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Michael B. Jordan Is a Heist Master in THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR Trailer A new trailer for Amazon MGM’s remake shows Michael B. Jordan as a globe-trotting billionaire playboy who pulls off heists, drives race cars, and jumps off cliffs, while a beautiful investigator on his trail falls for him. It’s the second remake of the 1968 Steve McQueen original, after the 1999 version with Pierce Brosnan. The author’s take is mostly admiration for Jordan, saying the role makes him seem even cooler. It opens in theaters March 5, 2027. Visit https://nerdist.com/article/michael-b-jordan-the-thomas-crown-affair-remake-trailer/ to read or listen to the article. Powered by Instaread (https://instaread.co/player) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY Introduces Doom as a Grieving Father Joe Russo told Empire that Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom will be the scariest version yet: “a Gothic character” who’s “not above selling his soul,” and is “profoundly damaged” by the death of his child. That isn’t from the comics, where Doom’s only child is his adopted son Kristoff Vernard, who never died. Nerdist guesses the child is the boy in the mural seen in the trailers. Kevin Feige also denied that Doom is a Tony Stark variant, saying “He’s Victor Von Doom.” Nerdist speculates that Doom’s anger over the heroes’ “stolen lives” could lead him to target the Avengers’ children, since Thor, Hawkeye, Ant-Man, the Richardses, and others are parents. Doomsday opens December 18. Visit https://nerdist.com/article/avengers-doomsday-will-introduce-doom-as-a-grieving-father-not-a-variant/ to read or listen to the article. Powered by Instaread (https://instaread.co/player) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will Wanda Marry Doom in DOOMSDAY? VISIONQUEST Teases Iconic Avengers Story After the post-credits scene in which Doom revives Wanda, and the finale’s reunion of Billy and Tommy, Nerdist argues the MCU is setting up the comics story Avengers: The Children’s Crusade (2010, Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung). In it, Wanda is an amnesiac living in Latveria, with Doom siphoning her magic and planning to make her his queen. Billy and Tommy search for her and restore her memory, and she turns on Doom before the wedding. The article also recaps Avengers: Disassembled and House of M, which the MCU has loosely adapted in WandaVision and Multiverse of Madness. Nerdist predicts one of the Latverian Witches in Doomsday is a memory-wiped Wanda, and that Doom will use her reality-warping powers to shape Battleworld in Secret Wars, with Vision and her sons eventually breaking the spell. Visit https://nerdist.com/article/will-wanda-marry-doom-in-doomsday-iconic-avengers-story-the-childrens-crusade/ to read or listen to the article. Powered by Instaread (https://instaread.co/player) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy Serkis Is Losing Sleep Over THE HUNT FOR GOLLUM Serkis told The Times that directing and playing Gollum in The Hunt for Gollum is “insane.” He says he wakes at night unsure “if I’m asleep or awake,” wondering “Am I directing you Gollum? Or you me?” The film bridges The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and follows a young Aragorn, played by Jamie Dornan (not Viggo Mortensen), as he hunts Gollum to keep the Ring’s location from Sauron. Serkis plays a younger Gollum. Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, and Lee Pace return, with Kate Winslet, Leo Woodall, and Anya Taylor-Joy joining. It opens December 17, 2027. Visit https://nerdist.com/article/andy-serkis-is-losing-sleep-over-the-lord-of-the-rings-the-hunt-for-gollum/ to read or listen to the article. Powered by Instaread (https://instaread.co/player) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Mercer Cast as Nightcrawler in Marvel Rivals Season 11Critical Role voice actor Matt Mercer will voice Marvel’s Nightcrawler in Season 11 of Marvel Rivals, joining Dracula as one of two new heroes arriving in the popular multiplayer game on November 13, 2026. The character trailer showcases Nightcrawler’s teleportation abilities, playful personality, and efforts to rescue people amid a catastrophic collision between universes. In the game, he will fill the Strategist role, using his ability to teleport around the battlefield and transport teammates to his location. Mercer celebrated the casting on social media, calling Nightcrawler his favorite Marvel character of all time. The announcement has generated excitement among fans eager to see his interpretation of the beloved blue mutant. Visit https://nerdist.com/article/critical-role-matt-mercer-voicing-nightcrawler-marvel-rivals/ to read or listen to the article. Powered by Instaread (https://instaread.co/player) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

VISIONQUEST Canonizes the First Ever Marvel Comics Story VisionQuest episode seven (spoilers) flashes back to 1939 and shows scientist Phineas Horton (also played by Paul Bettany, who looks just like Vision) building an artificial man named J.I.M. (Joule Individual Machine) to replace his dead son. Horton's wife and young daughter Victoria leave him over his obsession. J.I.M. was reportedly a brief hero, but couldn't process complex emotions. Vision explains that his clockwork spun too fast and flooded his solar cells with oxygen until he burst into flame. The Hortons later donated his inert body to Markridge Biotech, and his programming became the source code for Vision, which Ultron passed down in Age of Ultron. Nerdist says this is a fairly faithful adaptation of the very first Marvel story, "The Human Torch" in 1939's Marvel Comics #1. In it, Horton's synthetic man is displayed in a sealed glass tube (the same case seen at the Stark Expo in Captain America: The First Avenger) and bursts into flame on contact with oxygen. In the comics, he then escapes the concrete the public encased him in, becomes Jim Hammond, joins the police, and fights alongside Captain America and Namor. Later comics revealed Vision was based on his design. Differences from the comics: the show doesn't confirm that J.I.M. used the name "Human Torch" or "Hammond," and it leaves out the retcon that Kang (as Victor Timely) gave Horton his advanced technology. The author thinks Marvel may be avoiding Kang, and suggests J.I.M. could get a one-off Disney+ Special Presentation set in the past, with Bettany starring. Visit https://nerdist.com/article/visionquest-canonizes-first-ever-marvel-comics-story-mcu-human-torch/ to read or listen to the article. Powered by Instaread (https://instaread.co/player) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How VISIONQUEST’s Finale Addresses Wanda’s Potential Return A post-credits scene in the VisionQuest finale returns to Wanda’s death at the end of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but this time shows what comes after Mount Wundagore collapses. The rubble lifts at the command of Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, who says “Scarlet Witch… awaken. Your powers will be mine,” and Wanda wakes up alive. Earlier in the finale, Tommy asks Vision whether they might see Wanda again, and Vision says anything is possible. Nerdist notes that Wanda may now be under Doom’s spell, possibly as one of his Latverian Witches, and that we’ll learn more when Avengers: Doomsday opens December 18. Visit https://nerdist.com/article/visionquest-season-finale-addresses-wanda-potential-return/ to read or listen to the article. Powered by Instaread (https://instaread.co/player) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NC-17 Hit THE DEVILS Getting Fancy 4K Disc Release Warner Bros.’ Clockwork label will release Ken Russell’s 1971 The Devils on 4K Blu-ray on April 30, 2027, including the uncensored director’s cut that Warner refused to release when Mark Kermode’s team found the censored footage in 2002. The three-disc Collector’s Edition ($76.99) includes the director’s cut, the UK X-rated version (111 minutes), the US R-rated version (108 minutes), a new Guillermo del Toro interview, a restoration featurette, archival interviews with Vanessa Redgrave and Oliver Reed, and a 96-page book. A single-disc edition costs $36.99. The restored film was a surprise theatrical hit earlier this year, and the reviewer calls it his pick for best movie of the year. Visit https://nerdist.com/article/nc-17-hit-the-devils-getting-fancy-4k-disc-release/ to read or listen to the article. Powered by Instaread (https://instaread.co/player) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do Tommy and Billy Reunite in the VISIONQUEST Finale? Yes. Thomas (Ruaridh Mollica), the reincarnated Tommy, enters a trance in a tub of water and reaches a dreamspace where he finds Billy Kaplan/Wiccan (Joe Locke). Billy mentions a teleportation spell, apparently speaking to Agatha’s ghost, before the connection breaks. Later, when Vision’s systems are burning out and Tommy’s speed isn’t enough, Billy teleports from New Jersey to the U.K. and combines his magic with Tommy’s powers to save their father, so the three Maximoffs embrace. Tommy and Lisa plan to fly to New Jersey to meet Billy. Nerdist hopes this signals a Young Avengers payoff and possibly an adaptation of The Children’s Crusade, in which they search for Wanda. Visit https://nerdist.com/article/visionquest-finale-do-billy-tommy-maximoff-reunite-marvel/ to read or listen to the article. Powered by Instaread (https://instaread.co/player) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why DC Studios Needs to Stop Chasing the Marvel Formula After Gunn and Safran’s exit, Nerdist argues that hiring ex-Marvel executive Jeremy Latcham continues a decades-long pattern of DC imitating Marvel. It says this worked only once, in the comics after 1985’s Crisis on Infinite Earths, when DC hired Marvel creators and tightened its continuity. On screen it hasn’t worked: Warner rushed the DCEU after The Avengers with Batman v Superman, then replaced the people running DC Films (Johns and Berg, then Hamada). The article says Gunn and Safran made fumbles, such as no clear Batman or Wonder Woman plan and too few family-friendly projects, but didn’t deserve to be replaced given the reception of Superman, Lanterns, and Clayface. After four regime changes in a decade, the author is exhausted and says DC should lean into different tones within a shared universe rather than building toward big events. Visit https://nerdist.com/article/dc-studios-needs-to-stop-chasing-marvel-formula/ to read or listen to the article. Powered by Instaread (https://instaread.co/player) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Gunn Was Working on SUPERMAN 3 When He Got the Ax Per THR, Gunn was in the middle of writing a third Superman film as part of a plan for a trilogy, with a Superman movie every two years. It might have morphed into a Justice League team-up with Batman, Wonder Woman, and possibly Martian Manhunter. Reports attribute the removal to causes ranging from disputes over the reporting hierarchy to complaints that Superman lacked “cultural impact” (Nerdist calls that “hogwash”). The author says this suggests Gunn’s exit wasn’t voluntary. Man of Tomorrow arrives next July, with Supergirl and John Stewart expected to feature, so fans can see the vision for themselves. Visit https://nerdist.com/article/james-gunn-was-working-on-superman-3-dc-studios-removal/ to read or listen to the article. Powered by Instaread (https://instaread.co/player) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scarlett Johansson Says THE BATMAN PART II Was a Major Challenge On Entertainment Tonight, Johansson was asked whether The Exorcist: Martyrs or The Batman Part II pushed her furthest out of her comfort zone. She said The Batman “gave me a lot of existential angst for some reason,” and that the role was “very hard to figure out” and “hard to crack,” though she isn’t sure whether it was the role or where she is in life. Her character hasn’t been confirmed. Nerdist speculates she’s Gilda Gold, wife or fiancée of Sebastian Stan’s Harvey Dent. In The Long Halloween Gilda is the original Holiday Killer, so the role may be villainous. The film opens in February 2028. Visit https://nerdist.com/article/scarlett-johansson-the-batman-part-ii-role-challenging/ to read or listen to the article. Powered by Instaread (https://instaread.co/player) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SHOCKER: James Gunn and Peter Safran Out at DC Studios Per THR, Gunn and Safran are “stepping down” as co-CEOs of DC Studios at Skydance, a month after reports said they were safe. Jeremy Latcham, a Marvel Studios veteran (Iron Man, The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy), becomes sole CEO, handling both creative and financial sides. Skydance’s Ellison and Kreiz thanked them for resetting DC’s foundation. Gunn and Safran cited Superman, Peacemaker, Creature Commandos, Lanterns, and Clayface, and said they’re returning to storytelling, including Man of Tomorrow. Gunn’s own post mentioned burnout and the “corporate nature” of the job. Nerdist notes it’s unclear whether they left voluntarily or were pushed out, and whether Latcham will continue or reset the DCU. Their remaining projects include The People v. Gorilla Grodd, and they’re producers on The Batman: Part II. Visit https://nerdist.com/article/breaking-james-gunn-and-peter-safran-out-at-dc-studios/ to read or listen to the article. Powered by Instaread (https://instaread.co/player) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DC Hires EVIL DEAD WRATH Director to Write New CONSTANTINE Film Deadline reports DC Studios hired Francis Galluppi, who wrote and will direct Evil Dead Wrath (2028), to write a new John Constantine script. It seems to be a fresh Hellblazer-based take, not the long-planned sequel to Keanu Reeves’ 2005 film. The article recaps Constantine’s history: created in Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing in 1985, then 300 issues of Hellblazer, plus the Matt Ryan TV and Arrowverse versions. Nerdist thinks a lower-budget, R-rated approach like Clayface would suit it. (Published November 5, so before the Gunn/Safran news.) Visit https://nerdist.com/article/dc-studios-hires-francis-galluppi-constantine-movie-evil-dead-wrath/ to read or listen to the article. Powered by Instaread (https://instaread.co/player) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Action Movie KARŌSHI Trailer Fights Against Corporations The first trailer for Karōshi pairs John Wick-style action with samurai swordplay, and is produced by Chad Stahelski. It’s set in a near-future Manhattan run by a Japanese conglomerate, and the trailer opens with a worker jumping off the company skyscraper, followed by the definition of “karōshi” (death from overwork). A mysterious outsider (Teo Yoo) infiltrates the company after a worker’s death and exposes the violent system underneath. Writer and director Takashi Doscher leads a cast that includes Isabel May, Takehiro Hira, Bill Camp, Giancarlo Esposito, and Cynthia Erivo. Nerdist loved the trailer’s blood-spattered fight scenes. It opens in February 2027. Visit https://nerdist.com/article/karoshi-trailer-action-movie-takashi-doscher-chad-stahelshi/ to read or listen to the article. Powered by Instaread (https://instaread.co/player) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.