Nerdist in Audio

AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY Baseball Teaser Is NOT What We Hoped

A new Avengers: Doomsday teaser aired during Game 1 of the World Series. It showed Mister Fantastic throwing a first pitch, plus brief out-of-movie shots of the Human Torch and Ben Grimm at a game, mostly recycled movie footage, and one new scene in which Ant-Man awkwardly calls Steve Rogers “Captain America” even though Sam Wilson now holds the title. Nerdist’s editor-in-chief had hoped for a scene of the heroes actually playing baseball together. She argues that slice-of-life moments like the shawarma scene are what make audiences love the team, and that the MCU doesn’t offer enough of them. The film opens December 18.

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Oscar Nominee Sandra Hüller Joins DOOMSDAY in Secret Cameo Role

THR reports that Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall, Project Hail Mary) has joined Avengers: Doomsday in an undisclosed cameo role. Many assume she’s Doctor Doom’s mother Cynthia von Doom, a Romani witch in the comics, but Nerdist’s writer thinks she’s more likely Doom’s deceased wife, because the trailers hint at a recent tragedy driving his attempt to remake the multiverse. She could also be one of the Latverian witches Marvel has teased.

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New ALIEN Film Has a Screenwriter, Not a ROMULUS Sequel

20th Century Studios has hired Aaron Guzikowski (Prisoners, Raised by Wolves) to write a new Alien film, with Ridley Scott producing rather than directing. It will connect to Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, not to Alien: Romulus, and Michael Fassbender’s David isn’t currently attached. Nerdist notes that the Romulus sequel announced earlier has gone quiet, and hopes both films get made. Alien: Earth season two is currently shooting.

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How DC and Marvel Must Readjust in a Post-Superhero Fatigue World

Nerdist argues that the success of Spider-Man: Brand New Day (the biggest domestic box-office hit ever) and Lanterns (one of HBO’s biggest hits) shows the “superhero fatigue” narrative was exaggerated, but that the studios must adapt to a post-peak era (2012–2019). It recommends DC reserve films for the Trinity and Justice League, and for cheaper takes on lesser-known characters like Clayface. Mid-tier heroes like Flash, Nightwing, Catwoman, and Green Arrow should get prestige-TV treatment, in the Lanterns mold, possibly on other streamers. It says Supergirl might have worked better as a Woman of Tomorrow series. It says Marvel should keep focusing on films, since too many Disney+ shows diluted the brand, and that each release needs to feel like an event again. The author concludes both studios should lean on what worked before: Marvel on movies, DC on TV.

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From Witches to Monsters, These Disney Halloween Movies Are Delightful

A nostalgic ranking of five Disney Halloween movies. From #5 to #1 they are Girl vs. Monster (2012), Twitches and Twitches Too (2005 and 2007), Halloweentown High (2004), Hocus Pocus (1993), and Halloweentown (1998), which the author calls the one that best captures the spirit of Halloween. My Babysitter’s a Vampire (2010) gets an honorable mention, though it isn’t technically a Disney Channel Original Movie.

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Chris Pratt Says Star-Lord Will Return to the MCU

On The Bingeworthy podcast, Chris Pratt said there have been “ongoing conversations” and “hard action taken” with Kevin Feige and Lou D’Esposito to fulfill the promise made at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 that “The legendary Star-Lord will return.” He wouldn’t say when or how, only that the character is “not going anywhere.” The article suggests Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars as likely vehicles.

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Prolific Marvel Writer Jonathan Hickman Consulted on DOOMSDAY

In a Bleeding Cool interview, Jonathan Hickman confirmed that he consults for studios and has read scripts for Marvel Studios’ Doomsday and Secret Wars for about two and a half years. He said there was a big shift when the Russos and Steven McFeely returned and Robert Downey Jr. joined the cast, and that he hasn’t seen a final cut. Hickman created the multiversal “incursions” concept. The Multiverse Saga draws heavily on his Avengers run, and Secret Wars will lean on his 2015 comic. Nerdist hopes Marvel Studios also taps his ideas for the X-Men reboot.

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CLAYFACE Overcomes a Slow Start With a Fantastic Finish (Review)

Nerdist’s reviewer found the first half of Clayface merely “fine.” It follows an early-2000s superhero template, spends too long explaining the science behind Matt Hagen’s transformation, and has a romantic subplot. It’s also very gruesome, with realistic body horror (face slicing, needles near the eyes) that made the reviewer look away. The second half is described as an absolute blast: once Tom Rhys Harries’ Hagen embraces his powers and goes after revenge, the film becomes creative, funny, and horrifying, with inventive shape-shifting and a long, satisfying climactic set piece. The review calls Harries’ performance star-making, and praises Naomi Ackie as Dr. Caitlyn Corr, Max Minghella as Detective John Borelli, Joshua James, Eddie Marsan, Ruby Sear, and David Dencik. It also says the CGI and makeup work, and the film stands on its own with little connection to Batman or the wider DCU. It opens October 23.

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Neiman Marcus Selling $182,000 STAR WARS Legacy Experience

Neiman Marcus’s 2026 Fantasy Gifts collection includes a $182,500 Star Wars Legacy Experience. The package covers a private visit for four to Lucasfilm and ILM headquarters in San Francisco’s Presidio. It also includes a one-of-a-kind replica Ahsoka season two lightsaber hilt signed by Dave Filoni, a consultation to design custom lightsabers, four tickets to a Star Wars world premiere and after-party, and a visit to an active Lucasfilm production. The author jokes that for that price you should get a speaking role in a Star Wars film, but notes that buyers likely won’t care about the value.

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Joe Manganiello Reveals Deathstroke Plot for DCEU Batman Film

In his memoir Bloodlines, Manganiello describes Ben Affleck’s canceled solo Batman film, which Affleck called “a superhero version of David Fincher’s The Game.” Deathstroke would have been led to believe Batman killed his son and would then “dismantle Batman’s entire life,” including killing Commissioner Gordon, kidnapping Alfred, and breaking into the Batcave. A midpoint set piece would have shown him nearly killing both Batman and Batgirl before they escape on an aboveground train, and the finale would have been a one-on-one fight through Gotham inspired by Arkham Asylum. Affleck scrapped the film after his “career low” on Justice League. The author hopes Manganiello gets another shot at the role, noting that a Bane/Deathstroke film is in development.

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