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Assad Zaman on Armand Comparing Marius and Daniel in THE VAMPIRE LESTAT
- Assad Zaman spoke to us about The Vampire Lestat‘s Armand and how he compares the relationships between Marius and Daniel Molloy.
- In Anne Rice’s books, there wasn’t much similarity between Daniel and Marius, but in The Vampire Lestat, the two have more in common, causing Zaman to muse about how Armand subconsciously considers them.
- Marius joins The Vampire Lestat this season, but it’s not yet clear if he will meet Armand and Daniel in the past or present timelines.
It has been a tumultuous time for the Vampire Armand. In Interview with the Vampire season two, Daniel Molloy unraveled his long-running lies to the purported love of his life, Louis de Pointe du Lac, bringing their relationship and life together to a resounding end. Sometime after that, in a fit of worshipful punishment, Armand turned Daniel into a vampire, creating his first ever fledgling in over 500 years of vampiric life. Armand has always found the act of creating a vampire to be abhorrent, but, suddenly, in The Vampire Lestat, he finds himself a vampiric maker, a position he likely never thought he would be in. Speaking with Assad Zaman about The Vampire Lestat, Nerdist was curious to know whether becoming a vampiric maker for Daniel had Armand considering his own vampiric maker, Marius. And the answer to that question was quite fascinating.
NerdistWe asked Zaman whether “becoming a vampiric maker is making Armand think about his relationship with his own vampiric maker, Marius?” and Zaman noted, “That’s really good. Yes, absolutely. And I totally thought about that whilst I was there.” When asked what it was he thought about it, he shared, “I mean, there are parallels here that are, I guess, accentuated a bit more than they are in the books between Daniel and Marius. They’re closer in age, and they’re sort of…”
Bogosian interrupts the train of thought briefly to interject, “You like those daddies, huh?”
AMC
Which makes Zaman laugh before he offers, “I like my daddies. What can I say? But I think that I’m not sure how aware Armand is about self-reflecting on himself, seeing that [about Marius and Daniel], but I think he’s seeing something in Daniel that reminds him of Marius in some ways.”
Coming back in to think more seriously on the topic, Bogosian adds, “That’s pretty interesting because the Daniel that you [Armand] met in the ’70s has no accomplishments and is kind of a loser. And the Daniel that you’re dealing with now is a lot closer to Marius in that he actually has done something with his life. Although not through supernatural means, which is what Marius did. Marius built a whole empire on that.” He hastens to add, “A horrible empire of bad things.” And while Marius certainly has quite a list of bad things to answer for, this remains an interesting path for Armand’s thoughts to take.
AMC
For now, as we learned in Interview with the Vampire season two, Armand thinks that his maker, Marius, is dead. Although readers of the book know, of course, that it is not so, and Marius remains alive, unbeknownst to Armand. Marius will, in fact, appear in The Vampire Lestat, played by Christopher Heyerdahl. But we don’t yet know in what capacity. No information has yet been offered on whether we’ll see Marius interact with Armand at all, in the past or present, or learn more about how the series will portray this intense relationship. Still, it’s clear from Zaman’s answer that, having become a Vampire Maker himself, the phantom of his own maker looms over Armand.
In a piece about Armand’s backstory, we shared the following about Armand and Marius’ backstory:
Slavers sold Arun to a brothel, until his vampiric maker, Marius de Romanus, bought him. Marius renames him, Amadeo, meaning “one loved by God.” In Interview with the Vampire season two, Armand notes of his memories of Marius, “My maker’s purchase. His renaming me. His reluctance to share the Dark Gift, knowing what it would do to his beloved Amadeo. I served him with all my heart. Basked in his mercy, his worshipful mercy. Still… Amadeo had a skill. And if a friend wandered into town, I was occasionally… donated. Meatier in the forearms, but then this was… seven years before I was stricken with illness, before I was turned, and imbued with my powers.”
Regardless of some of the clear pains of his memories, Armand speaks of Marius as though he loved him greatly. He posed for paintings for his master, and Marius only gave him the dark gift when he became very sick and was near death at age 27. In the novels, he was 17, and dying from a violent attack. Later, the Roman coven burned Marius alive for being a heretic, and took Amadeo and brainwashed him into their Satanic coven. Renamed again as Armand, they eventually sent him to run the Paris coven that Magnus, Lestat’s maker, had abandoned.
Marius remains alive after the fire, as mentioned above, but he has not, to date, made himself known to Armand, nor did he attempt to save him from any of the hardships that ensued after his alleged death. So, as mentioned, the litany of bad things is clear. And yet, it’s also clear that Armand believes he loves his maker and that the relationship deeply impacts him.
AMC
Going down the other direction of this lineage of blood, in The Vampire Lestat, Armand initially abandoned his fledgling Daniel to his own devices. A bit of an irony, although one that Armand can’t understand, considering Armand’s own situation with his maker. But we’re hoping that doesn’t last very long now that Armand has confessed his love to Daniel and made himself known to him once more.
If we continue down the thought line of Armand comparing Marius and Daniel, we hope to find, at the end of it, the idea that in Daniel, Armand has finally chosen someone for himself who (hopefully) chooses him back. Assad Zaman did share that in episode seven of The Vampire Lestat, Armand is finally fully understood for the first time. And there is much in The Vampire Lestat book about Armand and Marius’ past that we haven’t seen discussed yet in this season of TV. Could the arithmetic of the variables that are Marius, Armand, and Daniel, and Armand’s considerations of them both, equate to this moment of Daniel (we assume) understanding Armand?
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THE VAMPIRE LESTAT Review: Devil’s Minion EditionAnd as for all three of these troubled characters who share blood… Will we actually see Daniel, Armand, and Marius in a room sometime in The Vampire Lestat or beyond? The possibility seems high. And what Armand will think and feel at that point will certainly be a beyond complex mix of emotions. But complicated is what this series does best.
The Vampire Lestat airs at 9 pm ET/PT on AMC and AMC+. You can also read The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice today as you wait for the next episode of the series to air.
Rotem Rusak is the Editor-in-Chief of Nerdist. She is ready for Devil’s Minion to become even more canon in The Vampire Lestat, so one of her ships can fully sail.
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WATER PARK SHARK Brings SHARKNADO Vibes to the Pool
- Water Park Shark is bringing Sharknado vibes to the pool its first trailer, which is as ridiculous as you’d imagine it to be.
Move over, Project Hail Mary and The Odyssey! The greatest film of 2026 is coming to streaming this month, actually. Anthony C. Ferrante, the director of the Sharknado franchise, is blessing us with a summer smash called Water Park Shark, and we cannot stop watching its trailer. Suspense, humor, a host of potential victims, some sharks, and a water park. This is the fun we need in the world right now.
Water Park Shark stars David Chokachi and Chelsea Gilson, and here’s a synopsis to go along with that trailer:
No running. No diving. No escape. When mutated Great White Sharks invade a Cape Cod water park, a lifeguard and the police chief must stop the carnage before opening day becomes a feeding frenzy. The film also stars Matthew Dame, Kacie Patricia, Michael Shaun Sandy, Snow Feng, Hector Becerra, Brigdon York, and Rob Eubanks.
While I was kidding about Water Park Shark being the next Oscar contender, I am not joking when I say I love the absurdity of the Sharknado franchise. And now, I am ready to see some sharks take on unlucky guests at a water park.
Chroma
How did they get there? Why are they killing machines? Why can’t people simply get out of the water and run for their lives? Can the sharks fly? I do not know those answers. Bring on the screams and the big battle to survive, please.
Water Park Shark will be available digitally on July 3 on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.
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HEATED RIVALRY Goes Lesbian with Amber Glenn
- Amber Glenn and Lena Lemon take on a lesbian version of Heated Rivalry to celebrate Pride Month and it is AMAZING.
Move all the way over, Heated Rivalry. A new queer sensation is sweeping the nation. Kidding! There’s enough room for gay hockey Heated Rivalry and lesbian figure skating Heated Rivalry—does that mean we’ll get bi curling Heated Rivalry soon, as well? We digress. To celebrate the end of Pride Month, HBO released a STUNNING commercial for Heated Rivalry, which featured Olympic gold medalist Amber Glenn and Lena Lemon recreating moments from Heated Rivalry with a steamy figure skating montage. This incredible lesbian take on Heated Rivalry featured sexy skating, steamy costume unzipping, and intense lacing sequences. We are OBSESSED. Greenlight it immediately, HBO. This is the kind of thing queer people want and need.
In 2019, Amber Glenn publicly came out as a bisexual and pansexual athlete. Something that is still sadly a rarity across all sports. But we could not cheer harder for Glenn. Glenn revealed that she actually watched Heated Rivalry at the Olympics. And, previously, made a pitch for Yuri (that’s lesbian), Heated Rivalry to become a reality. (Starring her, of course!) We love to see dreams come true.
“i want yuri ‘heated rivalry’ please! hire me! i can fall in love with my co-star, please!”
remember, amber has always made history pic.twitter.com/c3BwRCdy28
While Glenn’s lesbian Heated Rivalry likely will remain only in this short form, we hope Glenn can come onto Heated Rivalry season two in some fashion. Additionally, we’d like to take this time to remind all the studios that the success of Heated Rivalry didn’t come from the fact that it involved winter sports. No, Heated Rivalry is so popular because it’s QUEER. So, greenlight lesbian Heated Rivalry, bi Curling Heated Rivalry, and whatever other rivalries you want. But for crying out loud, make them GAY. Please and thank you.
HBO
If you need us, we’ll be watching this queer masterpiece again and again and bopping along to “All the Things She Said.” (That’s a lesbian anthem to begin with, we’ll point out.) Glenn and Lena Lemon’s work deserves to be appreciated. Heated Rivalry is streaming on HBO.
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The Internet Ships THE ODYSSEY’s Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson After Flagrant Use of ‘Daddy’
- After the flagrant use of “daddy” in The Odyssey’s trailer, the internet is shipping Tom Holland’s Telemachus and Robert Pattinson’s Antinous.
And who can blame them? Listen, the internet has shipped less for less. But the new trailer for Christoper Nolan’s The Odyssey has definitely set people on a course to ship Robert Pattinson’s Antinous with Tom Holland’s Telemachus. And, I mean, Pattinson’s unsavory suitor Antinous DID use the internet’s cardinal buzzword “daddy” when getting all up in Holland’s Telemachus’ space. Antinous is trying to be Telemachus’ step-father, in a fashion, so there’s that, but isn’t that really what the ancient Greeks would want from new myths born from their old ones? We think, yes. Enemies to lovers, here we come!
Careful research of our sacred texts, ArchiveofOurOwn.Org, reveals that there are already 52 works in Antinous son of Eupeithes/Telemachus (Ancient Greek Religion & Lore), but nearly 700 (?!) works in Antinous/Telemachus (EPIC: The Musical). So fans of mythology have walked these roads before. Although we will say, the trailer has been live for some hours at the time of this writing, and not yet a fic about Holland’s Telemachus and Pattinson’s Antinous in The Odyssey. We’re going to call that slacking!
Universal Pictures
But, we’re sure that will right itself VERY soon. Because, as we said, the tension between the pair can be cut with a knife—especially since Antinous is trying to marry Telemachus’ mother and steal all his land and fortune. And he’s being pretty rude about it, to boot. So safe to say Telemachus HATES Antinous. But, as far as shipping goes, the enemies part is always more of a suggestion for the lovers part to follow. And, obviously, you can’t reasonably ask the internet not to ship Holland’s Telemachus and Pattinson’s Antinous when the latter has shifted close to the former, tilted his head, and murmured, “You’re pining for a daddy you didn’t even know,” into his ear. Okay? Okay!
And, don’t worry, Robert Pattinson knows EXACTLY what he’s doing to Tom Holland. In an interview, he shared, “I always end up doing these slithery things with Tom, and I don’t know why. This was just a fun part to play: ‘I just want to be your daddy. I want to be your daddy. That’s all I want!’”
Now, we know “daddy” might be a little anachronistic, but come on, give it to the internet girlies. There might be no fanfics yet, but the internet is cooking about these two. Here are some first-hand accounts.
oh i can already see the telemachus/antinous enemies to lovers ao3 fanfics this movie will give birth to https://t.co/HiJsXUAESf
— gio (@janemargclis) May 5, 2026I'm sorry, but this gives me lovers' vibes. 😭 pic.twitter.com/jgJ25XT6pY
— Barbie ~🌷 (@Barbiehlld) May 5, 2026oh i can already see the telemachus/antinous enemies to lovers ao3 fanfics this movie will give birth to https://t.co/HiJsXUAESf
— gio (@janemargclis) May 5, 2026we were so scared of the telemachus x athena romance plot that we were blind to the possibility of antinous daddy kink https://t.co/3kFENNvpYj
— lake (@kettrikcen) May 5, 2026ngl wasn't expecting antinous x telemachus yaoibait yet here we are…. https://t.co/ppbASMUSGJ
— しおかぜ🪷 (@jinriora) May 5, 2026their rivalry is gonna feed ao3 authors for the next decade pic.twitter.com/Wr3SUhnXAt
— ★ (@POPin4k) May 5, 2026Okay, friends, see you soon on AO3. (Make sure to also revisit the source material, if you’d like)! The Odyssey (and whatever tension will live between Holland’s Telemachus and Pattinson’s Antinous) releases in theaters on July 17, 2026.
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Originally published on May 5, 2026.
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PROJECT HAIL MARY Is FINALLY Coming to Prime Video in July
- Project Hail Mary will stream on Prime Video starting July 3.
Project Hail Mary thrilled audiences with its heartfelt sci-fi adventure starring Ryan Gosling. In fact, Nerdist staff universally loved this film, which is why it is already on our best films of 2026 list. Fans were looking forward to seeing it come to streaming so they could watch it on a loop, and it did arrive. However, it was on MGM+, a streaming service that a lot of people don’t use. But, we have good news. Project Hail Mary is finally coming to Prime Video on July 3. That means you can spend your holiday weekend hanging out with Rocky. Amaze amaze amaze!
Prime Video revealed the news with a new clip from the film, which you can check out above. And, if you’re not super familiar with this film yet, here’s a synopsis to get you up to speed:
Science teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up on a spaceship light years from home with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As his memory returns, he begins to uncover his mission: solve the riddle of the mysterious substance causing the sun to die out. He must call on his scientific knowledge and unorthodox ideas to save everything on Earth from extinction… but an unexpected friendship means he may not have to do it alone.
Jonathan Olley/Amazon MGM Studios
How can you not love it? Mystery, science fiction, an alien engineer who looks like a rock, and our beloved Ryan Gosling. It is a great time indeed. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll be able to get your hands on a Rocky plushie to hold while you’re watching Project Hail Mary on Prime Video.
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THE ODYSSEY Trailer Delivers ‘Daddy,’ Death, and Deadly Adventure
- The Odyssey has released a full trailer for the upcoming Christopher Nolan movie. It brings death, love, and a ton of stars to the screen.
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is sailing toward theaters. And we have every reason to believe this movie has it all. For once, it has almost every major star we can imagine. Zendaya, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Matt Damon, Lupita Nyong’o, and more. For another, it promises both “thunder, fire, and death” and “a wife, a son, a home.” Love and war, pain and death, blood and beauty. Of course, it also features Robert Pattinson calling Tom Holland “Daddy,” so the full spectrum of incredible is truly reached. You can watch a glimpse of this epic adventure with the full The Odyssey movie trailer, below.
Nerdist Take: The Odyssey Trailer Lives Up to the HypeWe’ve all heard the tale of The Odyssey in some form throughout our lives. But we’ve probably never seen it like this. We get chills just watching this The Odyssey trailer unfold. And Zendaya as Athena already feels pitch-perfect to us. Tom Holland as Telemachus, naive and hot-headed, is hitting all the right notes in these brief glimpses. Anne Hathaway delivers both intense anguish and severe aloofness. And then there’s Robert Pattinson, who is ALWAYS having a good time. We just feel like it would be incredibly hard to go wrong with this set of folks, plus, of course, Christopher Nolan.
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Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
The trailer gives us the impression that the best way to watch The Odyssey is as god and Christopher Nolan intend—on the biggest screen you can find. The film was shot using brand-new IMAX film technology. And it will release in IMAX, and on 75 and 35 MM.
More About The Odyssey MovieThe Odyssey‘s synopsis simply reads, “Christopher Nolan’s next film, The Odyssey, is a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX® film technology. The film brings Homer’s foundational saga to IMAX® film screens for the first time. The Odyssey stars Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson and Lupita Nyong’o, with Zendaya and Charlize Theron.”
Universal Pictures
The Odyssey releases in theaters on July 17, 2026. Catch it in your hometown. Tickets are available now. If you need us, we’ll be watching this The Odyssey trailer another thousand times.
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Netflix Recreated Gene Wilder’s Voice With AI for WONKA’S THE GOLDEN TICKET
- Netflix is using AI to recreate Gene Wilder’s voice for its upcoming competition series Wonka’s The Golden Ticket.
For some reason, Netflix is making a competition reality show based on Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. No, it is not about an eccentric rich man who kills children and gets away with it. This show will have 12 golden ticket winners who have to “navigate a series of Wonka’s games, tests, and temptations designed to challenge them physically, mentally, and morally.” The sets take inspiration from the infamous 1971 movie starring Gene Wilder as the titular character. And, in groan-inducing news, Netflix will use AI to recreate Gene Wilder’s voice for Wonka’s The Golden Ticket.
You can check out a taste of what to expect in this show in the video above. Apparently, Netflix and Eureka Productions got permission from Gene Wilder’s estate to use an AI generated version of his voice. Wilder passed away in 2016 before AI really started to gain the foothold it now has in the entertainment industry. We don’t know what his feelings would’ve been about this choice. But we are sad that he doesn’t get to have a choice about his likeness in this show. However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, his wife is in charge of his estate and made a statement supporting this move.
Netflix/Paramount Pictures
“More than five decades after Gene brought Willy Wonka to life, people of all ages and backgrounds around the world continue to find joy, laughter and inspiration in his performance,” said Karen B. Wilder, Gene Wilder’s wife, on behalf of the Gene Wilder estate. “Gene had a remarkable ability to bring humor, wonder and heart into people’s lives, and that connection has endured for generations. We are delighted that Wonka’s The Golden Ticket celebrates the warmth and imagination that he brought to the role, introducing that magic to a new generation while honoring the fans who have cherished it for decades.”
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LEGO WILLY WONKA u0026 THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Set Is Made from Pure ImaginationWonka’s The Golden Ticket will premiere on Netflix on September 23.
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ABSOLUTE GREEN ARROW Presales Surpassed ABSOLUTE BATMAN 1
- DC’s Absolute series, featuring Batman, Catwoman, Wonder Woman, and more, have become their most popular lines.
- Now, Green Arrow joins them with his own gritty alternate storyline.
- Issues #1 and #2 have come out, told from the perspective of Absolute Black Canary a.k.a. Dinah Lance.
It is no secret that DC’s new Absolute comic line is doing well. From Batman to Wonder Woman, classic heroes are getting their time to shine in alternate, gritty storylines. Absolute Green Arrow is one of the newest installments in the series, and its first issue officially surpassed Absolute Batman‘s in preorders. According to PopVerse, the first printing of the first issue was 300,000 copies. With each selling at $4.99 an issue, that is over $1.4 million to DC on a first printing. It sold out immediately, and its second printing came out on June 17.
DC Comics
The Absolute series is all about changing canon, essential character-building events in the lives of heroes. In Absolute Batman, this means Bruce Wayne grew up in Crime Alley, creating Batman without the unlimited budget. He doesn’t kill, but he definitely doesn’t show as much restraint as other iterations of Bruce Wayne. He is brutal and unforgiving. In Absolute Wonder Woman, Circe raised Diana in Hell. The circumstances in the Absolute series change the characters in fundamental ways, but also answer the “what if” questions.
Absolute Green Arrow is a ruthless killer, targeting corrupt and predatory billionaires. Absolute Evil, released in October 2025, was our introduction to this version of Green Arrow, an entry-level vigilante hoping to kill the DC equivalent of Jeffrey Epstein. It also showed that the group labeled the “Justice League” in this universe is made up of billionaire villains. That comic revealed the “Justice League” had murdered Oliver Queen. Now, audiences are curious who, if not Queen, will take the helm from this murderous Robin Hood. Or, did Queen somehow survive? Is it a group hiding behind one unified identity? The story is told from the perspective of an ex-lover, Dinah Lance, a.k.a. Absolute Black Canary. This ex-MMA fighter-turned-bodyguard takes on investigating a series of killings linked to Oliver Queen and committed with his trademark green arrows.
RELATED ARTICLE
ABSOLUTE BATMAN Should Launch a New Animated DCUThe series brings in horror elements, too. We have seen that style developed in other Absolute series, which don’t shy away from blood, suspense, and disgusting monstrosities of villains.
The preorder frenzy on Green Arrow is more than just a testament to the public’s love for Oliver Queen—it says a lot about the popularity of the Absolute series itself. Audiences are loving these gritty reimaginings of their favorite heroes. Green Arrow came at a great time for the comic line, especially with Absolute Batman getting an animated series. This popularity may open the doors for the series to continue to grow.
Issue #3 of Absolute Green Arrow is expected to come out sometime in July.
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