’s only becoming more nuanced during his tenure in Prime Video’s The Rings of Power. In the spirit of exploring Celebrimbor’s importance to The Lord of the Rings series, we’ll first review his place and journey in The Rings of Power’s first two seasons. And then we’ll dive into what The Lord of the Rings‘ extensive lore shares about the elven smith.

Let’s take a closer look at what we know about Celebrimbor’s The Rings of Power story and his history in The Lord of the Rings greater world.

Jump to:

• Who Is Celebrimbor in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power?: Celebrimbor in Season One // Celebrimbor Forges the Elven Rings of Power // Celebrimbor and Sauron in Season Two // Who Plays Celebrimbor on The Rings of Power?
• What We Know About Celebrimbor From The Lord of the Rings Lore: Celebrimbor’s Ancestry // Celebrimbor Creates the Rings of Power // Celebrimbor’s Other Achievements
• Will Celebrimbor Have a Banner Season This Year on The Rings of Power?

Celebrimbor on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: His Character and Story

Celebrimbor is a main character in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two. So, let’s review his season one role on the series and what season two has held for him so far.

Celebrimbor in Season One of The Rings of Power

Season one of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power introduces us to the elven smith, Celebrimbor. While Celebrimbor does not play an enormous role in the first season of the show, he still has a major impact on the world of Middle-earth and the future of The Rings of Power.

Celebrimbor originally comes onto the scene as a part of Elrond’s storyline. Celebrimbor confides in Elrond that he wants to create work that really matters, that truly impacts Middle-earth. He reveals plans to build a mighty forge where he can create things of great power. Of course, though this is undoubtedly true for Celebrimbor, it’s really a ruse for a much more pressing concern. In The Rings of Power season one, Celebrimbor and High King Gil-galad are searching for a way to keep the light of the Valar from fading in Middle-earth. If the light of the Valar fades, the elves will be forced to leave Middle-earth or fade away.

In season one of The Rings of Power, we come to understand Celebrimbor as ambitious, brilliant, and more than a little bit vain. Although he is good-hearted, he is blinded by a desire for greatness and legacy. And this main drive pushes him to sometimes use people and be blind to certain dangers around him—ideas that only continue to grow in season two.

Ultimately, Celebrimbor’s manipulations of Elrond prove fruitful as Elrond uncovers the Dwarven discovery of Mithril and is able bring a small amount of it back to the Elves. Mithril, it is implied, contains some light of the Valar inside of it and can thus aid in strengthening it for the elves. However, despite the presence of Mithril, Celebrimbor cannot seem to devise a way to solve the problem at hand—enter, Halbrand.

Celebrimbor Forges the Elven Rings of Power

Galadriel brings Halbrand to Eregion after he suffers injuries in the Southlands. Of course, we, and Galadriel, quickly learn Halbrand is Sauron on The Rings of Power, but not before he helps Celebrimbor devise a method of forging rings that will create the power they all seek, a power not “of the flesh, but over flesh.” Sadly, Celebrimbor is not privy to the discovery about Sauron, and Galadriel merely tells him that he is not to treat Halbrand again.

Celebrimbor, ignorant of the truth that Sauron is really Halbrand in The Rings of Power season one, goes forward with the forging of the Elven Rings of Power at Galadriel’s behest. These Rings are made after Sauron/Halbrand leaves for Eregion, and thus, though his methodology is in play, he is not himself present for the forging of the three Rings of Power. Melting Galadriel’s dagger, which contains pure gold and silver from Valinor, with Mithril, Celebrimbor creates the first Rings of Power for the elves.

In season one, we simply see the Rings forged. But in early season two of The Rings of Power, the elves in Lindon finally don the Rings, and ‘lo, they work as desired, amplifying the light of the Valar in Middle-earth and letting it shine down upon the elves. Celebrimbor has done what he sought and saved the elves from a terrible fate. However, he is still in Eregion and does not know if his creations have been successful. Enter, again, Sauron.

Celebrimbor’s Relationship with Sauron in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season Two

Appealing to the vein of vanity in Celebrimbor, Sauron, posing as Halbrand, appears desperate to work with Celebrimbor once more, causes the smith to forget his caution. And, of course, Sauron wastes no time in making Celebrimbor feel as though the elves are ungrateful for his contributions to saving their race, cleverly alienating him from Gil-galad, Galadriel, and the rest. As the cherry on top, Sauron transforms into his fair form, Annatar, and tells Celebrimbor the Valar themselves have selected the smith to help them do their great work. How is an elf obsessed with legacy supposed to resist?

Sauron as Annatar tells him, “I have walked through the dusts and the deserts of far away lands in search of an artist possessing the craft to save all Middle-earth. A storm is coming, Celebrimbor. I can bring you the knowledge none other possess, I can unlock your grandest abilities. And when our work is complete, never again will the world overlook you as the mere scion of Fëanor. But forevermore know you as The Lord of the Rings.” To be fair, it would be hard for anyone to resist that.

For now, Sauron drives Celebrimbor to create more Rings of Power. Of course, they’ll need Mithril to do that, so Sauron and Celebrimbor invite Prince Durin IV and King Durin III to Eregion to propose a trade of the powerful artifact for the precious metal… A deal the dwarves agree to at the end of The Rings of Power episode three.

A Closer Look Than Ever Before at Sauron and Celebrimbor’s Dynamic

In sum, Sauron needs Celebrimbor’s skills to make Rings of Power, and Celebrimbor needs Sauron’s vision and power to create a legacy. In The Lord of the Rings‘ lore, the relationship between Celebrimbor and Sauron is only described in the broadest of strokes. But The Rings of Power will allow us to delve deep into the heart of its terrible intimacies and intense back and forth.

Charlie Vickers, who plays Sauron shares, “I’d say their relationship is one of mutual respect, in that it’s kind of like the meeting of two minds to create an amazing piece of technology. One of them brings one element and the other, I like to think of Sauron as the idea man. He brings this thing that he’s been stewing on. Not a power of the flesh, but over flesh, an idea he’s had stewing for centuries. But he doesn’t have the practical knowledge about how to implement it. And then all of a sudden he meets this guy who knows his way around a forge really well. Not that Sauron doesn’t, but he thinks, ‘Well, I can work with this person to put my ideas into motion.’ It’s the bringing of them together. They push each other to new heights throughout the season.”

The relationship between the pair will be absolutely central to this season of The Rings of Power.

Elrond and Celebrimbor on The Rings of Power Season 2

In season one of The Rings of Power, Celebrimbor recalls that Elrond’s dad, Eärendil, once told him that his fate would be in Elrond’s hands. This sentiment is echoed in season two as Elrond rides to try to save Eregion and Celebrimbor from Sauron. But what will Elrond do with the life in his hands? Only time will tell.

Who Plays Celebrimbor on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Charles Edwards plays Celebrimbor on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

Jump to:

• Who Is Celebrimbor in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power?: Celebrimbor in Season One // Celebrimbor Forges the Elven Rings of Power // Celebrimbor and Sauron in Season Two // Who Plays Celebrimbor on The Rings of Power?
• What We Know About Celebrimbor From The Lord of the Rings Lore: Celebrimbor’s Ancestry // Celebrimbor Creates the Rings of Power // Celebrimbor’s Other Achievements
• Will Celebrimbor Have a Banner Season This Year on The Rings of Power?

Who Is Celebrimbor, the Elven Smith, in The Lord of the Rings Lore?

Now that we’ve taken a look at Celebrimbor’s place on Prime Video’s The Rings of Power, it’s time to delve into how his history from The Lord of the Rings informs his character in the series. We’ll strive to simplify the details of Celebrimbor’s history and offer the most important points you might need to know to understand his position and perspectives in the Prime Video series.

Celebrimbor Is the Descendent of Fëanor, a Highly Skilled Elven Craftsmith (Who Also Flew too Close to the Sun)

In The Lord of the Rings‘ world, Celebrimbor comes from a storied elven line with a history of producing masterful craftspeople (that have a vein of vanity to them). Celebrimbor is, in fact, a descendent of a First Age figure called Fëanor. Fëanor, like Celebrimbor, was a craftsman and gem-smith of unparalleled talent, and he created the mythical Silmarils, gems that captured the very light of the Valar (a.k.a. the pure essence of elven power). In season one of The Rings of Power, Celebrimbor tells Elrond that the jewels of Fëanor were so beautiful that they almost turned the heart of Morgoth, Sauron’s wicked predecessor, from evil. However, creating such power and beauty did not lead Fëanor down happy paths; instead, the creation of the Silmarils inflamed Fëanor’s worst traits, jealousy, greed, and anger, and brought him and those around him much misery.

Fëanor’s story foreshadows Celebrimbor’s in many ways, an irony planted by Tolkien. But on The Rings of Power, Celebrimbor doesn’t seem to consider the tragic outcomes creating the Silmarils wrought on his ancestors. Instead, he is more preoccupied with the idea that his own work has not achieved anything close to those who have come before him. This facet of Celebrimbor’s story, the idea that living up to the legacy of Fëanor drives him, actually comes right from Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings writings. In the Unfinished Tales, Tolkien writes, “Sauron had better fortune with the Noldor of Eregion and especially with Celebrimbor, who desired in his heart to rival the skill and fame of Fëanor.” It’s no accident Sauron brings up this pain point to Celebrimbor in The Rings of Power season two.

Celebrimbor Helps Sauron Create the Rings of Power in The Lord of the Rings‘ Lore

Speaking of the Dark Lord, of course, the main thing we learn about The Lord of the Rings‘ Celebrimbor from its source texts is that Celebrimbor was responsible for helping Sauron to craft the 19 Rings of Powers. As we know from The Rings of Power, in the Second Age of Middle-earth, Celebrimbor is Lord of Eregion, an elven realm that plays host to a guild of the most skilled craftspeople in the elven world. (In the texts, they are known as  Gwaith-i-Mírdain, or “People of the Jewel-smiths.”) Led by Celebrimbor, the smiths of Eregion welcomed Sauron into their ranks when he came to them in his fair form, Annatar, with a promise of gifts and teachings.

The Silmarillion notes, “It was in Eregion that the counsels of Sauron were most gladly received, for in that land the Noldor desired ever to increase the skill and subtlety of their works…They hearkened to Sauron, and they learned of him many things, for his knowledge was great. In those days the smiths of Ost-in-Edhil surpassed all that they had contrived before; and they took thought, and they made Rings of Power.” Among the Rings of Power created in Eregion by Celebrimbor, with Sauron’s guidance, were the nine rings for man and the seven rings for Dwarves. Celebrimbor also made three Elven Rings of Power without Sauron’s guidance.

While crafting these rings, Celebrimbor believed Sauron to be a friend. It was not until Sauron made his One Ring of Power in Mount Doom that Celebrimbor and all the other elves knew they had been deceived. Celebrimbor attempted to hide the location of the Rings of Power from Sauron. But, of course, Sauron did not like that very much. In retaliation for Celebrimbor seeking to deny him, Sauron marches on Eregion. We will leave what ultimately happens to Celebrimbor in The Lord of the Rings obscured for now. The Rings of Power will no doubt address it in season two.

Celebrimbor’s Other Achievements

In addition to creating the Rings of Power, during Middle-earth’s Second Age, Celebrimbor saw “friendship arise between Dwarves and Elves, such as has never elsewhere been, to the enrichment of both those peoples.” In the Unfinished Tales, Tolkien says Celebrimbor “had an almost ‘dwarvish’ obsession with crafts.” And “his greatest friend was Narvi.” Together, the pair of them oversaw the building of the Doors of Durin, gates that allow greater communication and cooperation between elves and Dwarves. Narvi is a Dwarven smith of great talent who will also appear on The Rings of Power season two. We can’t wait to see that relationship play out.

Will Celebrimbor Have a Banner Season on The Rings of Power?

All of this brings us to the crucial question at hand. Will Celebrimbor have a banner season on The Rings of Power this year? Well, Charles Edwards, who plays Celebrimbor, teases, “That may be premature.” A fascinating thing to hear. Well, if you know, you know!

Jump to:

• Who Is Celebrimbor in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power?: Celebrimbor in Season One // Celebrimbor Forges the Elven Rings of Power // Celebrimbor and Sauron in Season Two // Who Plays Celebrimbor on The Rings of Power?
• What We Know About Celebrimbor From The Lord of the Rings Lore: Celebrimbor’s Ancestry // Celebrimbor Creates the Rings of Power // Celebrimbor’s Other Achievements
• Will Celebrimbor Have a Banner Season This Year on The Rings of Power?

Originally published August 29, 2024.

The post Who Is Celebrimbor on THE RINGS OF POWER? THE LORD OF THE RINGS’ Elven Smith and Sauron’s New Best Friend, Explained appeared first on Nerdist.

Season two of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power introduces us to a mysterious new character by the name of Estrid. Estrid appears to be a human character from the Southlands who crosses paths with Arondir and Isildur. But is she more than she seems? Although Estrid is not a The Lord of the Rings name we recognize from the lore, it’s possible this The Rings of Power character just might be an important figure that paves the way for the salvation of Middle-earth.

Jump to: Who Is Estrid on The Rings of Power? // Is Estrid Evil? // Is Estrid Isildur’s Love Interest? // Could Estrid Actually Be a Character From The Lord of The Rings‘ Lore? // Estrid as Isildur’s Wife on The Rings of Power

Who Is Estrid on The Rings of Power?

But just who is Estrid on The Rings of Power? Well, we honestly don’t know too much about her except for the fact she’s already keeping secrets. It seems like Estrid is a normal human who was living in the Southlands when Mount Doom erupted and turned the land into Mordor. After the eruption, she was taken prisoner by Adar and the orcs but was set free again when Sauron, as Halbrand, manipulated Adar into letting the people of the Southlands go from his prisons. After that, she was trying to find the rest of the Southlanders in the area around Mordor when she met Isildur in the woods.

In The Rings of Power‘s first episodes, we see that Adar had been offering the captives a choice, pledging allegiance to him and the Orcs or death. Those who chose life were branded with the mark of Mordor. Estrid appears to have such a brand of Mordor on her. Naturally, Estrid hides this mark from Isildur and Arondir after they meet her on the road to Pelargir. At the end of The Rings of Power episode three, Estrid obscures the brand by burning herself with a knife on top of it. In episode four, we learn that she indeed is part of the “Wild Men” who took the mark of Adar.

Is Estrid Evil on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power?

So, is Estrid evil on The Rings of Power? That seems to be a bit hasty. After all, when given a choice between death and pledging yourself to the forces of darkness, choosing life doesn’t necessarily mean you agree with what your captors stand for with your whole heart. Estrid could still be evil, but just because the mark of Mordor ended up on her neck doesn’t mean that she is.

Of course, in interviews, it was teased that The Rings of Power‘s Arondir is suspicious of Estrid, feels she’s hiding something, and doesn’t trust her. Arondir does seem to be a pretty good judge of character, so his distrust might be a much bigger signifier that The Rings of Power‘s Estrid isn’t quite as pure as Isildur might want to believe her to be.

Isildur and Arondir discover Estrid’s mark in The Rings of Power season two, episode four. Isildur is quick to turn on her, feeling betrayed by her omission. But eventually she saves his and Arondir’s life from an angry swamp monster when she could have ran and left them for dead. After a few more tense exchanges, it seems the trio has come to an understanding.

Is Estrid Isildur’s Love Interest on The Rings of Power?

In the first episodes of The Rings of Power, Isildur and Estrid get pretty close, pretty fast. From her initial stabbing of him on the road to sharing deep pains about their dead mothers by the fire, the two are forging a bond. But is Estrid Isildur’s love interest on the series? Well, all signs point to yes. Unless it turns out she’s really the human manifestation of Shelob or something, it feels like romance is in the air for Estrid and Isildur. Estrid and Isildur even almost kiss in The Rings of Power episode four. Supposedly, though, Estrid is searching for her betrothed all this time. He’s back on the scene now, after the Ents who captured him let him go, so we’ll have to wait and see how Estrid and Isildur navigate things from there.

All of this leads us to suspect that though Estrid may be a morally gray character at the moment on The Rings of Power, the series is actually setting her up to be an important, albeit unexplored, character from The Lord of the Rings‘ lore.

Jump to: Who Is Estrid on The Rings of Power? // Is Estrid Evil? // Is Estrid Isildur’s Love Interest? // Could Estrid Actually Be a Character From The Lord of The Rings‘ Lore? // Estrid as Isildur’s Wife on The Rings of Power

Could Estrid Actually Be a Character From The Lord of The Rings‘ Lore?

Although Estrid is now a character on The Rings of Power, most of us probably don’t associate the name Estrid with The Lord of the Rings. But we sure do associate the name Aragorn with it. And Aragorn, of course, is famously a descendant of Isildur. (Hence his wielding of “the blade that was broken” Narsil [reforged as Andúril] in The Lord of the Rings, the sword which Isildur originally used to cut off Sauron’s hand and Ring.) Aragorn is a descendant of Isildur through his fourth son, Valandil (another name that now carries more meaning for us after The Rings of Power). But in addition to detailing his sons, Tolkien writes that Isildur had a wife—paving the way for Estrid to play an important role.

Isildur’s Wife in The Lord of The Rings Companion Book The Peoples of Middle-earth

Isildur’s wife is never given a name in any of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings works. We actually know almost nothing about her. Isildur’s wife is primarily mentioned in the book The Peoples of Middle-Earth, wherein J.R.R. Tolkien’s son complied additional The Lord of the Rings writings authored by his father. The Peoples of Middle-Earth notes that in the Second Age, year 3429, “Sauron attacks Gondor from the neighbouring land of Mordor. He destroys Minas Ithil and burns the White Tree. Isildur escapes by ship down Anduin, and sails north from Anduin’s Mouths to Elendil in Arnor, with his wife and sons; he bears with him a seedling of the White Tree, grown from its first fruit in Middle-earth.”

The specific time of Isildur’s marriage to his wife, when they met, or her identity is not noted in this The Lord of the Rings text at all, nor in any other. However, before the above singular overt mention of Isildur’s wife in The Peoples of Middle-Earth, it is written that the first son of Isildur, Kiryandil, was born in Númenor in 3299. While we couldn’t swear to it, the implication of this timeline is that Isildur met and married his wife at least 20-ish years before the fall of Númenor in 3319.

Estrid as Isildur’s Wife on The Rings of Power

Given that The Rings of Power will be five seasons long, and this season covers the siege of Eregion, it seems likely that next season will turn its eye on Númenor, its civil war, and its ultimate fate. With the idea that Isildur might meet his wife sometime before this comes to pass, season two of The Rings of Power seems like the perfect time to begin embarking on the story of Isildur’s romance. And who has appeared in Isildur’s sights but Estrid? While all of this could be a misdirect, it does feel like The Rings of Power is setting up Estrid to be Isildur’s mystery The Lord of the Rings wife.

If Isildur and Estrid fall in love, then it will be a great opportunity to shed light on an important Tolkien character who has never before been detailed. After all, Isildur’s wife will be by his side through so many of his trials and tribulations in the Second Age of Middle-earth. Unnamed in The Lord of the Rings as she is, Isildur’s wife must have played an important role in helping Isildur to escape the fall of Númenor, to found Gondor, and to bring the armies of men and elves together in their last stand against Sauron. And, unknowingly, if Estrid does indeed become Isildur’s wife on The Rings of Power, then she will forge a lineage that will one day bring the golden age of Man to all of Middle-earth. That’s quite a lot for a character whose name we just learned.

Jump to: Who Is Estrid on The Rings of Power? // Is Estrid Evil? // Is Estrid Isildur’s Love Interest? // Could Estrid Actually Be a Character From The Lord of The Rings‘ Lore? // Estrid as Isildur’s Wife on The Rings of Power

Originally published on August 29, 2024.

The post Who Is Estrid on THE RINGS OF POWER? Could She Be a Character From LORD OF THE RINGS’ Lore? appeared first on Nerdist.

Amazon’s new Lord of the Rings series, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, takes us back to the fantastical realm of Middle-earth. As we dive into the show, we’ll head deeper into this world and explore some corners of it that have never been brought on-screen before. And that means meeting a whole lot of new and exciting creatures from Middle-earth. Alongside the many races that populate the universe live a slew of Tolkien’s coolest creations, some enchanting and some terrifying. Here is every one of Middle-earth’s creatures we’ve met so far in Rings of Power.

The Creatures We’ve Seen in Rings of Power Season Two

The Rings of Power season two has already revealed a ton of new creatures to us on the side of both good and evil. Here’s who we’ve met.

Jump to: Hill-Trolls // Shelob // Great Eagles // The Undead Barrow-Wights // Old Man Ironwood // Mordor Mud Serpent

Hill-Trolls

Nothing says evil quite like a troll. In Tolkien’s world, trolls are often monstrous creatures of low intelligence that inhabit Middle-earth. Of course, trolls are often fighting for evil. In The Lord of the Rings‘ world, we have mountain-trolls, cave-trolls, snow-trolls, and, of course, the hill-trolls, creatures that we’ll be seeing in The Rings of Power season two. Last season, Galadriel encountered a snow-troll (which you can read about below) at Forodwaith, so we’ll be interested to see how the two kinds of trolls differ.

In episode two of The Rings of Power we specifically met Damrod the Hill-troll, who seems hungry for Sauron’s blood. Showrunner Patrick McKay calls this creature, the “eater of dragon bones.” Incredibly though, he’ll be voiced by Benjamin Walker, who also plays High King Gil-galad. Two very different roles.

This hill-troll will join Adar in the growing ranks of darkness that come together as Sauron risees to power. But Damrod’s inspiration may not be what you expect. McKay notes, “[He] was inspired in part by Mike Ehrmantraut in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. If you look at the way he moves and his casual sense of strength.” What an incredible crossover moment.

Shelob

Episode three of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two introduces us to a familiar spider creature, yes, it’s young Shelob. Shelob had Isildur briefly trapped in her web, but he managed to escape and save the life of his horse Berek as well. Phew. Isildur stabs Shelob in the eye as well, which star Maxim Baldry says is a call out to the injury Shelob bears in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King movie. In this way, the separate universe can be tied together. Thanks for that neat Easter (spider) egg, Shelob.

Great Eagles

Middle-earth’s great eagles are back in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two. In this case, the huge winged creature arrives during Númenor’s coronation, ostensibly to bless Queen Míriel’s reign. But, of course, humans never get it right. The appearance of this Middle-earth creature on The Rings of Power was instead taken to mean Ar-Pharazon should be crowned king. Hrm…

In Tolkien’s lore, great eagles are seen as messengers of Manwë, the greatest god of Middle-earth. They serve to deliver messages for the god and also act as his spies. At times, the great eagles also interfere in The Lord of the Rings‘ affairs to assist the worthy in need, such as Gandalf when he was trapped on Saruman’s tower, or the hobbits Frodo and Sam when they needed to escape Mordor after the destruction of the One Ring.

The Undead Barrow-wights

Tolkien’s Barrow-wights arrived on the scene in episode four of The Rings of Power. These Lord of the Rings creatures were not actually in The Lord of the Rings movies by Peter Jackson but will come to live-action thanks to The Rings of Power. The ghoulish Barrow-wights are ancient heroes who have been reanimated and are now forced to act for evil. The Rings Of Power VFX supervisor Jason Smith share, “It was super-exciting to take on something I hadn’t seen before. We’ve seen undead before, but not like this. We’re doing a little horror movie in Middle-earth.” The Barrow-wights were once people of nobility, “Kings, queens, high-ranking officials,” according to Smith, and shreds of this past appears in their now undead form. Creepy!

Old Man Ironwood

The Rings of Power season two introduced as to a curious creature that reminded us of another character from The Lord of the Rings. In Tom Bombadil’s garden, The Stranger was almost consumed by a hungry tree called Old Man Ironwood. Of course, in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings, Merry and Pippin almost meet the same fate, but they’re entrapped by Old Man Willow instead. Perhaps these grumpy trees are distant cousins.

Mordor Mud Serpent (AKA Lunch)

In the swamps of the Southlands/Mordor, Isildur and Arondir are almost consumed by a quicksand. But it turns out there’s much more than mud in the swamps. Lurking in the depths of the muck is an angry, serpent-like monster. Arondir says nameless things lurk in the land, but does name this The Rings of Power creature, lunch.

Sea Monster

The Rings of Power season two trailer also introduces us to a brand new sea monster. Is it a creature from Tolkien lore or just another Lovecraftian horror? More context is necessary.

Jump to: Hill-Trolls // Shelob // Great Eagles // The Undead Barrow-Wights // Old Man Ironwood // Mordor Mud Serpent

The Creatures We’ve Seen in Rings of Power Season One

Of course, season one of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power had its fair share of cool creatures too.

Jump to: Snow Troll // Valinor’s Spirit Birds // The Worm // Wolves (Possibly Werewolves) // Wargs // The Balrog

Snow Troll

In episode one of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Galadriel pushes her company of elves to the far reaches of northern Middle-earth. The viewers are along for the ride as the elves enter the chilly arms of Forodwaith, the Northernmost Waste, in search of a stronghold of orcs and Sauron. While the orcs have long vanished, as has their dark lord, the evil in the stronghold remains. The only thing that flourishes there is a Snow Troll.

We don’t get to learn too much about this foul The Rings of Power creature. But we know the troll contains tough stuff because no light reaches this area of Middle-earth… And certainly very little living. The snow troll viciously attacks the elves, although, to be fair, it probably wasn’t expecting visitors. But Galadriel dispatches it before it can do much harm.

Snow-trolls are mentioned once in Tolkien’s work, a reference in The Lord of the Rings‘ Appendix A. But the denizen of Middle-earth has been brought to life in video games a couple of times, and now in The Rings of Power. With ill-omens growing and Sauron’s sigils appearing around every corner, we may not have seen the last of the snow troll.

Valinor’s Spirit Birds

Of course, Middle-earth and the rest of Tolkien’s world is also a place of magic and great beauty. Thus, some of its creatures have to fill us with joy. And we get a taste of this wonder as The Rings of Power reveals to us Valinor, the elven homeland. Earlier in the episode, Elrond describes the journey into Valinor. He notes, “When you cross over, you hear a song, one whose memory we all carry, and you are immersed in a light more intoxicating than any sensation in all of Middle-earth.” And this is exactly what we see before us. But what Elrond doesn’t mention are some of the most beautiful creatures we see in The Rings of Power.

As Galadriel and the rest of the elves prepare to cross over, a flock of glorious sea birds fills the air. These birds appear to come from Manwë, who represents a kind of chief god in Middle-earth’s mythology. In The Silmarillion, we learn that “all birds are dear” to Manwë. So it makes sense he welcomes the elves back home with a flock.

The Worm (Sea Serpent)

Another new location that The Rings of Power introduces us to is the Sundering Seas. These waters lay west of Middle-earth, and elves must cross them in order to reach Valinor (they depart from the Grey Havens). Of course, like any other ocean, Middle-earth’s seas contain creatures lurking in the deep that you’d probably rather not meet.

Although Galadriel is at peace with her decision not to journey to Valinor, she finds herself stranded in monster-filled waters. A sea serpent, known in The Rings of Power as “The Worm,” slithers through the Sundering Seas, wreaking havoc. Galadriel meets a group of people whose ship this Rings of Power creature destroyed, and she nearly ends up in the belly of the beast herself.

Although the Worm seems to attack indiscriminately, we suspect the Middle-earth monster may be under the sway of Sauron.

Wolves (Possibly Werewolves)

Wolves are on the prowl in this Lord of the Rings series. But Middle-earth’s wolves may not be ordinary creatures in The Rings of Power. Nori Brandyfoot and a group of other Harfoots almost meet one of these wild beings in a berry field, but luckily they spy a warning track. The track is massive, though, and when we see the wolf… It feels like something greater is at work.

We get the same feeling when the wolves attack the Harfoots as they migrate through an eerie forest. There are a few different wolf-like creatures in The Lord of the Rings‘ world, including werewolves and wargs. In Middle-earth’s lore, werewolves are wolves Sauron bred for evil. In each wolf, Sauron imprisoned an evil spirit creating a new kind of creature. Now that we’ve met a warg, though, we know this wolf is something else. So we’re back to betting on this The Rings of Power being a werewolf.

Wargs

In episode three of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, we meet the loathsome creatures known as the wargs. These wargs are also wolflike in nature and are being used as attack dogs by the Orcs. The wargs have a powerful snarl and even deadlier teeth. As compared to the sleek menace of the (potential) werewolves, they appear to be a much more savage Lord of the Rings creature. The warg we meet in Rings of Power attacks on a pure evil instinct and a hunger for blood. In season two of The Rings of Power, we see Sauron charm the warg and order it to kill poor old Waldreg.

In Tolkien’s lore, wargs are a specific breed of wolf that lives in the Misty Mountains. In The Lord of the Rings books, wargs were associated with orcs and sometimes goblins. And in The Rings of Power, they definitely follow that tradition… And that is bad news for our favorite Harfoots, elves, or any other creature.

Balrogs

In episode seven of The Rings of Power, a dark creature emerges from the depths. It looks like all that dwarven mining for mithril has awakened a grave danger in the depths of their mines, the Balrog. In The Lord of the Rings‘ lore, the Balrog is a a powerful spirit that becomes demonic at the hands of Morgoth. Famously, a Balrog nearly destroys the wizard Gandalf in an epic battle during The Fellowship of the Ring. The Balrog of Khazad-dûm has awakened a little earlier than we expected it to, but we have not doubt it will soon bring a lot of trouble to the dwarves and many others.

Middle-earth’s Creatures

As The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power continues to air, we’re sure we’ll see many more of Middle-earth’s creatures. Hopefully, a few less that would eat us and a few more we can admire. Either way, we’re excited to continue this new journey through Tolkien’s world.

Jump to: Snow Troll // Valinor’s Spirit Birds // The Worm // Wolves (Possibly Werewolves) // Wargs // The Balrog

Originally published on September 1, 2022.

The post Which Creatures of Middle-earth Does RINGS OF POWER Introduce? appeared first on Nerdist.

Netflix has finally released the full trailer for Fortiche Production’s Arcane season two. And, in short, it rocks. We learned not too long ago that Arcane season two would actually also serve as the final season of the series. But that didn’t stop this Arcane season two trailer from, as they say, going hard. The epic tease for the new episodes of this League of Legends prequel series kept us at the edge of our seats as we flashed from one intense image to the next. Civil war is brewing. A conflict between sisters is rising. The Arcane (drink) is waking up. It’s all there; we just have to take it all in as the beat unrolls around us.

You can watch the full trailer for Arcane season two below.

Drop the match and watch it all burn. Or is it rise like a phoenix from the fire? This Arcane trailer presents many possibilities. But one thing is for sure: there’s no fight like a fight between siblings. It’s clear that in Arcane season two, sisters Jinx and Vi will come clashing into one another from their opposing sides. What will that mean for them? And for the cities of Piltover and Zaun? We suppose that depends on who comes out the victor. Of course, we feel like the true winners because Fallout’s Ella Purnell voices Jinx and the MCU’s Hailee Steinfeld voices Vi. We couldn’t love these two actresses more.

In addition to the familial and political drama playing out between Jinx, Vi, and their other sister, Cait, this trailer teases that there’s plenty more League of Legends going on in Arcane season two. One idea teased by our earliest looks at Arcane season two is the appearance of the popular League of Legends character Vander. Netflix seemed to hint that Vander is actually the monster Warwick. In League of Legends, Warwick was “transformed by agonizing experiments, his body is fused with an intricate system of chambers and pumps, machinery filling his veins with alchemical rage.” We see a bit more of that monstrous evolution in the new trailer and images from Arcane season two.

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A previously released synopsis notes, “In this final chapter, Jinx’s attack on the Council sets the stage for a dire escalation of the conflict between Piltover and Zaun.” The series of course will stream on Netflix. While Fortiche directed and produced the animation, under the direction of the founders Pascal Charrue and Arnaud Delord. Although this trailer has us ready to watch Arcane season two now, we’ll have to wait a little bit longer for more League of Legends excitement. Arcane season two releases in November, but Netflix has not yet confirmed an exact date.

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In Tolkien’s lore, one of Sauron’s fearsome powers was his ability to shape-shift. Being a shape-shifter helped Sauron deceive and fight his many foes and, in fact, allowed him to create The Rings of Power in the first place, coming to elves in a fair form and deceiving them with promises of knowledge and gifts. It was this shape-shifting ability that also drove so many questions about the exact identity of Sauron during The Rings of Power season one. Ultimately, it proved that Sauron had taken the form of the human king, Halbrand, during the season, crafting himself an image that he thought would most appeal to Galadriel.

In early The Rings of Power season two, we learn that Halbrand was actually a form Sauron shapeshifted into after Adar and the orcs “split him open.” Although no actor will replace Charlie Vickers as Sauron, the showrunners assure us, it turns out at least two actors play a form of the Dark Lord on The Rings of Power. And in addition to that, the first three episodes of The Rings of Power reveal that Charlie Vickers will play more than one form of Sauron himself in the series. But just how many forms has Sauron taken in The Rings of Power thanks to his shapeshifting abilities? Let’s take a look.

Sauron’s Earliest Form, Played By Jack Lowden

In the first scene of The Rings of Power season two, Jack Lowden plays a form of Sauron. This is the form of Sauron that existed about 1,000 years before the events of The Rings of Power, immediately after Morgoth’s defeat in the War of Wrath. Jack Lowden’s Sauron seems intent on taking power and picking up where Morgoth left off in his pursuit of ruling Middle-earth. But, of course, we know that this form of Sauron won’t last the next 1,000 years on The Rings of Power. In episode one of The Rings of Power, Adar and the orcs dispatch this form of Sauron, turning him into…

Black Goo Sauron

Black Goo Sauron is the interstitial form Sauron takes between bodies. It seems like The Rings of Power is implying that this black good is really Sauron’s essence, but he can’t craft a new form for himself until he has had enough nourishment or maybe until he has performed enough evil. In any case, we see Black Goo Sauron flopping along in The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power season two. Sauron feasts on rats and innocents until he’s consumed enough life to emerge again. But Black Goo Sauron has done more than just eat a poor wanderer; he’s also captured the hearts and minds of fans. We have to admit, he is a mood and a vibe.

Sauron’s Halbrand Form, Played By Charlie Vickers on The Rings of Power

Next up, is, of course, Sauron’s Halbrand form played by Charlie Vickers. We’ll miss you, Halbrand. This Sauron form shifted into catering to the version of Sauron that Galadriel most wanted to see. In this form, Sauron pretended to be part of a royal lineage that ruled the Southlands. Sauron, in his Halbrand form, dabbled at becoming a true hero on The Rings of Power, the kind of leader his people needed, who could fight by Galadriel’s side and stave off the coming of darkness. Sauron convinced Galadriel and the Southlanders that he, as Halbrand, was meant to be their King with a necklace bearing a Southlander royal crest. But, of course, Sauron himself tells Galadriel, “I took it off a dead man.” In the end of The Rings of Power season two, Sauron’s ruse with Galadriel comes to a close, but his Halbrand form lives on a little longer.

In clips from season two of The Rings of Power, we see Sauron bring Halbrand out to manipulate Adar. He pretends to be the King of the Southlands and murmurs in Adar’s ear that Galadriel has sided with Sauron. We’ll see how long Sauron’s Halbrand form lasts into season two.

Sauron’s Annatar Form, Played By Charlie Vickers on The Rings of Power Season 2

In a featurette for The Rings of Power season two, Charlie Vickers shares that one of Sauron’s primary powers is the ability to change forms. And Vickers does some form-changing himself in season two, episode two of The Rings of Power. Leaving Halbrand behind at some point in season two of The Rings of Power, Sauron takes the form of Annatar, a Quenya elvish word that means “Lord of Gifts.”

Vickers explains that “the Annatar form that we see this season is all for Celebrimbor because he needs Celebrimbor and his understanding and his methodology and his craftsmanship to make these rings. He’ll stop at nothing to rule Middle-earth.” Annatar is Sauron’s “fair form” in The Lord of the Rings universe, the one he initially wears to deceive the elves in Tolkien’s writings. On The Rings of Power, the story is a bit different, but no doubt Sauron’s Annatar form will be enough to convince Celebrimbor to forge more than a few rings. Shape-shifting will get you everywhere.

Other Sauron Forms We Might See on The Rings of Power

During the height of his powers, in the First Age of Middle-earth, Sauron would shapeshift into a serpent, a vampire, and even a wolf. We’d honestly love to see Sauron take on some of those forms in The Rings of Power. Even though we’ve left the first age behind us, we feel Sauron still has enough juice to quickly transform into a wolf for half an episode or so. It really would fool his enemies.

Whatever shapeshifting Sauron wants to get up, though, he’d better do it quickly. Soon, Sauron will lose this ability to change forms once and for all on The Rings of Power. And then he’ll end up stuck as an evil spirit just trying to make a body to survive.

Will We Ever See Sauron in Eye Form on The Rings of Power?

Fans of The Lord of the Rings movies are probably asking if we will see The Eye of Sauron in The Rings of Power. And the answer to that is we very well might. In The Silmarillion, Sauron’s eye is first mentioned just after the sinking of Númenor.

Tolkien writes, “Sauron was not of mortal flesh, and though he was robbed now of that shape in which he had wrought so great an evil, so that he could never again appear fair to the eyes of Men, yet his spirit arose out of the deep and passed as a shadow and a black wind over the sea, and came back to Middle-earth and to Mordor that was his home. There he took up again his great Ring in Barad-dûr, and dwelt there, dark and silent, until he wrought himself a new guise, an image of malice and hatred made visible; and the Eye of Sauron the Terrible few could endure.”

Of course, in Tolkien’s lore, Sauron does not necessarily become only an Eye in his dark spirit era. But given the popularity of the eye as a symbol, it could very well make its way onto The Rings of Power as yet another possible version of the Dark Lord Sauron.

Originally published on August 22, 2024.

The post The Many Forms of Sauron on THE RINGS OF POWER appeared first on Nerdist.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two is finally on its way back to us. And although the first season of The Rings of Power left us with many questions that still need to be explored, we finally have an answer to one all-important question. One question to rule them all, if you will. What is the release date for The Lord of The Rings: The Rings Power season two? Let’s take a look at when we’ll be able to enjoy more of The Rings of Power.

Jump to: When Do New Episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Release? What Was The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season Two’s Release Date? // How Many Episodes Will Released During The Rings of Power Season Two’s Premiere? // How Many Episodes Long Is The Rings of Power Season Two? // Will The Rings of Power Have a Weekly Release & What Day and Time Will Episodes Air? // When Is the Finale of The Rings of Power Season 2? // The Rings of Power Season Two Full Release Schedule

When Do New Episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Release?

Before we get deep into it, let’s answer the question on everyone’s minds. When do new episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power release? New episodes of The Rings of Power release on Thursday nights/mornings at 12 AM PT, that’s 3am ET and 8am BST (in the UK). They stream on Prime Video

What Was the Release Date for The Lord of The Rings: The Rings Power Season Two?

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two released on Thursday, August 29. On that date, The Rings of Power‘s second season will premiere globally “in more than 240 countries and territories in multiple languages.” To get even more excited about what this season has in store, make sure to check out its recently released trailer.

How Many Episodes Will Released During The Rings of Power‘s Season Two Premiere on August 29?

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power premiered with three episodes on its August 29 release date.

How Many Episodes Long Is The Rings of Power Season Two?

The Rings of Power season two will be eight episodes long.

Will The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season Two Have a Weekly Release? What Day and Time Will The Episodes Release?

Yes, after its initial three-episode premiere, The Rings of Power season two will be released weekly on Thursdays (technically, Friday morning for the East Coast). We feel glad to hear it. We much prefer this method of release to the all-at-once episode drop we saw with Prime Video’s Fallout.

As for timing, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will become available on Prime Video on Thursdays at 12 AM PT, that’s 3am ET and 8am BST (in the UK)

When Will The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power‘s Season Two Finale Air?

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will release its epic season two finale on October 3, 2024.

The Rings of Power Season Two Full Release Schedule

• The Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 1: August 29
• The Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 2: August 29
• The Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 3: August 29
• The Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 4: September 5
• The Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 5: September 12
• The Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 6: September 19
• The Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 7: September 26
• The Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 8 (Finale): October 3

Catch Up with The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Before Season Two

While we wait for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two to release, it’s a great time to catch up on season one. All eight episodes of The Rings of Power‘s first season are now streaming on Prime Video. If you haven’t watched them yet, we couldn’t recommend them more. This is one epic adventure worth taking.

Originally published on May 14, 2024.

The post THE RINGS OF POWER Season 2’s Release Schedule (Plus Release Time, Finale Date, and More) appeared first on Nerdist.

Hey dol! Merry dol! The time has come, fellow The Lord of the Rings fans. A highly anticipated moment is here at long last. Yes, we mean the first appearance of the mysterious being Tom Bombadil in a major live-action Tolkien adaptation. In our exclusive clip from The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two, episode four, our favorite wandering wizard, The Stranger, ends up in a bit of a bizarre position, though not one unfamiliar to fans of Tolkien… Especially not when a certain being is about to appear on the scene. Luckily for the Stranger, Old Tom Bombadil is in a helping (and singing) mood in this The Rings of Power scene.

You can take a look at the pair’s meeting and, finally, properly meet The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power‘s Tom Bombadil in our exclusive clip below.

In The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two, Tom Bombadil is played by Rory Kinnear. We’ve seen glimpses of Kinnear’s Tom Bombadil in the trailers for the series, but this is our best look at the character yet. And we have to say, it’s full marks from us. A melodic voice, check. Long hair, check. Long beard, check. The inner glow of an unbothered ancient, check.

But all kidding aside, even in this short scene from The Rings of Power, we get all of Tom Bombadil’s best qualities on full display. Kinnear’s Tom is cheerful but enigmatic, soothing but mysterious. There’s a great deal of wonderful warmth in this Tom Bombadil, but just enough of a gentle scold to let us know he’s seeing inside our very souls. “Who are you?” The Stranger asks, and though we’ll unlikely get a straight answer to that question (and nor should we!), it’s a great deal of fun to finally get to watch Tom Bombadil name himself in a The Lord of the Rings project.

Of course, we always love a good Tolkien Easter egg, and true-heart fans will delight in how Tom Bombadil’s introduction in The Rings of Power season two echoes his introduction in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. There, Frodo meets Tom Bombadil after those scamps, Merry and Pippin, get gobbled up by Old Man Willow, and Bombadil helps to save them. In our exclusive The Rings of Power season two clip, it’s The Stranger who has been consumed by a tree instead, only to have Tom Bombadil come to his rescue. We don’t think it’s Old Man Willow this time, but perhaps a cousin. If The Stranger really is Gandalf, someone ought to remind him later that he has more in common with Merry and Pippin than he thinks!

To put the Goldeberry on top, we even believe we hear a touch of “Concerning Hobbits” in the theme that plays for Tom Bombadil when he greets The Stranger. And that really cements for us the deep connection between these two The Lord of the Rings meetings.

The Stranger, of course, seems to be on the hunt for his staff when he meets Tom Bombadil. But tugging on random tree branches does not feel like the right way to go about things. Hopefully, Tom Bombadil can guide him toward a better one. We’ll find out as The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two continues streaming on Prime Video. The first three episodes of the series are now available to watch, with new episodes arriving on Thursday until October 3.

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One little orc/uruk baby is in the middle of much discussion among the lovers of Middle-earth in our world. During The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two’s first episode, we got to meet the orc Glûg, who seemed very concerned about the orcs marching back off to war after they just found a home in Mordor. But it turns out, Glûg the orc’s motivation for peace runs deeper than just wanting a little quiet. The Rings of Power season two reveals to us that Glûg has an orc family waiting in the wings, which includes an orc wife and an orc baby. It turns out that neither orc ladies nor orc babies have ever been depicted in a The Lord of the Rings adaptation before. And for some, this was a shocking turn of events.

Aren’t the orcs just purely evil beings who could have no love in their hearts? Well, we suppose that’s a fair question to ask. But The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has long been veering away from that interpretation of orcs, or as they like to be called, Uruk. So, we feel it makes a lot of sense to have orc families in the narrative. But beyond that, J.R.R. Tolkien and his writings leave much room for orc babies and orc familial ties to exist. (And yes, orcs do reproduce like humans and elves. Once again, get over it!)

Here’s What J.R.R. Tolkien Has to Say About Orc Babies and Orc Families

Of course, it’s fair enough to ask what J.R.R. Tolkien, the creator of The Lord of the Rings world, would have to say about orcs having families and babies. Handily, Tolkien does address these ideas WHILE also leaving the door open in a way that 100% allows for The Rings of Power‘s interpretations of orc community.

Orcs Reproduce Like Men and Elves, and That Means an Orc Baby Is Totally Valid

Most notably, Tolkien said of the orcs in The Silmarillion, “And thus did Melkor breed the hideous race of the Orcs in envy and mockery of the Elves, of whom they were afterwards the bitterest foes. For the Orcs had life and multiplied after the manner of the Children of Ilúvatar; and naught that had life of its own, nor the semblance of life, could ever Melkor make since his rebellion in the Ainulindalë before the Beginning: so say the wise. And deep in their dark hearts, the Orcs loathed the Master whom they served in fear, the maker only of their misery.”

Two important aspects of that quote jump out. First, Tolkien makes it plain that orc babies do exist. He literally says, “Orcs multiply in the manner of the Children of Ilúvatar.” Yes, that’s elves and men. So, yes orcs have sex. I am sorry to break this to you, but it feels relevant in this case. They reproduce like elves and men, which means that orcs have babies. A totally incontestable fact.

Of course, one might argue that having a baby doesn’t necessarily mean having a family. Although most creatures on earth, especially our direct comparison point here, elves and men, do often have communities that revolve around children. That leads us to, second, the fact that Tolkien stresses specifically that orcs have life and, in the same breath, notes orcs actually loathe Morgoth. That information makes you feel like the Orcs are not just mindless evil but actually have nuanced feelings of their own. If they feel enough to feel misery, they probably feel enough to feel love.

Orc Family Ties And Friendships

In both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien writes of the orc Bolg and his father, Azog. Tolkien notes in The Hobbit, “Bolg of the North is coming, O Dain! whose father you slew in Moria.” Additionally, a footnote in the The Lord of the Rings books notes, “Azog was the father of Bolg.” While he doesn’t come right out and say it, Tolkien implies that Bolg seeks revenge against Dain. That is certainly the tact The Hobbit movies took when portraying the relationship. Seeking vengeance for a father would certainly indicate family ties and orc kin affinities, even though this, of course, is the darkest manifestation of them.

Additionally, in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers book, we meet two orcs, Gorbag and Shagrat, who appear to be friends. Gorbat notes that he’d love to slip off with Shagrat, somewhere away Sauron’s control, to have their own equitable and easy lives. “Just like old times,” Shagrat says. Old orc times, sounds like the ones we see in The Rings of Power season two.

We Just Don’t Know That Much About The Lord of the Rings Orcs, Their Feelings, Hobbies, or Anything Else

Ultimately, though, Tolkien leaves the door fully open for The Rings of Power or any other adaptation to portray orcs, their families, babies, and their interior lives. Tolkien writes in his Letter to Mrs. Munby, “There must have been orc-women. But in stories that seldom, if ever, see the Orcs except as soldiers of armies in the service of the evil lords, we naturally would not learn much about their lives. Not much was known.”

Basically, Tolkien himself says that orcs have lives we just don’t know about. It sounds like he’s saying with complete certainty that orcs do engage in activities other than soldiering and menacing, but we just haven’t yet had occasion to hear about them. (And orc-women are totally an approved part of The Lord of the Rings‘ world.)

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Has Been Setting Up Sympathetic Orcs All Along

Happily, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is a story that does want to take the time to get to know the orcs as more than just agents of pure evil. While the presence of an orc family might crystallize this on our screens, The Rings of Power has been working toward this moment ever since Adar told Galadriel in season one that each of his children were “creations of the secret fire” and had “a name and a heart.” If you were busily thinking Adar was the villain in that exchange, perhaps its time to watch once again. We even see Adar and the orcs engaging in a burial rite in season one of the series. Taking the time to honor one’s dead, again, implies a deep sense of community.

In The Rings of Power, the whole Uruk story has been about a search for a home in The Rings of Power and escaping the torment, some might say, misery, long placed on their shoulders. And so, it stands to reason that creatures looking for a home would be doing so for their families, orc or not.

The Time Has Come to Accept the Orc Family, the Orc Baby, and the Orc Community Into Our Hearts!

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power‘s showrunners told Nerdist that whether the orcs were orcs or Uruk would play a big role in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two. But whether the orcs eventually fall into total darkness or not, they’ll have at one point had enough love in their hearts to care for one another and their children. And we feel like that’s a much more fascinating story to explore than if they were just purely evil. If the orc baby and orc family on The Rings of Power is really such a bothersome concept to anyone, perhaps they should take a minute and evaluate why! Meanwhile, we’ll be buying Glûg a baby shower gift.

The post Yes, There Was a Baby Orc and an Orc Family on THE RINGS OF POWER Season 2 (Get Over It!) appeared first on Nerdist.

We dare not even speak of such things! But Ian McKellen himself noted to The Times that he would, in fact, be interested in returning as Gandalf in the new The Lord of the Rings movie, The Hunt for Gollum. If he’s alive, that is. Gulp.

The actor notes to The Times that he’s heard “stirrings in Tolkien’s land” and suggests that the character of Gandalf is intended to return in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum movie. He notes that he would be interested in playing Gandalf again but adds, “There is no script, there is no offer, there is no plan.” He jokingly notes that he would happily reprise his The Lord of the Rings role, “If I’m alive.”

Since the actor shared these iconic thoughts with the world, it seems like things have changed slightly. Most recently, McKellen noted, “Enthusiasm for The Lord of the Rings shows no sign of abating … I can’t tell you any more than that. I’ve just been told there are going to be more films and Gandalf will be involved and they hope that I’ll be playing him.”

We too will go ahead and hope for both Ian McKellen’s return as Gandalf in The Hunt for Gollum and for the actor to stay alive for a very long time to come. Fictional deaths only, please.

Originally published on June 10, 2024.

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It’s time to go on a magical mystery tour… through Minecraft‘s world, but this time in live-action cinematic form. Hoo-boy. We’re in for quite the wild ride. It’s a blocky world and we’re all just living in it, that’s for sure. The Minecraft live-action movie seemed like a fever dream as it suddenly appeared on the scene with its star-studded cast and massive franchise world to pull from. Just what kind of story could a Minecraft live-action movie tell? Well, if this trailer is any indication A Minecraft Movie will tell an incredibly fun story, one that’s a visual delight.

You can check out the first trailer for A Minecraft Movie below.

Jack Black and Jason Momoa, of course, lead this spectacular cast. Additionally, A Minecraft Movie stars Emma Myers (“Wednesday”), Oscar nominee Danielle Brooks (“The Color Purple”), Sebastian Eugene Hansen (“Just Mercy, “Lisey’s Story”), and Jennifer Coolidge.

To help us make sense of the trailer, A Minecraft Movie‘s synopsis shares more about the story we can expect from the film. It notes of this game-inspired movie:

Welcome to the world of Minecraft, where creativity doesn’t just help you craft, it’s essential to one’s survival!  Four misfits—Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison (Momoa), Henry (Hansen), Natalie (Myers) and Dawn (Brooks)—find themselves struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld: a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination.  To get back home, they’ll have to master this world (and protect it from evil things like Piglins and Zombies, too) while embarking on a magical quest with an unexpected, expert crafter, Steve (Black).  Together, their adventure will challenge all five to be bold and to reconnect with the qualities that make each of them uniquely creative…the very skills they need to thrive back in the real world.

Piglins, Zombies, and Steve, oh my! This honestly feels like the perfect cast to tackle such a wacky offering. And honestly, weaving an original story in with Minecraft‘s iconic cubic background was exactly the right way to go for a live-action movie take on the world. While, of course, acknowledging legacy facets of Minecraft like Steve, played by Jack Black, who we meet in the movie trailer. Steve, of course, is one of Minecraft‘s first official player characters. However, to date, he has no official backstory. We wonder if A Minecraft movie will give him one. either way, we bet this movie-game combo will end up going very Meta, very quickly, and we can’t wait to hop onto the ride and into the world.

When Does A Minecraft Movie Release?

A Minecraft Movie will release in theaters on April 4, 2025.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

The post A MINECRAFT MOVIE’s Trailer Is Delightfully Unhinged appeared first on Nerdist.

The MCU suffered many losses after Avengers: Endgame. Tony Stark died saving the world. Black Widow also passed away tragically. Steve Rogers went back in time and vanished. But, one of the less discussed disappearances after that movie involved Bucky Barnes’ long hair. Yes, sadly, when Bucky Barnes (played by Sebastian Stan) reappeared in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, he had cut his hair short. Now, some might say that Bucky Barnes’ new haircut was a part of his recovery as he worked to separate himself from The Winter Soldier. But in the frame of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, perhaps it was too much of an overcorrection. In any case, we are very pleased to share that in an exclusive Thunderbolts* first-look at San Diego Comic-Con, Bucky Barnes’ long hair made its return to the MCU. (Cue much celebration among the land.)

Happily, we also now have actual look at Bucky Barnes’ Thunderbolts* haircut to show you. As we described it previously, it is shorter than his Winter Soldier days but MUCH longer than his The Falcon and the Winter Soldier phase. Bucky Barnes’ Thunderbolts* haircut undoubtedly no longer qualifies as short and lands firmly in the long category. We’d say it reaches past his ears to mid-neck. Hey, we’ll take it.

Getting back to the long vs. short hair analysis, though, we’d say this haircut means that Bucky Barnes has squared with the idea that he’s no longer the Winter Soldier. But also come to terms with the fact that he’ll never be just James Buchanan Barnes again either. The return to his short haircut did feel too much like an attempt to recapture a person who no longer really existed. Meanwhile, the totally grown-out look wasn’t something Bucky chose for himself. This version of Bucky Barnes’ long haircut seems to say, I can have long hair if I want because I know who I am. And that person is neither fully who he was, nor fully who he was made to be. Even though Bucky Barnes’ hair was short in the initial Thunderbolts* marketing image, we’re glad to see this reversal of hair course.

In the meantime, we’re just happy to welcome long-haired Bucky Barnes back; we really did not like that haircut. We guess finding joy in the shades of grey is what this movie will be all about. Thunderbolts* will release in theaters on May 2, 2025.

The post Bucky Barnes’ Long Haircut Returns in MCU THUNDERBOLTS* Movie and We Have Our First Look appeared first on Nerdist.

During the first season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, one question ruled the thoughts of fans: Which character would turn out to be Sauron? If you watched season one of the series, you know that it was The Rings of Power‘s Halbrand who emerged as Sauron himself. But as The Rings of Power season two quickly reveals, Halbrand was less a pure vision of Sauron and more just one form of him, a version specifically created to deceive Galadriel into becoming his ally. This season, Sauron is after someone else’s attention on The Rings of Power, the great elven smith, Celebrimbor, whose knowledge Sauron needs to create his ruling rings. And with a new target in his sights, Sauron transforms again in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, this time becoming his “fair form,” Annatar.

But who is Annatar exactly on The Rings of Power, and what do we know about him from The Lord of the Rings texts? Let’s dive in to explore the “divine” figure.

Jump to: Who Is Annatar on The Rings of Power? // How Did Sauron Become Annatar on The Rings of Power? // What Does Annatar Mean in The Lord of the Rings World? // Charlie Vickers’ Annatar Transformation // Why Didn’t Celebrimbor Know that Halbrand/Annatar Was Sauron? // Annatar on The Rings of Power Season 2 // More About Annatar From The Lord of the Rings‘ Lore

Who Is Annatar on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power?

Quite simply, Annatar is Sauron on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. In the specific context of The Rings of Power, Annatar is the form that Sauron believes is most likely to sway Celebrimbor to his side. When Sauron becomes Annatar, he loses the noble yet humble human trappings that characterized The Rings of Power‘s Halbrand. After all, Halbrand was designed specifically to appeal to Galadriel and her goals in season one. More specifically, Sauron took on the guise of the human King of the Southlands, becoming the perfect ally to help Galadriel wage war against the Orcs in the Southlands as she sought to root out Sauron.

Celebrimbor, however, has a different set of goals in mind on The Rings of Power. Namely, he’s obsessed with creating a legacy that leaves a true impact on Middle-earth for ages to come. When Sauron transforms into Annatar on The Rings of Power episode two, he tells Celebrimbor that he is an emissary of the Valar, or gods, on a mission to save Middle-earth from darkness by means of the Rings of Power.

Halbrand Becomes Annatar

Sauron, as Halbrand, says to Celebrimbor, “There are forces in this world, beyond evil, Celebrimbor. And sometimes they send aid in the form of an envoy, a messenger, sent to bring guidance to the ears of the wise.” And then transforming into Annatar, Sauron dramatically booms out, “I have walked through the dust and the deserts of faraway lands in search of an artist possessing the craft to save all Middle-earth. A storm is coming, Celebrimbor, I can bring you the knowledge none other possess, I can unlock your grandest abilities. And when our work is complete, never again will the world overlook you as the mere scion of Fëanor. But forever more revere you The Lord of the Rings.”

Of course, these dramatics from Sauron, complete with clanging explosions and plumes of fire, lead Celebrimbor to believe he is chosen by the gods themselves, via Annatar, to bring to life their creations on earth. Sauron as Annatar leads Celebrimbor to believe he is destined to save Middle-earth from darkness by creating rings. There’s nothing Celebrimbor could desire more in this world.

On The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Sauron doesn’t appeal to the weaknesses in the characters around him, but to their strengths and hopes. In this way, Annatar is the perfect creation to tempt Celebrimbor into helping Sauron create the Rings of Power he needs to rule Middle-earth.

Charlie Vickers Reveals More About Sauron’s Annatar Form on The Rings of Power Season 2

Charlie Vickers, who plays Sauron in his Annatar form, shares a bit more with us about who Annatar is on The Rings of Power and where he’s coming from.

Vickers notes, “Approaching it from a creative point of view, Annatar is very different [from Halbrand]. I took some ideas from the book, this idea of a fair form. I always thought of him as quite an angelic being. And everything that he does is for Celebrimbor. So the way I play the character comes from the place of I want Celebrimbor to do what I want, basically. There were certain ways that I would move, and ways that I’d speak, and things that I developed with lots of different people that are inherently different to Halbrand. But it all comes from the place of how can I best get the oldest, greatest elven smith in the history of Middle-earth to listen to a complete stranger.”

Jump to: Who Is Annatar on The Rings of Power? // How Did Sauron Become Annatar on The Rings of Power? // What Does Annatar Mean in The Lord of the Rings World? // Charlie Vickers’ Annatar Transformation // Why Didn’t Celebrimbor Know that Halbrand/Annatar Was Sauron? // Annatar on The Rings of Power Season 2 // More About Annatar From The Lord of the Rings‘ Lore

How Did Sauron Become Annatar in The Rings of Power Season Two? Sauron’s Shape-Shifting Powers

But just how did Sauron become Annatar on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power? Well, it turns out Sauron is a pretty powerful fellow. Sauron is one of the Maia, in The Lord of the Rings world, spirits who came to Arda, or Earth, to help the Valar, the gods, create the world. Although Sauron in the Second Age of Middle-earth, when The Rings of Power takes place, is not quite as powerful as he was in the First Age, when he served Morgoth, he still has more than a few tricks up his sleeve. And one of the powers Sauron happens to have is that of shape-shifting.

In The Rings of Power season two’s first three episodes, we see Sauron change forms a couple of times. The first time is after Adar and the Orcs “split him open.” He looks one way before his first “death” and then emerges again in his Halbrand form. Whether this is Sauron shape-shifting or merely reflects the idea that, as a Maia, his spirit is difficult to kill and can emerge again even after “death,” is up for debate. But to become Annatar, we clearly see Sauron pulling out his shape-shifting powers on The Rings of Power. It’s quite a neat trick going from a ragged mortal to a divine, angelic being. And it has us wondering, what guise will Sauron wear next when Annatar no longer serves him. We bet the men of Númenor may have a few thoughts.

What Does Annatar Mean in The Lord of the Rings World?

“I am your partner, no more, no less, a sharer of gifts,” Sauron tells Celebrimbor on The Rings of Power episode two, “Annatar.” Of course, Halbrand would no longer suit Sauron, who is now proudly wearing a form that more recalls divinity and angels and less men and muck. But what does the name Annatar mean on The Rings of Power and in The Lord of the Rings world? Celebrimbor is happy to explain; he translates for the audience that Annatar means “Lord of Gifts.”

And, it’s true. As Celebrimbor confirms, the name “Annatar” indeed means “Lord of Gifts” in the elven language Quenya. Annatar is actually a compound word. It is composed of the elven word “anna,” which means “gift,” and the affix –tar, which indicates “lord,” or more specifically, “high, high; king or queen (in compounds).”

Does Charlie Vickers Wear Any Kind of Prosthetics or Makeup to Become Annatar on The Rings of Power?

Charlie Vicker’s transformation from Sauron’s Halbrand to Sauron’s Annatar on The Rings of Power season two is truly astounding. Even more astounding is that this transformation into Annatar is done solely by means of makeup on The Rings of Power. Vickers tells Nerdist, “It’s all just the work of the makeup team. What they really wanted was angular lines, and that was something that kind of creates this sense of evil and darkness and sharpness. They used a lot of contouring and shadowing to do that.”

He additionally shares, “Annatar, he is very clean. He’s a hygienic guy with almost kind of translucent skin, and wearing more clothes, in a gown the whole time. So it was quite nice not to have to get home at the end of the day and wash my whole body. It was kind of just my face.”

Jump to: Who Is Annatar on The Rings of Power? // How Did Sauron Become Annatar on The Rings of Power? // What Does Annatar Mean in The Lord of the Rings World? // Charlie Vickers’ Annatar Transformation // Why Didn’t Celebrimbor Know that Halbrand/Annatar Was Sauron? // Annatar on The Rings of Power Season 2 // More About Annatar From The Lord of the Rings‘ Lore

Why Didn’t Celebrimbor Know Halbrand/Annatar Was Sauron?

Quite simply, The Rings of Power prevents Celebrimbor from ever receiving word that Halbrand was really Sauron. All Galadriel tells Celebrimbor about Halbrand is that the elves are not to treat with him again. Though Gil-galad sends messengers to Celebrimbor to alert him that Halbrand is Sauron, the Orcs following Halbrand to Eregion kill the messengers, and word never arrives to Celebrimbor. Thus, Celebrimbor does not know that Halbrand, who transforms into Annatar, is Sauron.

What Can We Expect From Annatar, Lord of Gifts, This Season on The Rings of Power?

Now that Annatar, Lord of Gifts, is on the scene, what does he want? Well, as mentioned, he’s after the power to control, or, heal, as he’d probably tell it, Middle-earth. Vickers notes of Sauron as Annatar’s great purpose and his relationship with Celebrimbor. “He brings this thing that he’s been stewing on. Not a power of the flesh, but over flesh, an idea he’s been stewing on for centuries. But he doesn’t have the practical knowledge about how to implement it. And then all of a sudden he meets this guy who knows his way around a forge really well. Not that Sauron doesn’t, but he thinks, ‘Well, I can work with this person to put my ideas into motion.’ It’s the bringing of them together. They push each other to new heights throughout the season.”

Of course, we can see from trailers for the season that Annatar won’t stay so divine as he first appears and will slowly become a darker, more menacing figure as his machinations as Sauron come to light. Will we see Sauron transform out of Annatar and into a darker form this season on The Rings of Power? We’ll have to wait and find out.

What Does Tolkien Tell Us About Annatar in The Silmarillion and His Other The Lord of the Rings Writings?

That’s Annatar on The Rings of Power. But, of course, Sauron’s Annatar form comes straight from The Silmarillion. Tolkien writes of Annatar, “Sauron took to himself the name of Annatar, the Lord of Gifts, and they had at first much profit from his friendship. And he said to [the elves]: ‘Alas, for the weakness of the great! For a mighty king is Gil-galad, and wise in all lore is Master Elrond, and yet they will not aid me in my labours. Can it be that they do not desire to see other lands become as blissful as their own?” Additionally, Tolkien notes in the “Index of Names,”: “Annatar ‘Lord of Gifts’, name given to himself by Sauron in the Second Age, in that time when he appeared in a fair form among the Eldar who remained in Middle-earth.”

It was in his Annatar, “fair form,” that Sauron managed to convince the elves of Eregion to forge the Rings of Power alongside him. Of course, Celebrimbor forged three rings without Sauron’s influence, and Sauron forged the One Ring by himself in the fires of Mount Doom before returning to wage war on the elves. In The Simarillion all this happens in a matter of pages. But what exactly we’ll see take place in season two of The Rings of Power is yet to be determined.

Annatar in Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth

One interesting note about Sauron’s time as Annatar in Eregion from Tolkien’s Unfinished Tales reads:

Sauron used all his arts upon Celebrimbor and his fellow smiths, who had formed a society or brotherhood, very powerful in Eregion, the Gwaith-i-Mírdain; but he worked in secret, unknown to Galadriel and Celeborn. Before long, Sauron had the Gwaith-i-Mírdain under his influence, for at first they had great profit from his instruction in secret matters of their craft. So great became his hold on the Mírdain that, at length, he persuaded them to revolt against Galadriel and Celeborn and to seize power in Eregion; and that was at some time between 1350 and 1400 of the Second Age. Galadriel thereupon left Eregion and passed through Khazad-dûm to Lórinand, taking with her Amroth and Celebrían; but Celeborn would not enter the mansions of the Dwarves, and he remained behind in Eregion, disregarded by Celebrimbor. In Lórinand Galadriel took up rule, and defence against Sauron.

It will be interesting to see how the other smiths in Eregion react to Sauron’s Annatar in The Rings of Power season two… and whether Sauron can convince them to revolt against their elven brethren.

Jump to: Who Is Annatar on The Rings of Power? // How Did Sauron Become Annatar on The Rings of Power? // What Does Annatar Mean in The Lord of the Rings World? // Charlie Vickers’ Annatar Transformation // Why Didn’t Celebrimbor Know that Halbrand/Annatar Was Sauron? // Annatar on The Rings of Power Season 2 // More About Annatar From The Lord of the Rings‘ Lore

The post Who Is Annatar? Sauron’s New Form on THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER Explained appeared first on Nerdist.

What’s in a name? On The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power there’s clearly one important theme, and that’s rings. We know this season on The Rings of Power, we’ll be seeing at least 19 Rings of Power (drink) come to life at the hands of Celebrimbor, Sauron, or both. But how many of these Rings of Power have been forged already on season two of The Lord of the Rings series? Which ones are they? Who wears them as their ring bearers? Most importantly, what the heck do these Rings of Power even do on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power? (And do they do different things?)

Join us as we forge into the power (not of the flesh but over flesh) and break down all the Rings of Power we’ve seen so far on The Rings of Power.

Jump to:

• The Three Elven Rings: Who Wears Them the Three Elven Rings of Power? // What Are the Names of the Elven Rings? // What Powers do the Elven Rings of Power Have on The Rings of Power?
• The First Dwarven Rings of Power: How Do the Rings of Power Impact the Dwarves?
• Will We See the One Ring on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2?

The Three Elven Rings of Power (Forged During The Rings of Power Season One, Episode Eight)

In The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season one finale, we see the three elven Rings of Power forged in Eregion. It is true that these rings were formed according to the plan that Celebrimbor devised with Sauron. However, as noted in Tolkien’s lore, the three Elven Rings of Power are created after Galadriel confronts Sauron and he flees the elven realm. In this way, the three elven Rings of Power were “forged by Celebrimbor alone, and the hand of Sauron had never touched them.” (The Silmarillion) The elven rings of power are made out of mithril and gold and silver from Valinor. Thus, the Rings of Power can amplify the fading light of the Valar and stop the elves from fading away on Middle-earth.

Who Wears the Three Elven Rings of Power on The Rings of Power Season Two?

In season two, the Elven Rings of Power finally choose their ring bearers. Although Elrond wishes for Círdan, one of the oldest and most noble elves in Middle-earth, to destroy them. Ultimately, Círdan is unable to throw them into a deep trench in the ocean. Instead, he brings them back to the High King Gil-galad, entranced by their power and beauty. A ring slips from his grasp and rolls over to Galadriel, ostensibly choosing her.

And so the three Rings of Power go to their first elven owners, Galadriel, Círdan, and High King Gil-galad. In the story of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, the three elves become the first ringbearers in Middle-earth. It’s worth noting that in Tolkien’s lore, the elven rings were actually made last, and so they possessed the greatest power. However, adaptation is all about changing the narrative to suit the story, and so, in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, the three Elven Rings of Power were made first instead.

What Are the Names of the Elven Rings of Power?

The three Elven Rings of Power have specific names that hail from The Lord of the Rings lore. They are Narya, Nenya, and Vilya. The Ring of Power Círdan bears is called Narya. The Ring of Power Galadriel bears is called Nenya. And finally, the Ring of Power Gil-galad bears is called Vilya.

Tolkien shares in The Silmarillion, “Narya, Nenya, and Vilya, they were named, the Rings of Fire, and of Water, and of Air, set with ruby and adamant and sapphire.” The Rings of Power follows these descriptions in creating its Elven Rings of Power.

What Powers Do the Elven Rings of Power Have on Prime Video’s The Rings of Power?

Restoring the Light of the Valar

The first power revealed by the Elven Rings of Power in The Rings of Power series is the power to restore the fading light of the Valar to Middle-earth. When Galadriel, Gil-Galad, and Círdan don their rings, the effect is immediate. The dying Great Tree of Lindon is immediately restored to its full glory, signifying the light of the Valar, too, has been restored in Middle-earth. Had the light faded, the elves would have faded with it.

This interpretation of the Elven Rings of Power’s powers makes a lot of sense based on what we know about the three rings from The Lord of the Rings‘ lore. In Tolkien’s texts, the Elven Rings of Power are known to have the ability to “ward off the decays of time and postpone the weariness of the world” (The Silmarillion) and are “directed to the preservation of beauty.” (The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 131) We see both these ideas come directly to life in the context of The Rings of Powers‘ rings replenishing the fading light of the Valar.

Foresight

In addition, the Elven Rings seem to offer the power of Foresight or predictive visions. Galadriel, at least, seems to catch whispers of the future after donning Nenya. She has a rather disturbing vision of the seeds of Sauron she helped sow coming to life and suffocating Celebrimbor. Her Ring of Power appears to be drawing her into the Unseen World.

Attraction

Finally, the Elven Rings of Power seem to have a certain attractive sway over all living things that cross their path. When Círdan demonstrates the power of his ring to Elrond, it draws all the living things around it to it its light. Círdan seems to feel like this power can have a positive use… but it feels like a lot of power for any being to possess.

• Jump to The Three Elven Rings: Who Wears Them the Three Elven Rings of Power? // What Are the Names of the Elven Rings? // What Powers do the Elven Rings of Power Have on The Rings of Power?
• Jump to The Dwarven Rings of Power: How Do the Rings of Power Impact the Dwarves?
• Jump to Will We See the One Ring on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2?

The Dwarven Rings of Power (Forged During The Rings of Power Season Two, Episode Three)

In The Rings of Power season two’s first episodes, Prince Durin IV receives a mysterious summons from Celebrimbor in Eregion. Prince Durin and his father, King Durin III, agree to a temporary truce from their familiar spat to pursue it. After all, Khazad-dûm is in a bad way after the explosion of Mount Doom, and perhaps Celebrimbor and his mysterious collaborator, Annatar, can offer a power that will help. What kind of power? Dwarven Rings of Power.

In exchange for Mithril to make more rings, for the Dwarves and the rest of Middle-earth, Celebrimbor and Annatar/Sauron will give this power to the dwarves, making rings for the Dwarves, “one for each of Middle-earth’s most powerful Dwarf Lords.” Although Prince Durin is suspicious of the offer, he and King Durin agree to see where the Rings of Power will take them. Thus, we see the first Dwarven Ring of Power begin to be forged in The Rings of Power episode three. Celebrimbor promises that he can provide Rings that will heal Durin’s mountain, just as they healed Lindon’s Great Tree.

It’s bad news for the Dwarves, though, because Sauron, as Annatar, himself drops the Mithril into the fire to be forged. And that means this Dwarven Ring of Power has officially been corrupted by the Dark Lord before its even fully formed.

What Powers Do the Dwarven Rings of Power Have? And What Impact Do They Have on the Dwarves?

It’s too early to tell exactly what the impact of the Dwarven Rings of Power will be on the Dwarves. But in trailers for The Rings of Power season two, we see the Dwarven Ring of Power may very well corrupt King Durin III, turning him against his family and people.

In The Silmarillion, Tolkien notes the following The Lord the Rings‘ Dwarven Rings of Power: “The Dwarves indeed proved tough and hard to tame; they ill endure the domination of others, and the thoughts of their hearts are hard to fathom, nor can they be turned to shadows. They used their rings only for the getting of wealth; but wrath and an overmastering greed of gold were kindled in their hearts, of which evil enough after came to the profit of Sauron.”

In short, the Dwarves were less likely to fall under the evil manipulations of Sauron’s rings in The Lord of the Rings‘ world. However, the Rings of Power still inflamed some of their instincts toward greed and anger. We’ll just have to wait and see how The Rings of Power portray the powers and effects of the Dwarven Rings of Power.

Will We See the One Ring on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2?

As mentioned, official sources have confirmed we’ll see 19 Rings of Power this season on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. But will we see Sauron’s One Ring forged in The Rings of Power season two? The answer is… it’s possible. The Silmarillion‘s description of the events surrounding the forging of the Rings of Power is incredibly abridged, so it’s hard to say when exactly the forging of the One Ring will occur in the context of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. However, it’s worth nothing Sauron forged the One Ring before the sack of Eregion according to The Lord of the Rings‘ lore. With the sack of Eregion happening this season on The Rings of Power, it could be very possible we’ll see the forging of the One Ring as well.

For now, I’ll place my bets that we’ll see the One Ring forged as the final scene of The Rings of Power season two.

• Jump to The Three Elven Rings: Who Wears Them the Three Elven Rings of Power? // What Are the Names of the Elven Rings? // What Powers do the Elven Rings of Power Have on The Rings of Power?
• Jump to The First Dwarven Rings of Power: How Do the Rings of Power Impact the Dwarves?
• Jump to Will We See the One Ring on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2?

The post Which Rings of Power Have Been Forged on THE RINGS OF POWER? (Plus: Who Wears Them? And What Do They Do?) appeared first on Nerdist.

When real-life circumstances intervene in the filming of a fictional series, there are several paths a show can take. If an actor is no longer available to play a character, that character could be recast, they could be written off the story for a time, or they might be simply killed in the narrative to explain their absence. In June of 2024, Nazanin Boniadi, who played Bronwyn, announced that she would return in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two. And, of course, that left Bronwyn’s fate hanging in the balance. But what exactly happened to Bronwyn in the story of The Rings of Power after Boniadi departed from the series? Here’s what we learned about Bronwyn in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season three, episode two.

What Happens to Bronwyn on The Rings of Power Season 2?

Alas, it seems that when Nazanin Boniadi revealed she would not return as Bronwyn in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two, she meant that her absence would be a permanent one. The third episode of The Rings of Power‘s second season reveals that Bronwyn has indeed met her death in the world of the show.

Bronwyn’s Death On The Rings of Power

But just how did Bronwyn die in The Rings of Power‘s world? After all, last we saw her, she and Arondir seemed ready to begin a new life together in Pelargir, a Númenorean colony in Middle-earth. Arondir explains that although she appeared to be recovering from her wounds, as we saw at the end of The Rings of Power season one, that recovery was a deceptive one. Instead, the series reveals there was orcish poison on the arrow that wounded Bronwyn during The Rings of Power season one’s sixth episode actually contained orcish poison. Though Bronwyn seemed on the mend, this poison actually proved to be fatal, killing her on the series.

Bronwyn’s death takes place off-screen since Nazanin Boniadi did not return for any part of The Rings of Power season two. But despite this, we “see” a body to confirm Bronwyn’s death. The Rings of Power shows us Bronwyn’s funeral pyre in the third episode of season two. It seems that she had only just died when The Rings of Power season two begins. The funeral pyre is gorgeous and tragic, we feel for Arondir and Theo as they lay Bronwyn to rest.

Nazanin Boniadi Chose to Leave The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Although we will miss Bronwyn on The Rings of Power, we respect that actress Nazanin Boniadi made the decisions that were most right for her regarding the role. On Instagram, Boniadi explained a bit more about her departure from The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power ahead of season two. She wrote, “I made the choice not to return for season two of ‘Rings of Power.’ This was unrelated to my subsequent decision to prioritize my advocacy. Throughout my career, the values I have held most dear are honesty, empathy and integrity.  My character Bronwyn was committed to these same ideals in striving for a fairer world, which is why I connected so deeply with her. I look forward to sharing my latest projects with you soon.”

Although Bronwyn’s tale in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has ended with death, her influence will no doubt be felt as the series continues. Both Arondir, the elf she loved, and her son, Theo, will continue the legacy of her story.

The post THE RINGS OF POWER Season 2 Reveals Bronwyn’s Fate After Actress Nazanin Boniadi Leaves Series appeared first on Nerdist.

Círdan the Shipwright is a familiar figure to those invested in The Lord of the Rings lore and the world of  J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium. But those who are more casually acquainted with the franchise and its many nuances and materials might not be as aware of him. But now that Círdan has appeared in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two, it’s time to get to know the oldest elf in Middle-earth.

Like many of Tolkien’s characters, Círdan has a long and winding history. And so, here, we’ll touch on the parts of it that are most relevant to his appearance in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

Jump to: Who Is Círdan the Shipwright? // Círdan as The Lord of the Grey Havens // How Old Is Círdan the Shipwright? Círdan’s Origins // Círdan’s Power as an Elf: Wisdom and Foresight // Círdan as a Ring Bearer in The Lord of Rings‘ Lore and His Connection to Gandalf // Círdan in The Lord of the Rings Movies // Círdan the Shipwright’s Beard (As Seen in The Rings of Power)

Jump to: Círdan the Shipwright in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Who Is Círdan the Shipwright? Círdan’s The Lord of the Rings History as it Pertains to The Rings of Power

In short, Círdan the Shipwright is the oldest known elf to remain in Middle-earth during the time of the Second Age, the period when The Rings of Power takes place. Given that elves are immortal beings, this is really saying something about Círdan. We’ll discuss just how old he is in upcoming sections and what that means for his power as an elf.

Over the years, Círdan has honed the craft of shipbuilding, motivated by his desire to one day sail to the elven Undying Lands of Valinor. And this, of course, earned him the title of Círdan the Shipwright.  “Círdan” actually means “shipwright” in Sindarin elvish, so the title of Círdan the Shipwright is a bit redundant. But we guess it just underscores the point that no one builds better ships than Círdan. For The Lord of the Rings‘ Círdan, however, building ships is more than just a hobby; it’s one of the main thematic points of his story.

Círdan as The Lord of the Grey Havens

One of the most salient aspects of Círdan’s story lies in his shipbuilding, an art we see him engaging with in The Rings of Power season two. Círdan was meant to sail to Valinor, the revered realm of the elves, when the elves first set sail for it, before the ages of Middle-earth even began. But through a series of different circumstances, he ended up not undertaking the journey the first time or second time, and remained instead in Middle-earth, honing his shipbuilding craft.

At first, Círdan intended to use his skills in order to sail to Valinor himself, the light of it calling to him from the distance. But, as described in The Peoples of Middle-earth, a compilation of Tolkien’s writings, the Valar (or gods) sent him a vision that told him he could not yet embark on such a journey. Despite his great yearning to see realm of the elves, Círdan forewent the fulfillment of his greatest wish for an incredibly long time. The Lord of the Rings‘ texts note that Círdan’s “love of his kin and allegiance” lead him “forfeit the fulfilment of his greatest desire: to see the Blessed Realm.”

Instead, Círdan remained in Middle-earth to facilitate the building of such ships as the one Earendil, Elrond’s father, used to sail to Valinor in order to convince the Valar to help defeat Morgoth, Sauron’s predecessor, during the War of Wrath. Additionally, Círdan would become the Lord of the Grey Havens, helping to design the ships that could carry his fellow elves from the Havens to Valinor. Without Círdan’s knowledge, no elves could reach Valinor. Thus, while Círdan facilitated the connection to the lands, he, himself, could not sail over until the last days of the elves on Middle-earth. And, indeed, he was one of the last elves to leave Middle-earth.

How Old Is Círdan the Shipwright? Círdan’s Origins

We know that Círdan the Shipwright is the oldest elf in Middle-earth during its Second Age. But how old does that make him during the time of The Rings of Power? The truth is that Tolkien does not fully clarify Círdan’s age in his The Lord of the Rings writings. There is much discussion of whether Círdan, originally known as Nowë, awoke in Cuiviénen among the first elves ever created, but ultimately, Tolkien was not clear on this point. It seems some lean toward the idea that he was born in Cuiviénen, though he did not awaken there, while others believe that he did awaken with the first elves.

Regardless, as mentioned above, we do know that Círdan was a part of the “Great Journey” in The Lord of the Rings world. This refers to the journey the elves took from the place they first awakened, Cuiviénen, to the lands of Valinor. That journey took place on 1105th Year of the Trees, so Círdan must have been born before then.

In English, that means that Círdan would be upward of around 10,000 years old during the events of The Lord of the Rings and somewhere around 7,000 years old during the events of The Rings of Power, which take place about 3,000 years before the Fellowship of the Ring forms.

Jump to: Who Is Círdan the Shipwright? // Círdan as The Lord of the Grey Havens // How Old Is Círdan the Shipwright? Círdan’s Origins // Círdan’s Power as an Elf: Wisdom and Foresight // Círdan as a Ring Bearer in The Lord of Rings‘ Lore and His Connection to Gandalf // Círdan in The Lord of the Rings Movies // Círdan the Shipwright’s Beard (As Seen in The Rings of Power)

Jump to: Círdan the Shipwright in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Círdan’s Power as an Elf: Wisdom and Foresight

Of course, as such an old elf, Círdan is known to be one of the wisest and most respected elves around. Galadriel notes this of Círdan in The Rings of Power season two’s first episodes, saying that even High King Gil-galad would be forced to respect his opinions. But in addition to this, Tolkien seems to imply that Círdan was blessed by the Valar with special powers of foresight. Tolkien writes that after the Valar gave Círdan the vision not to sail to Valinor, and to remain in Middle-earth; “From that night onwards Círdan received a foresight touching all matters of importance, beyond the measure of all other Elves upon Middle-earth.”

Additionally, Tolkien writes, “Círdan is said in the Annals of the Third Age (c.1000) to have seen further and deeper into the future than anyone else in Middle-earth.(31) This does not include the Istari (who came from Valinor), but must include even Elrond, Galadriel, and Celeborn.”

Círdan as a Ring Bearer in The Lord of Rings‘ Lore and His Connection to Gandalf

Tolkien also reveals that Círdan was one of the original bearers of the Elven Rings of Power. As we see in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Círdan was the first to wear the elven ring Narya, the Ring of Fire.

In The Lord of the Rings lore, Círdan spoke out against the creation of the Rings before they were made and was suspicious of Sauron. But, of course, in The Rings of Power, he did not know about the creation of the rings until they were already made. In The Lord of the Ring‘s books, he also accompanies Elrond and Isildur into the heart of Mount Doom after Sauron’s initial defeat at the end of the Second Age. There, he and Elrond urge Isildur to throw the One Ring into the fire and destroy it (and Sauron) once and for all. Isildur, of course, does not do that.

Círdan and Gandalf

But Círdan makes one very important decision with his Ring. Although it is a precious possession to him, he gives it to Gandalf during the Third Age of Middle-earth as the threat of Sauron begins to grow again. Tolkien writes in The Lord of the Rings’ Appendix B, that Círdan said to Gandalf. “Take this ring, Master… for your labours will be heavy; but it will support you in the weariness that you have taken upon yourself. For this is the Ring of Fire, and with it, you may rekindle hearts in a world that grows chill. But as for me, my heart is with the Sea, and I will dwell by the grey shores until the last ship sails. I will await you.”

It was his great powers of foresight that allowed Círdan to know how crucial it would be for Gandalf to bear the Ring of Power. But with The Rings of Power hinting that The Stranger might very well be Gandalf, we may see this Ring of Power leave Círdan’s hands earlier than planned.

Jump to: Who Is Círdan the Shipwright? // Círdan as The Lord of the Grey Havens // How Old Is Círdan the Shipwright? Círdan’s Origins // Círdan’s Power as an Elf: Wisdom and Foresight // Círdan as a Ring Bearer in The Lord of Rings‘ Lore and His Connection to Gandalf // Círdan in The Lord of the Rings Movies // Círdan the Shipwright’s Beard (As Seen in The Rings of Power)

Jump to: Círdan the Shipwright in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Círdan in The Lord of the Rings Movies

But is Círdan in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings movies? Yes, but only very briefly. In the movies, we see Círdan twice. First, we see him in the prologue of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring; he is behind Galadriel admiring his ring. Second, we see him at the end of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, standing behind Galadriel, Elrond, and Celeborn in the Grey Havens as they finally prepare to depart for Valinor. Notably, Círdan does not appear in the scene where Elrond tries to convince Isildur to destroy the One Ring. However, perhaps The Rings of Power will take the chance to give Círdan back this important role.

In The Lord of the Rings movies, Michael Elsworth plays Círdan.

Círdan the Shipwright’s Beard (As Seen in The Rings of Power)

Yes, Círdan is an elf with a beard. Tolkien only mentions Círdan’s beard once, in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, when Círdan is preparing to finally leave Middle-earth and sail West with Elrond and Galadriel. Tolkien writes, “As they came to the gates, Círdan the Shipwright came forth to greet them. Very tall he was, and his beard was long, and he was grey and old, save that his eyes were keen as stars; and he looked at them and bowed, and said: ‘All is now ready.’”

Why does Círdan have a beard when no other elves do? We assume it’s because he is just that old. Although we meet Círdan with his beard in The Rings of Power, he shaves it off in episode three. We feel curious to know how long it might take an elf to grow his beard back.

Círdan the Shipwright in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Círdan is a lot younger in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power than he will be when he finally sails west to Valinor. But as mentioned, The Rings of Power already gives Círdan his beard in the Second Age, if only for an episode or two. But, hey, he’s already pretty old. In The Rings of Power, Círdan is played by Ben Daniels.

We first meet the series’ version of Círdan in The Rings of Power season two’s first episode. Elrond turns to him for counsel on the Rings of Power. Recall that Círdan knew Elrond’s father. At first, Círdan is on board to destroy the Rings, even if it means that all elves must leave Middle-earth to its fate. Círdan trusts Elrond’s instincts and refuses to even examine the Rings of Power for fear of how they might sway him. But when fate intervenes to knock one into his hands, he too falls under their spell. Ultimately, Círdan brings the rings back to High King Gil-galad in Lindon. He, Gil-galad, and Galadriel put on the elven Rings of Power and, in doing so, restore the light of the Valar to Middle-earth.

Círdan seems to think the elves can harness the Rings of Power for good and that “beauty born in evil is no less beautiful.” He tells Elrond in episode three of The Rings of Power, “We do not yet fully understand these rings, but look at the power they exert over every form of life. In Sauron’s hands, they could work an evil beyond reckoning, dominating the minds and wills of all. This is why they must remain in the hands of Elves. You are wise to fear this power… but do not let that fear blind you to the ways it can be used for good.”

We’ll have to wait and see what journey Círdan undertakes in The Rings of Power‘s second season and beyond.

Jump to: Who Is Círdan the Shipwright? // Círdan as The Lord of the Grey Havens // How Old Is Círdan the Shipwright? Círdan’s Origins // Círdan’s Power as an Elf: Wisdom and Foresight // Círdan as a Ring Bearer in The Lord of Rings‘ Lore and His Connection to Gandalf // Círdan in The Lord of the Rings Movies // Círdan the Shipwright’s Beard (As Seen in The Rings of Power)

Jump to: Círdan the Shipwright in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

The post Who Is Círdan the Shipwright? The Oldest Elf in Middle-Earth’s RINGS OF POWER Journey and LORD OF THE RINGS History appeared first on Nerdist.

In season one of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, the elf Galadriel inadvertently fell prey to the Dark Lord Sauron and his deceptions. While seeking to destroy Sauron, Galadriel, in her stubborn single-mindedness, helped him return to his full power instead. Despite this, Galadriel followed through with Sauron’s plan and helped to forge the Elven Rings of Power at the end of the season. But all of that has left its mark. In celebration of season two of The Rings of Power, Nerdist sat down with Morfydd Clark, who plays Galadriel on the show, to discuss where Galadriel’s journey will take her in the wake of her season one revelations. In our conversation, Clark dives deep with us to discuss Galadriel’s still-present pull toward Halbrand, the potential for fireworks with Sauron, a complicated relationship with Adar, and where the elf finds herself heading this season.

You can check out our full The Rings of Power season two Galadrien interview with Morfydd Clark below.

Nerdist: The loss of a friendship is never easy, and in season one, Galadriel lets Halbrand into parts of herself that she walled off from almost everyone else. Does Galadriel miss Halbrand, and how does she deal with the loss of him in The Rings of Power season two?

Morfydd Clark: I feel she definitely misses Halbrand, and I think she also misses herself before she was betrayed. I think there’s a loss of innocence once that’s happened to you. And yeah, and I think also something big that has happened is that she’s seeing herself as corruptible and that’s a tough thing to come to terms with.

Do you think that Galadriel believes anything Sauron told her as Halbrand, for instance, being sorry for killing her brother, not really wanting to go back to Middle-earth, things like that?

Clark: Yes. I feel there are parts of her that want to that she doesn’t allow herself to feel. It’s taking fierce control from her to, first of all, not kind of give into him and then also to kind of move on from this entanglement that she was in. But I also think that whether she thinks what he said is true or not, he’s changed her, and that’s so annoying.

What do you imagine a The Rings of Power reunion between Sauron and Galadriel would be like at this point?

Clark: I mean, I’m really excited about them eventually, say, coming face to face again because there’ll be fireworks for sure. And I mean, it just was interesting comprehending that as an actor, thinking in this world, there is the most evil thing, and he’s kind of obsessed with you. And you know now that it’s so real and what it would mean to join him. What I love about Tolkien is that there are loads of shades of gray within his world, but then also there’s kind of Galadriel and Sauron are just stark opposites. And so the idea of them coming together is just always going to be exciting because it’s like they shouldn’t exist in the same universe, but they do.

In season one, Galadriel was so singularly self-assured in her past, but then that assurance did lead her astray. Does her guilt over her mistakes drive her or make her doubt herself? And what roads does that lead Galadriel down in The Rings of Power season two?

Clark: I think that they make her healthily doubt herself, but also she knows that there’s no time for her to be in a slump. And so she’s kind of like a wounded animal who’s having to keep running and try and lick their wounds, but there’s no time for it. And that’s tough.

Have her own black-and-white visions of the world softened or hardened in the wake of Halbrand’s betrayal?

Clark: So this is what I think is beautiful about elves: they continue to see kind of light and beauty no matter what happens. And ultimately, even though she was kind of almost as individualistic and unconnected to her elfness last season as she could be, she is an elf. And so, even though the darkness is so much more frightening and so much more real, she still can see it. She knows that light is there and has to be thoughtful.

Something that struck me as I was rewatching season one and beginning season two are the interesting parallels between Galadriel and Adar on The Rings of Power. They both have this complicated love-hate relationship with Sauron, and they kind of want to kill him but also crave him. Adar pointed this out a little bit in season one. Do you think that’s something Galadriel could ever consider in a kind of “enemy of my enemy as my friend” way? Or could she just never see something like that?

Clark: Yeah, it’s an interesting thought. I mean, Adar is so interesting because he was an elf, and I think that will always be something that she can’t forget. And he also was an elf who was abandoned. And so this is something that’s so interesting about elves as well, is they’re complicit in everything that’s ever happened because they were there. So I think seeing Adar’s existence is extremely confronting and will never be something that she’ll be able to get any easy answers from or know what’s the right thing to do necessarily. I think he’s much more confusing to her than Sauron.

Do we see them have any more interactions this season?

Clark: Maybe.

Although the Elven Rings of Power were not touched by Sauron, they do have this hypnotic pull to them. Does Galadriel’s ring control her, or does she control her ring on The Rings of Power season two?

Clark: Well, the thing is, they don’t know. This is what is the big thing. They’re taking a massive risk because the situation is so dire, and they don’t know what’s going to happen from that. And that’s going to be really interesting seeing whether they’ve made the right decision, whether they’ll ever feel whether they have, and I like to think that the rings influence the people, but also, or the elves, but the wearer influences the ring as well. So it’s going to be forever changing.

Galadriel confirmed the existence of Celeborn in season one of The Rings of Power. Is that a facet of her life that’s explored in season two?

Clark: Well, I find it really emotional that she thinks that Celeborn is dead. And I like to feel that there’s this part of her that isn’t awake; the softest part of her has been closed. And one day, hopefully, Celeborn will be there to make her safe again.

Are there any new characters that Galadriel interacts with this season of The Rings of Power that you particularly enjoyed seeing her meet?

Clark: Yes. Her and Elrond have a little band of elves, which was so much fun. And yeah, that was great. And it’s also exciting whenever a new elf is cast, like what’s their special thing? What are they going to be particularly amazing at? And we had some great, great actors. So yeah, we see her in very different situations to season one, where she was alone amongst men.

Speaking of Elrond, their bond begins in a complicated place in season two. How do you think the pair might begin to mend that relationship?

Clark: Yeah, I think it’s really tough for Elrond to forgive what she did, and I think all she can do is wait and hope.

And finally, are there any parts of Tolkien’s lore that you’re especially excited to see brought to life this season of The Rings of Power?

Clark: My desire to spoil right now is very strong, but I can’t, so I’ll just say there are things I’m very excited about.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is now streaming on Prime Video.

The post Morfydd Clark Dives Into Losing Halbrand, Fireworks with Sauron, and Celeborn’s Potential Return in THE RINGS OF POWER Season 2 appeared first on Nerdist.

Recently, we at Nerdist had the pleasure of speaking to Charles Edwards, who plays Lord Celebrimbor, and Charlie Vickers, who plays Sauron, about The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two. Since our recent tweet was such a hit, we couldn’t help but ask Charles Edwards if he thought Celebrimbor would have a banner season this year on The Rings of Power. As Edwards considered his answer, Charlie Vickers very helpfully illustrated our question with some evocative hand gestures. This is an, if you know, you know, kind of situation for The Lord of the Rings fans, and we’re not going to get too deep into spoiler-territory, but we’re going to put it under a spoiler warning anyway.

You can watch Charles Edwards and Charlie Vickers react to the mention of Celebrimbor, The Rings of Power, and a banner in the video above. And it is truly hilarious. But we felt the most interesting thing was Edwards’ response to the invocation of a banner. He noted that rumors of Celebrimbor’s banner year in season two of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power “might be premature.” Make of that what you will. More than that, he couldn’t possibly say. But honestly, it’s a lot to consider. Could he mean that Celebrimbor will never have a banner year on The Rings of Power? Or just that it just won’t be in season two? We’ll have to mull that over a while longer.

In the meanwhile, thanks to Vickers, we have an approximation of Sauron’s banner behavior to tide us over. Let no one ever say we never gave you any gifts, good people of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power fandom. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season two begins streaming on Prime Video on August 29.

The post Will Celebrimbor Have a Banner Season on THE RINGS OF POWER? Charles Edwards Weighs In appeared first on Nerdist.

Perhaps you, like me, have become a huge fan of Adar on The Rings of Power and, by extension, feel fondly toward his beloved children, the Uruk—derogatorily known as orcs. If so, then you’ve probably found yourself returning to one important line from Tolkien’s lore. In The Lord of the Rings precursor text, The Silmarillion, Tolkien shares something very interesting about The Last Alliance of Elves and Men, the final great stand of Middle-earth’s forces of good against Sauron’s evil in the Second Age (when The Rings of Power takes place). He writes, “All living things were divided in that day, and some of every kind, even of beasts and birds, were found in either host, save the Elves only. They alone were undivided and followed Gil-galad.” What was that Tolkien, some of every kind?

To us, that sounds very much like the orcs, or Uruk, as they prefer everyone call them, had a canonical presence on the side of good during this great battle. And that means they fought against Sauron to help save Middle-earth from evil. On The Lord of the Rings‘ prequel series, we’re still some time away from The Last Alliance. But if the Uruk/orcs intend to join the forces of goodness on The Rings of Power, they should probably get started sooner rather than later. Maybe as soon as season two?

We brought up this point and quote to showrunner Patrick McKay, who agreed that the story of the Uruk/orcs sits at the heart of The Rings of Power‘s second season. In fact, the question of the orc and Uruk dichotomy is exactly what’s at on the table in The Rings of Power season two.

McKay shared with the following about the orcs’ story in The Rings of Power upcoming episodes:

Season two of The Rings of Power is very much concerned with who the orcs are, or as they prefer to be known, the Uruk. Well, actually, maybe that’s a good way of saying it. Are they orcs? Or are they Uruk? That is very much one of the questions that season two is interrogating. We have this battle for control of Mordor and the Orc Nation between Adar and Sauron. There are two snakes in a basket here, and you have to see who wins and how to see what the fate of the Uruk will be.

Are they orcs? Or are they Uruk? For now, they’re obviously Uruk. But will they be able to stop themselves from becoming orcs when Rings of Power are in play? In early clips from season two of The Rings of Power, Sauron has already threatened Adar with this outcome. Under the guise of Halbrand, Sauron insinuates he’ll enslave the Uruk when he rises to power. It’s clear he means to bind them to his will with the rings. If that happens on The Rings of Power, Adar’s children will have no choice but to obey and will undoubtedly become orcs, as we know them in the Third Age, at Sauron’s hands.

But in The Rings of Power season two, the Uruk might have more options available to them. Before Adar tried to kill Sauron, both Sauron and the Elves threatened the orcs’ survival in The Rings of Power‘s world. The former tried to enslave them, and the latter to slay them. The Uruk were between a rock and a hard place. No beings truly allowed them to be better than the expectations set out for their kind. Would the elves really have entertained an orc pledging to fight alongside them for good in the early Second Age? It seems unlikely.

But as Sauron’s threat grows in The Rings of Power season two, the status quo for orcs could change. It looks like Galadriel and Adar might come to form a tenuous alliance despite themselves. Perhaps, through that connection, the elves might understand that the orcs are not just simple instruments of evil. But, as Adar said in season one, each of the Uruk has a name and a heart. Each of the Uruk has the ability to choose to be more than just an orc in The Rings of Power‘s Middle-earth. At least for now…

Quite honestly, The Rings of Power‘s Uruk/orcs seem to want nothing more than a home and quiet. Uruk nation, we’re rooting for you. We just hope that when the moment comes, Adar can also make it to the Last Alliance alongside his children.

The post Are They Orcs or Uruk? THE RINGS OF POWER Showrunner Says Uruk Nation’s Identity Is Central to Season 2 appeared first on Nerdist.