The Nerdist

⚡ Quick Take

• Olivia Cooke told Variety that she auditioned for Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
• Apparently, the audition was very bad.
• Cooke talked about this and more on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast.

During an episode of Happy Sad Confused, a podcast hosted by Josh Horowitz, House of the Dragon star Olivia Cooke revealed she had once auditioned for Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

According to Variety, Cooke said in the interview that the audition did not go well.

Rey, the main character of the sequel trilogy, has been played by Daisy Ridley since 2015.

Cooke reminisced on who she was at the time of that fateful audition. “I just wasn’t that kind of an actor at that time,” she said. “It just wasn’t a fit.”

We have to say, thank goodness she didn’t get the part. Cooke has been the face of films like Ready Player One and Sound of Metal, alongside various other feature films and series. Her most consistent role? Alicent Hightower in House of the Dragon, the Game of Thrones spinoff series.

She has definitely progressed since the 2010s, not only having time on her side but also extensive film and TV experience.

“I was sh-t,” Cooke said. “I was really bad.”

HBO

Cooke’s House of the Dragon character, Alicent, has been instrumental in the plot of House of the Dragon, and she has played the role well. House of the Dragon season 3 has begun premiering, with Alicent Hightower already having appeared in episode 1. Not only did she appear, but she has entertainment publications everywhere (including us!) raving about an uncomfortable kiss between Alicent and her son. During an interview with Nerdist, Cooke discussed the complexity of her character’s feelings about the interaction.

RELATED ARTICLE

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Cast Talks TV’s MOST Awkward Kiss Ever

If that doesn’t get you interested in seeing Cooke’s acting chops for yourself, I don’t know what will.

New House of the Dragon episodes premiere every Sunday night at 9 p.m. ET on HBO Max. Episode two comes out this Sunday.

The post HOUSE OF THE DRAGON’s Olivia Cooke Auditioned for Star Wars appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Season two of X-Men ’97 will introduce the mutant strike team X-Force, led by the cyborg Cable.
• The X-Force comics in Marvel history has a strange and varied set of adventures.
• X-Force has had several iterations over 35 years.

One of the new heroic teams coming in season two of X-Men ’97 is the militaristic mutant freedom fighters known as X-Force. Although the X-Force we’re introduced to in the series, led by the cyborg mutant Cable, isn’t a roster from the pages of Marvel Comics, it is based on several different versions of the team. But X-Force has a long and strange history in the Marvel Universe, going back to the early ’90s. Although their genesis really goes back well before that, to one of the very first X-Men spin-off teams, the New Mutants.

Marvel Comics The New Mutants Laid the Foundation for X-Force

To truly understand the origins of X-Force, we have to go back a decade earlier, to Uncanny X-Men’s first spin-off series, The New Mutants. Launched with a graphic novel in 1982, The New Mutants was created by X-Men architect Chris Claremont as a junior X-Men team. However, they were formed as a response to the apparent death of the X-Men. (They’d have a few of those.) A distraught Professor Charles Xavier gathers young mutants just coming into their own power from across the globe. But unlike the X-Men, they were meant to be trained in controlling their abilities only, not becoming mutant heroes. However, that plan didn’t quite work out. These kids got into all kinds of trouble.

Marvel Comics

The original New Mutants consisted of teenagers Cannonball (Sam Guthrie), Sunspot (Roberto DaCosta), Wolfsbane (Rahne Sinclair), Mirage (Dani Moonstar), and Karma (Xuân Cao Manh). They were soon joined by Colossus’ sister Illyana, now called Magik, and Doug Ramey (Cypher), the alien Warlock, and Magma (Amara Aquila). But Xavier eventually left for outer space after nearly dying, leaving his old friend/rival Magneto in charge. Needless to say, that didn’t work out, and Magneto eventually returned to his terrorist ways. By the late ‘80s, the New Mutants were without a mentor, and without a home after the X-Mansion was destroyed. After a brief time with the original five X-Men, now called X-Factor, they fused their rescued young mutant charges, like Boom-Boom and Rictor, with the New Mutants.

The Cyborg Soldier Cable Transforms the New Mutants into X-Force Marvel Comics

The New Mutants was still one of Marvel’s best sellers, thanks to writer Louise Simonson. But by 1989, it was running out of steam. So, Marvel hired a young artist named Rob Liefeld, tasked with bringing youthful energy to the series. He created a cyborg soldier named Cable, militant like Magneto, but believed in mutant/human coexistence like Xavier. He felt Xavier was too soft with his students, and molded them into a paramilitary unit. Introduced in New Mutants #87 in 1990, Cable proved instantly popular, giving The New Mutants new buzz.

Marvel Comics

As New Mutants‘ centennial issue approached, the “New” part of the title no longer applied. After issue #100, Marvel re-branded the title as X-Force with an all-new first issue, written by Fabian Nicieza. It sold a staggering 5 million copies, a world record at the time, broken a mere two months later by X-Men #1. We should note, a very important Marvel character emerged in the buildup to X-Force. New Mutants #98 was a Marvel milestone, as it introduced Deadpool to the Marvel Universe. Originally, he was meant to be a villain, but years later, he’d join a version of X-Force. Even more than the X-Men, Deadpool would forever have ties to the team.

X-Force Becomes A Marvel Comics Bestseller

X-Force only retained two members from the New Mutants, Cannonball and Boom-Boom. Another young mutant, the Native-American Warpath, brother of the long-dead X-Man Thundebird, also joined. Liefeld created all the rest of the members, including the alien mutant Shatterstar, the lucky Domino, and the catlike Feral. Former New Mutants like Rictor and Sunspot would soon rejoin, along with Banshee’s daughter Siryn. At the height of the ’90s comics boom, X-Force was selling hundreds of thousands of copies monthly, outstripping any previous sales from its former incarnation as New Mutants.

Marvel Comics

Cable remained mysterious for a time, but within a year, Marvel revealed him as the son of Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor, sent to the future as an infant. After growing up in this dangerous future, he went back in time as an older man. His goal was to return to the era of his birth to stop the rise of the villain Apocalypse, who ruled his future with an iron grip. X-Force was a very “of its era” series, with lots of big battles, big guns, and big shoulder pads. It also had a lot of teen soap opera elements. Think 90210, with powers. But while it sold well, the writing was often lackluster, with a far bigger focus on art and big action. When the trend of “extreme” comics died late in the decade, X-Force felt like a relic of an earlier era. One that was slightly cringe.

X-Force’s Brief Off-Brand Era Marvel Comics

By the early 2000s, the ‘90s style of X-Men comics, pioneered by Jim Lee and Liefeld, had grown stale. Especially as Lee and Liefeld had left to form Image Comics years earlier. New Marvel EIC Joe Quesada decided Marvel needed an injection of indie comics energy, and with issue #116, X-Force totally transformed. Madman creator Mike Allred created a whole new team called X-Force, stars in a reality TV show. This concept proved popular, but it really wasn’t X-Force in any way. So, after the original X-Force show up demanding their name back, they rebranded as X-Statix. But technically, they were an X-Force team, so we had to mention them.

X-Force: The X-Men’s Secret Black Ops Team Marvel Comics

In 2007, a proper X-Force returned in a new series by Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost. Cable’s father, Cyclops, reformed the team as a secret strike force to hit the X-Men’s enemies first. And, to use lethal force if necessary. This team was formed after the Scarlet Witch removed the power of most mutants, now an endangered species. Cyclops recruited Wolverine, X-23, Angel, former members Warpath, Wolfsbane, Caliban, and others. This team lasted about three years, ending in 2010. But this time, X-Force would be back much sooner. But it was during this era that the concept of X-Force shifted from a group of teen mutants to a deadly unit made up of established, adult X-Men. And that has remained ever since.

Uncanny X-Force Becomes the Team’s Best Iteration Marvel Comics

In 2010, Uncanny X-Force launched, with Wolverine returning once again as leader. This team featured several A-list X-Men, like Archangel, Psylocke, Deadpool, and Fantomex. Wolverine formed this team behind Cyclops’ back, created in order to stop emerging threats like Apocalypse. Thus, going back to the original intent of the team. This became the most critically acclaimed version of X-Force, thanks largely to Rick Remender’s writing, and art by Jerome Opeña and Esad Ribić. This version of the team lasted about two years. But it remains the most beloved run. A new version of Uncanny X-Force launched with Psylocke, Storm, Bishop, Spiral, and Alpha Flight’s Puck soon after. But this version only lasted a couple of years as well.

Cable Leads a Competing X-Force Title Marvel Comics

Oddly, there was a second X-Force series at the same time as Uncanny X-Force, which once again featured a team led by Cable. In Cable and X-Force, Nathan Summers gathers a team consisting of Colossus, Domino, Forge, and Dr. Nemesis. This was a bit more like the original ’90s X-Force, with Cable and his unit coming into conflict with the Avengers. This was the only time that X-Force was a franchise of its own, with two separate teams using the same name, with separate missions. In 2018, the original X-Force reunited in a new series by Ed Brisson and illustrated by Dylan Burnet, and that series ran about 10 issues only.

Marvel Comics X-Force in the Modern Marvel Comics Era

In the 2020s, X-Force evolved yet again. In the Dawn of X/Krakoa era from writer Jonathan Hickman, when mutants lived in a prosperous island nation for their kind only, a new X-Force formed as a kind of CIA-style team designed to go after Krakoa’s enemies, despite the nation’s official stance of “harm no human.” This team consisted of X-Men founders Jean Grey, Beast, original X-Forcer Domino, Sage, Kid Omega, and Colossus. More than any previous X-Force, this version did a lot of shady things.

Marvel Comics

Post-Krakoa, X-Force became yet another proactive militaristic team, featuring well-known mutants like Betsy Braddock, Rachel Summers, Forge, Colossus, Sage, and other established X-Men. The current Inglorious X-Force comic has gone back to its roots once more, with Cable going back in time and assembling a mutant kill squad with members like Archangel, Hellverine, and original member Boom-Boom. It seems that X-Force, in some iteration, will always exist as long as Marvel publishes X-Men comics.

X-Force in X-Men ’97 Marvel Comics

In X-Men ’97, we’re introduced to a version of X-Force inspired by several versions of the team. Cable is clearly the leader, just as he was back in the day. He recruits Sunspot, a former student of Xavier’s, who matched the original 1991 concept. Archangel and Psylocke represent the popular Uncanny X-Force team. Jubilee, however, was never an X-Forcer in the comics. Will they add other classic members to their ranks? We know Colossus is in the season, so it’s possible. We’re excited to see how this quintessentially ’90s Marvel team meshes with the world established in the X-Men: The Animated Series universe. We wouldn’t be shocked if the animated version is one of the best iterations in the team’s long history.

The post The Marvel Comics History of X-MEN ’97’s X-Force appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Heritage Auctions Comic Book Signature Auction has one of the biggest treasure troves of first appearance issues.
• This auction has not one, but two editions of Action Comics #1.
• It also contains the first appearances of Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, Captain America, and Iron Man.

We’ve seen some significant vintage comics sold over the past few years at auction for astronomical prices. But the current Heritage Auctions Comic Book Signature Auction has one of the biggest treasure troves of first appearance issues we’ve ever seen together at one time. We learned about this massive sale via Comic Book. This auction has not one, but two editions of Action Comics #1, the iconic first appearance of Superman from 1938. But it also contains the first appearances of Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, Captain America, and Iron Man. It’s exceedingly rare to have this many significant comics sold together at one time.

DC Comics/Marvel Comics

The first copy Heritage Auctions has of Action Comics #1, graded at 6.5, is currently going for $160,000. That’s actually pretty low for that particular book. The second copy has a rating of 4.5, and is going for $912,500. That one will surely fetch more than a million when all is said and done. That issue remains the Holy Grail of comic books, and a pristine copy once sold for over $15 million. The first issue of Superman’s solo series also recently sold for $9 million. Yes, other characters are arguably more popular than Superman. But since he started the superhero genre, his first appearance will always fetch a huge amount.

Other comics of historical significance up for auction include copies of Batman #1 and Wonder Woman #1, and Fantastic Four #5, the first appearance of Doctor Doom. With Robert Downey Jr. soon to play the character in Avengers: Doomsday, the value of that book is about to skyrocket. There are plenty of other culturally significant comic books in this particular auction. The very first Marvel comic, titled Marvel Comics #1 (Namor the Sub-Mariner’s first appearance) is part of this, as well. Even if you’re not a millionaire, there are plenty of significant issues in this auction at far more reasonable prices, so you may want to check them out if you’re a serious comic book collector. To place a bid yourself, head over to the Heritage Auctions website.

The post Superman, Spider-Man Debuts Part of Huge Comics Auction appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• In Anne Rice’s books Armand calls Daniel, “My Beloved.” But will “Beloved” arrive in The Vampire Lestat? Who knows. But we have this.

My Devils and Minions: Sometimes, pieces of a canon are so powerful, they become what Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse would term a “canon event.” That means that no matter what universe a character is living in, the event MUST happen. When it comes to Anne Rice’s universe, if you ask ardent fans, there are quite a few canon events that belong to the relationship between Armand and Daniel, also known as Devil’s Minion. And these canon events NEED to occur in AMC’s adaptation of The Vampire Lestat. One of these is the idea that Armand calls Daniel, “Beloved.” In fandom circles, from fanfic to fan art to memes, the use of “Beloved” is ubiquitous around Devil’s Minion. And, truly, how can one resist the notion when it comes right from Anne Rice’s Queen of the Damned? And, indeed, is so beautifully offered from Armand to Daniel so many times? One can’t! But, alas, for now, the question of whether Assad Zaman’s Armand will call Eric Bogosian’s “My Beloved” in The Vampire Lestat does not yet have a clear answer. But regardless of what happens in the show’s universe, I set out to bring this canon event to our universe. Enjoy Beloveds! We deserve it.

Nerdist

As to the story behind this moment, it shall remain shrouded in the right amount of vampiric mystery. But I invite you to imagine many cackles, the promise of $5 (not necessary), and Eric Bogosian awakening like a sleeper agent mid-interview to bring it to life. Truly, we are beloved as a fandom.

Nerdist

For now, Armand and Daniel’s much-anticipated romance has not yet manifested itself. Although, speaking of Devil’s Minion, Rolin Jones told Nerdist, “We’re right there now.” And Eric Bogosian and Assad Zaman shared, “We’re working on it./It’s a work in progress.” So, Devil’s Minion feels a bit inevitable from where I’m sitting. And if we really think about it? How could any good storyteller miss the opportunity to bring such a delicious relationship to life?

RELATED ARTICLE

The Book Inspirations Behind the Armand/Daniel Vampiric Pairing in INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE (And What ‘Devil’s Minion’ Really Means)

Hopefully, one day soon, we’ll get the real “My Beloved” from Armand to Daniel. Perhaps even a “Boss,” in response. But for now, we’ll enjoy this dark gift. I hope this makes the day of many devils and minions out there. And I leave you all with Anne Rice’s words to enjoy.

But Armand gently pulled him upright, held him. The car rocked gently, deliciously
as it moved forward. So nice to sleep at last in Armand’s arms. But there was so much
he must tell Armand, so much about the dream, the book.

“Don’t you think I know?” Armand whispered. A strange light in the eye, what was it?
Something raw and tender in the way Armand looked, all the composure stripped
away. He lifted a tumbler half full of brandy and put it in Daniel’s hand.
“And you running from me,” he said, “from Stockholm and Edinburgh and Paris.
What do you think I am that I can follow you at such speed down so many pathways?
And such danger-“

Lips against Daniel’s face, suddenly, ah, that’s better, I like kissing. And snuggling
with dead things, yes, hold me. He buried his face in Armand’s neck. Your blood.
“Not yet, my beloved.” Armand pushed him forward, pressing his fingers to Daniel’s
lips. Such uncommon feeling in the low, controlled voice. “Listen to what I’m saying
to you. All over the world, our kind are being destroyed.”

Then, again, later in the text, beautifully, “Far away he heard Armand’s voice: ‘What do I do with you, my beloved? Especially now, when I myself am so afraid.'”

Yes, rip our hearts out, why don’t you, Anne Rice?

Much love to you all, Beloveds,

Ro

The Vampire Lestat airs on AMC and AMC+ Sundays at 9 pm ET/PT and midnight, respectively. You can snag The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice to read, if you’d like to know a little bit more about what’s going on.

Rotem Rusak is the Editor-in-Chief of Nerdist. She’s ready for Devil’s Minion to become canon so one of her ships can finally sail.

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

The post Will Armand Call Daniel ‘Beloved’ in THE VAMPIRE LESTAT? Who Knows, But We’ll Always Have This appeared first on Nerdist.

The Vampire Lestat stars Jacob Anderson (Louis), Sam Reid (Lestat), Assad Zaman (Armand), Delainey Hayles (Claudia), Eric Bogosian (Daniel Molloy), Sheila Atim (Akasha), Jennifer Ehle (Gabrielle), and showrunner Rolin Jones sit down with Nerdist’s Ro Rusak to discuss the show’s many messy relationships, queer representation, and who they would want to turn into a vampire!

The post THE VAMPIRE LESTAT Cast Reveal Who They’d Turn Into Vampires appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Prime Video’s hit animated series Invincible has already been renewed for a sixth season.
• The announcement comes before the fifth season has even premiered.
• The Boys star Jack Quaid will join the cast.

The adult-centric animated superhero series Invincible, based on Robert Kirkman’s Skybound/Image Comics series of the same name, has been a big hit for Prime Video. It’s now about to venture into territory only one other animated streaming series has ever done before, and head into a sixth season. (That other animated series? Bojack Horseman on Netflix.) The news of Invincible’s sixth season renewal was first reported via Deadline. The show centers on a young hero named Mark Grayson (Steven Yuen), the son of a famous superhero who is anything but noble. He has to step up and become Earth’s protector when his father turns out to be a monster.

Prime Video

The announcement came at the Annecy International Animation Festival. It was also revealed that The Boys’ Jack Quaid is joining the voice cast in season five. Didn’t he have enough of an evil Superman with Homelander? Now he’s going to Omni-Man’s universe?? Well, Quaid also voices the actual Superman, so he can hold his own. The fourth season of Invincible just finished, with the fifth season still months away. According to the streamer, season four was the most-watched yet. The show has steadily developed quite a following, with viewership increasing year to year. The original comic book series ran for 15 years. So there is still plenty of story to mine for future seasons.

RELATED ARTICLE

Steven Yeun and Gillian Jacobs on INVINCIBLE’s Past and Future Ahead of Season 4

Invincible creator Robert Kirkman was on hand for the season six renewal news. And he assured those in attendance that the show has a lot of life left in it. He said, “There’s still so much story left to tell, and I can’t wait for fans to see what’s ahead in seasons 5, 6, and beyond.” Yes, he said “Beyond.” Maybe we’ll get the entire comic book series, from start to finish, adapted properly, which would surely be a first. Invincible seasons one through four, which also feature the voices of JK Simmons and Sandra Oh, are currently streaming on Prime Video.

The post INVINCIBLE Already Renewed for Season 6 appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• House of the Dragon’s season three premiere revealed exactly how the show is eliminating a beloved character from its story in a way that makes it less interesting.

This post contains major spoilers about the Dance of the Dragons from George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood. While we have omitted significant plot points where possible, if you want to avoid learning about likely future events on House of the Dragon you can instead check out all of our show-only coverage.

House of the Dragon‘s Red Sowing gave Rhaenyra Targaryen two new dragonriders, but it took one from fans of George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood. The season two sequence all but guaranteed a beloved and important character named Nettles would never appear on the show. But, the prequel wasn’t cutting her arc entirely. It sent Sheepstealer to the Vale so Rhaena could claim the wild dragon instead, something Daemon’s daughter finally accomplished in season three’s premiere. The Battle of the Gullet also revealed how, despite being very different characters, Rhaena will fulfill Nettles’ role in the story. Whether that’s a good thing or not is a lot less clear.

HBO

Much to George R.R. Martin’s chagrin (and his sound internal logic), HBO’s adaptation created its own dragon lore when it gave the Vale a wild dragon. Those creatures are, by nature, not nomadic. Dragons in Westeros call Dragonstone home and only live somewhere else if their rider does. The show upended that fact when it moved Sheepstealer to the mountains of the Vale. It allowed Rhaena Targaryen, under House Arryn’s temporary protection, to claim the dragon and eliminate Nettles from the story. That was not a small change. Nor is it a welcome one for readers.

Nettles was the bastard daughter of a whore on the island of Driftmark, seat of House Velaryon. She grew up homeless. She did what she had to do to survive. The large slit on her nose she got for theft served as a reminder of that. Nettles was also likely a dragonseed same as Addam, Ulf, and Hugh, but some question her lineage because the brown-skinned, brown-eyed, dark-haired young girl had no Valyrian features. If that were true, she would be the only person to ever claim a dragon without having Valyrian blood. That mystery alone makes her one of the most compelling figures in the history of Westeros.

Her life throws everything anyone thought they ever knew about dragons into question. It would mean a random commoner could claim the world’s greatest power, a literal creature of magic. But that’s not what makes her beloved or important.

18°: Sheepstealer- Nettles

— Targaryen Dinasty (@targaryendinasty.bsky.social) 2024-09-05T18:23:03.759Z

What makes the 16-year-old Nettles a fan-favorite is who she was. She was clever and clam, tough but compassionate. The way she claimed the dangerous, seemingly untamable Sheepstealer is also legendary. Others at the Red Sowing merely approached dragons. That’s what Alyn of Hull did with Sheepstealer. He walked away with burns instead of a dragon. (Another hopeful dragon rider walked away from Sheepstealer with one less arm.) Nettles tried a very different approach. She won the wild dragon’s trust slowly. Every morning she brought the mutton-loving creature a sheep carcass. Food proved the way to the dragon’s heart, as Sheepstealer eventually accepted her as its rider. Soon after Nettles fought at the Battle of the Gullet on behalf of Queen Rhaenyra. The massive loss of life and death of Prince Jacaerys greatly affected her.

House of the Dragon also had Sheepstealer participate in the infamous sea conflict, just in a very different way. Instead of fighting against the Triarchy like Nettles, Rhaena was unable to control Sheepstealer. The wild dragon burned ships indiscriminately while also attacking Jace and her twin sister Baela, which ultimately contributed to the Prince’s death. And that’s how the show revealed its plans to pull off its Rhaena/Nettles switch.

HBO

Fire & Blood‘s questionable historical account says Prince Daemon Targaryen grew very fond of Nettles while the two worked and lived together at Maindepool. That’s where they stayed while hunting down Aemond Targaryen and Vhagar. History cannot decide if Daemon adored and spoiled Nettles because he saw the lowborn girl as a daughter, or if they had a romantic love affair. It’s a fascinating unknown and there is evidence for both types of relationships. Even them bathing together in the same tub isn’t as definitive as it sounds, as witnesses saw him teaching the lowborn Nettles how to clean herself.

There is no definitive answer in Fire & Blood, and each reader will come to there own conclusions. Everything I know about Daemon before he met Nettles, along with the subtext of Fire & Blood, has always made me think it was both. I believe Daemon loved Nettles as a daughter and that she provided the otherwise bad dad with a chance to right previous wrongs. But I think he also loved the young woman in a way he never loved any of his wives of other paramours. That’s obviously creepy, but we’re also talking about a man who married his niece, so….

HBO

There will be no such ambiguity on House of the Dragon. As incestuous as House Targaryen can be, Aemond kissing his horrified mother is very much not normal even for them. They might marry siblings and nieces, but members of House Targaryen do not have romantic relationships between parents and children. With Rhaena fulfilling the role of Nettles, the show won’t have to deal with Daemon having complicated feelings and/or a sexual relationship with Sheepstealer’s rider. That will make a fateful decision he will one day make to protect that person a lot less interesting.

Something will soon happen in the Dance of the Dragons that will completely upend the war. In Fire & Blood, it leads an enraged, paranoid Rhaenyra Targaryen—acting on the advice of Daemon’s former mistress Mysaria—to issue a decree so broad it will target innocent, loyal fighters on Rhaenyra’s side. Nettles will be one of the Queen’s targets.

HBO

Rhaenyra’s demand will force Prince Daemon to make a fateful decision. In Fire & Blood, he must choose to protect his possible/likely young innocent paramour, a lowborn commoner with brown skin, from his angry highborn royal wife silver-haired wife who is listening to Daemon’s previous paramour. It’s an end-point in a long history between an infamous husband and wife complicated by both personal and political desires. And the future of the Realm itself hangs in the balance when Daemon must decide what to do. It’s a choice that will also shape how Daemon is remembered by history.

On House of the Dragon, it won’t be nearly as complicated. Highborn Targaryen/Velaryon Rhaena has taken over Nettles story and her dragon. Now the Battle of the Gullet has cleared the path for Rhaenyra to understandably call for Rhaena’s head, unlike how her book counterpart will foolishly call for Nettles’ head. Show Rhaenyra will, at least partially and possibly entirely, blame Rhaena and Sheepstealer for Jace’s death, no different than how she blames Aemond for Luke’s. When she does, Daemon will be choosing whether or not to protect his well-intentioned daughter against his angry wife over a mistake rather than his common affair partner he truly loves against a mad Queen.

HBO

The former seems like an easy choice (to everyone except son-sacrificing Alicent Hightower that is). The latter is far more difficult. That doesn’t mean House of the Dragon‘s version of this storyline won’t be compelling or well-executed. Daemon knowing about Aegon the Conqueror’s a Song of Ice and Fire prophecy will complicate his decision, only that would have also been true if the show included Nettles. Instead it eliminated her, a decision that will make Daemon’s a lot less complex or interesting.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You don’t have to bring up Mushroom, he’s also very upset about his absence. You can follow him on Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Made Its Story Less Interesting by Eliminating Nettles appeared first on Nerdist.

The Legend of Vox Machina’s fourth season is wrapping up, bringing with it many changes from Vox Machina’s original storyline during Critical Role’s first campaign. The new season of The Legend of Vox Machina is loosely based off of about 20 episodes of Critical Role, ranging from episodes 84 to 100. However, this season represents the biggest departure from the original Actual Play series to date, with a majorly reworked plot that serves to set up the fifth and final season of Vox Machina and better establish the final threat the intrepid heroes must face.

The Whispered One’s Cult Becomes the Recurring Enemy in The Legend of Vox Machina Season 4 Prime Video

The biggest change in the new season of The Legend of Vox Machina is the introduction of The Whispered One’s cult as the recurring enemies of the season. Although Vox Machina eventually collided with the followers of The Whispered One (including a resurrected Delilah Briarwood), they didn’t appear until much later in Critical Role and served as a much more abrupt threat.

In The Legend of Vox Machina, the followers of the Whispered One play a much more active role in the campaign, attacking Vox Machina at several points and injuring or killing their loved ones. Keyleth’s father and Pike’s great-grandfather are both victims of the cult’s attacks, both of which are new casualties in Critical Role lore. Of course, The Legend of Vox Machina hasn’t been shy about killing off beloved side-characters that survived in the original campaign, which often raises the stakes and keeps longtime fans of the show guessing about what will happen next.

The likely reason why the Whispered One and his followers show up earlier than in the Actual Play is to better establish the threat the dark would-be god represents on the world of Exandria. To be blunt, The Whispered One (also known as Vecna) arrives much more abruptly in The Legend of Vox Machina, with the group discovering a second ziggurat under Marquet, which leads them into conflict with his followers. By establishing his cult as enemies first, Vox Machina have a more unifying threat during this part of their story, one that was missing during the Critical Role actual play.

Pike Becomes a Main Character in The Legend of Vox Machina Season 4 Prime Video

In the original Actual Play, Taryon Darrington’s introduction and time with Vox Machina mostly served as a period in which various members of Vox Machina wrapped up the side quests they accumulated during the series. While many of those personal side quests are still addressed in The Legend of Vox Machina, they’re colored somewhat by the recurring threat of the cultists.

Although season four of The Legend of Vox Machina introduces Taryon Darrington as the newest member of Vox Machina, this season seems to focus mostly on Pike and her growing feelings of rage and resentment. Pike was more of a recurring character in Critical Role’s first campaign due to Ashley Johnson’s recurring Hollywood commitments as a cast member of Blindspot while Critical Role was going on. While Pike was present for large chunks of the series, her characterization and struggles with her faith are brand new to the series. One perk to the new characterization is that we don’t know how all these complicated feelings will pay off, although fans have some theories given the events of episode 9.

The Circumstances Behind Scanlan’s Departure Is Different in the Series

Another big change to the show is the Bard’s Lament, Scanlan’s crashout and subsequent departure from Vox Machina. In the original Critical Role series, Scanlan leaves Vox Machina due to what he feels is unfair treatment by the rest of the party in the aftermath of their battle with the Chroma Conclave. It directly leads to Taryon Darrington replacing Scanlan for a time in Vox Machina, and Scanlan seems reluctant to rejoin Vox Machina even when he discovers the growing threat of The Whispered One.

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THE LEGEND OF VOX MACHINA Exclusive Season 4 Finale Clip Makes You Laugh and Sob

In The Legend of Vox Machina, the Bard’s Lament is reframed as Scanlan being heartbroken that his old friends have only tracked him down after a year away from the party to ask for his legendary sword Mythcleaver, which they believe is key to killing The Whispered One. It also ends on a much more conciliatory note, with Scanlan quickly realizing that his friends do care about him, even if they do act a bit selfishly at times. While the Bard’s Lament doesn’t have the same impact as it did in the original series, it’s likely for the best as Scanlan will likely need to return to Vox Machina much sooner than he did in Critical Role, especially as he may be the only one who could reach Pike in her critical state.

Laudna’s Appearance In the Whitestone

A big addition to the fourth season of The Legend of Vox Machina is an appearance by Laudna in the bowels of Whitestone. In the cartoon, Laudna appears as Vox Machina uncover the backstory of Delilah Briarwood and she eventually aids them in temporarily driving Delilah from Whitestone. Laudna’s backstory in the cartoon is largely the same as it was in Critical Role, although her presence in general is new to the story. Laudna is eventually introduced in Critical Role as a member of Bell’s Hells, the third main adventuring group and centerpiece of Critical Role’s third campaign. Laudna is notably the second Bell’s Hells character to appear in animated form, following a cameo appearance by Braius in the first season of The Mighty Nein.

Prime Video The Confrontation With Delilah Briarwood in Vox Machina Is a Major Change From the Critical Role Campaign

Perhaps the biggest departure from Critical Role occurred in the ninth episode of the season when Vox Machina moves to confront Delilah Briarwood and her lieutenants outside of the cult’s secret headquarters. There, Vox Machina discovers a second sphere that connects Exandria to Thar Amphala, the plane where Vecna dwells. During the confrontation, Grog is tossed into the sphere and seemingly disintegrates, as he lacks a magic amulet needed to safely pass through into the other plane.

This serves as a major blow to Pike, who had already lost her grandfather, and she (having an amulet herself) passes through the portal in pursuit of the cultists. Grog didn’t die during this portion of Critical Role, although some are speculating that it will set up a “Search for Grog” mini-arc similar to the postscript of Critical Role’s first campaign, when Grog was whisked away to another dimension. It’s doubtful that Grog’s death will be a permanent one, although his eventual resurrection may be tied to the culmination of Pike’s character arc this season.

The makers of The Legend of Vox Machina have shown that they are unafraid to make big changes to Critical Role’s original storyline in pursuit of a good story. Although the changes made to Vox Machina Season 4 are significant, the show itself is inarguably still the tale of Vox Machina. It’s just served differently to the delight of both longtime Critical Role fans and newcomers to the fandom.

The post The Biggest Changes VOX MACHINA Season 4 Made From the Critical Role Campaign appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• The Batman: Caped Crusader season two trailer has finally dropped.
• The new season will have the Riddler, Poison Ivy, Mad Hatter and more.
• The first season premiered in 2024.

Prime Video has released the season two trailer for its animated series, Batman: Caped Crusader. The show’s first season premiered in 2024, and its second season is finally dropping this July. Caped Crusader‘s style is very noir-like, reminiscent of the original Batman: The Animated Series from the ’90s. This makes sense—Bruce Timm, the head producer for that series, is also producing Caped Crusader. Everything from the characters’ costuming to the dark, shadowy world they live in feels straight out of the early 1900s, film noir’s peak, which the earlier series also aimed for.

Matt Reeves, director of The Batman (2022), and J.J. Abrams, producer of the Star Wars sequels, are executive producing the show, as well.

Based on the trailer, it seems the Riddler will fulfill the role of the leading villain in the season, though other classic antagonists do make appearances. We see a woman who appears (and who most have deduced) to be Poison Ivy working with the Riddler. Riddler wears a similar costume to his Animated Series counterpart, a green three-piece suit and bowler hat. He and Ivy also seem to be in a romantic relationship, which is a new, definitely odd pairing. Harley Quinn and Man-Bat also show face in short clips.

The next season of the show certainly promises plenty of action, with explosions and gunfire riddling the trailer. The video ends with a clip of the Joker talking directly to Batman and cackling evilly.

“I’ve come to awaken you. To show you what you are.”

Prime Video

The first season introduced new versions of villains like Harley Quinn, Clayface, and Catwoman, and paid close attention to the detective aspects of Batman’s character, another way it leaned into the noir plot style. Jim and Barbara Gordon also both played significant roles as allies to the hero.

Batman: Caped Crusader is a hard-boiled animated series that follows the fearsome vigilante in his early years. Forged in the fire of tragedy, billionaire Bruce Wayne becomes something both more and less than human–the BATMAN. Night after night, against overwhelming odds, he wages his relentless one-man war on crime.

Season one also featured Oswalda Cobblepot as the Penguin, a gender-swapped classic villain. The next season promises a female version of the Mad Hatter stirring up trouble in Gotham.

Batman: Caped Crusader gained massive popularity when it came out, spending seven weeks on Prime Video’s top ten list, and was received well by fans.

All ten episodes of season two will premiere on July 31.

The post Prime Video Drops BATMAN: CAPED CRUSADER Season 2 Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Adult Swim dropped a new trailer for Rick and Morty spinoff President Curtis.
• The series will premiere July 26 at 11:30pm.
• We think it looks even more absurd than Rick and Morty.

An infinite multiverse means an infinite amount of possibilities. Not just for our favorite grandpa and grandson duo, either. That’s also true of TV networks, so it only makes sense one of Rick and Morty‘s most memorable characters is getting his own spinoff. President Curtis will show what everyone’s favorite POTUS is up to when he doesn’t have to deal with the smartest asshole in all of existence. According to the show’s new trailer, his life as the leader of the free world isn’t all that different without Rick or Morty around. In fact, it might be even more absurd.

Does President Curtis ever have any normal days dealing with governance? Apparently not if the new promo for his spinoff, first announced at last year’s San Diego Comic-Con, is any indication. The series looks as wild and surreal as Rick and Morty. The show’s official synopsis from Adult Swim sounds just as ridiculous:

The series follows President Andre Curtis (Keith David) and his eccentric staff as they tackle the kinds of crises that Rick Sanchez could never be bothered with – from interdimensional diplomacy to paranormal investigations and unexplained phenomena.

It’s not all bad for the President. He does get to drive KITT from Knight Rider. That’s definitely a perk of the job. The ghosts and giant rats? Less so.

Adult Swim

President Curtis comes from co-creators Dan Harmon and James Siciliano. They also serve as executive producers alongside Danielle Uhlarik, Monica Mitchell, and Steve Levy. The spinoff also stars Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) and Jim Rash (Community) as POTUS’ staff.

Adult Swim is also making sure the show gets the best lead-in possible. The new animated series will premiere after Rick and Morty‘s season nine finale on Sunday July 26 at 11:30pm ET. President Curtis episodes will then become available to stream on HBO Max the next day.

The post RICK AND MORTY Spinoff PRESIDENT CURTIS Gets New Trailer and July Premiere appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• A Supergirl producer says that Peter Safran and James Gunn have met with Paramount CEO David Ellison about DC Studios’ future.
• The producer says David Ellison is ‘Open to what [we’re] doing.’
• DC Studios has several movies and shows in production.

There’s considerable reason to worry if you’re a fan of the nascent DCU. Parent company Warner Bros. will evidently soon fall under the control of Paramount. That hasn’t gone great for some. What will happen to Peter Safran and James Gunn’s cinematic vision? Will it crash before it even takes off? Well, according to one producer, it’s going okay so far.

Supergirl executive producer Lars P. Winther told The Hollywood Reporter that Safran and Gunn have met with Paramount CEO David Ellison ahead of the ongoing merger with Warner Bros. According to Winther, Ellison went to Atlanta to visit the studio producing Man of Tomorrow. There, during discussions, he said that he liked Gunn and Safran’s work as a duo.

DC Studios

This news comes as a pleasant surprise to those who were worried about what effect the merger would have on Gunn and Safran’s involvement in DC. Thankfully, it doesn’t seem that much will change, for now. Winther seemed hesitantly excited about those discussions.

“[Ellison is] pretty open to what we’re doing… he’s a big fan, he’s been great with us. He’s giving us kind of what we want. So far, everything’s good.”

Supergirl’s movie, coming out in just a couple of days, is another of many that the two have in the works.

Winther touched on how Supergirl’s story will continue—she will appear in Man of Tomorrow. Whereas her movie is more space-focused, he said Man of Tomorrow will primarily take place on Earth.

James Gunn, who worked as a director on Superman, took a producing role on Supergirl. Craig Gillespie served as its director. Gillespie told The Hollywood Reporter that Supergirl is a standalone film, not just a setup for Superman’s next story.

“When I first met James [Gunn], he was like, ‘We are treating each of these as their own graphic novel. This is your graphic novel.’”

The merger is still in motion, but in February, Paramount agreed to buy Warner Brothers for $111 billion. Judging by Winther’s enthusiasm, it seems the DC world will be in good hands. According to him, his name and Gunn’s will continue to be attached to DC content for the near future. No promises, but regardless, the two have Clayface and the TV show Lanterns coming out in the next year, alongside the next Superman. There will be no shortage of content from these two creators.

Supergirl comes out on June 26, and Man of Tomorrow next July.

The post SUPERGIRL Producer Says James Gunn Met with Paramount CEO appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• We’ve heard about the Great Conversion a few times in Interview with the Vampire and The Vampire Lestat and it may become more important this season.
• The Great Conversion appears to be a movement by vampires to grow their numbers and take power in IWTV and The Vampire Lestat.
• The synopsis for The Vampire Lestat mentions the Great Conversion and we’ve recieved different bits of information about it.

The Great Conversion. We’ve been hearing about it distantly in Interview with the Vampire for two seasons. And the phrase was included in the synopsis for The Vampire Lestat. Now, we hear it again as the season begins in earnest. But the Great Conversion is not a storyline from Anne Rice’s books, so there’s not exactly a direct analog we can turn to as we examine this Vampire phenomenon in Interview with the Vampire and The Vampire Lestat. So, what is The Vampire Lestat‘s the Great Conversion, and what do we know about it from Interview with the Vampire and the current season? Let’s dive in.

AMC The Great Conversion in Interview with the Vampire

In Interview with the Vampire, the Great Conversion was mentioned twice. Once by Louis de Point du Lac in his interview with Daniel Molloy. And once by Talamasca Agent, Raglan James. Here’s what we learn about The Great Conversion in these instances.

Louis Introduces The Great Conversion as a Vampiric Movement

Louis shares the following in Interview with the Vampire season one, episode two, in response to a question from Daniel about whether the vampires in the world have mastered their instincts, “Just the opposite, most of them are slaves to the blood… Exhausted from decades, centuries, of hiding, giddy to increase their numbers.” And then adds that this spurred by the “Pandemic, the unraveling of geopolitical foundations…” And notes, “One of them a brute in Madagscar called it the Great Conversion.”

When Daniel expresses some dubiousness about whether humans would want to be converted, Louis scoffs, “Yes, what on earth would a meth-addicted son of a coal miner in West Virgina want with eternal life? Or the Arab youth whose family were wiped from existenced from a Western drone?”

AMC

In all, this makes us feel like the Great Conversion is a vampiric movement to well… convert humanity to vampirism. And well, we feel like if we were vampires, always forced to hide our true nature, we might not be so opposed to it either. And to Louis’ point, wouldn’t eternal life be of interest to many mortals?

But the way Louis describes, the Great Conversion is a loose collection of disgruntled vampires, trying to push vampirism forward. Is the Great Conversion actually a meaningful meaningful movement in the world of Interview with the Vampire/The Vampire Lestat? We guess we need a bit more information to know the truth about that.

Raglan James Adds in a Few Details About The Great Conversion AMC Networks

And when one needs information, the Talamasca is a pretty good place to start. In Interview with the Vampire season two, Talamasca agent, Raglan James (who we see lurking in the first episode of The Vampire Lestat) offers us a few more details about the Great Conversion. He reveals in season two, episode three, “We were tracking 900 of them a month ago.. We’re tracking 1,600 now. The Great Conversion. It’s real, it’s happening.”

Okay, a near doubling of Vampires in the matter of a month does seem more serious that just errant grumbles in the night. As we mentioned, The Great Conversion is not a part of Interview with the Vampire, The Vampire Lestat, or any other of Anne Rice’s books. But in the context of the series, it does feel like the vampires are gathering, amassing numbers in a purposeful way, to the end of… a vampiric world order? The decimation of mortals? It’s hard to say as of yet.

The Great Conversion in the Synopsis for The Vampire Lestat

In the plot description for The Vampire Lestat, we learn, “In the new rock and roll centric season, the Vampire Lestat goes on an electric multi-city tour while being haunted by ‘muses’ from his wild and rebellious past. As his band’s popularity and star power rises, so does Lestat’s influence over vampires and humans alike, leaving others to contend with Lestat’s power in the face of the Great Conversion, an unnatural surge in the vampire population. In addition to Reid, The Vampire Lestat stars Jacob Anderson, Assad Zaman, Eric Bogosian, Delainey Hayles and Jennifer Ehle and is executive produced by award-winning producer Mark Johnson, creator, writer and showrunner Rolin Jones, Hannah Moscovitch, along with Christopher Rice and the late Anne Rice.”

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But what is Lestat’s power in the face of the Great Conversion? We know Lestat is singing songs about being a vampire, more specifically his life as a vampire. Could these songs serve to make mortals interested in vampirism? Or conversely, will they give humans too much knoweldge about the vampire, perhaps enough to make them dangerous? So far, we can’t be sure.

The Great Conversion in The Vampire Lestat

The Great Conversion has only been brought up minimaly in The Vampire Lestat‘s first episodes. In episode one, Lestat listens to the vampire voices discussing his tour. Some of them seem to echo the sentiments of the Great Conversion as they consider his music, calling for vampires to “make more.”

In episode two of The Vampire Lestat, Gabriella tells Lestat that she fancies one of the strippers she kissed in an Ohio bar. “Predatory spirit. A good candidate for the Great Conversion.” Seems like the Great Conversion is on someone’s mind… Very curious. Then, in episode three, Gabriella tells Daniel to ask Lestat about the Great Conversion for his documentary. That’s twice now she’s brought it up, which certainly perks up our ears.

So, What Is the Great Conversion? AMC

Ultimately, The Vampire Lestat‘s Great Conversion appears to be a quickly growing, somehwhat organized movement/effort by vampires to increase their numbers and find more of a footing in this world. Undoubtedly, Daniel Molloy’s book, which flagrently reveals truths (and untruths) about vampires and The Vampire Lestat’s musical tour, will have some impact on whether other vampires wish to join them in the metaphorical sun and how humans come to see vampires, whether as real or extra false.

In The Vampire Lestat book, the Vampire Akasha is awakened by Lestat’s music, with devestating plans for both vampire and human kind. As mentioned, the Great Conversion is not a part of the books’ plot… But perhaps here, something about the mass formation of new vampires will not please the Queen.

We’ll surely learn more about the Great Conversion as The Vampire Lestat continues to air. The Vampire Lestat releases 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 arrive.

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

Originally published on June 14, 2026.

The post What Is the Great Conversion in THE VAMPIRE LESTAT? appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Sam Reid actually plays two characters in The Vampire Lestat: Lestat and Jarda Klapek.
• Jarda is Lestat’s body double in The Vampire Lestat.
• Jarda exists in order to cover for the messes Lestat makes but ALSO to convince humans that there is no such thing as vampires.
• Sam Reid absolutely crushes this comedic role.

We’ve all been waiting with bated breath for The Vampire Lestat to arrive and continue the incredible world of AMC’s Immortal Universe. We knew this season would belong to Sam Reid, who captivates as Lestat in all his glory. Playing Lestat alone requires a chameleon of an actor, of course. The vampire has so many moods, modes, layers, and emotions, and they all move through him at the drop of the hat, often several at once. But if that weren’t enough, Sam Reid actually plays TWO roles in The Vampire Lestat. Yes, in addition to Lestat, Sam Reid also plays a mortal called Jarda Klapek in the series. But just who is The Vampire Lestat‘s Jarda? Why do we need him? And why do we love him? Let’s break down this Czechian karoke fanatic.

AMC Who Is Sam Reid’s Second The Vampire Lestat Character, Jarda?

In short, Jarda Klapek is Lestat’s body double in The Vampire Lestat, so it only makes sense that Sam Reid plays him as well. But as far as everything else about Jarda goes, he could not be more different than Lestat. Jarda, in a word, is kind of a loser. Most of the time, he’s drunk and singing off-key to himself as he gets bossed around by Lestat’s right-hand woman, the tough-as-nails lawyer Christine Claire.

AMC

Lestat describes Jarda as a “brick-laying, karaoke fanatic from Oztrova.” And reveals that Christine found him working construction in the Czech Republic. He also makes sure we know that Jarda is three inches shorter than he is, and needs blue-eyed contacts (which he’s always forgetting to put in) and a wig to truly become Lestat. Or, in short, he’s “Neanderthal Lestat.”

Why Does Lestat Need Jarda Klapek in The Vampire Lestat?

It turns out that becoming a nice celebrity with a cult following is a bit of an issue when you’re a vampire. Suddenly, eyes are on you everywhere you go. And that makes hunting and killing people, or at least drinking their blood, a bit hard. That’s where Jarda comes in. If Lestat makes a mess, Christine sends Jarda to Applebee’s to order a tuna melt and take some selfies with fans, while Lestat hunts in the other direction. It’s a pretty good system for keeping suspicious eyes off our favorite diva vampire.

But What Is the True Purpose of Jarda in The Vampire Lestat? AMC

But, most importantly, The Vampire Lestat‘s Jarda is there to be very, very mortal. His chief job, beyond protecting Lestat from minor mishaps, is to be so painfully human that other mortals cease to question whether Lestat is a real vampire. Jarda is there to obscure Lestat’s true vampire nature and have the world come to believe that he is only a farce… A tribute to a figment of imagination born from Daniel Molloy’s mind. For the most part, Lestat notes that this works pretty well, as humans aren’t really that prone to doing much more than “huh-ing” at anything interesting before returning to their phones and algorithms. But, of course, some persist who won’t be swayed. Still, when Jarda is openly posing as Lestat in the open, it does make it kind of hard to believe vampires are real.

Jarda May Be Getting in Too Deep

In episode three of The Vampire Lestat, we see the vampire Gabriella sleep with Jarda, ostensibly as revenge for Lestat’s clear love of Louis. While the scene is wild and comedic, it also brings Jarda into the fray of vampire relationships in a way that might not be good for him… We’ll have to wait and see.

We Love Sam Reid as Jarda Klapek AMC

In a season where Sam Reid is already doing so much, we didn’t really expect him to do even more. But we are obsessed with Sam Reid’s second role as Jarda in The Vampire Lestat. It really goes to show you HOW talented an actor Reid really is. Lestat, although quite changeable, NEVER approaches anything as bumbling and comedic as Jarda. And seeing Reid flex this muscle of his acting chops is absolutely a delight. Although Reid is literally playing Jarda AND Lestat, the two characters barely resemble one another. They literally feel like they are played by different people. And is that not the wonder of acting?

The Vampire Lestat is now releasing weekly on Sundays at 9p ET/PT on AMC and AMC+.

Rotem Rusak is Editor-in-Chief of Nerdist and a huge fan of The Vampire Lestat. She can’t wait for everyone to watch this season.

Originally published on June 7, 2026.

The post Sam Reid Plays TWO Roles in The Vampire Lestat, Meet Jarda Klapek appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• The Vampire Lestat will introduce Lestat’s vampiric mother, Gabriella. But will they keep their bizarre mother/son dynamic from the novels?
• We break down Gabrielle from Anne Rice’s books and her current appearances in The Vampire Lestat.
• Gabriella actress Jennifer Ehle offers her thoughts about Gabriella and Lestat’s relationship.

AMC’s The Vampire Lestat will adapt Anne Rice’s second novel in her Vampire Chronicles series, with Sam Reid returning as the titular vamp, now a rock star. Joining him is actress Jennifer Ehle as his mother, Gabriella, a vampire herself. In Rice’s 1985 novel, she goes by Gabrielle, but the show’s producers decided to go with the Italian pronunciation, as the character was born in Italy. The character is a fan-favorite, although some racy scenes between Mama Gabriella and her son Lestat in The Vampire Lestat trailers raised some eyebrows. But this problematic relationship actually has its origins in Rice’s books, even if the Interview with the Vampire TV series may be taking things a step further. Join us as we explore the complex bond between Gabriella and Lestat in the book and the series, whether it’s incestual, and all the other complicated nuances of turning your mother into a vampire.

AMC Table of contents

• Do Lestat and His Mother Gabrielle Have an Incestuous Relationship in Anne Rice’s Books?
• The Mortal (and Miserable) Life of Gabrielle de Lioncourt
• How Lestat’s Mother Became a Vampire in The Vampire Lestat
• Gabrielle Becomes a Cold and Deadly Immortal
• How Lestat and Gabrielle Reunite after 200 Years
• Anne Rice’s Tragic Inspirations for the Vampire Gabrielle, Lestat’s Mother
• Is the Vampire Gabrielle a Trans Character?
• Gabrielle Becomes Gabriella in AMC’s The Vampire Lestat
  • The Vampire Lestat Goes Full Incest (But That’s Not the Most Twisted Part)
  • Gabriella’s Backstory is Revealed
• Jennifer Ehle Talks Lestat and Gabriella’s Relationship

Do Lestat and His Mother Gabrielle Have an Incestuous Relationship in Anne Rice’s Books?

In Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles novels, Lestat’s relationship with his mother is complex. And that’s putting it mildly. While many have read an incestuous vibe between the undead pair, that is not literally the truth of Gabrielle and Lestat’s relationship in the books. And that’s for the simple reason that in Rice’s vampire mythology, her undead don’t have sexual intercourse. In Rice’s world, the blood exchange replaces food as sustenance, replaces drugs as hallucinogens, and replaces sex as pleasure (and procreation). So when Lestat and Gabrielle exchange blood in Interview with the Vampire‘s world, there’s an erotic charge in the text, but it’s not sex in the literal sense.

Alfred A. Knopf/Innovation Comics

Having said that, AMC’s Anne Rice Immortal Universe does not adhere to Rice’s rules in this way. The vampires in the series do have sex in human fashion, and are particularly horny in fact. One scene in the trailer for The Vampire Lestat shows Gabriella definitely touching her son, in an area where a mother should never touch her adult child. But this is clearly after she’s become a vampire. So does human morality even apply to them anymore? After all, is it any worse than, say, murdering people every night?

To recap, Lestat and Gabrielle have not been officially incestuous in the world of The Vampire Chronicles yet, although their relationship is blurry. But the series may be about to change all of that. Despite the lack of incest, though, Lestat and his mother plainly have always had a very complicated bond, going back to their human days.

The Mortal (and Miserable) Life of Gabrielle de Lioncourt

We are introduced to Gabrielle via the perspective of her son, Lestat. The Vampire Lestat explains how he was born Lestat de Lioncourt, the son of a country lord in the Auvergne in France. Although his father had a large and ancient estate, he’d run out of money years prior. A boorish man, he married a young girl named Gabrielle from Italy, hoping the dowry would help replenish his wealth. In The Vampire Lestat, we learn that Gabrielle was miserable in her life in the castle and hated her cruel husband. She bore him several children, only three of whom lived to adulthood. She had nothing but disdain for her eldest sons, who took after their awful father. But Gabrielle had a special place in her heart for her youngest, Lestat, who was sensitive and smart, and loved the arts.

AMC

When Lestat was 21, around the year 1780, his mother became ill with consumption. Knowing she was dying, she gave him her precious jewels and told him to sell them. She then told him to use the money to run away from home with his lover, Nicolas, and pursue his dream of acting in Paris. Although he was reluctant to leave his dying mother, it was her final wish that he escape and be happy. What Gabrielle didn’t count on was Lestat becoming a vampire while living in Paris.

How Lestat’s Mother Became a Vampire in The Vampire Lestat AMC

When Gabrielle knew the end was near, she decided to make one last trip before she died. She went to Paris, hoping to say farewell to her son in person. Lestat was a vampire now and revealed his true nature to his mother. He had never made another vampire before, but asked her on her deathbed if she was willing to become his fledgling. Knowing she would die otherwise, Gabrielle eagerly said yes, and Lestat became the vampiric father to his human mother. Who, in a way, was now his daughter. Vampire family trees are complicated things, folks!

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Gabrielle’s personality shifted almost instantly. Where Lestat only hunted evil doers (most of the time) Gabrielle killed anyone she wanted, with little moral compunction. As she saw it, as a vampire,  she was higher on the food chain. She also began dressing as a man and wearing her long hair in a braid. She always felt powerless as a woman while mortal, uncomfortable in her own body, especially as the laws of the time required her to be subservient to men. And in particular, her cruel husband. Gabrielle, who insisted Lestat call her that name from now on, as “Mother” seemed inappropriate, also had little interest in the human world.

Gabrielle Becomes a Cold and Deadly Immortal

In The Vampire Lestat, Gabrielle constantly talked about hunting bears and other animals in the forest, and simply disconnecting from human life and returning to nature. Lestat, in contrast, remained very connected to humanity. He loved human art, and music, loved performing on stage for humans. He had no interest in living in a forest or jungle. When the ancient Vampire Armand blew up their lives in Paris, Lestat and Gabrielle left and wandered Europe and parts of Egypt for a decade. But even from the start of their journey, Gabrielle would vanish for weeks and months at a time. Although Gabrielle still loved Lestat, their bond was breaking. Things came to a head when Lestat learned she kept the news of their mortal family’s deaths from him, and he told her to leave him for good.

How Lestat and Gabrielle Reunite after 200 Years AMC

Lestat would lose all contact with Gabrielle for almost two centuries. When he became a rock star in the 1980s, Gabrielle learned her sire/son was alive and well. When Lestat threw his big Halloween Night concert in 1985, the vampire community attacked the show, and Lestat and Louis had to escape. Gabrielle then pulled up in a sports car and rescued her son/father and his lover from the undead mob. Gabrielle tells Lestat that she imagined their reunion a hundred different ways over the centuries. And she never thought it would involve her saving him from a vampire gang at a rock concert.

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INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE’s Overwhelming Queerness Is Revelatory and Queer People Deserve It

After the events of book three, The Queen of the Damned, the surviving vampires form a coven on the luxurious Night Island, belonging to Armand, off the coast of Florida. But as she was known to do, Gabrielle quickly grew restless and wandered off into the world again. Gabrielle would pop in and out of Lestat’s life, making cameos in Rice’s subsequent novels. But she never had a book of her own, and Anne Rice said she never wanted to write one. She said Gabrielle was too cold for her to ever write from her perspective. But as of Rice’s final novel, Blood Communion, Gabrielle and Lestat were on good terms, promising never to go no-contact again.

Anne Rice’s Tragic Inspirations for the Vampire Gabrielle, Lestat’s Mother

Anne Rice went on record several times saying that her characters helped her work through her own personal tragedies. Her daughter Michelle’s death from leukemia at age 6 inspired her to create the child vampire Claudia in Interview with the Vampire. And Rice was at least partially working through the death of her mother with the creation of Lestat’s mother, Gabrielle. Rice’s mother, Katherine O’Brien, was ahead of her time, and named Anne “Howard” when she was born, not believing in gender specific naming conventions. But her mother also suffered from alcoholism and died from its complications at age 42, when Anne was only 15. Lestat saving his Gabrielle’s life and giving her a new one was Rice using writing to fictionalize saving her own unconventional mother via supernatural means.

Is the Vampire Gabrielle a Trans Character? AMC

Fans have often cited Gabrielle as being extremely trans-coded. In The Vampire Lestat, she often lamented being forced to endure the trappings of being a woman, especially as an 18th-century woman. When she becomes a vampire, she dresses in masculine clothing and often passes as a man in a crowd. However, she never changes her pronouns, and Lestat always refers to her as “she.” But were she created today, it’s very possible Anne Rice would have written Gabrielle as a trans man. Perhaps we will see the series pick up these threads to weave a beautiful, representative story.

Gabrielle Becomes Gabriella in AMC’s The Vampire Lestat The Vampire Lestat Goes Full Incest (But That’s Not the Most Twisted Part)

Jennifer Ehle as Gabrielle, now using the Italian pronunciation of her name, Gabriella, has finally arrived in The Vampire Lestat. In her first episode, we do get the idea that her relationship with Lestat is not really one of warmth and compassion. As Anne Rice would say, a distinct coldness emanates from the way she only appears when Lestat has literally hit rock bottom. And then the pair… make out, which is twisted in a number of ways… most of all that it is not what Lestat needs and very much what Gabriella wants.

AMC

The Vampire Lestat has definitely taken the novels’ incestuous subtext to another level, and now it is just plain text between mother/child Gabriella and child/father Lestat. And while incest is shocking, to be sure, the more important consequences come as a part of the emotional toll the relationship and its dynamics take on Lestat.

Gabriella’s Backstory is Revealed AMC

In episode two, we get to see more of Gabriella, including her miserable existence in 18th-century France and her much freer life in the modern day. We get a distinct impression of how repressed and terrible her life was, trapped with her awful husband and children (“the cabbages”), with only a slight solace in Lestat as a kindred soul. Unlike in Anne Rice’s books, The Vampire Lestat‘s Gabriella gets to dispose of her hateful husband herself in Auvergne, happily embracing her vampiric ferocity after Lestat turns her into a vampire. Sadly, she does not instinctively kill a man and don his clothing as her first kill, but there’s still time in the series to see that.

In the present, Lestat and Gabriella hide Gabriella’s identity as Lestat’s mother, calling her Sofia. But the pair agree to no longer… dally together. Although it’s clear Gabriella is teasing Lestat throughout the episode, pushing him to see where his limits are. It’s also evident that Gabriella is quite jealous of Lestat’s relationship with Louis and doesn’t like that he has someone else in his life. In The Vampire Lestat, the relationship between Lestat and Gabriella quickly loses its easy veneer and reveals notes of something ugly beneath.

Additionally, we see Gabriella take cruel revenge on Lestat for not cleaving only to her, sleeping ostentatiously with his body double, Jarda, and then walking purposefully out of his concert midway through. Yikes!

Jennifer Ehle Talks Lestat and Gabriella’s Relationship AMC

Following on some of what we see in The Vampire Lestat‘s early episodes, in an interview with Nerdist, Jennifer Ehle, who plays Gabriella, mused on her relationship with Lestat, and how Lestat’s love for Louis fits into it. Ehle notes of Louis and Lestat’s love, “I think she’s threatened by it. She’s threatened by it as somebody who loves him and who wants to be the primary relationship in his life, wants to be the most important person to him in any room, and suddenly, there is somebody else. And Louis having Lestat’s ear just really saps her power.”

We’ll have to wait and see where this relationship goes as The Vampire Lestat continues airing.

Interview with the Vampire seasons one and two and The Vampire Lestat are now streaming on AMC and AMC+.

Originally published March 4, 2026.

The post TVL: Lestat’s Complex (Icky?) Bond with Mother Gabriella, Explained appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Bobby and Connie make their relationship official, in ways no one wants to see, in Hulu’s new trailer for King of the Hill season 15.

One of Hank Hill’s most enduring qualities is his desire to be ready for any problem. That’s why he never leaves home without his welding kit. That might sound absurd, but it proves prescient in the new trailer for King of the Hill season 15. However, this latest look at the reboot’s upcoming return also shows there are some things not even Hank can prepare for, like retirement and walking in on Bobby and Connie “keeping each other warm.”

Boy, I’ll tell you what, I can really relate to both the Hill and Souphanousinphone families right now. Like them, I never wanted to think about either Bobby or Connie’s sex life. I definitely didn’t want to walk in on the two of them….you know.

But that’s just one of the many issues each family will face now that their lovestruck kids are making their romance “official.” Bobby’s new business and subsequent lies will cause his mom and dad plenty of problems when Mike Judge’s King of the Hill returns to the streaming site. Here’s Hulu’s official synopsis for season 15:

Hank and Peggy settle into retirement life on Rainey Street while attempting to keep their neighbors from going off the rails. Bobby navigates old friendships while dealing with the stresses of being an entrepreneur.

Hulu

The King of the Hill season 15 trailer, which Hulu debuted at this year’s Annecy Animation Festival, also has some fun callbacks. It features Big Tex (which maybe means we’ll finally get some sort of mention of Luanne and Lucky?), the old Strickland Propane crew back of Joe Jack, Enrique, and Roger, and a lot more of Buck.

Could Buck’s appearance in this promo signify Hank’s retirement won’t last long? That would certainly solve one of his many new problems. We’ll find out when King of the Hill‘s 15th season debuts at Hulu on July 20.

Hopefully it won’t have any more Bobby and Connie sex scenes.

The post Bobby and Connie Make It Official in KING OF THE HILL Season 15 Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Practical Magic 2 released a new trailer that introduces another generation of Owens women.
• The family curse is still alive and well, and it’s affecting Kylie.
• The film will come to theaters on September 11.

Practical Magic is one of our favorite chaotic yet cozy fall flicks. There’s something about witchy sisters, spinster aunts, bad relationships, and love that makes us wanna tune in every single year. Decades later, the story of the Owens women will continue with Practical Magic 2, which just dropped a trailer that brings a new generation into the fold. It is full of ancestral magic and takes us back to that incredibly comforting house that we all wish we could live in. 

Gillian and Sally have some sister talk in the kitchen about dating woes and possibilities. The chemistry between Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock is absolutely still there, as though they never left each other’s side. Of course, things go awry when the famed family curse rears its head once again. This time, it is young Kylie’s boyfriend who is set to die, so she wants to try to go and fix this curse once and for all. This could lead her into a dark path, which means Gillian and Sally have to find her and work together to keep tragedy from happening. 

Warner Bros.

The trailer evokes the exact kind of vibes that we hoped it would. And, having “Season of the Witch” playing in the background is perfect. Thankfully, we won’t have to wait very long to see what magical delights await us in this sequel. Practical Magic 2 will hit theaters on September 11 and, if the trailer is any indication, it will delight so many fans.

The post PRACTICAL MAGIC 2 Trailer Is Full of Moonlight Mischief and Love appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Nerdist gives Supergirl starring Milly Alcock and Jason Momoa a 3 out of 5.
• The movie directly adapts Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s fantastic graphic novel Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.
• Supergirl is the second movie in James Gunn’s DCU.

Sophomore albums are hard. Just ask Weezer (or whatever other example you want). The DCU only kicked off with Superman last year and its success was both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it proved James Gunn could run a whole cinematic universe. A curse because it means anyone not named James Gunn making movies in that space would be unfairly compared to him. (We’ll see what happens with Lanterns on the TV side.) Craig Gillespie is the director in that first post-Superman slot with Supergirl. While the movie is perfectly enjoyable enough, it could have (and probably should have) been much more.

Warner Bros.

The movie directly adapts Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s fantastic graphic novel Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which gives it a strong narrative to work from. That it doesn’t have many aspirations beyond adapting that book leaves the movie feeling smaller than its intergalactic setting would lead you to believe. Ultimately, Supergirl hits highs of its own, even if it feels like a bit of a lesser outing.

When we first met Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, alias Supergirl, in last year’s Superman, she came across as a drunk party girl who didn’t train her dog. That vibe largely carries over to the beginning of her own movie. Despite her cousin Clark (David Corenswet) trying to make her feel at home on Earth, Kara spends a lot of her time in space, heading to systems with red suns so she can get drunk. She and Krypto bounce around the galaxy, basically doing nothing else.

Warner Bros.

Coincidentally, a young girl named Ruthye (Eve Ridley) happens into the same bar Kara’s in. She announces that she’s looking for a warrior to help her kill the vicious raider Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts) who murdered her whole family. Though Kara really wants nothing to do with any of it, she ends up stepping in when a nasty alien guy attempts to steal from Ruthye. Badda bing, badda boom, Ruthye decides Kara is the warrior she’s looking for. While Kara wants nothing to do with her at first, a particular act of violence leads her to change her tune.

Kara becomes a reluctant protector figure for the girl but continually tells her not to kill Krem, but instead to bring him to justice. The trouble is, Krem and his band of baddies are also kidnapping the galaxy’s young girls for…nefarious purposes. This plot puts Kara and Ruthye in the path of boorish intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo (Jason Momoa). Lobo can only make things more chaotic, as is his way.

Warner Bros.

Amid this narrative, we get flashbacks to Kara’s origin. Her father Zor-El (David Krumholtz) attempted to save a portion of Krypton from destruction and that is where Kara was born. But fate would make it so she, too, would have to leave the same way her cousin Kal-El did. She has the memory of her dying culture when she lands on Earth, making it much more difficult to assimilate into Earth society.

Supergirl, unlike Superman, has no intention of introducing six billion new DC characters or furthering a cinematic universe. It’s refreshing to have a comic book movie defiantly against Easter eggs. It’s not a cameo fest. The movie is just a movie, telling a story about these characters. I think that’s both Supergirl‘s biggest strength and potentially its biggest downfall. It means the movie has nowhere to hide when the story and characters aren’t hitting a chord with viewers, it’s likely they’ll tune out.

Woman of Tomorrow is one of my favorite comics of the past 10 years, so my hopes and expectations for this were very high. The story is so compelling and having Supergirl as the main character works in a very specific way. The comic is entirely from Ruthye’s point of view, where she sees Kara as this mythic figure while we, the reader, know she’s definitely not her cousin. The movie, conversely, is told from Kara’s point of view. So rather than have Kara as this often quiet, almost Spaghetti Western-style laconic heroine, whose actions speak louder than her words, she’s a quippy pseudo-Star Lord.

Warner Bros.

This is my biggest issue with the film. Absent is the colorful space opera setting for a nigh-mythological adventure story. Instead we have loads of one-liners and exceedingly dreary space taverns while Kara, for some reason, listens to Earth music on a Walkman. It’s hard not to see Supergirl trying very hard to achieve that Guardians of the Galaxy tone without the vibrancy or, frankly, the level of character charisma. It should have felt like its own thing so much more than it does.

What we do get is perfectly fine. It’s enjoyable enough. The action is decent, the performances are all serviceable with Ridley as a bright spot. It follows the basic throughline of the comic very faithfully. But it’s not a great sign when the far and away best scenes in the movie are the few we have with Corenswet’s Superman. He’s just the most likeable person in the entire world and he really stands out opposite Alcock’s mix of mope and snark.

While I enjoyed the movie well enough and the third act was really well done, I can’t help but question why adapt such a singular and memorable comic if it was just going to end up watered down and homogenized. It’s nowhere near a bad movie, but I wanted Supergirl to bowl me over and it simply did not.

DC Studios

⭐ (3 of 5)

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Letterboxd.

The post SUPERGIRL Doesn’t Quite Fly High Enough (Review) appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom has a new trailer, and its as charming as you’d expect.

Shaun the Sheep is one of the most hilarious and frankly adorable stop-motion animated characters to ever exist. We love his facial expressions, fear of many things, and general vibe for real. Now, it’s time for him and his flock to get their time to shine in a new film. We learned during Studio Canal’s panel at CinemaCon 2026 that the new film, Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom, is on target for its upcoming September 18, 2026, release date, and early footage shows a scary monster. Enjoy the film’s adorable latest trailer:

While the clip that we saw from it at CinemaCon is not online yet, we can tell you exactly what happened. In our sneak peek at Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom, the residents of Mossy Bottom Farm contend with a big old beast coming over the horizon. They go inside of a house in a panic and barricade themselves in, only for the beast to somehow get in.

Aardman/Studiocanal

There are a few funny moments, like a cuckoo clock scaring everyone and the beast standing outside of the shower where they are hiding in a very Psycho-like manner. He reaches in, but thankfully everyone stays safe… for now. You can check out the Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom teaser trailer below, and maybe that clip will appear before its release.

It’s lovely to see classic characters continue to get new stories for generations to enjoy.

Originally published on April 13, 2026.

The post SHAUN THE SHEEP New Movie Trailer Is Incredibly Charming appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• Netflix announced Dan Aykroyd has joined the streamer’s upcoming 3D-animated Ghostbusters series, debuting in 2027, as an executive producer.

In the summer of 2024, Netflix announced it was officially developing a new 3D-animated Ghostbusters series. Since then we haven’t learned much more about the show, including when we would see it. But now we at least know what year it will debut. More importantly, we know the most important member of pop culture’s most famous specter hunters will be prominently involved. Netflix has revealed that Ghostbusters creator, Ray Stantz himself, Dan Aykroyd has joined the show, titled Ghostbusters: Night Shift, as an executive producer.

Netflix provided a rundown of what fans can expect from the streaming site at this summer’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival. We not only got a first look at Ghostbusters: Night Shift but also a logline to give us a synopsis about what will happen.

Netflix

The streamer will debut footage from the show at the Théâtre Bonlieu on Wednesday, June 24. Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan, who have led the two recent sequels, will be in attendance. They are both executive producers on the series, which also comes from Sony Pictures Animation. Here’s the logline for this show:

New York City, 1994 — Five years after the Ghostbusters took the Statue of Liberty for a walk, a new wave of supernatural terror hits the Big Apple, forcing a group of scrappy, young New Yorkers — untrained, underappreciated, and kinda sorta responsible for the problem — to put on proton packs, face their fears, and bust some ghosts.

Now Netflix has shared that Aykroyd is also taking on an official positions. He will also fill an EP role on the show. Ben Hibon, Elliott Kalan, and Amie Karp also serve as executive producers. And that’s as much as we know beyond the small description Ntflix provided. It says the show is a “high end animated series based on the beloved Ghostbusters IP” that will arrive in 2027.

That’s still a long time to wait for a show that’s been in development for years. But maybe that’s a good thing. It gives Ghostbusters‘ creator more time to work on it.

Originally published on May 7, 2026.

The post Netflix’s GHOSTBUSTERS: SHIFT Series First Look and Synopsis appeared first on Nerdist.

⚡ Quick Take

• A new trailer from DC Studios reveals KNIGHTFALL will follow the 1990s comic run.
• Bane serves as the primary villain.

Today, Warner Brothers revealed the trailer for Batman: Knightfall, a new addition to the DC Animated Universe. Knightfall will follow a comic run from the early 1990s, featuring a massive breakout from Arkham Asylum and numerous classic villains. Bane serves as the series’ main antagonist.

The most recent DC animated movies, or additions to the DCAU, have been a part of the Tomorrowverse. Since 2020, ten films have come out within this cinematic universe. This includes Superman: Man of Tomorrow (2020) and Batman: The Long Halloween parts one and two. Knightfall marks the beginning of a new era.

In Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Knightfall, when the mysterious behemoth known only as Bane frees Batman’s entire Rogue’s Gallery from Arkham Asylum, the Caped Crusader is pushed to his mental and physical breaking point.

The movie is based on a three-part comic series. Knightfall comes first, with Knightquest and Knights End following. The trailer declared it a trilogy, so we can expect the movies to follow the titles of the comic series. The animation looks incredibly detailed, especially in comparison to what DC has been animating of late. The DC Animated Movie Universe has not been bad by any means, but this is a noticeable step up.

What to Expect in Batman: Knightfall

If this movie follows its namesake comic run faithfully, there are a lot of cool cameos to expect during the trilogy. Spoilers ahead if you haven’t read the Knightfall comics.

Knightfall serves as Bane’s introduction. We meet a villain born in Peña Duro, a Santa Prisca prison, who watched his mother wither away and endured years of solitude and torture before he escaped to Gotham. He was experimented on by doctors there, which is how he got his steroid-enhanced abilities and skull implants. The comic oscillates between following his perspective and Batman’s as they meet for the first time.

Warner Brothers, DC Studios

A final frame of the trailer shows a costume with an aggressive cape resembling horns and a suit with armored, gold and silver elements. This fits in well with the comic runs, where the costume aesthetic draws inspiration from the Knights Templar, but it also makes it clear that this is a different iteration of the caped crusader.

I’m definitely hoping they use lines directly from (or are heavily inspired by) the comic in the scriptwriting. And I hope they give good screen time to building Bane’s backstory. The authors spent an entire issue on it in Vengeance of Bane #1, which served as Knightfall’s intro.

By the looks of the Batman: Knightfall trailer, the movie is shaping up to showcase incredible animation alongside an interesting story that somehow cameos a lot of major Batman villains. The movie is not yet rated, though fans speculate it may be R-rated. There is no set release date, but the trailer says the movie is “coming soon.”

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