IRL https://comicbook.com/irl/feed/rss/ Sat, 18 May 2024 06:19:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 IRL RSS Generator Taco Bell Brings Back Fan Favorite Menu Item By Popular Demand https://comicbook.com/irl/news/taco-bell-brings-back-cheesy-chicken-crispanada/ Sat, 18 May 2024 04:51:00 +0000 Nicole Drum b7d45105-80ef-4aad-82d4-63604c10cfce

Taco Bell has brought back a fan favorite menu item thanks to popular demand just a few months after it left menus. On Thursday, Taco Bell announced the return of the Cheesy Chicken Crispanada, though fans of the popular menu item will want to act fast as it is back only for a limited time.

The Cheesy Chicken Crispanada was first unveiled at Taco Bell's Liv Mas event earlier this year and hit menus back in February. Despite it being a new item -- a cheese and shredded chicken packed fried empanada -- the item has proven to be very popular with customers who were vocal about wanting to see it return.

"Taco Bell's commitment to push the boundaries of food creativity and innovation is grounded in its fusion-first ethos, creating a synergy where beloved flavors and forms come together to produce something entirely new," Taco Bell said when the menu item was first introduced. "The Cheesy Chicken Crispanada is a testament to Taco Bell's collaborative creativity, featuring up-leveled ingredients, unique new formats and unexpected flavors that modernize the menu while celebrating the Mexican-inspired roots that have long been at the heart of Taco Bell."

The Cheesy Chicken Crispanada is available for $3.49 at participating locations. As was noted above, they are available for a limited time.

In Other Fast Food News

In other fast food news, McDonald's just announced their latest menu offering, the new Grandma McFlurry, which will be available May 21st. According to McDonald's, the new Grandma McFlurry is sweet "just like grandma" and features a delicious syrup with chopped crunchy candy pieces -- like grandma's favorite treat that she hid in her purse -- blended in McDonald's creamy vanilla soft serve. McDonald's says it's perfect to enjoy yourself, or to share with the grandma or grandma-figure in your life. The new McFlurry was developed by a member of the McDonald's culinary team who just so happens to be a grandmother herself.

"The new Grandma McFlurry was created a Culinary team member who is a grandmother herself," Marcelo Fajnerman, VP Menu Strategy said. "She was relentless in perfecting a deliciously craveable treat meant to evoke special memories with grandma or the grandma-figure in your life, drawing from her own experiences."

"Grandmas have always held a special place in our hearts, and today they're having a major moment influencing our culture -- inspiring trends in fashion, decor, and now, even food with our newest McFlurry," Tariq Hassan, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer at McDonald's said. "The Grandma McFlurry tastes like a trip down memory lane, and we're excited to give our fans that experience while honoring the grandma-figure in all our lives."

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X-Men '97 Finale Breakdown & Season 2 Preview, IF (2024) Review https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/x-men-97-finale-breakdown-season-2-preview-if-2024-review/ Fri, 17 May 2024 21:16:00 +0000 Kofi Outlaw 2bb428ab-d1ca-4dc5-83c5-78dd8ba7f7b1

The ComicBook Nation crew breaks down the X-Men '97 Season 1 Finale and discusses all the reveals about the Season 2 storyline. We also review the new movie IF (2024).

PLUS: Geek News includes some big renewal news for some of streaming's hottest shows; a breakdown of Amazon's The Rings of Power Season 2 Trailer, and the Spider-Verse expands with Nic Cage's Spider-Man Noir TV show - even as Amazon's Silk: Spider Society series dies in development.

IF (2024) Review

ComicBook critic Jamie Jirak's IF movie review gives the film 3.5 out of 5 stars:

The film does a good job of reminding its audience that there's a kid in all of us, and that time can never truly take away your imagination. It's been a while since I looked around in a theater and saw multiple grown men shedding a tear. Krasinski knows how to appeal to parents, especially dads. While IF may not be a perfectly pieced-together movie, there's enough heart embedded in its core to make it a worthy trip to the cinema for families. The cast is delightful, the IFs are magical, and the warmth is undeniable.

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Chris Pratt Shares Tribute to His Late Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World Stunt Double https://comicbook.com/movies/news/chris-pratt-shares-tribute-late-guardians-of-the-galaxy-and-jurassic-world-stunt-double-tony-mcfarr/ Fri, 17 May 2024 18:55:00 +0000 Jamie Jirak e2533129-4b21-43a9-8035-0c9f6040a0af

The sad news broke yesterday that Tony McFarr, the stuntman best known for doubling Chris Pratt, had passed away at age 47. The cause of McFarr's death is currently unknown, but it was revealed that he died on May 13th at his home outside of Orlando, Florida. McFarr had 60 stunt credits to his name and doubled Pratt on Passengers, Jurassic World, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Yesterday, Pratt took to his Instagram stories to pay tribute to McFarr and share photos of them together on set.

"Devastated to hear about the loss of my friend and former stunt double Tony McFarr," Pratt wrote. "We did several movies together. We golfed, drank whiskey, smoked cigars, and spent endless hours on set. I'll never forget his toughness. I remember he took a nasty shot to the head (in the title sequence of 'Guardians 2') and got several staples in his head came right back to work ready to go again. He was an absolute stud."

"He was always a gentleman and professional," Pratt continued. "He'll be missed. My prayers go out to his friends and family, especially his daughter." You can view an image Pratt posted below, and see more of his stories here.

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(Photo: Chris Pratt's Instagram)

Tony McFarr's Stunt Credits:

McFarr's first stunt roles were back in 2011 in Bones and Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon. His television credits included Teen Wolf, Burn Notice, Homeland, The Originals, Halt and Catch Fire, The Walking Dead, MacGyver, The Gifted, and more. His film credits included Rock of Ages, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1, Furious 7, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2, Captain America: Civil War, Logan Lucky, Pitch Perfect 3, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Ant-Man and the Wasp, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, and more.

His final credit was for the short film, Grobb, in 2022. He also had a few acting credits to his name, including episodes of Burn Notice, One Tree Hill, and MacGyver. During his career, he was nominated for three Screen Actors Guild Awards for "Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture" for Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon, Jurassic World, and Ant-Man and the Wasp.

Our thoughts are with McFarr's family and friends, including Chris Pratt, at this difficult time.

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Twitter Officially Rebrands as X.com, Drops Twitter URL https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/twitter-rebrands-x-com-url/ Fri, 17 May 2024 16:55:00 +0000 Tanner Dedmon c69889f2-47fb-46b9-a19c-b4331c64fc1e

One of the last holdouts of the old Twitter has now been removed with Twitter.com officially rebranded as X.com overnight. This marks the latest -- and presumably one of the last -- efforts to fully move the social media platform over to Elon Musk's preferred "X" branding following the erasure of other remnants of Twitter such as tweets themselves. Musk confirmed the change himself this week while referencing the old logo of previous efforts to make X.com a thing before it finally came to fruition after the Twitter takeover.

Musk tweeted about the conversion over on what's now formally known as X.com by saying "All core systems are now on X.com." What he means by this is that if you follow the link here and see his tweet, you'll notice that your URL for the post should start with "x.com" now. This differs from the previous URL which has always started with "twitter.com" even after Musk took over, though you could sometimes see the "x.com" link when using the "share" button to send the tweets elsewhere.

The functionality of these URLs and the X platform remain the same regardless of the change, however, so this is really just more of a continued effort to finalize the X rebranding than anything that'd have an actual effect on users. While some changes made during the switch from Twitter to X have come off as abrasive or unnecessary to many users, ones like this URL change won't really matter much in regards to how you use X since old Twitter links including "twitter.com" itself now just default to the same page but with an "x.com" domain instead. Other changes made in a similar fashion prior to this one include rebranding "tweets" as simply "posts."

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The old logo in Musk's tweet above harkens back to the early days of PayPal whenever "X" was a proposed name for that company as well, though it was met with opposition which eventually overcame the suggestion. Musk's spacefaring company SpaceX showed that he still had visions for "X" in some form or another, and the Twitter rebranding finally achieved at least that goal by converting the social platform over to X.

Still, there will be those who will continue to call X "Twitter" whether out of habit or defiance to Musk's sometimes abrasive decisions. Considering the branding Twitter previously had with its blue bird icon and the fact that it made "tweet" so prolific that it transcended from noun to verb, "tweet" is just easier and more ingrained for most users who aren't making the change simply out of loyalty to Musk's initiatives.

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Horizon: An American Saga Trailer 2 Showcases Kevin Costner's Civil War Western https://comicbook.com/movies/news/horizon-an-american-saga-trailer-2-kevin-costner/ Fri, 17 May 2024 13:32:00 +0000 Kofi Outlaw 9133db44-2977-4b9e-a23a-2a5cc08a7099

The new trailer for Kevin Costner's Horizon: An American Saga reveals even more of the grand epic western that Costner has made, set in the era of the American Civil War.

As you can see in the trailer below, the footage that Costner has captured is pretty great. Pretty pictures don't necessarily promise that this lengthy, two-part cinematic story will hold together as a sweeping narrative - or that Costner can capture and maintain tone, style, and rhythm as a director, but he certainly has a stacked cast of performers to help him get there.

The cast of Horizon: An American Saga includes Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jena Malone, Owen Crow Shoe, Tatanka Means, Ella Hunt, Tim Guinee, Danny Huston, Colin Cunningham, Scott Haze, Tom Payne, Abbey Lee, Michael Rooker, Will Patton, Georgia MacPhail, Douglas Smith, Luke Wilson, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jamie Campbell Bower, Alejandro Edda, Was? Winyan Chief, Michael Anganaro, Angus Macfadyen, Jon Beavers, Alex Nibley, Kathleen Quinlan, Etienne Kellici, Amos Jason Charging Cloud, Bodhi Okuma Linton, Gregory Cruz, James Russo, Jeff Fahey, David O'Hara, Chris Conner, Leroy M. Silva, Bernardo Velasco, Tom Everett, Glynn Turman, Giovanni Ribisi and more.

What Is Horizon: An American Saga About?

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(Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)

As per the synopsis from Warner Bros and New Line:

Academy Award-winning visionary filmmaker Kevin Costner directs New Line Cinema's vast "Horizon: An American Saga" Chapters One and Two, a multi-faceted chronicle covering the Civil War expansion and settlement of the American West. A story of America too big for one film, this true cinematic event also stars Costner, who co-writes with Jon Baird ("The Explorers Guild") and produces through his Territory Pictures.

In the great tradition of Warner Bros. Pictures' iconic Westerns, "Horizon: An American Saga" explores the lure of the Old West and how it was won-and lost-through the blood, sweat and tears of many. Spanning the four years of the Civil War, from 1861 to 1865, Costner's ambitious cinematic adventure will take audiences on an emotional journey across a country at war with itself, experienced through the lens of families, friends and foes all attempting to discover what it truly means to be the United States of America.

Horizon: An American Saga - Part 1 will be released in theaters on June 28th. Part 2 has a release date of August 16th.

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Totino's Rolls Out New Breakfast Bites https://comicbook.com/irl/news/totinos-rolls-out-new-breakfast-bites/ Fri, 17 May 2024 04:58:00 +0000 Nicole Drum e6c5507d-4ec9-4615-8188-e9f43b07ee6e

Fans of Totino's Pizza Rolls, your calls for a breakfast option have been heard. Totino's is rolling out their first foray into the frozen breakfast aisle with new Totino's Breakfast Snack Bites. The new bites are rolling out to select grocery stores now and will have expanded availability at Walmart and Kroger this summer.

The new bites are similar to the iconic Pizza Rolls and can be made in just two minutes in the microwave. They also utilize the same golden crust beloved by Pizza Rolls fans but the real innovation comes with the fillings. The new Breakfast Snack Bites come in three flavors: Pork Shoulder Bacon & Cheese Scramble, Sausage & Cheese Scramble, and Cheesy Chorizo Scramble. You can check out the description of each flavor offering below.

o Pork Shoulder Bacon & Cheese Scramble: The G.O.A.T. breakfast of pork shoulder bacon with cheesy flavor in our crispy crust.

o Sausage & Cheese Scramble: Bits of pork sausage and an explosion of cheesy flavor are wrapped in a golden crust that turns a classic breakfast into a tasty poppable bite.

o Cheesy Chorizo Scramble: Smoky chorizo crumbles and cheesy flavor come together in a hot bite-sized pocket of goodness.

The new Totino's Breakfast Bites come in 40-count packages with a suggested retail price of $7.19. You can find them in the frozen breakfast aisle, though they might also be located in the hot snacks frozen aisle alongside the iconic Totino's Pizza Rolls.

In Other Food News

In other recent food news, Goldfish announced the return of their fan favorite Goldfish Old Bay Seasoned Crackers ahead of the Memorial Day holiday. The crackers feature the distinct blend of 18 herbs and spices and time-honored taste of Od Bay. The flavor will be available for a limited time only. Additionally, Goldfish has teamed up with Summer House to give away a 10.5-foot Goldfish-shaped pool floatie that comes with a splashproof snack pouch perfect for holding those snacks.

"Goldfish Old Bay Seasoned Crackers are back by popular demand," Mike Fanelli, Senior Director, Snacks Marketing - Goldfish said. "The go-to, crave-worth summer snack that people can't wait to get their hands on is perfect for the beach, pool days, or road trips. This year we're excited to be kicking off the season by bringing back the beloved flavor with the people who know how to summer best."

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Goldfish Brings Back Fan Favorite Old Bay Flavor For the Summer https://comicbook.com/irl/news/goldfish-brings-back-fan-favorite-old-bay-flavor-for-the-summer/ Fri, 17 May 2024 03:13:00 +0000 Nicole Drum e65644aa-4153-41af-8039-b6b50158974b

The first official holiday of summer is right around the corner and to celebrate the return of the season of fun and sun, Goldfish is bringing back a fan favorite flavor. On Thursday, Goldfish announced that the wildly popular Goldfish Old Bay Seasoned Crackers are making their return again this summer just in time for Memorial Day. More than that, Goldfish is also teaming up with Bravo's Summer House to kick off the season not just with the snack but with a 10.5-foot Goldfish-shaped pool floatie that comes with splashproof snack pouches perfect for holding your Goldfish Old Bay Seasoned Crackers.

"We spent a lot of time snacking in the summer house, whether it be in bed or by the pool and everyone I know loves Goldfish. I tried Old Bay Goldfish and it is seriously so good," Summer House housemate Amanda Batula said. "The iconic Goldfish cracker paired with the bold taste of Old Bay seasoning is perfect and I can't wait to bring this new favorite flavor into the mix!"

The pool floatie is available exclusively via giveaway. Fans just need to go to GoldfishSummerHouseGiveaway.com and fill out an entry form for a chance to win. 20 winners will be selected at random each day May 16-20, 2024. As for the Old Bay Goldfish, they are back for a limited time while supplies last.

"Goldfish Old Bay Seasoned Crackers are back by popular demand," Mike Fanelli, Senior Director, Snacks Marketing - Goldfish said. "The go-to, crave-worth summer snack that people can't wait to get their hands on is perfect for the beach, pool days, or road trips. This year we're excited to be kicking off the season by bringing back the beloved flavor with the people who know how to summer best."

For fans wanting to get their hands on the Old Bay Goldfish, those are back at retailers now for a suggested retail price of $3.69. The crackers, which have been wildly popular both in their initial release and when they came back last summer, features the distinct blend of 18 herbs and spices and time-honored taste of Od Bay. The flavor will be available for a limited time only, while supplies last so stock up while you can.

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Is IF (2024) Too Scary For Kids? A Spoiler-Free Answer For Parents https://comicbook.com/movies/news/is-if-movie-2024-scary-sad-for-kids-rating-reviews/ Thu, 16 May 2024 20:39:00 +0000 Kofi Outlaw aafe2fae-2a0a-44df-b102-0ced9e0cef08

Is Paramount's IF (2024) movie too scary or sad for kids? A lot of parents are asking that question as IF (2024) opens in theaters - and we have the spoiler-free answer to share!

What Is IF (2024) About?

From writer and director John Krasinski, IF is about a young girl named Bea, who has been going through a troubling experience in her life, unexpectedly gains the ability to see people's imaginary friends (referred to as "IFs" for short) who have been abandoned by the kids they helped. Bea then discovers that her neighbor, Cal, has the same ability. Together they join forces to reunite the IFs with their former kids.

That's a nice, whimsical, synopsis - but it doesn't necessarily let parents in on the fact that IF tackles serious subject matter that may be too intense for younger children. Although the film has a PG rating, it's in the details of that rating that the devil lies: "Rated PG for thematic elements and mild language."

Is IF (2024) Too Scary or Sad For Kids?

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(Photo: Paramount Pictures)

Those "thematic elements" warned about in the PG rating for IF have to do with the premise of the story. The young protagonist, Bea (Cailey Fleming), is a girl going through the unthinkable trauma of having lost a parent while having the other parent facing a perilous health scare. It's the stress of that situation that makes Bea seek comfort and purpose in the plight of the Imaginary Friends.

When IF takes that detour into the coping and healing power of fanciful imagination through its menagerie of Imaginary Friends, the film is great for kids. However, it is admittedly a hard entryway into the film, with director John Krasinski giving viewers a UP-style montage of happy family experiences that end in deep tragedy. If that isn't a portion of the film that's too emotionally stressful for young kids (6 or younger), then it is arguably too "adult" and dramatic to really grab their attention - until the colorful IF characters start showing up. Similarly, the ending of IF requires that viewers once again leave all the imaginative fun behind and deal with the real-world stakes that Bea has to deal with.

There's nothing in these bookending portions of IF that is inherently bad or disturbing for kids; however, parents of young ones may want to be aware of these elements in the film BEFORE determining whether or not it's suitable for the family.

Ironically enough, all of the aforementioned content in IF's story is arguably more upsetting for parents, who may find concepts like untimely deaths, leaving a child orphaned, or anxiety about health concerns, stressful in a family film experience.

IF (2024) is now showing in theaters.

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Shōgun Season 2 & Season 3 Reportedly In Development at FX-Hulu https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/shogun-season-2-season-3-in-development-fx-hulu/ Thu, 16 May 2024 19:54:00 +0000 Kofi Outlaw 9eeea8e0-b2fe-4bf8-a081-893e1af19d18

Sh?gun is officially getting Season 2 - and Season 3 - according to the latest reports. This news comes right on the heels of Sh?gun star Hiroyuki Sanada signing a deal to return as Lord Yoshii Toranaga in Season 2, which was an early indicator that Hulu and FX were indeed going to continue the series beyond the end of author James Clavell's source novel.

Before Sh?gun book fans get to concerned; Seasons 2 and 3 of the TV series are reportedly being developed with the estate of James Clavell fully involved. A writers' room for Sh?gun Season 2 is set to begin this summer. Showrunners Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo are still onboard, as is Season 1 executive producer Michaela Clavell for the Clavell estate, with Hiroyuki Sanada still serving as producer alongside his starring role as Toranaga.

There is one small asterisk still hanging over this Sh?gun renewal news: Variety's report notes that "this is not a formal renewal" for the series, and that "no production has been scheduled for more episodes."

The conspiracy theory that's being whispered is that FX-Hulu could be indicating that Sh?gun is getting additional seasons in order to get the series in the dramatic series categories at this year's Emmys. As a "limited series," Sh?gun's potential for awards wins was strictly limited, compared to all the categories it could compete in win in as a dramatic ongoing series. So far, all of the moves being made are ones that the studio can make to secure Emmy Awards victory without any significant investment in actual production or salaries. If Sh?gun wins big (as expected), additional seasons can quickly go into production; if Emmys visibility and wins don't increase Sh?gun's profile sufficiently, these new seasons could be abandoned, which would still leave the achievement of one of the best limited series of recent years.

What Would Sh?gun Season 2 Be About?

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(Photo: FX / Hulu)

Sh?gun wasn't a fictional work by James Clavell: it was a dramatization of actual historical events. Clavell spent years researching 17th-century Japanese history to create his novel's story and characters - many of whom (Blackthorne, Toranaga, Mariko, Ishido) are fictionalized versions of real historical figures. Clavell's novel was focused on its collection of principal characters (Blackthorne, Toranaga, Mariko) and how their fates converged to change the fate of Japan - it did not cover what happened after that character connection was severed.

History and its subsequent events are all on the table for Sh?gun Season 2 to explore. It would be different in terms of characters and tone from the original novel, but the next season could continue focusing on Toranaga and his quest to gain (or hold onto) power over Japan.

For Disney (owner of FX and Hulu) it's an opportunity to keep its biggest prestige content win going, and possibly expand it into a whole franchise of spinoff series. The same has worked for Game of Thrones (which led to the prequel series House of the Dragon becoming a major hit). In Sh?gun's case, history has already written the source material needed to mine more to fill Seasons 2 and 3

Sh?gun is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+ (with the Hulu bundle).

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Tony McFarr, Chris Pratt's Stunt Double, Dead at 47 https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/tony-mcfarr-chris-pratts-stunt-double-dead-at-47/ Thu, 16 May 2024 19:28:00 +0000 Jamie Jirak 2699d996-d3d3-4637-ac0f-fe4819303308

Tony McFarr, the stuntman best known for doubling Chris Pratt in various projects, has passed away at age 47. McFarr's death was originally reported by TMZ before the news was confirmed by the Wylie-Baxley Funeral Home in Merritt Island, Florida. According to the initial report, McFarr died of unknown causes on May 13th at his home outside of Orlando. McFarr's mother, Donna, told TMZ that her son's passing was unexpected and that he was in good health. According to the Orange County Medical Examiner, McFarr's cause of death is still pending.

McFarr had 60 stunt credits to his name. His first stunt roles were back in 2011 in Bones and Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon. His television credits included Teen Wolf, Burn Notice, Homeland, The Originals, Halt and Catch Fire, The Walking Dead, MacGyver, The Gifted, and more. His film credits included Rock of Ages, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1, Furious 7, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2, Captain America: Civil War, Logan Lucky, Pitch Perfect 3, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Ant-Man and the Wasp, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, and more.

McFarr was best known for doubling Pratt on various projects, including Passengers, Jurassic World, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Back in 2016, Pratt showed some love for McFarr on Instagram while filming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

"Here's me and my stunt-man Tony McFarr (also Tommy Harper stunt coordinator and our first AD Lars Winther) on set. Been working with Tony since Jurassic World. Love you buddy! Happy wrap," Pratt wrote at the time. Since the news of McFarr's passing, some fans have found the old post and commented their condolences. You can view the post below:

Pratt posted another image with McFarr while making the Guardians sequel, and captioned it, "Here's a better view." You can view that photo below:

McFarr's final credit was for the short film, Grobb, in 2022. He also had a few acting credits to his name, including episodes of Burn Notice, One Tree Hill, and MacGyver. During his career, he was nominated for three Screen Actors Guild Awards for "Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture" for Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon, Jurassic World, and Ant-Man and the Wasp.

Our thoughts are with McFarr's family and friends at this difficult time.

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McDonald's Sweetens Up Summer With New Grandma McFlurry https://comicbook.com/irl/news/mcdonalds-sweetens-up-summer-with-new-grandma-mcflurry/ Thu, 16 May 2024 11:00:00 +0000 Nicole Drum 95dd6f48-48db-489e-8f7a-334572ffc23c

McDonald's is celebrating grandmas everywhere with what might be there sweetest treat to date. On Thursday, McDonald's announced the introduction of their newest McFlurry, the Grandma McFlurry, a limited edition treat coming to McDonald's this summer to celebrate grandma as well as recreated cherished moments spent with her. The new treat arrives at McDonald's on May 21st.

The new Grandma McFlurry is sweet "just like grandma" and features a delicious syrup with chopped crunchy candy pieces -- like grandma's favorite treat that she hid in her purse -- blended in McDonald's creamy vanilla soft serve. McDonald's says it's perfect to enjoy yourself, or to share with the grandma or grandma-figure in your life. The new McFlurry was developed by a member of the McDonald's culinary team who just so happens to be a grandmother herself.

"The new Grandma McFlurry was created a Culinary team member who is a grandmother herself," Marcelo Fajnerman, VP Menu Strategy said. "She was relentless in perfecting a deliciously craveable treat meant to evoke special memories with grandma or the grandma-figure in your life, drawing from her own experiences."

"Grandmas have always held a special place in our hearts, and today they're having a major moment influencing our culture -- inspiring trends in fashion, decor, and now, even food with our newest McFlurry," Tariq Hassan, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer at McDonald's said. "The Grandma McFlurry tastes like a trip down memory lane, and we're excited to give our fans that experience while honoring the grandma-figure in all our lives."

To mark the release of the new Grandma McFlurry, McDonald's has also partnered with singer-songwriter Remi Wolf for a cover of the classic song "How Sweet It is (To Be Loved By You)" which will debut on all music platforms on May 21st as well as two-time Latin Grammy nominee and Puerto Rican star Jay Wheeler for a cover of iconic Latin song "Piel Canela".

McDonald's is also kicking off the new Grandma McFlurry with a new take on the ice cream truck, Grandma's McFlurry Mobile. The truck will offer free, first tastes of the Grandma McFlurry before it is available in restaurants. The truck will be making stops around New York City on Friday, May 17th and Saturday, May 18th, with stops including senior centers and assisted living homes. McDonald's is also donating to Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly, a national organization whose mission is to support older adults experiencing isolation and loneliness. You can check out the details below.

Friday, May 17

o 1 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. EST: Herald Square - 104 W 35th St, New York, NY 10018 (On the corner of W 34th St. and Broadway)

Saturday, May 18

o We'll make stops at senior centers and assisted living homes in East Harlem from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. and Flushing from 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. Keep your eyes peeled!

The new Grandma McFlurry arrives at McDonalds on May 21st and will be available for a limited time.

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Sabrina the Teenage Witch Star Melissa Joan Hart Reveals What Strange Prop She Took From Set https://comicbook.com/irl/news/sabrina-the-teenage-witch-star-melissa-joan-hart-reveals-what-strange-prop-she-took-from-set/ Thu, 16 May 2024 03:22:00 +0000 Nicole Drum 91558145-67b1-4a78-8aef-676ce36b567b

It's been more than 20 years since the series finale of Sabrina the Teenage Witch aired and now, series star Melissa Joan Hart is revealing what might be the most interesting prop that she took from set. Speaking with People. Hart revealed that she has a number of things from her time on Sabrina the Teenage Witch -- but the one that tops them all is a piece of her face.

"I do have some candlestick holders. In my pantry, I have some Italian pottery things that hung on the wall," Hart said. "I have a piece of my face from the episode where I fell apart, which I think was called 'Falling to Pieces' or something about pieces of Sabrina."

The episode referenced is the Season 6 finale, "I Fall to Pieces", which sees Sabrina turned to stone and, as a result, falling to pieces. Hart went on to detail that she also has a piece of an airplane propeller that came from the first episode of the series that she directed, sharing that the whole crew signed it for her.

Hart Has Previously Credited Salem the Cat With Helping Her Take Home Props

Hart has previously revealed that the cat who played Salem unexpectedly helped her take items from the show's set, thanks to a mishap in which the cat created just enough chaos that she and other cast members were able to take things.

"I took everything" Hart said when asked if she took anything from set. "Clothing, set pieces, things I don't even know how I got home."

But she does know how she managed to grab items: an escaped cat.

"We were all screaming and yelling on the night we rapped, so the cat freaked out and escaped," Hart explained. "We had to lock down the set to find the cat. It just freaked out, scratched the trainer to pieces and disappeared. Our sound stage was something like 22,000 square feet and we had to search the whole thing for that cat. While we walked around the set, we just stole so much stuff. Maybe I'll post some of it on Instagram and be like, 'Anyone recognize this?'"

Could There Be a Sabrina the Teenage Witch Reboot?

Originally airing from 1996 to 2003 -- the first four seasons aired on ABC and the final three on The WB -- Sabrina the Teenage Witch has long remained a fan favorite series, but while the Archie Comics series of the same name got a darker Netflix adaptation with The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, there have been no plans for a reboot of Hart's series, though she has previously said that she is not entirely opposed to the idea, so long as it was done right.

"I think it would be so much fun to be back with those people," Hart said. "I would want to assemble the same crew and cast. I see the appeal of it, for sure. And I would like to see what kind of storylines they'd come up with, but it would have to be done right."

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Delicious in Dungeon Cosplay Gets Wacky With Marcille https://comicbook.com/anime/news/delicious-in-dungeon-marcille-anime-cosplay/ Thu, 16 May 2024 00:42:00 +0000 Nick Valdez 57fb4c4f-f783-40ec-9e58-9933ed252bf2

Delicious in Dungeon has been one of the biggest anime releases of the year, and now one awesome cosplay has gone viral with fans for showcasing just how wacky Marcille can be! The anime adaptation taking on Ryoko Kui's original manga series has been a hit with fans ever since it debuted earlier this year, and Delicious in Dungeon fans have been loving watching Laios and the rest of his party taking on monsters and eating different kinds of foods with them all along the way. But it's been a rather tough journey for the mage of the party, Marcille.

Marcille wasn't very open to the idea of eating monsters within the dungeon, but ultimately accepted the idea as Laios and the others needed to quickly head through the dungeon in order to rescue Falin. Delicious in Dungeon has really put Marcille through the wringer with all of the episodes seen thus far, and that was long before the more intense side of it all kicked in with the second half. Artist kitaro_cos on Instagram has tapped into Marcille's wacky shenanigans with a fun Delicious in Dungeon cosplay that's gone viral with fans for a reason! Check it out:

How to Watch Delicious in Dungeon

If you wanted to catch up with Delicious in Dungeon as it nears the end of the first season, you can find it now streaming with Netflix. They tease the anime as such, "Delicious in Dungeon. That is, 'to eat', or 'to be eaten' --- Within the depths of the dungeon, his younger sister was eaten by a Red Dragon - and adventurer Laios barely made it back to the surface with his life. He attempts the dungeon again, but money and food are deep within its bowels... Faced with the critical situation where his sister may be digested at any moment, Laios decides: 'Food shall be self-providing from within the dungeon!' Slimes, basilisks, mimics and even dragons! While eating those that attack you, aim to traverse the dungeons, adventurer!"

Delicious in Dungeon has been such a massive hit with Netflix since it kicked off its run earlier this year, but it has yet to be announced if there are any plans in place to continue the anime with a second season. But with the first season coming to an end in the next few weeks, it won't be too much longer before Delicious in Dungeon ends and we see what kind of potential future there is on deck for the anime.

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Chuck E. Cheese Calling It Quits on Beloved Animatronic Band in All But Two Locations https://comicbook.com/irl/news/chuck-e-cheese-removing-animatronic-band/ Wed, 15 May 2024 23:52:00 +0000 Nicole Drum b4637849-b0c1-4b27-ab8d-f0b5b5ecdfa2

The final show for Munch's Make Believe Band is on the horizon. This week, pizza and arcade chain Chuck E. Cheese announced that they are calling it quits on the brand's beloved animatronic band. The mechanical animal band is being phased out from more than 400 Chuck E. Cheese locations permanently by the end of the year, save for two -- one in Los Angeles and one in Nanuet, New York. The phasing out of the band is part of what the chain's CEO David McKillips described as the brand's "most aggressive transformation to date".

Chuck E. Cheese began in 1977 and was founded by Atari founder Nolan Bushnell who looked to bring the video game experience to a pizza restaurant. The animatronic band was reportedly inspired by the animatronic animal show at Disneyland's Tiki Room and was originally conceived to be centered around a coyote mascot, though after mistakenly purchasing a rat costume, that mascot became Chuck E. Cheese. The character was joined by several other characters -- Mr. Munch on keyboards, Jasper T. Jowls on guitar, Helen Henry on vocals, and Pasqually on drums -- to make up the band.

As for what is replacing the band, per Billboard the redesign will include giant television screens, digital dance floors, and trampoline gyms. The company has not indicated its plans for the animatronics.

"Kids are consuming entertainment differently than they were 10. 20 years ago," McKillips said. "Kids, really of all ages, are consuming their entertainment on a screen."

This Isn't The First Time Chuck E. Cheese Planned to Remove the Band

Back in 2019, Chuck E. Cheese announced that they would be removing all of their classic animatronics from all locations as part of a redesign to give the chain a more sleek and modern look. However, in 2023, the company announced that the chain would be bringing back the band, specifically at the location in Northridge, California near Los Angeles. At the time, it was announced that this was a permanent addition and an "important part of the legacy of the brand."

"As an important part of the legacy of the brand, we know that the animatronic band holds a special place for many fans in their childhood memories," David McKillips, President and CEO of Chuck E. Cheese parent company, CEC Entertainment said. "We want our fans to know that the decision to keep the band here is meant as a gesture of love and gratitude as our legacy continues to evolve in new ways."

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Disney Confirms First Part of Disneyland Expansion https://comicbook.com/movies/news/disney-disneyland-expansion-avatar-land-confirmed-bob-iger/ Wed, 15 May 2024 16:39:00 +0000 Aaron Perine 2c36061d-fc1c-4acd-8cb2-deb5d2731126

Disney's Bob Iger confirmed that Disneyland's upcoming expansion will have Avatar as a featured attraction. During the MoffettNathanson Media and Communications Summit, the Disney CEO offered his perspective on new IP coming to the parks. In addition, Iger would reinforce that while a lot of the final decisions about which properties will get some of that space in California and beyond, Avatar is the only name in permanent ink. It makes a lot of sense for Disneyland or Disney's California Afdventure. People still flock to the Avatar offerings in Walt Disney World Resort. So, playing on the series' crowd-pleasing nature seems like a slam dunk from an outside observer.

DisneylandForward moving through the city of Anaheim's legislature cannot be overstated. This is a massive investment in building the parks and Iger is touting that move as the future of their offerings in California. The Disney chief explained, "We have just gotten approval from the city of Anaheim for the biggest expansion of Disneyland since we opened DCA in 2001. It's a huge expansion. We haven't been specific about what's going to be in it, except for Avatar."

Disney Sees A Lot Of Potential In Avatar

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(Photo: Disney)

The parks side of Disney has not been shy about their intentions to get Pandora to Anaheim. That fateful Annual Shareholders Meeting saw Iger plant their flag on that intention. Chairman of Disney Experiences, Josh D'Amaro wrote about their strategy on the Disney Parks Blog. He reaffirmed their committment to bring an Avatar Land to the destination as a part of DisneylandForward. But, it isn't just the popular movie franchise that's getting looked at. There's an entire world of possibilities with that much land available to develop on.

"We were thrilled to unveil a piece of inspirational artwork developed for a potential new Avatar experience at the Disneyland Resort. We are excited about the stories our guests could experience at Walt's original theme park destination after approval of DisneylandForward - including the chance to experience all-new Avatar adventures with a visit to Pandora," D'Amaro wrote. "Avatar is the latest example of how we are looking to create new and innovative ways to bring our powerful stories to life. Over the past decade, we've delivered massive, immersive experiences at our destinations around the world, including new lands and attractions based on Star Wars, the Avengers, Pixar and more."

What else do you want to see Disney build out in California? Catch all of our pop culture discussion at @ComicBook on social media!

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Discovery Enlists John Cena to Host Shark Week 2024 https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/shark-week-2024-host-john-cena-discovery-channel-special-belly-of-the-beast/ Wed, 15 May 2024 15:35:00 +0000 Patrick Cavanaugh f0a6a4a0-1264-4b55-9db7-c52a78f9ca62

Performer John Cena might have to change his wrestling slogan "You can't see me" to "You can't sea me" this year, as Discovery announced today that Cena is set to serve as host for this year's Shark Week. Full details about Cena's involvement in the festivities have yet to be released, as hosts have sometimes been known to host their own hour-long specials about sharks while others have offered audiences interstitials about sharks throughout the week, but bringing in such a massive star for the event is even more reason to tune in to Discovery. Shark Week is set to kick off on Discovery on July 7th.

Per press release, "John Cena will host Discovery Channel's annual celebration and investigation of shark habits and behaviors, which will kick off on Sunday, July 7th. The week-long event will include the next chapter in the hit show Belly of the Beast Pt. 2, which is a terrifying and fascinating real look at a great white shark feeding frenzy. Viewers can also sink their teeth into: Monster Hammerhead: Species X about a potential new hammerhead species, and Great White Serial Killer: Sea of Blood, which follows a great white terrorizing a local village."

With MAX offering up not only originals and HBO programming, but also having merged with discovery+, fans will also be able to stream the highly anticipated specials that honor the beloved fish.

In last year's Belly of the Beast: Feeding Frenzy, a group of researchers built a replica whale carcass that not only allowed for the deployment of food to draw in sharks, but also had room for a researcher to observe the subsequent feeding from the center of it. Dr. Austin Gallagher previously shared with ComicBook what made that project so challenging.

"I would say the most challenging thing was figuring out a way that would simulate a real whale carcass, but also doing it in a safe way for me and for the sharks, too. I've done quite a bit of research on the ecological importance of dead whales for white sharks," Gallagher expressed. "They are everything for these white sharks. They sustain them on their migrations. They bring the largest white sharks in. It's incredible. When white sharks get really big, it becomes hard for them to kill seals. They might actually be swimming around waiting, looking for these dead whales."

He added, "We knew it was going to be an exciting thing to do. We ended up building something that simulated that. But getting inside was freaky, I'll be honest. We wanted to make sure that that observational platform that I was going to be in would give good observations, but also we didn't want the sharks to break it and then eat me. I didn't want to die."

Stay tuned for updates on Shark Week before it kicks off on Discovery on July 7th.

Are you looking forward to this year's event? Contact Patrick Cavanaugh directly on Twitter or on Instagram to talk all things Star Wars and horror!

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Disney Parks Teases More Moana Experiences Coming https://comicbook.com/movies/news/disneyland-moana-california-adventure-experiences-bob-iger-upfronts-tease/ Wed, 15 May 2024 14:20:00 +0000 Aaron Perine fb30ea70-e784-4f23-aefd-c130f4e618bd

Moana is going to be getting some more focus at Disney Parks in the coming years. Right now, Disney's upfront presentations are going on and CEO Bob Iger singled out Moana as a big factor in the parks. He said, "We're starting to lean into investment in Moana in the parks." That's good news for the young fans who helped make that movie the most streamed film of 2023. But, for people wondering which properties will get the boost from the recently approved DisneylandForward initiative, you have a clearer picture of what might be ahead for the California parks in particular.

A recent Disney investor call saw Iger mention Avatar Land as a strong possibility for the next big development at Disneyland. The version of this experience in Walt Disney World remains wildly popular. (This is probably even more true after Avatar: The Way of Water cleaned up at the box office a few years ago!) But, now you should probably start imagining what a Moana experience would look like out there in Anaheim as well. There have already been attempts to incorporate the animated film at other locations. But, with the recent streaming numbers and this public consideration, fans should expect it near the front of the line when discussions on what to place in that new development land take place.

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(Photo: Walt Disney Animation Studios)

DisneylandForward Gets Approved By Anaheim City Council

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(Photo: Disney)

Just a few days ago, the city of Anaheim decided to push forward with DisneylandForward, an initiative to broaden the scope of attractions around the area that Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure currently occupy in the city. Of course, hardcore Disney fans immediately began discussing what properties would get focus. It's not hard to imagine Moana, Avatar, Black Panther, and other fan-favorites like Frozen getting strong consideration in the years ahead. On the Disney Parks Blog, Disneyland president Ken Potrock celebrated the vote being completed.

"Exciting news out of Anaheim tonight - I'm thrilled to share that the city council has given final approval for DisneylandForward, and the next era of Disneyland Resort is about to begin! We've worked closely with city staff, neighbors, and our local community over the past three years to make sure DisneylandForward is a win for everyone - I'm grateful the city council agrees and voted to work with us on this legacy project that will set up Disneyland Resort and the City of Anaheim for an incredibly bright future," Potrock wrote. "With updated land use approvals through DisneylandForward, we can build new entertainment experiences for our fans, create thousands of new jobs, and bring new revenue streams to Anaheim."

Do you think the Moana ride will be first to be built out in California? Catch all of our pop culture discussion at @ComicBook on social media!

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Star Wars Teams Up With OREO for Light Side vs. Dark Side Campaign https://comicbook.com/starwars/news/star-wars-oreo-cookie-campaign-partnership-dark-side-light-side-limited-edition/ Wed, 15 May 2024 14:00:00 +0000 Patrick Cavanaugh 8af40aca-fd95-4f6f-a0e7-e9da4b0eee04

In the world of Star Wars, it's up to a Force-wielder whether they want to pursue a life that takes them towards the light side or the dark side, but in a new collaboration between the franchise and OREO, fans won't get to make that decision, as each limited-edition package will feature either a blue- or red-colored creme that seals their fate. All of the cookies will be emblazoned with corresponding heroes or villains from across the franchise, with the creme also being infused with "kyber" sugar crystals. Fans will be able to order the limited-edition Star Wars Cookie Packs starting on May 30th through OREO's official website before they begin launching in stores on June 10th.

"Pairing two tremendously loved communities to launch the Star Wars OREO Cookie Packs has been an amazing experience," Nicole Fischer, Senior Brand Manager, OREO, US, shared in a statement. "We are continuing to make strides to cement our brand's cultural relevance via strategic collaborations. We hope fans see how much we loved bringing their favorite stories to life, and that they have fun discovering the details we've included at every touchpoint."

Per press release, "Today, the OREO brand, in collaboration with Lucasfilm, announced the release of Special Edition Star Wars OREO Cookies. The two iterations of the Star Wars OREO Cookie Packs are wrapped in identical exterior packaging, but each pack contains a single color creme that symbolizes either the dark side or light side of the Force. Even better? A playful twist: fans won't know what side they're on until they open it!"

"When fans open their packs, and discover their destiny, they'll be greeted with either dark side or light side Star Wars OREO Cookies with red or blue creme, respectively, that's infused with 'kyber' sugar crystals inspired by the crystals found in a lightsaber. On each cookie, fans will find embossments of corresponding dark side and light side characters such as Darth Vader, Darth Maul, and a stormtrooper for the dark side pack, or Luke Skywalker, Yoda, and Princess Leia for the light side pack, with 10 characters each across the two varieties of the Special Edition Star Wars OREO Cookie Packs -- 20 characters total.

"The Star Wars and OREO Cookie lore goes even deeper if you take a closer look at the packaging art. As an homage to the franchise, the Star Wars OREO Cookie Packs feature original character artwork beautifully hand-painted by the legendary illustrator Greg Hildebrandt, an iconic Star Wars poster artist since 1977.

"The new Star Wars OREO Cookie Packs will be available for presale starting May 30th at OREO.com/StarWars and will begin rolling out at retailers nationwide starting June 10th. The packs will be available only for a limited time, while supplies last."

Stay tuned for updates about the Star Wars franchise.

Will you be checking out the limited-edition cookie packs? Contact Patrick Cavanaugh directly on Twitter or on Instagram to talk all things Star Wars and horror!

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Krispy Kreme Teams Up With Dolly Parton For New Doughnut Collection https://comicbook.com/irl/news/krispy-kreme-teams-up-with-dolly-parton-for-new-doughnut-collection/ Wed, 15 May 2024 04:54:00 +0000 Nicole Drum 69a59dc0-5196-48c5-aae4-8ed34ece4549

Krispy Kreme is known for their innovative doughnut collections, but their latest might just be their sweetest yet. On Tuesday, Krispy Kreme announced that they've teamed up with country music icon Dolly Parton for a brand-new collection called the Dolly Parton Southern Sweets collection. The new lineup contains four all-new doughnuts that the brand says have "a lil' somethin' sweet for everyone."

Included in the new Dolly Southern Sweets Doughnut Collection are the Dolly Dazzler Doughnut, the Peachy keen Cobbler Doughnut, the Banana Puddin' Pie, and the Chocolate Creme Pie. The new collection, which is available for a limited time in participating Krispy Kreme shops, are available in a limited-edition custom Dolly Parton dozens box. You can check out descriptions of the doughnuts below.

o Dolly Dazzler Doughnut - an Original Glazed Doughnut dipped in strawberry icing, with gold, pink and white glitter sprinkles and a signature chocolate Dolly butterfly piece.

o Peachy Keen Cobbler Doughnut - an unglazed doughnut filled with real peach filling, dipped in brown sugar icing and crunchy cobbler topping.

o Banana Puddin' Pie - an unglazed doughnut filled with banana pudding made with wafers and banana pudding KREME, dipped in yellow icing, with white icing swirls and a wafer cookie.

o Chocolate Cr?me Pie - an Original Glazed doughnut topped with a swirl of chocolate brownie cream and vanilla whipped topping, sprinkled with chocolate cookie crumble.

"Having some of my very favorite southern flavors in one, unique doughnut collection from Krispy Kreme is so special to me," Parton said in a statement. "These doughnuts remind me of home. So, I'm excited for folks to share them with their own family and friends. They're pretty sweet, if I do say so myself!"

The new Dolly Southern Sweets Doughnut Collection is available now for a limited time. Fans can also find the Dolly Dazzler Doughnut, Banana Puddin' Pie, and Chocolate Creme Pie Doughnut in a limited time Kripsy Kreme 6-pack delivered fresh daily to select grocery stores. And, on Saturday, May 18th, Krispy Kreme is celebrating the new collection with a "sweet" deal. Anyone who gets "Dolly'd Up" -- meaning they dress up like Dolly Parton or even just wear their favorite Dolly merch -- will get a free Original Glazed Doughnut. Don't want to get "Dolly'd Up"? All you have to do to get your free doughnut is sing your favorite Dolly song.

"Krispy Kreme and Dolly Parton have a special thing in common -- we both love to share joy," Dave Skena, Global Brand Officer for Krispy Kreme said. "It was a joy -- and an honor -- to collaborate with Dolly to create her signature doughnut collection. These doughnuts are going to dazzle and delight fans just like Dolly herself."

The new Dolly Parton Southern Sweets Doughnut Collection is available at participating Krispy Kreme locations for a limited time.

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That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Cosplay Readies for Season 3 Rimuru https://comicbook.com/anime/news/that-time-i-got-reincarnated-as-a-slime-season-3-rimuru-cosplay-anime/ Wed, 15 May 2024 00:37:00 +0000 Nick Valdez cf2d38b9-62e4-4f14-99a5-245ce18207e4

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is now back in action this Spring 2024 season with Season 3 of the anime, and an awesome cosplay is helping to show off Demon Lord Rimuru ahead of his big fight in the coming episodes. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is one of the big returning Isekai franchises that fans are now enjoying this Spring, and the first few episodes of Season 3 have been patiently setting up for the massive fights to come in the later episodes. This includes when we'll get to see Rimuru once again fully unleashing the full power that he has at his disposal.

Officially being recognized as one of the Demon Lords as of the end of the previous season, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime has since revealed that this was welcomed all sorts of new issues for Rimuru to figure out. As he readies to make his debut to the world, Rimuru has to navigate how the church and neighboring kingdoms will see him moving forward. But until we get to see a full Rimuru, thankfully artist seracoss on Instagram has brought the Demon Lord to life with a perfect cosplay. Check it out:

Where to Watch That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3 is now available for streaming with its episodes released for fans with Crunchyroll in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, CIS, Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. New additions to the cast for Season 3 include the likes of the Inori Minase as Mariabel Rosso, Kenji Nojima as Leonard, Eiji Takemoto as Arnaud Bauman, Hajime Iijima as Bacchus, Haruka Aikawa as Litus, Wataru Komada as Garde, Taishi Murata as Fritz, Shoya Chiba as Saare, Mari Hino as Glenda Attley, and Masashi Yamane as Grigori.

As for what to expect from the new season, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3 is teased as such, "Rimuru has officially become a Demon Lord after defeating Clayman. Following Walpurgis, the Demon Lords' banquet, Rimuru's domain is expanded to include the entire Great Forest of Jura. Anticipating a flood of representatives from all races showing up to pay their respects, Rimuru decides to throw a festival to commemorate the opening of Tempest, using it as an opportunity to gain new citizens and present Demon Lord Rimuru to the world."

You can now catch up with the first two seasons of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, OVA specials, spin-offs, and movie streaming with Crunchyroll as well.

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Star Wars Fans and Stars Celebrate Creator George Lucas Turning 80 Today https://comicbook.com/starwars/news/star-wars-george-lucas-birthday-80-fan-cast-reactions/ Tue, 14 May 2024 21:40:00 +0000 Kofi Outlaw 3b07f674-5d5d-4eb0-90bc-5c2cbdecbf90
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Universal Studios Unleashes Cryptic Video to Tease Halloween Horror Nights https://comicbook.com/horror/news/universal-studios-halloween-horror-nights-2024-teaser-promo-video/ Tue, 14 May 2024 18:13:00 +0000 Patrick Cavanaugh ad17fe53-0af3-4a05-92ed-5466ae51d74a

Now that we've crossed the threshold of being halfway to Halloween, fans are starting to get excited about how we'll be celebrating All Hallow's Eve, with Universal Studios debuting a cryptic promo about this year's Halloween Horror Nights. The event, which runs select nights in September and October in Hollywood and Orlando, is a premier destination for horror fans, as the most exciting and unsettling horror franchises are honored for haunted houses, alongside entirely original creations. This new teaser will have fans both excited and frustrated, as it's a reminder that we're getting closer to the event yet the promo denies giving us any official glimpses at the properties being honored during this year's festivities. You can check out the official promo below.

This year, the horror begins earlier than ever before as Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights returns on select nights from August 30th through November 3rd - unleashing a new slate of frights and nightmare-inducing terror at every corner of Universal Studios Florida. Guests can secure their spot for the screams now and purchase select tickets and offers to plan the ultimate fall getaway where they can experience the adrenaline-pumping thrills of Universal's theme parks by day and the terrifying chills of Halloween Horror Nights at night.

Every fall, guests from all around the globe brave their worst nightmares coming to life at Halloween Horror Nights - consistently named the world's premier Halloween event. This year, a chilling new collection of horrifying experiences await guests, including 10 all-new movie-quality haunted houses inspired by cinematic greats and eerie original stories created by the twisted minds of Universal's Entertainment team, and five scare zones filled with hundreds of menacing creatures who will reign the streets of Universal Studios Florida. And in between the screams, guests can enjoy an energetic live show, fuel up for the next round of scares with sinfully delicious food and beverage inspired by the event's haunts, shop the latest merchandise at the highly themed Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store, and enjoy some of Universal Studios Florida's most exciting attractions.

Single-night event tickets and Express Passes for Halloween Horror Nights are available for purchase now. Guests can also stay, scream and save up to $200 (based on a seven-night stay) with a special vacation package that includes one-night admission to the event and accommodations at a Universal hotel located just minutes from the haunts. This package also includes admission to all three Universal Orlando theme parks to enjoy some of the most innovative rides and attractions ever created during the day, before facing the chills of Halloween Horror Nights at night. Plus, hotel guests receive exclusive benefits including access to a dedicated Halloween Horror Nights gate for faster entry into the event, Early Park Admission to the theme parks during the day, complimentary resort transportation, and more. Savings vary based on length of stay and this package is available for purchase now through November 2nd for use from August 30th to November 3rd.

Halloween Horror Nights upgrades are also available for purchase now, including the guided, nighttime R.I.P. Tour experience where guests receive priority V.I.P. access to the haunted houses; and the Behind the Screams: Unmasking the Horror Tour that offers a glimpse into how the scares are brought to life via a daytime, lights-on journey through select haunted houses. For guests who can't wait to peek at what's in-store this year, there's also a limited, three-house Behind The Screams: Unmasking the Horror Tour available for purchase for select days starting August 11th.

You can learn more at the Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights and Universal Hollywood official websites.

Are you looking forward to this year's event? Contact Patrick Cavanaugh directly on Twitter or on Instagram to talk all things Star Wars and horror!

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Dragon Ball Cosplay Powers Up With Ultra Instinct Goku https://comicbook.com/anime/news/dragon-ball-ultra-instinct-goku-cosplay-anime/ Tue, 14 May 2024 00:37:00 +0000 Nick Valdez 1e7c764e-b1ba-496b-ab48-66b493b2f93b

Dragon Ball Super introduced Ultra Instinct Goku to the world, and one awesome cosplay has brought this godly form to life! Dragon Ball Super really shook up the franchise with the Tournament of Power as it brought Goku to a new form never seen before. Unlike the Super Saiyan God transformations, Ultra Instinct didn't come to Goku with ease as it took him multiple tries to reach a point where he could use the form at will. It then took even more training in the Dragon Ball Super manga to reach a level of mastery that Goku could use to fight godly new foes.

Dragon Ball Super then took Ultra Instinct Goku even further with new forms and abilities in the arcs following the end of the anime, and unfortunately it's still unclear as to whether or not we will see any more of the manga following original creator Akira Toriyama's passing. But even if Dragon Ball Super doesn't continue, Ultra Instinct Goku has made such an impact with fans that it's hard to imagine any future form could surpass it. Another good example of just how cool Ultra Instinct Goku can be is an awesome cosplay from artist xeplay_cosplay on TikTok that brings the form to life perfectly! Check it out:

@xeplay_cosplay

Goku Ultrainstinto ?? #dragonball #dragonballsuper #dragonballsuperheroes #dragonballcosplay #cosplaygoku #dragonballlatino #dragonballsupersuperhero #gokublue #wig #cosplaywig #goku #gokucosplay #gokussjblue #vegeta #dragonballlegends #dragonballgt #dragonballz #ultrainstinct #gokumui #migattenogokui #ultrainstinto

? Ultra Instinct Mastered (From "Dragon Ball Super") - The Marcus Hedges Trend Orchestra

What's Next for Dragon Ball?

At least there will still be new Dragon Ball materials to enjoy later this year even with Dragon Ball Super's manga future left uncertain. Dragon Ball Daima will be a brand new anime series set to release some time later this Fall for the franchise's 40th anniversary. It has yet to confirm a concrete release date as of the time of this publication, but the late Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama helped to craft the original main story and character designs for Dragon Ball Daima. Yoshitaka Yashima and Aya Komaki are directing the series for Toei Animation, Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru is adapting Toriyama's designs for animation, and Yuuko Kakihara is supervising and writing the scripts.

Masako Nozawa will once again be providing the voice for Kid Goku, and she is currently the only confirmed member of Dragon Ball Daima's voice cast announced so far. Akira Toriyama previously teased the original story for Dragon Ball Daima as such when it was first announced, "Due to a conspiracy, Goku and his friends are turned small. In order to fix things, they'll head off to a new world! It's a grand adventure with intense action in an unknown and mysterious world. Since Goku has to make up for his petite size, he uses his Power Pole to fight, something not seen in a long time."

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Kevin Costner Says Yellowstone Issues With Producers Weren't "Truthful" Amid Ongoing Feud https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/kevin-costner-yellowstone-exit-explained-why-left-feud-prdocuers-scheduling/ Mon, 13 May 2024 19:37:00 +0000 Kofi Outlaw f7c58277-5d1f-439a-b0a9-953aa0438478

Kevin Costner is speaking up (a little bit) about the situation with Yellowstone.

Costner has a new in-depth interview on Deadline, in which he addresses his highly-publicized contract dispute with Yellowstone's producers and Paramount. Costner outright called the reporting on the dispute not "truthful" in his response, stating "Well, I haven't felt good about it the last year, what with the way they've talked about it. It wasn't truthful. So now I'm talking about a little bit about what the real truth of it was."

Why Did Kevin Costner Really Leave Yellowstone?

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(Photo: Paramount Network)


According to Kevin Costner, the issue he had was how Paramount and Yellowstone's producers kept changing their plans for the show's run and its conclusion. Costner is currently promoting his two-part Civil War-era Western drama Horizon: An American Saga, and as he tells it, the scheduling conflicts between Yellowstone and Horizon became insurmountable as Yellowstone's production schedule got up-ended :

"I made a contract for seasons five, six and seven," Costner said. "In February, after a two- or three-month negotiation, they made another contract. They wanted to redo that one, and instead of seasons six and seven, it was 5A and 5B, and maybe we'll do six. They weren't able to make those. Horizon was set in the middle, but Yellowstone was first position. I fit [Horizon] into the gaps. They just kept moving their gaps."

Yellowstone has had its production and release schedules seriously disrupted in the last few years. The decision for Season 5 to be the Final Season of the series caught a lot of viewers off guard, since Yellowstone has never been more popular. Wen it was announced that Costner was leaving the show as the lead character John Dutton (patriarch of the ranch-owning Dutton family and architect of its continued legacy), it was hard understand how creator Taylor Sheridan would land the plane.

The 2023 Writers' and Actors' Strikes, combined with behind-the-scenes troubles, hit Yellowstone as the worst possible moment (collectively speaking): The second half of Season 5 (Season 5B) will be arriving nearly two years after the final episode of Season 5A dropped on New Year's Day 2023 - which is, understandably, a massive time commitment for the cast to have made. Costner's big of context is much more understandable than rumors and speculation of money-grabbing contract disputes, cast and/or crew feuds and the like.

Yellowstone Season 5B will premiere on November 10th. Plans for a Yellowstone Sequel Series are already underway.

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Morbius 2: Tyrese Gibson Ready For Sequel, Addresses Deleted Scenes Disappointment https://comicbook.com/movies/news/morbius-2-tyrese-return-simon-stroud-deleted-scenes/ Mon, 13 May 2024 17:55:00 +0000 Kofi Outlaw 7d04e662-056a-4ac5-a5fc-7ab21aa9eec3

It's still 'Morbin Time' for Tyrese Gibson.

The actor/musician is best known for his role as "Roman" in the Fast & Furious franchise, but he also had a role as FBI agent Simon Stroud in Sony's Morbius (2022) movie starring Jared Leto. In a new interview, Gibson makes it abundantly clear that he's once again ready to come back as Stroud, in a Morbius sequel.

"I'm waiting on the call. I would be honoured to dance with Daniel Espinosa and the crew again," Gibson recently told CBR.

In one of many now-infamous stories about Morbius, Tyrese's Simon Stroud was supposed to have a "hi-tech weapons-grade arm" that would have made him a worthy threat to Leto's Michael Morbius.

Gibson was openly excited about getting to do some superhero-level action for the first time, telling Maxim back in a 2020 interview:

"That arm has all kinds of special effects and powers, and that's going to mess people up when they see this movie. It's my first time ever officially being a superhero. I've done some superhero sh*t, but I ain't never been a superhero. I had to explain this to my daughter."

And yet, when Morbius finally hit theaters in 2022, Gibson's role as Simon Stroud was drastically reduced in the final edit - including the scenes of his superpowered arm at work. In his CBR interview, Gibson reflected on his disappointment in not getting to shine in the film like he was supposed to:

"I don't know. The arm was in the trailer, and I definitely had to put that thing on for at least two to three hours a day in the make-up trailer, so, I don't know," Gibson explained. "It felt like it went from 'This is what we're going to do,' to some type of issues that they had in post-production. Something. I don't know."

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(Photo: Sony Pictures)

The actor also revealed just how much action he filmed during production on Morbius:

"I definitely did a lot of scenes that was chopped out of the movie. I had a full-on fight, and brawl, with the villain, Matt Smith. I had a full-on fight scene with Matt Smith in London, where we filmed at a park, and it was crazy. And my arm was all over that scene, and they chopped that out of the movie, because I guess the presence of my arm, you wouldn't have been able to edit around that."

While it's good to hear Tyrese's enthusiasm for wanting to return for Morbius 2, it's not necessarily a choice for him. Gibson signed a three-picture deal with Sony, which indicated that Stroud could have a larger arc to play as an investigator/pursuer of Morbius and co. That could still be in the cards; in fact, Stroud is an easy character to use as a connective thread between Spider-Man spinoff films like Kraven, Venom 3, or any new project announced - the same way Marvel used Sam Jackson's Nick Fury and his crossover appearances to build the MCU.

...As for Morbius 2?

The first film was a box office flop ($167.5 million worldwide on a budget of $75-80 million) and now holds cult status as one of the worst comic book movies ever released in this new era... at least until Madame Web was released this year. Tyrese has a better chance of Stroud jumping to another franchise film than getting another shot at Morbius.

You can currently stream Morbius on Netflix.

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Disney World Announces Tiana's Bayou Adventure Opening Date https://comicbook.com/irl/news/disney-world-tianas-bayou-adventure-opening-date-june-2024/ Mon, 13 May 2024 17:00:00 +0000 Cameron Bonomolo 1b79ffda-3bb7-41b2-9206-c1873c07a9f9

Tiana's Bayou Adventure opening date is getting closer and closer every day -- and we're almost there. During American Idol's Disney Night on Sunday, Disney Experiences announced the newly-reimagined ride -- a revamp of Splash Mountain, featuring characters, music, and audio-animatronics inspired by Walt Disney Animation Studios' The Princess and the Frog -- will drop into Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort on June 28.

Follow the fireflies down to the bayou for a glimpse at the revamped attraction in the video below.

Also featuring new music by New Orleans natives and five-time Grammy Award winners PJ Morton and Terence Blanchard, Tiana's Bayou Adventure brings together iconic characters from the 2009 animated movie -- including restaurateur Tiana, her trumpeting gator friend Louis, and bayou voodoo queen Mama Odie -- for a musical log ride adventure that culminates in a 50-foot drop down into the bayou. Anika Noni Rose (Tiana), Bruno Campos (Naveen), Michael Leon Wooley (Louis) and Jenifer Lewis (Mama Odie) reprise their roles from the beloved film.

Among the many musical critters making their debut on the ride are original characters Byhalia the Beaver, Gritty the Rabbit, Beau the Opossum, Apollo the Raccoon, Rufus the Turtle, Timol?on the Otter, and the jazzy frog band of Felipe, Mayra, Mondo, and Isabel. Infused with the music and spirit of Mardi Gras and New Orleans, Tiana's Bayou Adventure picks up where the movie left off, following Tiana and Louis as they prepare for their first-ever Mardi Gras performance.

"It is really exciting to know that Princess Tiana's presence in both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom will finally be fully realized," Rose, a Disney Legend, said when the Princess and the Frog-themed Splash Mountain revamp was announced in 2020. "As passionate as I am about what we created, I know the fans are going to be over the moon. The Imagineers are giving us The Princess and the Frog Mardi Gras celebration we've been waiting for, and I'm here for it!"

Tiana's Bayou Adventure opens June 28 at Walt Disney World Resort and later this summer at the Disneyland Resort.

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Delicious in Dungeon Cosplay Highlights One of Marcille's Funniest Failures https://comicbook.com/anime/news/delicious-in-dungeon-marcille-cosplay-anime/ Mon, 13 May 2024 00:37:00 +0000 Nick Valdez e84a93de-1a54-4f2b-81f0-7d7d3648f904

Delicious in Dungeon has been taking over Netflix since the anime debuted earlier this year, and one hilarious cosplay is helping to demonstrate why by tapping into one of Marcille's funniest failures yet! The anime adaptation for Ryoko Kui's original Delicious in Dungeon manga kicked off its run with Netflix earlier this year, and as of the Spring 2024 anime schedule, the anime is steadily approaching the final episodes of its debut season. Delicious in Dungeon made a major shift in tone in the second half, but has still managed to keep some of the comedy that fans fell in love with at first.

Delicious in Dungeon's second half might have been more intense for Laios and the rest of his party, but it's clear that each of them are still falling into the same kind of wacky dungeon shenanigans that fans fell in love with at first. This includes Marcille, who is often seen as the face of many of these failures due to how over the top she reacts to many situations. A hilarious example is when she's bitten by a Cockatrice and turned to stone, and ultimately ends up in a rather fragile and ridiculous position. It's this position that's brought to life perfectly by artist Low Cost Cosplay on Instagram, and you can check it out below:

Where to Watch Delicious in Dungeon

If you wanted to catch up with the rest of Delicious in Dungeon so far, you can find the episodes now streaming with Netflix. They tease the anime as such, "Delicious in Dungeon. That is, 'to eat', or 'to be eaten' --- Within the depths of the dungeon, his younger sister was eaten by a Red Dragon - and adventurer Laios barely made it back to the surface with his life. He attempts the dungeon again, but money and food are deep within its bowels... Faced with the critical situation where his sister may be digested at any moment, Laios decides: 'Food shall be self-providing from within the dungeon!' Slimes, basilisks, mimics and even dragons! While eating those that attack you, aim to traverse the dungeons, adventurer!"

Delicious in Dungeon will be wrapping up the first season of its anime when the Spring 2024 anime schedule later this June, so it will be revealed in the near future as to whether or not the anime's success among fans means it will get a second season in the future. But either way, now is the perfect time to jump into it all.

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Roger Corman, Legendary Producer and Director Known for Little Shop of Horrors, Dead at 98 https://comicbook.com/irl/news/roger-corman-legendary-producer-and-director-known-for-little-shop-of-horrors-dead-at-98/ Sun, 12 May 2024 02:47:00 +0000 Nicole Drum 5a25c50f-2889-4009-92d9-94ab735d1f9c

Legendary filmmaker Roger Corman has died. According to Variety, Corman passed away on May 9th at his home in Santa Monica, California, surrounded by family. Additional details about his death were not available. He was 98 years old. A statement from Corman's family reflected on his "revolutionary" film career and how Corman himself had said he wanted to be remembered as: a filmmaker.

"His films were revolutionary and iconoclastic, and captured the spirit of an age," the statement read. "When asked how he would like to be remembered, he said, 'I was a filmmaker, just that.'"

Corman had an extensive career that spanned seven decades and included hundreds of credits for his work as a director and producer on countless films. He is especially well known for his low-budget films in the action, horror, and sci-fi genres with numerous major movie stars and filmmakers all getting their start working with Corman, including Jack Nicholson, Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese, James Cameron, Ron Howard, Jonathan Demme, and Francis Ford Coppola, just to name a few.

Corman also appeared in front of the camera as well, frequently making cameo appearances in the films of filmmakers who got their start working with him. Notably, Corman appeared in Philadelphia, Apollo 13, The Godfather: Part II, and even Looney Tunes: Back in Action. Corman also is known for his work on a live-action Fantastic Four film that was never officially released. The film has itself become something of Hollywood legend, its production even getting a documentary of its own in 2015. It's a film that Corman himself has even said will likely never get an official release -- thought bootleg versions exist.

Corman is survived by his wife, Julie Corman and daughters Catherine and Mary.

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One Piece Cosplay Brings Brook Back to Life https://comicbook.com/anime/news/one-piece-brook-cosplay-anime/ Sun, 12 May 2024 00:40:00 +0000 Nick Valdez 7c05c894-40d5-4273-b834-1d79cc771569

One Piece is now in the midst of one of the most chaotic struggles for the Straw Hat crew just yet, and an awesome cosplay is helping to highlight Brook's part in it all by bringing him back to life! Brook is still one of the rarely used Straw Hat members in an extended capacity. While he's had some notable moments since his introduction, fans really haven't gotten to learn more about Brook himself since that introduction. It was there that we learned he was a human forced to live while the rest of his original crew died, but finds joy in his music.

It's that original hook that's kept Brook in fans' minds over the years despite the lack of focus arcs we've had for the Straw Hat pirate, and what helps in that matter is just how strong of a design Brook actually has. Looking great in both his original human form and subsequent Revive-Revive Fruit form, Brook's party nature and ability in combat has still made him a very important piece of the crew for many years. Now Brook's been brought to life through some absolutely perfect cosplay from artist cheeyeahboy on TikTok. Check it out:

@cheeyeahboy

Replying to @caroline honestly, not too bad YOhohohoHo! #humanbrook #brookcosplay #brookonepiece #onepiece #animetok #weebtok #rumbarpirates

? original sound - TAYLOR ?

Where to Watch One Piece

If you wanted to keep up with Brook in the latest events of the anime, you can find the newest episodes of the One Piece anime now streaming with Crunchyroll and Netflix. The newest arc of the anime, Egghead, introduces several new faces to the series with additions to the cast such as Yohei Tadano as Dr. Vegapunk, Shuhei Sakaguchi as Shaka, Aya Hirano as Lilith, Ryoko Shiraishi as Edison, Tokuyoshi Kawashima as Pythagoras, Kaede Hondo as Atlas, Mutsumi Tamura as York, and more among many of the other characters we'll see in action as things get more chaotic.

If you wanted to go back and check out more of the One Piece anime from the very beginning instead (along with various OVAs, movies, and other specials), you can find the entire back catalog streaming with Crunchyroll in Japanese and English language dubbed audio. If you wanted to read ahead instead, you can find the newest chapters of Eiichiro Oda's original One Piece manga (with the three most recent chapters being available for free) with Viz Media's digital Shonen Jump library and Shueisha's MangaPlus service.

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New Superman Movie Costume & Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Review https://comicbook.com/movies/news/superman-movie-costume-kingdom-planet-apes-explained-disney-mcu-schedule-changes/ Fri, 10 May 2024 20:59:00 +0000 Kofi Outlaw 72a0cef1-f1de-4297-be95-50d7d8ef6db4

The ComicBook Nation crew reviews the new movie Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and recaps Part 2 of the X-Men '97 Finale!

PLUS: Geek News was THICCC this week with James Gunn revealing the first image of the Superman (2025) movie costume; the LIVE reactions to new Fantastic Four casting and Season 2 news for DC's Peacemaker and Shogun! Also, Lord of the Rings is getting a Gollum movie, and Disney cuts back on MCU content. We break it all down!

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Review

Critic Spencer Perry's Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Review gives the film 4 out of 5 stars as a promising new chapter:

It can already be daunting to join a franchise that has remained steadfast for almost sixty years, not to mention one that successfully rebooted itself in the 2010s to critical acclaim, but director Wes Ball has managed to stare down that mountain of intimidation with his cast and crew to deliver. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes proves that there is still life left in this franchise and that it can grow beyond the fan-favorite Andy Serkis trilogy while still drawing influence from its roots. Even with minor faults, it's a grand time, and a worthy follow-up.

Rating: 4 out of 5

First Image from James Gunn's Superman Revealed

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(Photo: James Gunn / Warner Bros)

See for yourself, and share your thoughts with us on Twitter @ComicBookNation!

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Each episode has a deep dive into the current biggest discussion topics and debates within geek culture: movies, tv, comics, and video games are regular features, with genres like sci-fi, anime, and wrestling also featured regularly. The ONLY show covering ALL THINGS Geek Culture!

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(Photo: Producer Pete)


After every show we'll keep the discussion on Twitter:

Have thoughts to share? Want us to cover something on the show? Let us know in the comments!

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Shōgun Star Confirmed to Return for Season 2 https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/shogun-season-2-hiroyuki-sanda-returning-toranaga/ Fri, 10 May 2024 18:21:00 +0000 Kofi Outlaw ce96e794-d1a4-4e1f-95a5-625d6ef35a23

Sh?gun star Hiroyuki Sanada has reportedly closed a deal to reprise is role as Lord Yoshii Toranaga in Season 2 of the hit Hulu-FX TV series.

According to Deadline's report, Sanada is only the first domino, as "other elements are still being worked out and deals are being finalized as part of an effort by FX to take Sh?gun to a second season in light of the big commercial and critical success of the limited series."

There has been heavy debate about whether or not Sh?gun needs Season 2. The first season of the series was an adaptation of author James Clavell's acclaimed 1975 Shogun novel; the series adapted the events of the book pretty directly, with Episode 10 covering the end of the novel. However, TV is a much different medium than a novel; even with all the acclaim the show has received, the Sh?gun Finale left some viewers wanting, as it did not depict the epic battle the series had teased all along, nor did it firmly answer whether Toranga realizes his dream of becoming the first Sh?gun Japan has seen in centuries.

Those unanswered questions made a lot of casual TV viewers believe that Sh?gun Season 2 was inevitable - and now it's looking like that was the right bet.

There are some finer details to note about this announcement. There's heavy speculation that FX and Hulu are making this move and announcing it right now as part of their strategy for the 2024 Emmys. Sh?gun was originally listed as a "limited series," which would only give it a limited range of Emmy categories to compete in. By announcing Season 2, Sh?gun now shifts into a more traditional television drama lane, opening the door for all the accompanying Emmys considerations (writing, directing, acting, costuming, music, editing, production design, etc.). Given the masterful work done on all sides of the series, this is a worthwhile move.

What Would Sh?gun Season 2 Be About?

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(Photo: FX / Hulu)

The story of Sh?gun wasn't a fictional work by James Clavell, it was a dramatization of actual historical events. Clavell spent years researching 17th-century Japanese history to create his novel's story and characters - many of whom (Blackthorne, Toranaga, Mariko, Ishido) are fictionalized versions of real historical figures. Clavell's novel was focused on its collection of principal characters (Blackthorne, Toranaga, Mariko) and how their fates converged to change the fate of Japan - it did not cover what happened after that character connection was severed.

History and its subsequent events are succulent meat on the bone for Sh?gun Season 2. It would be different in terms of characters and tone, but the next season could definitely continue focusing on Toranaga and his quest to gain (or hold onto) power over Japan.

For Disney (owner of FX and Hulu) it's an opportunity to keep its biggest prestige content win going, and possibly expand it into a whole franchise of spinoff series. The same has worked for Game of Thrones (which led to the prequel series House of the Dragon becoming a major hit). In Sh?gun's case, history has already written the source material needed to mine more content from - all it takes is the skilled team to properly adapt it.

Sh?gun is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+ (with the Hulu bundle).

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Star Trek: William Shatner Open to Returning as Younger Kirk With Digital De-Aging https://comicbook.com/irl/news/star-trek-william-shatner-open-to-returning-as-younger-kirk-with-digital-de-aging/ Thu, 09 May 2024 04:59:00 +0000 Nicole Drum 12c79b4f-138e-4a56-ba28-0f4c31c851f3

Star Trek legend William Shatner isn't opposed to returning as Captain Kirk -- and he's even open to using digital de-aging to portray a younger version of the character. Speaking with The Globe and Mail, Shatner said that the idea of reprising Captain Kirk is "intriguing" so long as there's a good idea for it.

"It's an intriguing idea," he said. "It's almost impossible but it was a great role and so well-written and if there were a reason to be there and not just to make a cameo appearance, but if there were a genuine reason for the character appearing, I might consider it."

Shatner also had some ideas for how Captain Kirk could make an appearance, considering that the character's last appearance was in 1994's Star Trek Generations where the character was killed off. Shatner said that he could potentially portray a younger version of the character, citing digital de-aging technology that "takes years off of your face, so that in a film you can look 10, 20, 30, 50 years younger than you are." He also suggested that the character could be resurrected.

"A company that wants to freeze my body and my brain for the future might be a way of going about it," he said. "We've got Captain Kirk's brain frozen here. There's a scenario. Let's see if we can bring back a little bit of this, a little salt, a little pepper. Oh, look at that. Here comes Captain Kirk!"

William Shatner Has Said He'd Be Open to Captain Kirk Returning Via AI

The idea of Shatner reprising Captain Kirk by way of digital de-aging isn't the only way the actor would consider returning to the role. Shatner has said that he's open to the character returning through AI, though he would only want it to happen under specific circumstances.

"It's an interesting question," Shatner told Comic Book previously. "The strike was all about getting permission to do that. And so, if I'm alive, I don't want AI to do that, but if I'm dead and they ask my family and they're going to pay m y family very well to sound like me, I would advise them to say yes."

Shatner Says Star Trek V Is the Biggest Regret of His Career

Recently, Shatner revealed that Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, is the biggest regret of his career. Released in 1989, the film -- which he starred in and directed -- was poorly received by both fans and critics.

"I wish that I'd had the backing and the courage to do the things I felt I needed to do," Shatner explained to The Hollywood Reporter. "My concept was, 'Star Trek goes in search of God,' and management said, 'Well, who's God? We'll alienate the nonbeliever, so, no, we can't do God.' And then somebody said, 'What about an alien who thinks they're God?' Then it was a series of my inabilities to deal with the management and the budget. I failed. In my mind, I failed horribly. When I'm asked, 'What do you regret the most?' I regret not being equipped emotionally to deal with a large motion picture. So, in the absence of my power, the power vacuum filled with people that didn't make the decisions I would've made."

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Megan Thee Stallion's New Album to Feature Surprising Anime Sample https://comicbook.com/anime/news/megan-thee-stallion-new-album-anime-sample/ Wed, 08 May 2024 23:28:00 +0000 Nick Valdez 4fe26fed-8682-46c8-9160-9b375233a346

Megan Thee Stallion has revealed that she has cleared a surprising anime sample in her upcoming album that fans will be excited to hear! Megan Thee Stallion has been a huge hit not only in the music world, but among anime and pop culture fans as well as she has been outspoken about her love of anime in the past. Megan Thee Stallion has not only shown love for her favorite anime series, but also has taken it to the next level to showcase that love through other art like cosplay and even the music she produces as well. This includes a new shout out in her upcoming album.

Megan Thee Stallion recently got anime fans talking when she debuted the visuals for her upcoming single, "Boa," and it showcased a full cosplay of One Piece's Boa Hancock along with shouting out classic PlayStation 2 era visuals. But it turns out that this cover is only the beginning of the kinds of anime shout outs she'll be showing off in the future and Megan Thee Stallion has also revealed to fans that she's managed to clear a "never been done/very hard to do" anime sample for her currently untitled album.

Megan Thee Stallion New Album's First Details

As Megan Thee Stallion teased on her Instagram stories (as spotted by @MegansStats on X), "Y'all will NEVER believe what anime sample I got cleared for my album...this has NEVER BEEN DONE / VERY HARD TO DO y'all are going to scream." It's yet to be revealed what this anime sample will be, and it could be coming from any number of major anime franchises. The artist has shared love for all sorts of anime like JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Jujutsu Kaisen, Dragon Ball, Black Clover, Hunter x Hunter, My Hero Academia and more.

Most recently with "Boa" (with the single releasing on Friday, May 10th), she even shared a shout out to One Piece's anime. This could be the reference she's talking about, but unfortunately we won't find out for sure until this album releases. Following the singles, "Hiss," "Cobra," and "Boa," Megan Thee Stallion has yet to reveal the title or release date of her next work. So until then, fans will have to listen closely for when she sneaks in this anime music sample in her future song releases in the weeks to come.

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Real-Life Baby Reindeer Subject Considering Legal Action Against Netflix https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/netflix-baby-reindeer-lawsuit-real-life-martha-based-on-fiona-harvey/ Wed, 08 May 2024 20:22:00 +0000 Kofi Outlaw b24e1b97-6dc0-4e8c-b0f7-ff0cdba87bbb

Netflix's new series Baby Reindeer is a breakout hit - but it also may come with the hit of a major lawsuit.

The real-life person who inspired the stalker character "Martha" in Netflix's Baby Reindeer has officially made her name public, and she is Scottish lawyer Fiona Harvey (58). Harvey alleges that Baby Reindeer exaggerates the story between herself and comedian Richard Gadd, who created the show and stars as a fictionalized version of himself named Donny Dunn. In the show, "Martha" was in jail for over four years before being released and becoming obsessed with Donny, and (SPOILERS) stalking him lands her back in jail for nearly a year. Fiona Harvey says that's not at all true about her real life experience, which never involved prison:

"I've not been to prison," Harvey told the Daily Record UK. "I don't know where the four -and-a-half years and nine months comes in. None of this happened. It's a load of rubbish."

In general, Harvey is alleging that she's seen disruption to her life as a result of Baby Reindeer - especially since viewers were able to dig through the Internet and quickly discern that it was her the show was referencing"

"Gadd and Netflix have portrayed this as a true story and now some little man in North Carolina giving me death threats believes it's a true story," Harvey said. "But I think you'd need to be really stupid to believe it is true."

Harvey has also made a statement about what she expects of Gadd and Netflix - along with the plan to represent herself as a lawyer in the case:

"Gadd needs to prove I went to jail which just didn't happen. I've never been sent to jail. That is blatantly obvious. Police at your door would be the first thing, then you'd be charged, then you would have a trial. Then you'd be fined or something or go to prison," Harvey said.

"This is all made up and hyperbole," she added. "There are no restraining orders, injunctions or interdicts anywhere. There's just no way. I've not had the police at my door about any of these things. It's a load of rubbish. I don't have any money but I'm a perfectly capable lawyer so I will represent myself."

Rory Lynch, a lawyer specializing in defamation and privacy suits, believes Harvey has a reasonable shot at making a case:

"The only thing I can presume is that when Clerkenwell, films, the BBC and Netflix looked at it with their legal team they thought that they could rely on the fact that it is a drama. It's not supposed to be a factual documentary," Lynch said. "So although Netflix said it's a true story, essentially it's a dramatisation of a true story. But I do think that Richard Gadd could have been a bit more careful in changing a lot of the scenes to be more fictitious, but also covering up the identity of the people it was based on."

Baby Reindeer is streaming on Netflix.

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New Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Trailer Announces Tickets Going on Sale https://comicbook.com/movies/news/furiosa-mad-max-saga-new-trailer-tickets-on-sale-prequel/ Wed, 08 May 2024 18:25:00 +0000 Kofi Outlaw 6c8f9cef-40b6-4dec-ae72-daf8619a71cc

A new trailer for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga has been released, announcing that tickets for the Mad Max spinoff/prequel are now on sale. Watch the new trailer below!

What Is Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga About?

According to the latest synopsis and cast information released by Warner Bros.:

As the world fell, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.

Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth star in Academy Award-winning mastermind George Miller's Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, the much-anticipated return to the iconic dystopian world he created more than 30 years ago with the seminal Mad Max films. Miller now turns the page again with an all-new original, standalone action adventure that will reveal the origins of the powerhouse character from the multiple Oscar-winning global smash Mad Max: Fury Road.

Taylor-Joy stars in the title role, and along with Hemsworth, the film also stars Alyla Browne and Tom Burke. Miller penned the script with Mad Max: Fury Road co-writer Nico Lathouris. The new feature from Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures is produced by Miller and his longtime partner, Oscar-nominated producer Doug Mitchell (Mad Max: Fury Road, Babe), under their Australian-based Kennedy Miller Mitchell banner.

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(Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)

Miller's behind-the-scenes creative team includes first assistant director PJ Voeten and second unit director and stunt coordinator Guy Norris, director of photography Simon Duggan ("Hacksaw Ridge," "The Great Gatsby"), composer Tom Holkenborg, sound designer Robert Mackenzie, editor Eliot Knapman, visual effects supervisor Andrew Jackson and colorist Eric Whipp. The team also includes other longtime collaborators: production designer Colin Gibson, editor Margaret Sixel, sound mixer Ben Osmo, costume designer Jenny Beavan and makeup designer Lesley Vanderwalt, each of whom won an Oscar for their work on "Mad Max: Fury Road."

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga will be released in theaters nationwide on May 24th, and internationally beginning on May 22nd.

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Chips Ahoy New Gluten Free Cookies https://comicbook.com/irl/news/chips-ahoy-new-gluten-free-cookies/ Wed, 08 May 2024 04:58:00 +0000 Nicole Drum 98d16b9d-abe5-4c0f-a84f-1d8abecc7c6f

Chips Ahoy cookies are going gluten free. On Monday, the brand announced their first-ever certified gluten free cookie offering, Chips Ahoy! Gluten Free. The new cookie is a permanent addition to the Chips Ahoy lineup and is set to hit store shelves nationwide this month.

According to the brand, the new Chips Ahoy! Gluten Free was no simple undertaking to create. The brand says that it took years to create the recipe, with more than 40 recipes developed and over 3000 hours spent on the product before finding the one that would recreate the brand's iconic taste and texture, just without the gluten.

"When we set out to create our first Chips Ahoy! Gluten Free cookie, we didn't want it to be a good gluten free cookie, we wanted it to be a great cookie that's also gluten free," Jainette Quinones, Brand Manager Chips Ahoy! Innovation said in a press release. "I am proud to say that our innovation team has succeeded. The new Chips Ahoy! Gluten Free cookie is an absolutely delicious cookie that everyone can enjoy."

Oreo Debuted Gluten Free Cookies in 2023

Chips Ahoy is just the latest iconic cookie to get a gluten free option. In 2021, Oreo launched their iconic cookie in a gluten free form, then followed that up in January 2023 with the arrival of Oreo Gluten Free Mint cookies, also a permanent offering in the cookie lineup. They are described as "a tasty new spin on the classic treat, and just as dunkable, Oreo Gluten Free Mint Chocolate Sandwich Cookies are made with real cocoa and a blend of gluten free flour."

As was noted above, the new Chips Ahoy! Gluten Free cookies are rolling out to store shelves nationwide this month. They are a permanent addition to the Chips Ahoy cookie lineup.

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Deadpool & Wolverine Director Says "You'd Have to Live Under a Rock to Not Know" Recent MCU Movies Have Underperformed https://comicbook.com/movies/news/deadpool-3-wolverine-director-shawn-levy-marvel-mcu-movies-failed/ Tue, 07 May 2024 18:53:00 +0000 Kofi Outlaw eddb78fe-475d-44b0-9f38-fb8cf34dad8f

Even Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy is willing to admit that the Marvel Cinematic Universe isn't what it once was.

"You'd have to live under a rock not to know that the last few Marvel movies have failed to ignite the world in the way that so many did," Levy says in the latest issue of Empire Magazine. However, Levy wasn't throwing shade at the MCU so much as trying to explain the challenge (and lofty fan expectations) that Deadpool & Wolverine needs to meet: Not just delivering another successful Deadpool movie, but also rekindling hype for the MCU franchise as a whole.

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(Photo: Marvel Studios)

"We do come along at an interesting time," Levy said. "And we are decidedly something different. Whether it is of Messianic proportions, time will tell."

Like everything in Deadpool's world, the idea of Deadpool & Wolverine being the 'MCU's savior' is a notion that the film is having some meta fun with. In one scene, Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool outright declares himself to be "Marvel Jesus," and Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige had to admit, there's a kernel of truth in that joke: "Some of the lines that Ryan and his writers and Shawn worked on have taken on more of a meaning."

Feige found himself inundated with MCU content production as the 2020s began under the new leadership of Disney's former CEO Bob Chapek. Now that Chapek is out and Bob Iger is back at the head of the company, Disney is committing to producing less MCU content every year - something Feige is grateful for.

It's nice to be able to rally behind one feature project this year. I'm much more comfortable being the underdog. I prefer being able to surprise and exceed expectations. So it does seem like the last year, which has not been ideal, has set us up well for that."

What Is Deadpool & Wolverine About?

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The trailer and early synopsis for Deadpool & Wolverine have teased the story of Wade Wilson (Reynolds) being detained by the TVA and sent on a mission. Wade recruits an emotionally-broken Wolverine variant from a dark timeline where the X-Men died, and their mission takes them to the multiversal wasteland the TVA has been using as a dumping ground, and where the beast Alioth (as seen in Loki) roams. Somewhere in that mix is Cassandra Nova (Emma Corin), a villain with deep ties to Charles Xavier, and a malevolent history in X-Men comics.

There have been teases of former Fox-Marvel movie stars coming back en masse for cameos in Deadpool & Wolverine - and even mega-star Taylor Swift appearing in the film as an iconic X-Men character. Despite there being a menagerie of cameos appearances expected in Deadpool 3, Shawn Levy has promised MCU fans are not required to do any "homework" to enjoy the film:

"I was a good student in school. I'll do my homework as an adult. But I am definitely not looking to do homework when I go to the movies," Levy told AP. "I very much made this film with certainly a healthy respect and gratitude towards the rabid fan base that has peak fluency in the mythology and lore of these characters and this world. But I didn't want to presume that. This movie is built for entertainment, with no obligation to come prepared with prior research."

Deadpool & Wolverine has a release date of July 26th - the 11th Anniversary of The Wolverine's release.

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Avatar: The Last Airbender Cosplay Shows Off With Toph https://comicbook.com/anime/news/avatar-the-last-airbender-toph-cosplay-anime/ Tue, 07 May 2024 00:38:00 +0000 Nick Valdez 36543944-05b7-44ec-88ca-ac1300bc82ed

Avatar: The Last Airbender has quite a lot of new projects now in the works, and one awesome cosplay is helping to highlight Toph Beifong's role in it all! Avatar: The Last Airbender made waves earlier this year with the release of the first season of its new live-action TV series with Netflix, and thus it was quickly announced that this series would be continuing with not one, but two more seasons in the future. As Netflix begins work on what's next, fans have been excited to see new takes of characters who have yet to be introduced like Toph.

But the live-action series is only one of the new Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise projects in the works as the animated iteration of the franchise is also in the works on its debut movie with a release planned for some time in 2026. That means fans will be seeing much more of Toph for the first time in quite a long time, and now fans are getting in on the fun early by showing Toph even more love through great examples such as this cosplay from artist miruqi on Instagram. Check it out:

What's Next for Avatar: The Last Airbender?

Netflix has announced that Avatar: The Last Airbender will be returning for both Season 2 and 3 in the near future. A production start date has yet to be announced as of the time of publication, nor has there been a release window or date announced for the new episodes. But you can catch up with everything that's happened in the eight episode first season (which adapts the first season of the animated classic) now streaming with Netflix. It stars a core a core cast of Gordon Cormier as Aang, Kiawentiio as Katara, Ian Ousley as Sokka, Dallas Liu as Prince Zuko, Elizabeth Yu as Azula, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Iroh, Daniel Dae Kim as Fire Lord Ozai and more.

Avatar: The Last Airbender is also working on a brand new animated feature film set after the events of the original series. Under the current working title of Aang: The Last Airbender, Lauren Montgomery will be directing the film for Avatar Studios with original series co-creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael DiMartino producing the film alongside Eric Coleman. The voice cast currently includes Eric Nam as an adult Aang, Dave Bautista as the currently unnamed villain, and Dionne Quan, Jessica Matten, and Roman Zaragoza in unconfirmed roles.

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Yellowstone Star Tease Update On Sequel Series Casting Plans https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/yellowstone-sequel-series-cast-story-beth-rip-dutton/ Mon, 06 May 2024 16:42:00 +0000 Kofi Outlaw 8689f96f-e2d0-4960-8499-9fda6de7f8bf

The fate of the Yellowstone franchise is still up in the air, but one its biggest stars may have given a hint about which direction things are moving in.

In a new interview, Yellowstone's Rip Wheeler actor, Cole Hauser, seemed to indicate that - despite previous reporting to the contrary - there are plans for a Yellowstone Sequel Series that will continue the story of key franchise characters:

"I'm so focused on finishing Yellowstone the way it needs to be finished right now -- well, just the show itself," Hauser explained to Country Living. "We'll see where that leads. But I know that there's some stuff on the horizon when it comes to Taylor's ideas for Kelly Reilly and myself, and some of the other cast. I'm excited to see where he goes creatively with that. But right now it's just: Let's finish strong; let's do the best we can."

Back in February, reports alleged that Hauser and his Yellowstone co-stars Kelly Reilly (who plays Beth Dutton) and Luke Grimes (Kayce Dutton) were at an impasse in negotiations with Paramount - an impasse that could kill the idea of Yellowstone's story continuing into the next series while retaining the current cast.

Kelly Reilly openly refuted those reports after they dropped; she echoed Hauser in saying their focus is on finishing the last batch of episodes in Yellowstone's Final Season, first, before worrying about the future:

"I just care about finishing [the main show] with as much care and as much passion and as much love as I can muster to put into it. That's what I care about. I'm sort of prepping for that now [and] that's my tunnel vision thing that I care about most," Reilly said. "And what goes on beyond that? There are discussions, you know. Don't believe everything you read. It's just nonsense. But we're gonna, you know, let's wait and see. I don't have an answer right now. But we'll see."

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(Photo: Paramount Network)

Yellowstone Season 5 started airing in November of 2022, and aired its midseason finale (with Episode 8) in January of 2023. The Hollywood Writers' and Actors' Strikes of 2023 dealt a serious blow to the original production schedule; the final six episodes of Yellowstone are now set for release in November of this year.

SPOILERS - Yellowstone's midseason finale saw the Dutton family's schism widen to a deadly degree; Beth is planning on killing her adopted brother Jamie (Wes Bentley), while Jamie is plotting against her and their father John (Kevin Costner), whose own feelings about handling Jamie remains unclear.

Behind the scenes, we know that Costner will be done with Yellowstone after this - although even he recently hinted that he could still be part of the franchise, moving forward.

Yellowstone will return for its Final episodes in November 2024.

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Busch Light Crocs Are On Sale Now https://comicbook.com/irl/news/busch-light-crocs-may-6th-release-date/ Mon, 06 May 2024 16:03:00 +0000 Sean Fallon 029b5aee-0c4d-4aca-84c9-e74072a40bdd busch-light-crocs-hero-visual.jpg

Following hot on the...heels of their collab with Pringles, Crocs has partnered Anheuser-Busch to launch limited edition Busch Light-themed Crocs All-Terrain Sandals and All-Terrain Clogs "to complement outdoor summer adventures". Indeed, those looking to head for the mountains with a cold one can do so in comfort and style thanks to this surprisingly practical footwear.

The new sandal and clog designs feature all-terrain soles, flannel accents and attached accessories like a roll-up koozie and survival flashlight. There's even a bottle opener to crack open all of those beers you'll find floating down every crisp, cold mountain stream. So fear not when heading out into the wilderness, your Busch Crocs have pretty much everything you'll need to survive. Pair them will the Pringles Crocs and you'll basically be glamping.

Starting today, May 6th, Busch Light x Crocs All-Terrain Sandals are priced at $60 and the Busch Light x Crocs All-Terrain Clogs are priced at $80. Both styles are available in sizes 6 -12, exclusively at Crocs.com while they last. You can also try your luck to score a pair for free thanks to a promotion that Busch Light is launching alongside their new Crocs:

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"Busch Light knows that shoe drops can cause quite a stir, with fans camping out in long lines to cop the latest styles. But why camp on a sidewalk if you can camp out in the great outdoors instead? As the beer brewed for the great outdoors, Busch Light has a better locale in mind for setting up camp and passing the time - actual nature. Want the new Busch Light x Crocs collaboration for free? Stake out your site,crack open a can of cold Busch Light and YOU could be in luck.

From May 1 - 31, Busch Light is inviting 21+ fans to head to the mountains to have a chance to secure their free pair of Crocs. Once fans set up camp, all they have to do is head to campoutforyourcrocs.com and upload a photo of them camping to enter for a chance to win a free pair of Crocs."

Shop Busch Light x Crocs Collab

"Not much beats a cold, smooth Busch Light, but enjoying one with a pair of Busch Light Crocs in the great outdoors comes pretty close," said Heidi Cooley, Chief Marketing Officer, Crocs. "This collaboration takes personalization to new heights with a flashlight, bottle opener and even a koozie Jibbitz- it's the perfect pairing for our most adventurous 21+ fan."

"Our footwear offers a personalized way for consumers to express themselves, and we had so much fun working with Busch Light to design these new styles to complement our fans' outdoor adventures," saidHeidi Cooley, Chief Marketing Officer at Crocs. "Much like a cold, smooth Busch Light, the Busch Light Crocs are best enjoyed in the great outdoors, and we can't wait to see our 21+ fans getting outside in these new styles!"

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Watch Bill Murray Hilariously Get Stuck in a Pit of Squishmallows https://comicbook.com/irl/news/watch-bill-murray-hilariously-get-stuck-in-a-pit-of-squishmallows/ Mon, 06 May 2024 14:59:00 +0000 Russ Burlingame d026065e-b8b0-404c-b98d-33b49eff5364

Jazwares chief Jeremy Padawer shared a video over the weekend featuring Ghostbusters and Groundhog Day star Bill Murray. In the video, Murray dives into a ball pit filled with Squishmallows, but then finds himself struggling to get traction to get back up. Saying it was like being stuck in quicksand, Murray squirms a bit before the video cuts away to him standing outside the pit with Padawer.

Murray, who recently appeared in Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, seems to go viral whenever he's spotted out in public. Whether it's signing fans' foreheads or photobombing strangers, Murray seems to have a mythology that follows him around -- and here we might see why. Even at 73, he seems to have no reservations about doing anything for a laugh.

"Bill Murray jumped into our Squishmallows pit at Berkshire Hathaway meeting... and got stuck," Padawer wrote. "However, like a D1 super-athlete, he quickly rallied and escaped - but not before a little hijinks!"

You an see the video below.

Murray's appearance in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire was one that came with a lot less pomp and mystery than his Ghostbusters: Afterlife cameo. While the previous outing had tried to keep a lid on the older Ghostbusters as much as they could, this tiem aroudn Murray and company were in all the trailers.

In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the Spengler family returns to where it all started - the iconic New York City firehouse - to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who've developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level. But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire stars Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Logan Kim, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, Celeste O'Connor, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Bill Murray, Annie Potts, James Acaster, and Emily Alyn Lind. The film is in theaters now, and coming to digital tomorrow.

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That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Cosplay Celebrates Season 3 With Shion https://comicbook.com/anime/news/reincarnated-as-a-slime-shion-cosplay-anime-season-3/ Mon, 06 May 2024 00:41:00 +0000 Nick Valdez d2129803-2b8a-4dfc-96fb-1c76701d3b3e

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is back in action with Season 3 as part of the Spring 2024 anime season, and one awesome cosplay is helping to celebrate the anime's comeback with Shion! That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime was just one of the major Isekai anime franchises returning for new episodes this Spring, and the first few episodes of the new season have helped to catch fans up with everything happening now that Rimuru has officially become a Demon Lord as of the end of the previous season. Which means big battles are coming soon.

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3 has thrown fans back into the mix as Rimuru and Tempest are dealing with the fallout of what it really means for him to become a Demon Lord, and that means now he has to deal with a ton of neighboring kingdoms and regions who are taking aim at the country. Thankfully, he still has the support of many followers at his side like Shion, who has been brought to life through cosplay from artist seracoss on Instagram. Check it out:

How to Watch That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3 is now available for streaming with its episodes released for fans with Crunchyroll in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, CIS, Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. New additions to the cast for Season 3 include the likes of the Inori Minase as Mariabel Rosso, Kenji Nojima as Leonard, Eiji Takemoto as Arnaud Bauman, Hajime Iijima as Bacchus, Haruka Aikawa as Litus, Wataru Komada as Garde, Taishi Murata as Fritz, Shoya Chiba as Saare, Mari Hino as Glenda Attley, and Masashi Yamane as Grigori.

As for what to expect from the new season, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3 is teased as such, "Rimuru has officially become a Demon Lord after defeating Clayman. Following Walpurgis, the Demon Lords' banquet, Rimuru's domain is expanded to include the entire Great Forest of Jura. Anticipating a flood of representatives from all races showing up to pay their respects, Rimuru decides to throw a festival to commemorate the opening of Tempest, using it as an opportunity to gain new citizens and present Demon Lord Rimuru to the world."

You can now catch up with the first two seasons of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, OVA specials, spin-offs, and movie streaming with Crunchyroll as well.

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Mark Hamill Visits White House for Star Wars Day https://comicbook.com/irl/news/mark-hamill-visits-white-house-for-star-wars-day/ Sun, 05 May 2024 03:16:00 +0000 Nicole Drum 122cb228-283e-4734-94ad-8910d71f3842

It's May 4th, better known to Star Wars fans as, well, Star Wars Day and this year, Luke Skywalker himself Mark Hamill paid a visit to the White House in what he described as a "make-believe defender of the galaxy" meeting a "real-life defender of democracy". On social media, Hamill shared a photo of himself with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office. Hamill also told press (via USA Today) that his visit this year, while not his first to the White House, was the first time he'd ever been to the Oval Office.

"I was honored to be asked to come to the White House to meet the President, the most legislatively successful president in my lifetime," Hamill said. He went on to say that the president had said that he could call him "Joe" but Hamill asked if he could call him "Joe-Bi-Wan-Kenobi".

"He liked that," Hamill said.

Star Wars: The Acolyte Got a New Poster, Trailer For Star Wars Day

Hamill visiting the White House wasn't the only way that Star Wars Day was celebrated by and for fans of the beloved franchise. On Saturday, Star Wars: The Acolyte got a new trailer and poster for the upcoming series to mark the day. The series is set to take place in The High Republic and, according to series creator Leslie Headland, will honor all eras of Star Wars and include elements from across the franchise so there is something truly for every Star Wars fan.

"It's a show packed with everything I wanted to explore: I wanted EU [Expanded Universe] stuff in there, references to the original trilogy, The Phantom Menace, the Disney sequels... it's absolutely packed. Because you never know, you may not get the chance again," Headland said previously.

"[Cinematographer] Chris [Teague] and I talked a lot about honoring George Lucas' camera moves," the showrunner continued. "I would say the original trilogy became our touchpoint for how to craft the world, while the Episode I-ness of the show is a bit more thematic."

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew's Release Window Was Also Just Revealed

On Friday, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, the next big Star Wars series to land on Disney+, was given an official release window with the series set to arrive sometime during this holiday season. Skeleton Crew will star Jude Law and Kerry Condon and will focus on a young generation of characters in a galaxy far, far away. Season 1 of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is set to consist of eight episodes.

"Jon Watts came to me, very much wanting to do a sort of Goonies in Star Wars," Kennedy told ComicBook at least year's Star Wars Celebration. "Needless to say, I'm going to say yes. And so, it's just evolved out of that kind of enthusiasm in wanting to tell stories in this space."

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Megan Thee Stallion Channels One Piece With Boa Hancock Cosplay https://comicbook.com/anime/news/megan-thee-stallion-boa-hancock-cosplay-anime-one-piece/ Sun, 05 May 2024 00:41:00 +0000 Nick Valdez fb2edc28-5fda-4354-9474-f788f3db451e

Megan Thee Stallion is stunning with a new take on One Piece's famous Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock! Megan Thee Stallion fans have fallen in love with the multi-award winning musician over the years as not only does she often reference anime and othe rpop culture elements into her music, but goes all out to showcase her love of anime in other major ways as well. Some of the most popular among fans is her cosplay as she's shown off looks inspired by JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Jujutsu Kaisen, and more in the past. Now she's taken on One Piece.

Megan Thee Stallion has been channeling more and more snake visuals and aesthetics with her recent music work on the likes of "Cobra," "Hiss," and more, and now she's gone even further with the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock. Taking on the serpent aesthetic of the One Piece fan favorite, and shaking it up even further with PlayStation 2 era like vibes for a whole new spin on the queen, it's definitely a One Piece cosplay that showcases how Megan Thee Stallion can push it all to the next level. Check it out below.

How to Watch and Read One Piece

If you wanted to catch up and see what the One Piece anime is all about, you can find the newest episodes of the One Piece anime now streaming with Crunchyroll and Netflix. The newest arc of the anime, Egghead, introduces several new faces to the series with additions to the cast such as Yohei Tadano as Dr. Vegapunk, Shuhei Sakaguchi as Shaka, Aya Hirano as Lilith, Ryoko Shiraishi as Edison, Tokuyoshi Kawashima as Pythagoras, Kaede Hondo as Atlas, Mutsumi Tamura as York, and more among many of the other characters we'll see in action in the coming episodes.

If you wanted to go back and check out more of the One Piece anime from the very beginning instead (along with various OVAs, movies, and other specials), you can find the entire back catalog streaming with Crunchyroll in Japanese and English language dubbed audio. You can also find the newest chapters of the One Piece manga (with the three most recent chapters being available for free) with Viz Media's digital Shonen Jump library and Shueisha's MangaPlus service if you wanted to read ahead to see what's coming next as the Final Saga of Eiichiro Oda's long running series continues.

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Game of Thrones: George R.R. Martin Finally Explains Why He Writes Such "Gratuitous" Food Scenes https://comicbook.com/irl/news/game-of-thrones-george-r-r-martin-gratuitous-food-scenes-explained-cookbook/ Sat, 04 May 2024 23:16:00 +0000 Nicole Drum 8b97de6c-857c-4238-8c7d-f3a13fdeba83

When it comes to Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin's writing, there is one fairly common critique of sorts: the author often includes "gratuitous" food scenes in his work, with some critics even commenting that his books might not be quite as long if it weren't for the various "gratuitous" feasts -- among other so-called excess scenes -- packed in them. It's not criticism that Martin is bothered by, but now he's explaining why there is so much food in his work. In his foreword for the new The Official Game of Thrones Cookbook (via Polygon), Martin says that, for him, the food matters because the journey is as important as the destination.

"When used in the context of literary criticism, 'gratuitous' usually translates to 'more than I wanted' or 'did not advance the plot' And you know, often that is true," Martin writes. "Was it necessary for me to mention that the minor knight who just entered the lists bore seven golden hedgehogs on a field of dark green? In that sex scene, couldn't I just have tumbled them into bed and cut to 'the next morning'? And the feasts, oh those feasts, surely the only thing that mattered was what the characters were saying, not the honey-roasted duck they were eating as they said it? Well, no. Not for me."

He continued, "It's not the destination that matters to me, it's the journey. I have been a voracious reader for as long as I can remember. A reader of fiction, specifically. Fiction is not about getting from point A to point B as fast as possible. It can educate, but it is not educational at heart. For that, nonfiction is infinitely superior. Fiction is about emotion. The heart, not the head. Fiction gives us vicarious experience. It takes us beyond ourselves and the world around us."

Martin goes to write that he wants readers to "live with my story, not just read it. When they sit down at my table, I want them to taste the food."

What's Going On With The Winds of Winter?

Interestingly, Martin also (sort of) addresses the next book in A Song of Ice and Fire, The Winds of Winter, in the forward as well. The author notes that he hopes readers enjoy cooking the dishes in the cookbook and that they take them back to the first time they "tasted them" in A Game of Thrones "or (one day, I hope) The Winds of Winter."

Fans of the series have been waiting on The Winds of Winter for quite some time at this point. The most recent book in the series, A Dance With Dragons, was published in 2011 and even Martin himself has acknowledged how overdue the next installment is late last year.

"The main thing I'm actually writing, of course, is the same thing... I wish I could write as fast as [The Last Kingdom author Bernard Cornwell] but I'm 12 years late on this damn novel and I'm struggling with it," Martin said after acknowledging he's made very little progress in the last year. "I have like 1100 pages written but I still have hundreds more pages to go. It's a big mother of a book for whatever reason. Maybe I should've started writing smaller books when I began this but it's tough. That's the main thing that dominates most of my working life."

When Does Season 2 of House of the Dragon Debut?

While fans are waiting for The Winds of Winter to finally make its way to publication, they will at least have not only the official cookbook to look forward to, but a second season of the prequel television series, House of the Dragon. The HBO series is set to return for Season 2 sometime in June of this year. The second season of House of the Dragon will continue the story of the Targaryen family, as its members battle for power in Westeros. The first installment ended with the death of one of Rhaenyra Targaryen's children at the hands of her half-brother. The family is split into two factions, kicking off a massive war that will be depicted in the new season.

The Official Game of Thrones Cookbook goes on sale May 7th.

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Star Wars: Josh Gad Celebrates May the 4th by Revealing Secret OREO Fan Theory https://comicbook.com/starwars/news/star-wars-day-josh-gad-oreo-theory-hidden-interview-baby-yoda-reaction/ Sat, 04 May 2024 17:10:00 +0000 Patrick Cavanaugh f29a3741-7047-4e2a-9559-1b57b9c7e96b

During the development and the release of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, fans crafted all manner of theories about how the films connected to other corners of the galaxy far, far away, while also speculating about how clues in the films could hint at what was to come for the saga. With today being Star Wars Day, fans around the world are sharing their love of the sci-fi series, with comedian and vocal supporter of Star Wars Josh Gad taking to social media to introduce an all-new theory: that OREO cookies were hidden throughout the franchise as a way for the filmmakers to pay respects to the beloved snack.

In the video below, you can see Gad hilariously point out all the ways in which OREO has influenced the saga, and while some of his theories come across as almost believable, Gad descends into absurdity by claiming R2-D2 even had compartments specifically designed to carry the confectionary.

In honor of Star Wars Day and his new OREO theory, ComicBook.com caught up with Gad to talk his love of Star Wars, OREO cookies, and his real feelings about Baby Yoda.

ComicBook.com: I think you can get a sense that I'm not one to mess around, I'm not one to pull my punches, so we are going to start off on something controversial and I need to hold you accountable and figure out: are you a regular OREO fan or are you a Double Stuf OREO fan?

Josh Gad: You know what? I'm going to have to go with regular. Look, I was born in the '80s. It's what I grew up with. It's what I know. It may be traditional, but look at me. I'm traditional. I'm a traditionalist.

They each have their merits and I do appreciate you coming clean and owning up to a hot-button issue that has been out there for quite a few years. Along those lines, when it comes to beverages and OREOs, are you a dunker or are you more of a drinker?

I'm a dunker. There's something about -- and it's actually very interesting, the only time I will ever voluntarily consume milk on its own is with an OREO cookie. I have a "no milk" policy. There's something about drinking milk that just makes me feel like I'm six years old and about to be screamed at by a teacher, and so I do it covertly, but I will pour a cold glass of milk and dip my OREO in it and consume it. I like the texture as it's dunked and inserted into my mouth.

That actually is my very next question, so I appreciate you setting me up. When we're talking milk, are we doing dairy milk, are we doing almond milk, or are we doing blue milk?

If I had access to authentic blue milk, I would choose blue milk. Sadly, Whole Foods doesn't yet carry intergalactic milk products, so I'm stuck with more of a whole milk situation. I think that that's not to say it wouldn't work in almond milk, I've never tried it. I've also never tried it in goat's milk or soy milk. There's various opportunities to see different flavor profiles that I feel it could be like the new version of wine pairing. That could be exciting. I just haven't done those yet. I just pour a glass of regular old-fashioned milk from a cow's udder, and I dip my cookie made in a processing plant into my mouth.

It's hard to argue with the classics. They don't go out of style. However, when it comes to new innovations in cookie technology, especially how OREO has been pushing things to new heights and introducing lots of different varietals, outside of the traditional OREO cookie, do you have a favorite varietal? Or do you even have an idea for a varietal that doesn't exist yet?

My friend Adam Shapiro, Shappy, as I call him, has been bringing the flavor variations of OREO to my attention for quite some time now, and so I've dabbled in quite a few of them.

I would love to see a savory OREO. I don't know if that exists. I haven't tried one, but I'd love to see what would happen if we had -- think of a pretzel-infused OREO situation. It may not work, it could even be catastrophic, but again, we won't know until we've at least experimented.

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

That's right.

Plus, even if there has been a savory flavor, I feel like these varietals are on the shelf for a week before it's replaced with whatever the new innovation is.

Do you know what I've never tried that I really want to try? A fried OREO. That's something that I'd really like to try at some point. My doctor does not want me to try that. I think it would be really delicious, though.

Listen, as a temporary representative of OREO, I don't think you're necessarily endorsing that people go out and do this, but you can say, as a human being with wants and needs, let's get you some deep-fried OREOs.

I think so. I think I've earned them.

Well, we've chatted at least a fair bit about OREO--

I don't think we've chatted enough about OREO, actually.

Let's hear about this partnership, you've collaborated with OREO in honor of Star Wars. How did this OREO theory that fans will be learning about, how did this whole opportunity come about?

Well, as anyone who knows me can attest, two of my favorite things -- outside of my children -- are OREOs and Star Wars, and both of them I actually share with my children. Occasionally, I will hold back on OREOs sometimes, but I love both of those things.

It came to my attention that there's more crossover between both of these incredible, fan favorites than one may have noticed until now. When you look deeply enough, you start finding OREOs popping up in all sorts of places in the Star Wars universe. From architecture to face masks to, dare I say, even lightsaber blades. I think that if you look hard enough, you will see that there's no way that the Star Wars films could have been made without OREO cookies.

And that's not meant to be a controversial statement, it's just meant to be a statement of fact. That's just something that is, what's the word? Indisputable. It's very hard to look at the Millennium Falcon and not think to yourself, "That's a flying OREO cookie." It's not impossible, but it's unlikely that wasn't what the filmmakers were attempting.

I remember specifically ahead of the sequel trilogy coming out and things about Snoke and his origins before we learned his true origins in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, but as a Star Wars fan, are you one to dive deep into Reddit theories about "does this actually mean this?" and who really was Darth Plagueis? Or are you more just thinking, "You know what, I'm going to let these filmmakers just tell me what's what,"?

If you've ever seen my videos interrogating Daisy Ridley, you'll know that I am not one to settle for just what is readily available. I like to go deep. I'm curious to hear your theory on Darth Plagueis. I think we both think Palpatine killed him, but do we have a motive? Do we have DNA?

I heard that Palpatine killed him. It was actually a dispute that Plagueis was attempting to use bantha milk to dunk some OREOs in, and Palpatine refused to allow such a thing to happen.

Well, I know that Doku was lactose intolerant, so I knew that that was very difficult for him, but I didn't know about this theory. That's interesting.

Because I guess since there's always two, according to the Sith "Rule of Two," it was that Palpatine had heard from Plagueis' doctor that his Midichlorian counts were really out of whack.

Well, you've got to do a physical once a year. You have to check your Midichlorian counts.

I apologize, by the way. I said "Doku" and I meant "Dooku," and now the entire Star Wars fan base is going to come after me with OREO lightsabers and I don't want that. I don't want that headache. I don't need that headache. I want to apologize. Switching that vowel was below me, and I'm very sorry.

I'm glad because I was about to mention that Plagueis' Doctor was actually Dr. Evazan, and then I thought, "Wait, actually, the timeline might not line up."

It might not line up.

Evazan might've been pre-med, so I'm glad that you made such a blunder to prevent me from implicating myself. When it comes to Star Wars Day, how do you and your kids and your family celebrate it? Is it just every day is Star Wars Day in your house?

May the 4th is the one day that's ... It's every other day for me that is Star Wars Day, and that becomes my Sabbath. My day of rest.

No, every year is different. Sometimes there will be a lightsaber battle in my home, other times there will not. So it's really those two variations that play out the most. I'm very excited about May the 4th.

Again, it's the rule of two. It's either there are lightsaber battles, or there are not lightsaber battles.

Or there's not, yeah. There's not much else, I wish I could tell you that my family and I use the Force on each other. We don't. We don't have that genetic attribute.

You love Star Wars, and you've even gotten to contribute to a variety of Star Wars projects over the years, and with the franchise growing, a lot of people are getting opportunities to enter the franchise in ways previously unavailable. For you, if there was the opportunity of, "Josh, we really want you to play a main character in a Star Wars thing," and therefore it would ruin the mystery of Star Wars as a fan, do you think you'd jump at the opportunity to become an official part of the franchise?

Oh, yeah, absolutely. If they were to offer me Donnie the Hutt, like Jabba's nephew or something like that, I would do it in a second.

I will tell you that I have actually been on the flip side of this where I have been invited to numerous Star Wars sets, and have learned things way before the movies came out that I was actually very sad that I knew. I saw Baby Yoda about a year before anybody knew about Baby Yoda, so that was both cool, but also slightly disappointing because then I couldn't be surprised.

And also realizing, "Oh, this is just a puppet on set," as opposed to an actual character.

Yeah, but it was a very cool puppet. I got to play with it.


Stay tuned for updates on the Star Wars franchise.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. You can contact Patrick Cavanaugh directly on Twitter.

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Starbucks Debuts New At Home Iced Coffee Blends https://comicbook.com/irl/news/starbucks-debuts-new-at-home-iced-coffee-blends/ Sat, 04 May 2024 04:30:00 +0000 Nicole Drum 933bdc61-2583-432a-945e-248063313396

It's May and that makes it an interesting time of year where it's not quite summer, but the spring weather is starting to get just a little bit warmer and thoughts are turning towards ways to keep things cool and fresh and beat the heat as summer approaches. That's especially true when it comes to food and drink -- and coffee, especially. Now, Starbucks is debuting new options for coffee fans to get a little cafe quality cool refreshment at home. Starting this month, the brand is launching two new Cold Brew Concentrates as well as new Iced Coffee Blends at retailers nationwide.

The new Iced Coffee Blends in Signature Black are described as featuring seasonally sourced coffee beans that maintain "vibrant sweet citrus and caramel notes when chilled". It makes them perfect enjoyed black or paired with Starbucks Creamers this spring and summer, or all year long. The Iced Coffee Blend in Signature Black comes in both ground and K-Cup pod offerings. Additionally, Starbucks is rolling out the new Iced Coffee Blend in Naturally Flavored Vanilla. This blend is described as being crafted to be cold and featured velvety vanilla notes. It comes in K-Cup pods.

As for the Cold Brew Concentrates, Starbucks has expanded their lineup to add two new flavors: Dark Chocolate Hazelnut and Sweetened Black. Both flavors feature cold-steeped custom blend coffee that all coffee lovers have to do is mix with equal parts water, pour over ice, and stir in creamer, milk or other flavors and enjoy. These new flavors join Signature Black and Caramel Dolce, both of which are already available.

In Other Starbucks News

In other Starbucks news, Starbucks recently added the new Spicy Lemonade Refreshers to their spring drink menu. Available in the Spicy Lemonade Refresher line are the Spicy Dragon Fruit Lemonade Refresher, the Spicy Pineapple Lemonade Refresher, and the Spicy Strawberry Lemonade Refresher. Each refresher gets their spice from a spicy chili powder blend with lemonade. The Spicy Cream Cold foam is available as a customization and is made with the classic Starbucks cold foam and their Spicy Chili Powder Blend. It can be added to any cold beverage, with the brand suggesting customers try it with an iced chai for what they call a "delicious combination of spices" or to simply enjoy it with a cold brew for "coffee with a kick." The entire spicy lineup is available for a limited time this spring, while supplies last.

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Kevin Costner Says He'd Work With Yellowstone Creator Taylor Sheridan Again https://comicbook.com/irl/news/kevin-costner-says-he-would-work-with-yellowstone-creator-taylor-sheridan-again/ Sat, 04 May 2024 02:58:00 +0000 Nicole Drum 86d916c7-dc8d-4a6d-bab9-eff78663cbb1

The final episodes of Yellowstone are still in the works, currently set to arrive in November of this year, and while there is still a lot that we don't know about the back half of the popular series' fifth season and series star Kevin Costner's reported departure from it, there is one thing that the actor is making clear: he's open to working with Taylor Sheridan again. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Costner said that while he hasn't spoken with Yellowstone creator Sheridan about the final episodes of the series, he's open to working with him again in the future, be it on something for Yellowstone or on another project.

"He's doing special work in a lot of different ways. He's very prolific about the things he does, and if he sees me in something that he wants to do, I'll look at it just the way I did Yellowstone and maybe we will end up doing something together," Costner said. "He likes a lot of the things that I like, and the idea of us working together is not out of the question for me. The subjects he chooses are very interesting to me. I like a lot of that stuff. Yellowstone stands out as something that could continue. But that is a Taylor question. But other things that he's doing I think are really, really good. He likes the same subjects that I do."

Costner Wants to Come Back For The End of Yellowstone

Costner has previously said that he'd be interested in returning for the final episodes of Yellowstone to close out John Dutton's story, though it's not something that he's been able to work out.

"I'd like to be able to do it but we haven't been able to," Costner said previously. "I thought I was going to make seven [seasons] but right now we're at five. So, how it works out -- I hope it does -- but they've got a lot of different shows going on. Maybe it will. Maybe this will circle back to me. If it does and I feel really comfortable with [it], I'd love to do it."

Costner's Horizon: An American Saga Opens In Theaters This Summer

While Costner's Yellowstone future is uncertain, the actor does have a new film coming to theaters this summer, Horizon: An American Saga. The two-part cinematic event, broken into Chapters One and Two, is directed and co-written by Costner and described as a "multi-faceted chronicle covering the Civil War expansion and settlement of the American West."

"Spanning the four years of the Civil War, from 1861 to 1865, Costner's ambitious cinematic adventure will take audiences on an emotional journey across a country at war with itself, experienced through the lens of families, friends and foes all attempting to discover what it truly means to be the United States of America.

Costner stars alongside an impressive ensemble cast that includes Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jena Malone, Owen Crow Shoe, Tatanka Means, Ella Hunt, Tim Guinee, Danny Huston, Colin Cunningham, Scott Haze, Tom Payne, Abbey Lee, Michael Rooker, Will Patton, Georgia MacPhail, Douglas Smith, Luke Wilson, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jamie Campbell Bower, Alejandro Edda, Was? Winyan Chief, Michael Anganaro, Angus Macfadyen, Jon Beavers, Alex Nibley, Kathleen Quinlan, Etienne Kellici, Amos Jason Charging Cloud, Bodhi Okuma Linton, Gregory Cruz, James Russo, Jeff Fahey, David O'Hara, Chris Conner, Leroy M. Silva, Bernardo Velasco, Tom Everett, Glynn Turman, Giovanni Ribisi and more."

Horizon: An American Saga Chapter One opens in theaters on June 28th with Chapter Two following on August 16th. The final episodes of Yellowstone are expected in November.

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Star Wars Day: RSVLTS Dropping Massive Collection for May the 4th https://comicbook.com/starwars/news/star-wars-day-2024-rsvlts-collection-shirts-items-shorts-lineup/ Fri, 03 May 2024 20:10:00 +0000 Patrick Cavanaugh 3b1908ba-4f1b-4fff-bb48-d65b515eb831
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Unfrosted: Jerry Seinfeld's New Movie Features A Crossover With This Beloved TV Series https://comicbook.com/movies/news/unfrosted-movie-netflix-mad-men-cameo-scene-don-draper-jon-hamm/ Fri, 03 May 2024 19:04:00 +0000 Kofi Outlaw 7d99f4fa-3663-45ec-bacd-0ca02d2095a6

Jerry Seinfeld's new Netflix movie Unfrosted has a scene that will definitely get viewers buzzing, as it features a crossover cameo from one of the most acclaimed and popular TV series in recent years.

Obviously, explaining what happens will require some SPOILERS for Unfrosted!

The story of Unfrosted sees Seinfeld playing "Bob Cabana" a top executive at Kellogg's, who gets into a breakfast food arms race with rival Marjorie Post (Amy Schumer) of Post cereals. Even when the Kellogg team got their big breakthrough by inventing a breakfast pastry that could be stored on shelves, they still had no idea what to name it or how to market it.

So they called in the experts.

Unfrosted's Mad Men Cameo Explained

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(Photo: Netflix)

In a hilarious crossover scene, Bob Cabana, his boss Edsel Kellogg III (Jim Gaffigan) and lead research scientist Donna Stankowski (Melissa McCarthy) meet with the Mad Men gang from Sterling Cooper for a marketing pitch, which is led by Don Draper (Jon Hamm), with Roger Sterling (John Slattery) sitting in as his wing-man.

We get a classic Mad Men Don Draper pitch scene (if you know you know...), only in the comedic stylings of Unfrosted, Don goes way over the top with his idea, naming the breakfast pastry the "Jelle Jolie," with marketing poster concepts using scantily-clad pin-up girls to sexualize the product. It's a spot-on send-up when Gaffigan's Ed Kellogg insists they are a family-friendly cereal company, and Don bullies them into either getting provocative or being irrelevant, while Roger not-so-subtly suggests that their sad little Michigan town could use a little more sexy seduction - that he is happy to provide himself.

Unfrosted is set in the year 1963, which is the same time period in which Mad Men Season 3 takes place. Funny enough, it was in that third season that both Don and Roger saw their tomcat ways cause trouble in their respective marriages - ultimately ending Don's. Unfrosted makes sure to let poke fun of the Mad Men bravado, with McCarthy's character calling B.S. on Don's line that "His pleasure is her pleasure too."

There's been some buzz about this Mad Men crossover with Unfrosted - and not all of it positive. That said, Seinfeld's film doesn't make it a mystery that it is playing fast and loose with history and reality, routinely leaning into absurdist and/or slapstick comedy. This Mad Men bit is some pretty good satire comedy, while never losing the silly spirit of the overall film. What's there to be mad about?

Unfrosted is now streaming on Netflix.

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