As someone who got into the Dungeon Crawler Carl series by listening to the audiobooks, I'm not even remotely surprised to see so many positive reactions to the news out of Comic-Con this week that Jeff Hays would be voicing the role of Princess Donut for the book-to-screen adaptation.

As the narrator of all eight (so far) Dungeon Crawler Carl audiobooks, Hays does an outstanding job, particularly in the way he shifts from one voice to the next. I think it would've been a bit of a challenge to adjust to a new voice behind the beloved feline when the TV adaptation debuts, so I'm glad we won't have to. From her tone to her style of speaking and huffy reactions, Hays brings so much personality to Donut. It's a good sign that he's being included for the Dungeon Crawler Carl TV show, which will be available at some point for people with a Peacock subscription.

Can He Voice The AI Too?

Beyond the excited reactions I've seen around social media about Hays voicing Donut, I've also seen people mentioning another role they hope he'll voice. To be clear, no other roles have been cast for Dungeon Crawler Carl, but there are some fans still holding out hope that Hays will also voice the role of the system AI. This "character' in the book is responsible for announcing Neewww Achievements, loot boxes, warnings and other rules Carl and the other characters need to be aware of throughout the "game" they're playing. Like so many other characters in the DCC audiobooks, the AI's voice is distinct and full of personality (for better or cringy worse), and it'd be hard to get used to another voice behind it.

Seth MacFarlane And Alan Tudyk Are Other Great Suggestions I've Seen

Jeff Hays isn't the only name I've seen mentioned by fans online when talking about voicing the AI. With Seth MacFarlane on board as a producer, it's not a stretch to wonder if he'll provide a voice or appear on screen, and some fans think he'd be a great option for the AI. Alan Tudyk is another fantastic suggestion, given how many of his best performances involve his skill at voice acting. I've seen fans bring his name up when discussing casting for Mordecai too. Really, there are a lot of fun character options for Tudyk, if he's interested and in consideration for the series.

Obviously, fans have a lot of ideas and hopes for these roles, but as I said, nothing official has been announced for anyone, apart from Hays voicing Donut.

WARNING: We Don't Even Know How AI Will Appear In The DCC Series

I just want to throw this out there because I've been thinking about it, and it occurred to me that the AI is a DCC character with a bit more wiggle room for the adaptation than most. The AI appears primarily as text in the book, but is that how the show plans to depict it? They could include flashes of text boxes with audio to deliver the AI's updates and warnings, but is it possible that they'll develop the character to be an actual on-screen presence? Someone who pops in to provide updates rather than having them be text only?

I'm not saying this would be a better option than text on screen with a voice reading it, but how to bring the AI to the screen is presumably among the creative decisions that need to be made. Cost could factor in, especially when we consider the likely abundance of visual effects that will be necessary to bring this wild story to life.

At the end of the day, I just hope they do whatever works best to bring the character into the TV show and ideally maintain all of its personality and weirdness. Yes, that includes the creepy way it talks about Carl's feet.

We'll have to wait and see what updates come out. Fans are obviously excited to know who will be playing Donut's co-lead, Carl in the TV series, and there are so many other roles that need to be cast. It's going to be exciting to see what updates pop up as the series continues to be developed.

A beautiful face can get you places in Hollywood, but how boring would it be if every actor populating the 2026 movie calendar looked like Sexiest Man Alive Jonathan Bailey or Michael B. Jordan? OK, maybe that was a bad example, but still, there are countless great character actors who may sport a more unique look, and fans are making their voices heard after a list went around claiming that guys like Gary Oldman, Walton Goggins and Alan Tudyk were “not hot enough to be a lead.”

There’s definitely more to being “hot” than having a chiseled jaw and rock-hard abs, and a good personality can be significantly more important (even Sydney Sweeney doesn’t want to date a jerk). So when stars like J.K. Simmons, David Dastmalchian, Steve Buscemi and Paul Dano showed up on a Reddit post asking for people’s “Favorite ugly bastard we call a ‘character actor’ as a nice way of saying they’re just not hot enough to be a lead?,” fanbases were activated. BabypintoJuniorLube responded with a timely comparison, writing:

Forget the fact that a lot of the men put forward by the original poster have been the lead in movies and on TV, because Redditors really took issue with the suggestion that these actors are ugly in the first place.

Gary Oldman seems to have gotten the lion’s share of responses, with fans imploring people to look past his flatulent-heavy role on Slow Horses to remember Sid and Nancy, Bram Stoker’s Dracula and even the Harry Potter movies. Comments included:

• Dude was sexy! Watched an older movie with him in it recently and my ex was like "wait is that.... sexy Gary Oldman??” – dragonflyzmaximize
• I’m (mostly) lesbian but Gary Oldman as Dracula at his first meeting of Mina WAS panty-dropping – Pan_Fluid_Boo
• Gary does not belong in that list. – idntknww
• As an Oldwoman myself, I can assure you that Sir Gary is still Hotasf--kman. – JessicaGriffin
• Seriously, we’re calling Gary Oldman ugly nowadays? – Hoppy-Poppy17
• I’m so confused, I thought he was super hot in Prisoner of Azkaban. – Late-Summer-1208

As for Walton Goggins, who blew up after his roles on The White Lotus and Fallout, plenty of fans said the Redditor was out of their mind for including him on the “not hot” list, writing:

• Women are drooling over Walton Goggins in the Fallout show and he doesn’t even have a nose in that one. – Misplacedwaffle
• Frankly that show [Fallout] is dare I say the hottest he’s ever been. He just oozes charisma – DowntownAd9720
• Goggins’ appeal is his confidence and energy, he’s got a whole vibe. Source: my wife – lefthandtrav
• Walton Goggins has always been objectively very good looking I don’t know what the hell he is doing here. – ValToolTime

Even Alan Tudyk’s inclusion got people fired up, inspiring comments like FigureUnusual4439’s “Would smash,” and catchyerselfon asking if the OP had even seen the Firefly actor’s “large semi-muscular physique.” One Redditor said the post was so misguided that others should have been consulted first:

Look, the sexy rat boyfriend is a real thing, guys. Timothée Chalamet is talking about marrying Kylie Jenner, and Pete Davidson just had a baby with model girlfriend Elsie Hewitt, for crying out loud.

There are a lot of classically beautiful men in Hollywood, and there’s definitely nothing wrong with that. But attractiveness is subjective, and the above fans know it goes much deeper than looks. Reddit user Impressive_Answer297 may have said it best:

If Gary Oldman, Walton Goggins, Paul Dano and the rest are involved, sign me up!

James Gunn’s Superman launched the new DCU on the big screen, and it introduced a number of major characters who will likely be important in the growing franchise. We not only met Superman and Lex Luthor but also Supergirl, Guy Gardner, and Mr. Terrific. While many think Mr. Terrific was the MVP of the film, I'd argue that accolade belongs not to a man but a machine, specifically, Gary.

Gary, also known as Four, was the Fortress of Solitude robot played by Alan Tudyk. Tudyk is heard but not seen in many of his film performances, but he always brings his A-game to the performance, often dropping one of the best lines found in the films he’s in. It turns out this is the case even when the line isn’t scripted, as a video from filmfactx points out that the scene where Four suggests a real name was apparently an improv from the actor. Check out David Corenswet’s fantastic reaction that leaves him laughing so hard they have to yell "Cut."

David Corenswet was clearly not ready for Alan Tudyk to deliver the line suggesting “Gary” as a name because he completely loses it. He almost certainly destroyed this take of the scene when he started laughing, and it’s quite genuine laughter.

Corenswet says the line just “made the movie.” It’s unclear if he means that the improv will remain part of the final film, as in it will make it in the movie, or if it made the movie in the sense that it was the highlight of the experience of making Superman. Both are almost certainly true. It’s maybe not the funniest joke in the movie, but if the line was truly unplanned, it’s not surprising it got such a great reaction as it’s delivered absolutely beautifully.

Seeing this scene being shot is key. The line is great in the movie itself, but considering that Four/Gary is incapable of expression, it may not land quite as well a it does on set. Alan Tudyk has this look on his face of absolute longing. It may be the look that the rest of us would never normally see that was really what sent David Corenswet over the edge of hysterics.

With the Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow already set for release in less than two years, it seems all but certain that we’ll see Gary again. Perhaps the rest of the Fortress of Solitude robots will have their own names by then. Personally, I’m hopeful we might see some Superman cameos in the upcoming Supergirl movie in the same way that Supergirl was introduced in Superman. Maybe we won’t need to wait for Man of Tomorrow to see Gary again.

Interestingly, veteran actor Alan Tudyk already has fingerprints all over the DCU’s Chapter One. He appears as one of Supes’ robots (let’s call him “Gary”) in this year’s Superman, voices the frightening Doctor Phosphorus and Clayface in Creature Commandos. Tudyk's even married to Peacemaker choreographer Charissa Barton, serving as her guinea pig while she crafted Season 2’s incredible opening dance sequence. Recently, a post claimed he was set to play Robin, and he and James Gunn had a hilarious exchange about it.

A Threads post featured the claim that Tudyk had been “confirmed” as Robin for the upcoming DCU movie slate. The actor in question saw the thread and swatted it down with peak minimalist humor:

A few beats later, studio Co-CEO and DCU architect James Gunn jumped in with a perfect deadpan of his own. He responded in the comments with:

And just like that, the would-be upcoming superhero movies scoop became a comedy two-hander. But what’s really behind this odd rumor?

What Actually Happened With This Robin Report?

A fan account shared an image of Alan Tudyk in a Robin suit, a real photo, but from his role on the short-lived DC comedy Powerless, and claimed James Gunn had “confirmed” him for the part (some posts even said Tim Drake). So it's not surprising that the I, Robot actor jumped into the comments with a crisp “No, he didn’t,” and Gunn followed with his own fun reply.

Jokes aside, what we know about The Brave and the Bold is pretty limited. However, what is known is that there’s been no official casting news, despite rumor churn and fan wish lists.

Could Alan Tudyk pull it off? Absolutely—he’s a fandom MVP with a ton of great movie and TV roles in fare like Firefly, Rogue One, Doom Patrol, and Harley Quinn, which is why any superhero rumor feels briefly plausible. However, as Gunn has said repeatedly, real announcements will come through official channels. Until then, treat any fan casting rumors and images from unknown accounts as what they more than likely are: fan-made.

How Did Fans Respond To The Rumor?

Here’s a quick pulse check from the comments. Needless to say, some folks were in on the joke and, for others, it flew over their heads like a batarang:

• @nemothe7th: “Why is that a photo from the TV show Powerless?” →
• @jimmytcannon: “Because it’s a joke.” → “Eh, we all miss a joke sometimes.”
• @bfhdesign (author): “It’s made up.”
• @shakebake2020: “LOL Alan Tudyk just reblogged this post saying ‘no he didn’t.’”
• @two_cats_in_a_chandelier: “Cue the people in the comments who don’t know what a joke is.”
• @artsanstalent: “Just report this account for false information.”
• @yeoldecrow: “But he’ll want to be called Gary.”
• @jeg_har_lige_podcast: “Look, it’s Steve the Pirate.”
• @reiidiate: “You son of a b***h, I’m in.”

As for Alan Tudyk, he might not be putting on Robin’s cape anytime soon, yet he actually does have a very stacked 2025 movie schedule. He voices a character in the upcoming book-to-screen adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Twits (arriving Oct. 17) and appears in Disney’s Zootopia 2 (in theaters Nov. 26).

Warning: SPOILERS for Superman are ahead!

Just like he did in 2004’s I, Robot, Alan Tudyk took part in Superman playing a friendly robot. This one was simply named Four… or at least, that’s how he’s known for most of the 2025 movie. By the end, however, he adopted the name Gary for himself, adding another heartfelt moment to enjoy following the Man of Steel’s over Lex Luthor. As it turns out, though, it wasn’t Superman writer and director James Gunn who came up with the name change, but rather Tudyk himself.

The Resident Alien actor revealed this while speaking with The Direct, first by explaining how he saw Four as the perfected Superman Robot that Clark Kent built in the Fortress of Solitude after the first three didn’t turn out well. That’s why Four is the leader of the automatons that followed. However, Tudyk wanted to infuse his character with a little more personality, which led to this:

Ad-libbing is known to happen during the moviemaking process, but I’m surprised this particular creative beat in Superman came from Alan Tudyk off the top of his head rather than James Gunn including it in the script. It sounds like the filmmaker was initially hesitant to do this, but with lead actor David Corenswet throwing his support behind the idea, Gunn was willing to give it a shot. It ended up paying off, although there had to be talks later about if including Four naming himself Gary in the final cut was worth it. Tudyk continued:

Alan Tudyk also mentioned that he didn’t learn that the Gary moment made it into Superman until the movie’s world premiere. Even then, he missed hearing when Superman acknowledged the robot’s new name, and it fellow Firefly alum and Guy Gardner actor Nathan Fillion who clued him in. Hopefully, we’ll see more of Gary if the Fortress of Solitude is revisited in the DCU, be it in a Superman sequel, next year’s Supergirl or some other upcoming DC movie.

Although Superman is still playing in theaters, you’ll be able to purchase the film digitally starting this Friday, August 15. It will then arrive on Ultra-HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD September 23. There’s been no announcement yet about when Superman will become streamable with an HBO Max subscription.

If you think of 2004’s I, Robot, Will Smith is likely the first person who comes to mind, and rightly so. It was definitely one of the bigger features the actor starred in during the 2000s, and some might even call it one of the best Will Smith movies. But I, Robot was also a big deal for Firefly’s Alan Tudyk, as he voiced and performed the friendly robot Sonny through motion capture. And yet, it was apparently because of his amazing performance as a robot that Tudyk barely got any attention when I, Robot was making the press rounds.

Tudyk divulged this information while speaking with the title host of the Toon’d In with Jim Cummings podcast. Although he’s known for a variety of movies and TV shows, including, but not limited to, Frozen, Zootopia, Rogue One, Resident Alien, Creature Commandos and the 2025 movie release Superman, Tudyk told Cummings that he still runs into people who aren’t aware he was in I, Robot. That’s not simply because we don’t see his face during the movie, with the actor sharing:

That is seriously wild. Alan Tudyk did his best job playing Sonny, the NS-5 robot created by James Cromwell’s Dr. Alfred Lanning who was capable of feeling emotions and a key component in the mystery of Lanning’s death that Will Smith’s Detective Del Spooner was brought in to solve. And yet, when the time came to promote I, Robot, Tudyk was told that the fact he was testing higher than Smith during these early screenings was enough to push him out of the press tour and not have his name brought up.

It’s unclear if 20th Century Fox was behind this decision or if it originated from Will Smith or someone on his team, but either way, Alan Tudyk was understandably disappointed to be told this. He continued:

Motion capture performing was still in its relative infancy when Alan Tudyk was playing Sonny in I, Robot, with other notable examples from around that time including Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars prequel trilogy and Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Mentioning Alan Tudyk, if not having him participate in the press tour, would have helped get this kind of unique performing on more people’s radars. Not to mention, Tudyk was an integral part of the cast just like Will Smith, James Cromwell, Bridget Moynahan and Bruce Greenwood, among others.

Obviously Alan Tudyk isn’t hurting for work these days, but the man deserves the recognition for all that effort he poured into bringing Sonny to life in I, Robot. The best we can do over two decades after its release is make sure those who are streaming I, Robot with a Hulu subscription or watching it some other way for the first time are aware of his contributions.

Let’s be clear right from the start: cancellation is never good. I always hate to see shows unexpectedly wind up on the list of series ending in 2025. However, when the cast, crews and creatives get this news can make all the difference. So, while it’s a real bummer Resident Alien was axed, I also totally see why knowing this information early excited the creator.

Sadly, news broke that Resident Alien would be ending with Season 4, which has three episodes left on the 2025 TV schedule. This news came from the Syfy show’s creator Chris Sheridan, and he noted that he had a feeling this was going to happen. He told TV Insider:

See, there’s almost always a silver lining. While it is extremely sad that Resident Alien is ending, Sheridan knew that would probably happen far enough in advance that he could give his series, which he has been the showrunner on since day one, the ending it deserves.

To me, there are levels of sadness with cancellation. When a series gets the axe unexpectedly right after it ends or even in the middle of its run, that’s the saddest outcome. That’s because programs don’t get the chance to conclude their stories. So, if a season ends on a cliffhanger, it won’t be resolved; we’ll just be left hanging.

One level above that is Resident Alien’s situation. Obviously, getting canceled sucks no matter what. However, finding out about it when Sheridan did makes matters better. It gave him the opportunity to write an end for his show. They got to close the loop, conclude the story and go out with a bang. To that point, the showrunner said:

So, it sounds like Resident Alien will get to be a show that actually ends well, because they knew Season 4 would be the last. And that is why the creator was “excited” about this situation. Since he kind of knew in advance, he got to craft a meaningful and deserved ending for the characters in Patience, Colorado, and that’s really all you can ask for.

I’d say it’s the best case scenario here. So, it’s obviously sad Alan Tudyk and co. won’t be returning, and this brilliant sci-fi comedy won’t get to continue. However, I’m also excited that they (kind of) got to go out on their own terms.

Since 2021, people have watched Resident Alien and seen Tudyk’s alien go from a being hellbent on destroying humanity to a being who truly cares for the people around him. It’s truly one of Tudyk’s best projects, and he shines as this hilarious fish-out-of-water character. So, saying goodbye will be hard.

However, Resident Alien crashed onto Netflix a while ago, and you can still binge it with said Netflix subscription to your heart's content. So, while the series will be over-over in a few weeks, you can still return to it often.

Now, it’s time to get ready to say goodbye, and thank goodness we actually get to say that. The last three episodes of Resident Alien will air on Fridays on Syfy/USA Network, with the finale set to drop on Friday, August 8 at 10 p.m. ET.

We are here at Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, Japan to report live on all the big news on upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows coming out of the convention! After Friday's festivities kicked things off with a panel for The Mandalorian & Grogu movie that officially announced Ryan Gosling's Star Wars movie and the Lucasfilm Animation panel revealed an upcoming Darth Maul series, you're going to want to see what Saturday brings.

This one is going to be all about Andor Season 2, which is set to premiere for those with a Disney+ subscription this Tuesday, April 22. We'll provide all the updates from the panel here.

We're here at the Andor panel on this Saturday morning in Tokyo. It's another packed panel at the Celebration Stage. Stay tuned.

Before the panel has even begun, we're being entertained by over 100 Star Wars fans who are dressed up like the prisoners from Andor Season 1, and not only took to the stage, but walked all around Celebration Stage in unison yelling "One Way Out." This is too good. And what a way to honor Season 1.

Tony Gilroy, producers and the whole cast is here including Diego Luna, Kyle Soller, Adria Arjona, Genevieve O'Reilly, Alan Tudyk and Denise Gough. The energy from the fans is so palpable right now and Gilroy and Luna took some time to thank fans for the massive support they've given the show already. Luna is teasing new and familiar characters and is urging fans to go back to Rogue One right after they finish. In his words: "You're gonna see a different film."

Gilroy let the audience know that the episodes are dropping three episodes at a time, with each batch taking place during a different year leading up to Rogue One. Gilroy is is calling the season "a chorus" that will play out the stories of every character we followed in Season 1.

O'Reilly is talking about Mon Mothma. She said her and the cast feels like they have been "sitting on a diamond" and can'r wait for audiences to see the new season. She said the season starts in Mon Mothma's home world for a wedding. She said her character goes to some "dark places" amd her character has to go out of the shadows and speak up.

Gough is now talking about her character this season. She says we will learn more about Deidre's origins. She teased that "things get real strange" and "much more fascist" for Deidre this time around.

Kyle Soller's Syril teases his character's romance with Deirdre this season, which he called "the heart" of his arc. Gough jokes the romance goes "goes super well." I'm so curious what they mean by all these comments.

Adria Arjona says Bix is trying to "reconstruct" herself after her rough first season. I can't wait to see some redemption for her character after all the pain she underwent the first season, but as we know this story is very tragic, so I'm holding my breath.

Now there's huge applause for Alan Tudyk who is finally back this season as K2SO as the moderator addresses him.

Tudyk joked that he tried to originally pitch K2SO: 2 Fast 2 Furious years ago, but he's grateful for Gilroy being the better writer. Tudyk also called it a "very important series" he's happy to be part of. Luna also gushed about his reunion with Tudyk after seven years apart.

They are going to show this first episode, which means the laptops and phones are being put away!! Thanks for sticking with us here on CinemaBlend for all the highlights. Catch the first three episodes next week, and stay tuned for exclusive interviews with the cast.

Star Trek has been around for decades, and it takes a lot of people to fill a ship. As such, there's no shortage of actors who have joined its ranks over the years, but even in 2025, there are still some who haven't. With upcoming Trek shows on the horizon, I had to highlight some of the prominent names in sci-fi who I would love to see join Starfleet or some other role in this galaxy.

Whether it's joining a full-length series or just popping around for a one-off movie, these actors would be perfect for Star Trek. Frankly, some of them have done so much sci-fi in their careers that I'm shocked it hasn't happened already. All that being said, let's jump on my picks and go over where I'd best see them fitting into the franchise when it comes to roles.

Gillian Anderson

Had Bryan Fuller remained the showrunner of Star Trek: Discovery, this could've happened already. The creative revealed on the D-Con Chamber that Gillian Anderson was planned to play a Starfleet Captain, though her exact role in the series was not defined. It is ironic that the person paired with David Duchovny to play the paranormal skeptic in The X-Files could've been someone who regularly interacted with aliens in Star Trek.

I don't think there's any denying Anderson would be the perfect fit for a Starfleet Captain or some other high-ranking official in the organization. I would say she has "Janeway energy," so it's easier to see her in that captain role because someone has previously paved the way with a character I could've easily seen her playing as well. Will it ever happen? I want to believe.

Rosario Dawson

After playing Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars and nurse Claire Temple in Netflix's Marvel shows, it only seems fitting that Rosario Dawson jumps to Star Trek next. In fact, the actress said years ago she's a fan and would love to be a part of the franchise, initially proposing that she play a background character just to be included in the fun and complete a lifelong dream. Of course, she's a big deal in Hollywood, and I doubt the franchise would toss her in rather than offer her an actual role.

Dawson's father suggested she play a Q, and I'm 100% on board with that idea. I think linking her to Starfleet is just too obvious of an option, and we could use more Q characters in the franchise to inject additional chaos into the shows every so often.

Alan Tudyk

Alan Tudyk isn't just a sci-fi actor; I would say a vast majority of the work in his career has come from the genre. He was burned on the set of Rogue One and was on the cast of Firefly, one of the most iconic canceled sci- fi shows. Frankly, I'm shocked he's never done anything with Star Trek, and I think it's high time that change.

The best thing about Tudyk is that he's just as iconic as a voice actor as he is in live-action. That makes him a perfect fit for any species of the week that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds could use, corporeal or otherwise. For some reason, I see him playing a Medusan, but I can't explain why that sounds so perfect.

Elliot Page

Elliot Page hasn't been as active in Hollywood as in years past, but maybe it's because the right role hasn't come along. There's ample opportunity for the actor to make a comeback in the Star Trek franchise and an audience pre-dispositioned and ready to embrace the latest chapter in his life.

I also feel like Page just naturally has the look of someone suited to be a Vulcan or Romulan. Much like James Frain was the perfect fit for Sarek, I see Page taking on the role of a Vulcan leader or maybe a tough Romulan ready to take down the Federation with some brilliant scheme. In truth, I just want to see Page doing big things in Hollywood again, and I could think of no better fandom to welcome him into than the Star Trek universe.

John Boyega

There's a part of me that thinks John Boyega referring to his time in Star Wars as "franchise jail" means he won't readily do another sci-fi franchise again. Still, if there was a shortlist of actors in Hollywood, I would say are the best fit to bring back Star Trek movies, he'd be the star I'd want to prop up the franchise with.

As a franchise lead, he'd almost certainly have to be a Starfleet Captain. Sure, I'm all for the idea that anyone can be the lead of a Star Trek adventure, but he spent his time in Star Wars largely playing second banana to a larger story. It's high time we make John Boyega a leading man in sci-fi, and Trek would welcome him with open arms if he's willing to give it another try.

Domhnall Gleeson

I know I used the picture of him as Hux, but truthfully, I'd want more of the Domhnall Gleeson who appeared in Ex Machina for a Star Trek movie. Let's be honest, there's no shortage of Gleeson performances in movies that showcase his strengths as an actor, and they all make for a candidate that Starfleet would want among its highest ranks.

The problem is that Domhnall Gleeson is just so damn captivating as a villain. It would be a shame to have him in Star Trek and not play one of the most dastardly antagonists any of the quadrants have ever seen. I'm talking about something way worse than any of the most dangerous villains of The Next Generation, maybe even worse than Deep Space Nine's Dukat. He's capable of it, we just need someone over at Paramount to give him a shot and let him cook.

Katee Sackhoff

Katee Sackhoff has been a big name in the science fiction world for a while, really exploding onto the scene in Battlestar Galactica. Decades later, she's played Bo-Katan Kryze in The Mandalorian and talked about shifting over to Star Trek. Jonathan Frakes suggested she join Starfleet Academy, and I 100% sign off on that idea.

It may not be the best time to bring up Section 31 after critics were unkind in their reviews of the recent movie, but is there any person more suited for the morally gray faction? I could see Sackhoff steering the fandom back to being on board with Section 31, and if she can be paired up with Michelle Yeoh for a potential sequel to the movie, that's even better.

These are just a few names that I'd be thrilled to see involved with Star Trek as the franchise presses onward into the future. Those looking to keep tabs on everything on the way should pick up Paramount+ and catch up on some of the fantastic shows from the past few years.

Alan Tudyk shared some bold words in regards to Netflix's canceled Cowboy Bebop, and his take may have seemed like a good one until he realized it applied to Firefly as well. The actor took shots at the series (available to stream with a Netflix subscription) in an interview while also explaining how his acclaimed series totally differed from the anime adaptation, outside of both being canceled after one season.

Netflix axed the live-action Cowboy Bebop after it was panned by fans and critics for diverging from the anime, but Tudyk mentioned during an interview on Mythical Kitchen that the show often gets lumped in with Firefly. Below, he explained why the two differ, stumbling briefly when realizing the cancelation connection.

He understandably also mentioned Firefly's follow-up movie, Serenity, but his point is made well enough all the same. I would say there are far more people in the world asking that Firefly be brought back for a revival or another movie than the people asking for Netflix to renew Cowboy Bebop. The streamer has heavily leaned on adapting anime as of late, but it seemed to move on from that one rather quickly.

While there were rumblings of a potential Firefly revival being in the works back in 2020, it seems far more likely we'll continue to see more live-action anime adaptations than the return of the Nathan Fillion-led series. The star remains active in Hollywood, starring in ABC's The Rookie and his upcoming role as Guy Gardner in James Gunn's Superman.

Additionally, the rallying cry to bring back Firefly subsided substantially in light of controversies surrounding creator Joss Whedon. Fillion has defended Whedon, but I think it's fair to say the court of public opinion reigns supreme. I can understand the hesitation by Disney to push for a revival, knowing there's a chance people may have opinions on whether Whedon is involved.

Alan Tudyk talking about Firefly doesn't necessarily mean he's dying for it to come back, as he's been working on other projects. His voice work in everything from Moana 2 to Creature Commandos keeps him plenty busy around Hollywood, and there's word that he's also appearing in Superman as well. Considering his schedule and what the rest of the Firefly cast is up to these days, the odds of it ever returning feel slim. All this to say, it also seems unlikely Cowboy Bebop will return, so that's another thing they have in common!

Those with a Hulu subscription can binge Firefly should they choose to do so, and it's also available for free currently on The CW app. As mentioned, Cowboy Bebop is over on Netflix, and as someone who really liked the series, I would recommend anyone who skipped out on it to give it a shot.

The 2024 TV schedule marks the dawn of James Gunn’s DCU, thanks to the December debut of Creature Commandos. With an all-star cast that includes iconic voice actor Alan Tudyk, this new Max Original Series is going to kick off the future of upcoming DC TV shows and movies with several bangs. Playing the role of team member Dr. Phosphorus, the Harley Quinn star has now revealed that he'll also be reprising the role of Clayface in this new project. All the while, I still can’t get over a video that shows him portraying two very different variants of the character.

Mr. Tudyk’s Disney good luck charm status is very much apparent at this point, and that status seems to have bled into his work for DC Studios as well. That much seems to be presented in James Gunn’s decision to also have the actor play his Clayface character in yet another animated project. However, as Alan Tudyk explained alongside his fellow Creature Commandos cast members in a Rotten Tomatoes interview, this new Max Original will spin his character in the following manner:

I think it’s safe to say that a homicidal Clayface fighting Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr., even in the animated medium of Creature Commandos, is a total win. And the Marvel Cinematic Universe vet was just as excited about that prospect as those of us in the audience. That's especially because Grillo was recorded experiencing his own moment of awe, which you can see in a snippet from that aforementioned interview below:

The level of talent on display in that clip is nothing short of incredible. It goes without saying that there's a reason why the Firefly alum is among the industry's most sought-after voice actors. Still, the sight of him switching voices so seamlessly is just too wild not to geek out over.

Everything we know about DCU Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters has shown us that this isn’t a total top down reboot away from the previous era of the DCEU. Rather, this is a selective revamp that’ll allow James Gunn and his team to put its own stamp on the landscape, while keeping some characters as either mainline players or Elseworlds-style spinoffs.

Similar to how the Guardians of the Galaxy director also has Frank Grillo playing Rick Flag Sr. in the live-action Superman cast, he has that very same mindset when it comes to Creature Commandos’ future as well. Now, it appears that this sort of continuity has been ingrained in the animated wing of DC Studios as well, with Alan Tudyk being given yet another heinous part to play.

In his excitement for this news, the Moana 2 actor shared these further remarks about how amped he was about the mere possibility:

With the ability to shift his voice for characters of various species, personality types, and franchises, I, for one, am not surprised that Alan Tudyk was a shoo in for staying on board as Clayface. To borrow a James Bond analogy, you don’t just recast M when you’ve got Judi Dench commanding the role, even with a light reboot like Casino Royale.

James Gunn’s understanding of this concept has me even more excited to see how he employs this approach in the future, especially if any of the Creature Commandos team members cross over into live-action. As for the animated versions of these anti-heroes, the'y'll be settling into their new streaming digs for anyone with a Max subscription, starting on December 5. Weekly drops will occur until January 9, 2025; so be sure to keep your subscription active if you’re looking to stay current on the action ahead.

In case you haven’t been following along with the production of James Gunn’s Superman, this upcoming DC movie has a stacked lineup of talent. Along with David Corenswet playing Kal-El/Clark Kent and Rachel Brosnahan playing Lois Lane, the Superman cast includes Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor, Skyler Gisondo’s Jimmy Olsen and Wendell Pierce’s Perry White, to name just a few. Superman will also see Frank Grillo making his live-action debut as Rick Flag Sr. after first voicing the character in Creature Commandos. Now a new piece of casting news makes me wonder if another starring character in that animated series heading to Max subscription holders in a few months will pop up in Superman, too. If they do, it makes me even more worried for Corenswet’s Man of Steel.

According to Deadline, Alan Tudyk has been tapped for an “undisclosed role” in Superman. The Firefly alum and current star of Resident Alien is already involved in the DC Universe voicing Doctor Phosphorus in Creature Commandos, but that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg with his DC credits. He’s also played Mr. Nobody in Doom Patrol, The Joker and Clayface in Harley Quinn, Barry Allen/The Flash in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Superman in Justice League: War, and Green Arrow, Psimon and Captain Cold in Young Justice.

Why Doctor Phosphorous Appearing In Superman Could Spell Trouble

The fact that this reported role of Tudyk’s is shrouded in secrecy means there’s a possibility he’s actually playing someone else in Superman, which I’ll talk more about soon. However, the fact that Frank Grillo is reprising Rick Flag Sr. in this summer release on the 2025 movies schedule means there’s a solid chance that Doctor Phosphorous, if not more Creature Commandos, could factor into Superman as well. That’s assuming, of course, that Phosphorous makes it out of the Creature Commandos series alive.

Without going into details, leaked Superman set photos have indicated that Rick Flag Sr. will be an adversary to the title character, which shouldn’t be terribly surprising since he’s working for Amanda Waller. If Flag is bringing Phosphorous along, that could give him the edge to overpower Superman. Few can match the Kryptonian in brute strength, but Phosphorous’ ability to manipulate radiation might do the trick with weakening Metropolis’ protector.

Maybe Alan Tudyk Is Playing A Different DC Character

On the other hand, we shouldn’t rule out that Alan Tudyk is playing someone different in Superman. After all, Sean Gunn is voicing both Weasel (whom he first played in The Suicide Squad) and G.I. Robot in Creature Commandos, but he’s also set to bring Maxwell Lord to life in the DC Universe. If James Gunn’s brother can play multiple DCU roles, why can’t Tudyk?

If that’s what’s actually happening, then I can’t begin to guess the identity of this mystery DCU character Tudyk is playing, whether it’s a hero, villain or someone in-between. The one thing I do hope, however, is that if he’s not playing Doctor Phosphorous in Superman, I hope this other character of his will appear in multiple DCU projects rather than just one. The man deserves to have his talents showcased across the franchise for years rather than just as a one-and-done affair.

Superman flies into theaters on July 11, 2025, and Creature Commandos premieres on December 5. As soon as Alan Tudyk’s role in the former project is unveiled to the public, we’ll let you know.

The Walt Disney Company celebrated its 100th anniversary this week, and it did so in style with the release of Once Upon A Studio both on TV and on Disney+. The animated short brings together so many characters from the last 100 years that it’s almost impossible to count them all. Some of them take center stage, while others appear in a “blink and you’ll miss it” fashion, but either way, you’ll need to watch the short more than once to catch everything.

But there’s so much more going on in Once Upon A Studio. From obscure animated characters to the human beings who helped bring them all to life, here are 10 of our favorite moments from the new Disney short that made us smile.

Burny Mattinson 

The closing credits of Once Upon A Studio dedicate the film to Burny Mattinson. Mattinson worked for The Walt Disney Company for 70 years, longer than any person before him. Unfortunately, Mattinson passed away earlier this year. He directed Mickey’s Christmas Carol and The Great Mouse Detective, among other great achievements in his career.

But before he said goodbye, he had one other job: appearing as himself at the beginning of Once Upon a Studio. He’s the man who wonders “If these walls could talk,” just what would they say? It made sense to include the longest-serving employee in such a historic film, but it's unfortunate that he is no longer here to see the film’s release.

Alan Tudyk 

Alan Tudyk is something of a perpetual easter egg in Walt Disney Animation Studios films. Tudyk has voiced many Disney characters in recent years. While he’s performed the likes of Wrck-It Ralph’s villain King Candy and Zootopia Duke Weaselton, he’s just as likely to appear as the voice of a chicken or some other animal.

It’s only fitting that Alan Tudyk appears in Once Upon a Studio, but he doesn’t voice any of the characters that he has brought to life in any Disney films. Instead, he takes on the voice of the Mad Hatter. While most of the Disney characters who speak in the film are either given new lines voiced by their original artist, or dialogue from the original films is recycled, Tudyk takes over the character from Ed Wynne who, originally performed the Hatter in 1951’s Alice in Wonderland, and he does a fantastic job. 

Ub Iwerks

Without question, the most touching moment in Once Upon a Studio is when Mickey Mouse takes a moment to thank Walt Disney. It’s a beautiful sequence. Of course, Mickey actually has a second father, and while he doesn’t get quite the same treatment, he’s also not forgotten.

Some of the coolest stuff to look at during the film is the collection of pictures hanging on the wall of the Roy E. Disney Building. Some of the Disney greats can be spotted if you look closely and know your Disney history. One portrait that features prominently is that of Ub Iwerks, the animator who, along with Walt, designed the original look of Mickey Mouse. He can be seen near the elevator as Donald and the company are waiting for Flash.

Robin Williams' Other Character 

A lot has already been said about the fact that Robin Williams’ Genie makes an appearance in Once Upon a Studio using unused audio that Williams recorded for the original Aladdin. However, Genie isn’t the only Robin Williams character who appears in the short film.

In the same scene, just before the Genie appears, an unnamed Lost Boy appears behind Olaf. This is actually Robin Williams himself, transformed into an animated character as part of a short film called Back To Neverland that ran as part of the Magic of Disney Animation Attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Feed The Birds 

When Mickey has his heart-to-heart with Walt Disney, the emotion comes from the music as much as the moment. The song being played in the background is the classic “Feed the Birds” from Mary Poppins. It’s a beautiful song, but it’s especially poignant in this moment.

“Feed the Birds” is known to be Walt's favorite song ever written by the Sherman Brothers, the songwriting duo behind too many Disney classics to mention. Walt would occasionally walk into their office and simply say "Play it," and the boys would play the song for him. What’s more, this particular rendition of “Feed the Birds” is performed by Richard Sherman himself on the piano that still sits in Walt Disney’s office at the studio.

“After You” 

When the animated crowd gets together outside the building, there are so many Disney characters to see you’ll need to go frame-by-frame to recognize them all, but one classic character makes himself known when the iconic Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, whose rights were lost to Disney for decades, walks into the frame.

Mickey, ever the polite host, says “After you,” which is the perfect thing for him to say because literally all of this came after Oswald. With the possible exception of Pete the Cat, a version of whom appeared in the early Alice Comedies, Oswald is the oldest character in the history of Disney animation seen in the film.

 Flowers & Trees And The Skeleton Dance 

As the camera pans back to reveal the entire assembled crowd, we see all 100 years of Disney animation in front of us. Many of these characters we’ve seen elsewhere in the film, if only briefly, but there are a couple of newcomers who deserve special recognition.

On the left-hand side, you’ll see three skeletons standing together. These are the starting players from The Skeleton Dance, the first of the Silly Symphonies cartoons. Standing in the back, because they’re so tall, are a pair of trees from another Silly Symphonies cartoon, Flowers & Trees, which is notable because this was the first animated short ever to win an Academy Award. 

Summing up 100 years of Disney animation in nine minutes seems like an impossible task, but Once Upon a Studio did it probably about as well as it could have been done. From the well-known to the obscure, the film is packed full of almost everything you could have wanted if you’re a Disney fan, and more than a few things we never would have expected.  

There are quite a few upcoming live-action Disney remakes, and first on that list is David Lowery’s Peter Pan & Wendy, a new adaptation of the animated classic. The new Disney+ movie, which premiered Friday, April 28th, brings to life the timeless story of the young boy who refuses to grow up and the adventurous girl who travels with him to Neverland, providing an experience like no other.

After watching the movie, there’s a good chance you’re wondering why the various young actors and A-listers who make up the Peter Pan & Wendy cast look so familiar. Well, wonder no longer, because we have a breakdown of all the major characters who take to the screen in this inventive yet faithful retelling of the beloved story in Lowery’s followup to The Green Knight.

Alexander Molony (Peter Pan)

Alexander Molony leads the Peter Pan & Wendy cast with his portrayal of the titular hero who travels from Neverland to London, where he meets Wendy Darling.

Prior to landing his role in the new Disney+ exclusive movie, Molony provided the voice of Alex in the English dub of The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales. He’s also appeared on TV shows like The Reluctant Landlord, the made-for-TV movie The Bad Seed Returns, and provided his voice for characters on Raa Raa the Noisy Lion and Claude.

Ever Anderson (Wendy Darling)

Ever Anderson joins the ranks of actresses to play Wendy Darling with her portrayal of the iconic character in Peter Pan & Wendy.

Though Anderson doesn’t have a ton of experience in front of the camera, she has appeared in some massive movies over the years. Her career started with a portrayal of a young Alicia Marcus in 2016’s Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, which she followed by portraying a young Natasha Romanoff in the Black Widow cast.

Jude Law (Captain Hook)

Over the years, actors like Boris Karloff, Dustin Hoffman, and Stanley Tucci have portrayed Captain Hook, and now it’s Jude Law’s turn to take on the role of Peter Pan’s archnemesis in the new Disney remake.

Possibly the most recognizable member of the cast, Law has given dozens of tremendous performances throughout his career, including in two movies that earned him Academy Award nominations: The Talented Mr. Ripley and Cold Mountain. Be it romantic comedies like The Holiday, Harry Potter movies like Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, or superhero movies like Captain Marvel, Law has done a little bit of everything over the years.

Yara Shahidi (Tinker Bell)

Yara Shahdi shows up as Tinker Bell, the hyperactive fairy who is never far behind her longtime best friend (or his mischievous shadow).

Prior to being added to the Peter Pan & Wendy cast back in 2020,  Shahidi had an extensive career, both in movies and on TV shows. Probably best known for her portrayal of Zoey Johnson on black-ish, as well as on its companion series, grown-ish, Shaidi has also appeared on shows like The First Family, Trollhunters, 3Below, and Extrapolations. Her film work includes movies like Butter, Alex Cross, Detective Pikachu, PAW Patrol: The Movie, and My Father’s Dragon, to name a few. 

Alyssa Wapanatahk (Tiger Lily)

Alyssa Wapanatahk takes on the role of Tiger Lily, a warrior princess and member of Neverland’s indigenous tribe who is one of Peter Pan’s best friends.

Prior to joining the Peter Pan & Wendy cast, Wapanatahk appeared in a variety of short films like Swansong and Pookmis, as well as movies like Rehab and Bones of Crows. The actress also appeared in a 2023 episode of Riverdale. 

Jim Gaffigan (Smee)

What would a Peter Pan movie be without Captain Hook’s incredibly loyal first mate, Smee? Well, luckily we don't have to worry about that problem, as Jim Gaffigan takes on the role of the classic character in the new movie.

A prolific standup comedian, Gaffigan has also made multiple TV appearances over the course of his career, including on the likes of That ‘70s Show, Portlandia, Law & Order, Sex and the City, The Ellen Show, and his own creation, The Jim Gaffigan Show. His film appearances include 13 Going on 30, Super Troopers, Troop Zero, Tesla, and the more recent installments in the Hotel Transylvania movie franchise. He can also regularly be seen on CBS Sunday Mornings talking about food, family, society, and various other topics, but mostly food and his family.

Joshua Pickering (John Darling)

Joshua Pickering shows up in Peter Pan & Wendy as John Darling, the second of three children who goes with Peter to Neverland.

Prior to joining the cast, Pickering appeared on TV shows like Safe Space and A Discovery of Witches. This is his first major film role.

Jacobi Jupe (Michael Darling)

Jacobi Jupe pops up as Michael Darling, the youngest of the three children who travel with Peter to Neverland, but not without his trusty teddy bear.

The young actor appeared on shows like Tom Jones and Britannia prior to joining the Peter Pan & Wendy cast. 

Molly Parker (Mrs. Darling)

Molly Parker appears as Mary Darling, Wendy, John, and Michael’s mom back in London.

Throughout her career, Parker has made appearances in movies like The Wicker Man, The Road, American Pastoral, 1922, Pieces of a Woman, and multiple others dating back to the early 1990s. Her TV presence has been just as steady thanks to memorable performances on shows like Deadwood, House of Cards, and Lost In Space. Parker has also had smaller roles on the likes of Six Feet Under, Party Down, Dexter, and The Outer Limits.

Alan Tudyk (Mr. Darling)

And then there is Alan Tudyk, who shows up in Peter Pan & Wendy as George Darling, Wendy, John, and Michael’s dad back at home.

Throughout his career, Tudyk has voiced multiple characters in Disney movies like Frozen, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, Moana, Aladdin, Frozen II, Encanto, and multiple others. On top of that, he’s also provided his voice for movies like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, various installments in the Ice Age franchise, and many others. 

Tudyk’s live-action appearances include Firefly (and the Serenity movie), Resident Alien, Trumbo, 3:10 to Yuma, Death at a Funeral, Knocked Up, Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, and dozens of other movies and TV shows. 

Well, this should definitely help you put faces to names, especially when it comes to the younger members of the Peter Pan & Wendy cast. To see what other movies will soon be available with a Disney+ subscription, check out our 2023 movie schedule.

Stream Peter Pan & Wendy on Disney+.

There are still three upcoming DC movies to look forward to this year following the release of Shazam! Fury of the Gods, but from there, the DC Extended Universe as we know it will end, and from the ashes will rise the new DC Universe. While aspects of the DCEU will be retained, such as John Cena and Viola Davis continuing to respectively play Peacemaker and Amanda Waller, there will be a lot of new actors coming into the continuity being overseen by DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran. The first round of casting for this next era has finally come in, and it all revolves around the animated series Creature Commandos.

It was first reported by The Wrap that Frank Grillo, known for playing Crossbones in the MCU, will play Rick Flag Sr. in Creature Commandos. To be clear, this is not Joel Kinsman being recast, as he played Rick Flag Jr., the son of Grillo’s character, in Suicide Squad and The Suicide Squad. Then Collider shared that the rest of the main cast will also consist of Sean Gunn as both G.I. Robot and Weasel (whom we knew would be back), Maria Bakalova as Princess Ilana Rostovic, Indira Varma as The Bride, Zoe Chao as Nina Mazursky, Alan Tudyk as Dr. Phosphorus, David Harbour as Eric Frankenstein and Steve Agee as John Economos. Both Weasel and Economos were previously seen in The Suicide Squad, with the latter also appearing in Peacemaker and cameoing in Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

James Gunn confirmed all these castings on Twitter, and while these are just vocal outings for now, the DC Universe intends to use actors from animated projects in live-action as well. As such, Frank Grillo, David Harbour and the rest could easily join Steve Agee and Sean Gunn (in the case of Weasel) in bringing their characters to life onscreen. Like the Suicide Squad, the Creature Commandos are under the supervision of Amanda Waller, but there’s no mention of if we’ll hear Viola Davis reprising her role in this particular project.

Although no specific plot details for Creature Commandos have been revealed yet, James Gunn wrote all seven episodes, and the show is currently in production. It’s been described as an “aperitif” for the DC Universe before Superman: Legacy, which Gunn is both writing and directing, is released in theaters on July 11, 2025 to officially kick off the franchise. This animated series is an especially fitting project to come out as part of the DCU’s Chapter One slate, titled “Gods and Monsters,” as most of the team’s members fall quite nicely into the latter grouping.

HBO Max subscribers will be able to check out Creature Commandos whenever it arrives next year, although keep in mind that the streaming service will be relaunched in late May as simply Max. Regardless, it’s just one of many upcoming DC TV shows that CinemaBlend will continue sharing updates about as we move forward into the DC Universe.

I often like to use the term “Geek God” or “Geek Goddess” to describe an actor who has made an impressive impact on the sci-fi genre, superhero movies, etc., and earned a devoted fanbase in the process. One of the quintessential names that falls under this category is Alan Tudyk, although his eclectic filmography is not limited to great sci-fi TV shows and comic book adaptations. See for yourself by taking a look at our picks for some of the best Alan Tudyk movies and TV shows and where to find them on streaming, for digital rental, or on physical media - starting with…well, a sci-fi TV show.

Firefly (2002-2003)

An eclectic crew of outlaws travel between the terraformed planets of their galaxy in search of whatever work they can find while also steering clear of government detection in the 26th Century.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk TV shows: The heart and soul of the Firefly cast just might be Alan Tudyk’s performance as Serenity’s ace pilot, Hoban “Wash” Washburne, on this short-lived, but much-loved futuristic take on the Western genre and its 2005 feature-length follow-up named after the ship the crew called home.

Stream Firefly on Hulu.
Buy Firefly digitally on Amazon.
Buy Firefly on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Con Man (2015-2017)

An actor (Alan Tudyk) who is best known for a short-lived cult TV series struggles to achieve the success he believes he deserves while navigating the world of sci-fi conventions.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk TV shows: Tudyk’s career following the cancellation of Firefly served as a loose inspiration for Con Man - an often dark satire on Hollywood and geekdom from an actor’s perspective that he also created and which earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series.

Stream Con Man on Freevee through Amazon Prime.
Buy Con Man digitally on Amazon.

A Knight’s Tale (2001)

A peasant (Heath Ledger) poses as a knight to participate in a jousting tournament to achieve the fortune and glory he has long desired.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: One of Alan Tudyk’s most beloved films from before he starred on Firefly is A Knight’s Tale, in which he plays a friend-turned-faux royal servant to Ledger, who also gives one of his best and most underrated performances in Oscar winner Brian Helgeland’s unique medieval drama.

Stream A Knight’s Tale on Starz.
Rent/buy A Knight’s Tale digitally on Amazon.
Buy A Knight’s Tale on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Death At A Funeral (2007)

The gathering of an English family to pay their respects to their recently passed patriarch takes a few unexpected and disastrous turns.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: Just like in A Knight’s Tale, the Texas-born Alan Tudyk blends in perfectly among his predominantly U.K.-based co-stars when giving an uproarious, scene-stealing performance with a faux British accent in the original Death at a Funeral - a wonderfully chaotic dark comedy from director Frank Oz.

Stream Death At A Funeral on Hulu.
Stream Death At A Funeral on Tubi.

Rent/buy Death At A Funeral digitally on Amazon.
Buy Death At A Funeral on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)

The owner of a rundown gym (Vince Vaughn) tries to save it from being acquired by an eccentric fitness guru (Ben Stiller) by entering himself and his friends and colleagues into an elaborate dodgeball tournament in Las Vegas.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: Three years before Death at a Funeral, Alan Tudyk stole the show with another bizarre performance as a man who thinks he is a pirate in  Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story - a laugh-filled sports comedy from director Rawson Marshall Thurber.

Stream Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story on Hulu.
Stream Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story on Amazon Prime.

Rent/buy Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story digitally on Amazon.
Buy Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Tucker And Dale Vs. Evil (2010)

An innocent hillbilly (Alan Tudyk) and his best friend (Tyler Labine) become victims of a horrifying misunderstanding when their plans to clean up his new cabin intersect with some college students’ vacation.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: Alan Tudyk puts on another convincing faux accent as one-half of the titular duo in Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil - one of the most clever, refreshing, inventively gory, and simple best horror-comedy movies of its time.

Stream Tucker And Dale Vs. Evil on Tubi.
Rent/buy Tucker And Dale Vs. Evil digitally on Amazon.
Buy Tucker And Dale Vs. Evil on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Suburgatory (2011-2014)

For the first time in her life, a cynical teenage girl (Jane Levy) begrudgingly leaves the city with her single father (Jeremy Sisto) to live in a quaint suburb with an eccentric population.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk TV shows: After sending up the horror genre in Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil, Alan Tudyk shared the screen with future Scream Queen Levy on the cast of Suburgatory - a fun, short-lived ABC sitcom - as an ordinary suburban dad who undergoes an extraordinarily painful mid-life crisis.

Stream Suburgatory on CW Seed.
Buy Suburgatory digitally on Amazon.
Buy Suburgatory on DVD on Amazon.

I, Robot (2004)

A technophobic detective (Will Smith) suspects that a revolutionary robotics engineer’s own creation is responsible for his death in 2035 Chicago.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: Alan Tudyk proved himself to be a talented motion capture performer when playing cybernetic murder suspect Sonny in I, Robot - director Alex Proyas’ clever, visually stunning, Oscar-nominated dystopian crime thriller inspired by a collection of short stories by Isaac Asimov.

Stream I, Robot on HBO Max.
Rent/buy I, Robot digitally on Amazon.
Buy I, Robot on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

A mismatched, ragtag crew of rebel forces conspire to steal the plans for the Galactic Empire’s moon-sized, planet-destroying weapon known as the Death Star.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: Another time Alan Tudyk gave an inspired motion capture performance as a robot (and got to use his British accent again) was in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - a direct prequel to 1977's original Star Wars - as reprogrammed imperial droid K2-SO.

Stream Rogue One: A Star Wars Story on Disney+.
Rent/buy Rogue One: A Star Wars Story digitally on Amazon.
Buy Rogue One: A Star Wars Story on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Wreck-It Ralph Movies (2012, 2018)

A video game villain (John C. Reilly) aspires to abandon his destructive reputation, only to nearly cause the destruction of the World Wide Web itself years later.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: One of Alan Tudyk’s earlier collaborations with Disney is when he voiced King Candy, the main villain of the heartwarming animated redemption story, Wreck-It Ralph, before later appearing in the hilarious sequel, Ralph Breaks the Internet, as KnowsMore - the personification of a search engine.

Stream the Wreck-It Ralph Movies on Disney+.

Rent/buy Wreck-It Ralph digitally on Amazon.
Buy Wreck-It Ralph on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Rent/buy Ralph Breaks the Internet digitally on Amazon.
Buy Ralph Breaks the Internet on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Frozen Movies (2014-2019)

The adventures of a red-headed princess (Kristen Bell) and her older sister (Idina Menzel) who is gifted with a mysterious ability to alter the weather to cold temperatures and freeze things at will.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: Alan Tudyk also leant his voice to multiple characters for Disney’s most successful animated franchise, most notably as the Duke of Weselton in both Frozen and in the sequel, Frozen II.

Stream the Frozen movies on Disney+.
Buy the Frozen movies digitally on Amazon.
Buy the Frozen movies on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Doom Patrol (2019)

A group of people, each made superhuman by traumatic circumstances, are given a home by a mad scientist (Timothy Dalton) and a chance to save the world from a man of nigh-omnipotence and malicious intent.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: Alan Tudyk has starred in countless comic book adaptations, including Marvel movies (namely Big Hero 6) and various DC TV shows - such as the refreshingly unique Doom Patrol, in which he chews the scenery as the reality-warping main antagonist of Season 1, Eric “Mr. Nobody” Morden. 

Stream Doom Patrol on HBO Max.

Resident Alien (2021-Present)

An extra-terrestrial (Alan Tudyk) begins to question the malicious nature of his initial reason for coming to Earth (to destroy it) after disguising himself as a human doctor and establishing trust with the citizens of a small Colorado town he became stranded in.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk TV shows: A more recent example of Alan Tudyk’s talent for also playing a good villain (of sorts) can currently be seen on the Syfy original series, Resident Alien - developer Chris Sheridan’s considerably lighter and much funnier take on Peter Hogan’s Dark Horse comic book series 

Stream Resident Alien on Peacock Premium.
Buy Resident Alien digitally on Amazon.
Buy Resident Alien on Blu-ray on Amazon.

These cult favorites and new classics alike just barely scratch the surface of what makes Alan Tudyk an undeniable “Geek God” to so many of his fans.

Alan Tudyk returned to television in 2021 with Resident Alien on SYFY, based on a Dark Horse comic and immediately proving itself to be a one-of-a-kind TV show. Of course, even a unique premise and stacked cast don't always guarantee a show is able to last beyond a single season, as Tudyk knows well. With the Resident Alien cast filled out by Corey Reynolds, Sara Tomko, Alice Wetterlund and more on top of Tudyk and telling a story with endless possibilities, fans got some very good news when SYFY renewed the series weeks ahead of the Season 1 finale, and according to Tudyk, viewers weren't the only ones feeling relief.

SYFY renewed Resident Alien for Season 2 back on March 17, when there were still three more episodes of the first season to air. The renewal guaranteed that not only could fans head into the season finale without worrying that it would be the series finale, but also that the cast could look ahead to Season 2. Members of the Resident Alien cast recently spoke to CinemaBlend and other outlets, and Alan Tudyk shared his reaction to the early renewal:

Resident Alien received an official series order back in May of 2019, and production on the first season was already finished by the time the series premiered in January 2021. A surprise cancellation could have meant the series ending on a note that would leave viewers dying for more of Harry and his attempts to blend in with humanity while facing his mission to destroy the human race. As Alan Tudyk said, there was no foregone conclusion, even as the ratings proved that viewers were loving the show. What a relief for everybody, as the Resident Alien cast and production team can look ahead to Season 2 without becoming a one-hit wonder!

Corey Reynolds plays Sheriff Mike Thompson on Resident Alien, and the series has already shown some layers to the character that it would have been a shame if they couldn't be explored further than Season 1. Like Alan Tudyk, Reynolds was happy to get the early Season 2 renewal news, but that wasn't his only reaction. He shared his thoughts on Resident Alien getting a guaranteed Season 2 before the first season even finished airing, saying:

I think fans everywhere can agree that the show nailed a unique tone in bringing Resident Alien to SYFY, and be happy that Corey Reynolds' instincts about Resident Alien getting picked up proved correct rather than Resident Alien becoming one of the many projects in the television industry that don't work out. Now, fans can just hope that more Resident Alien with Harry, Sheriff Mike, and the rest will be ready for the airwaves in the 2021-2022 TV season.

TV and film productions ran into a lot of hurdles across the board over the past year, but all signs point toward an exciting second season of Resident Alien, heading into the March 31 finale of Season 1 at 10 p.m. ET on SYFY. For some viewing options once Resident Alien heads into hiatus, be sure to check out our 2021 winter and spring premiere schedule. If you haven't checked Resident Alien out just yet, you can find episodes streaming on Peacock now.

This weekend, Disney will introduce their latest princess with Raya and the Last Dragon, a CG-animated fantasy film featuring the voice talents of Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, Daniel Dae Kim, Sandra Oh, Benedict Wong, and more. Early reviews have certainly been glowing for the company's newest animated adventure, and families will have the option of watching the movie in theaters or at home on Disney+ (with a premium fee) in the weeks ahead. If you recognize the voices behind this new movie and you're wondering why, we're here to help. Here are the actors behind Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon.

Kelly Marie Tran (Raya)

As our title character, Raya, a warrior princess on a quest to find the last dragon and save her world from an evil force, Kelly Marie Tran plays the protagonist in Disney's latest animated feature, Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, Tran played Rose Tico in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. She also voiced Rose in Star Wars Forces of Destiny and Disney+'s The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special. Additionally, the actress appeared in XOXO and lent her voice to last year's The Croods: A New Age.

Online, Kelly Marie Tran played a lead role in Facebook Watch's Sorry For Your Loss. The actress also appeared in CollegeHumor. Her TV credits include About A Boy, Adam Ruins Everything, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Monsterland, Ladies Like Us, and Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street. Next, Tran will be heard in Disney+'s Monsters At Work.

Awkwafina (Sisu)

In the role of Sisu, a self-deprecating water dragon who is the last of her kind, Awkwafina voices a sidekick called upon by our other title character to save humanity in Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, the actress is known for her scene-stealing supporting turn in Crazy Rich Asians, as well as her performances in Ocean's 8, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, Dude, and Jumanji: The Next Level. Additionally, Awkwafina is recognized for her acclaimed dramatic lead role in The Farewell, for which she won a Golden Globe Award. She is also the star, co-creator, and writer behind Comedy Central's semi-autobiographical series, Awkwafina is Nora from Queens.

As a voice actress, meanwhile, Awkwafina is heard in The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Tuca & Bertie, The Angry Birds Movie 2, Storks, Animals, and The Simpsons. She can also be heard in The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water. Most recently, the actress was seen in Breaking News in Yuba County. Next, she'll be heard in The Little Mermaid and seen in Swan Song, which premieres at SXSW.

Gemma Chan (Namaari)

Playing the part of Namaari, Raya's nemesis, Gemma Chan voices our main antagonist in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, Chan is known for Crazy Rich Asians, as well as her supporting turn in Captain Marvel. She can also be seen in Mary Queen of Scots, Transformers: The Last Knight, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, The Double, London Fields, Shanghai, Submarine, Exam, and HBO Max's Let Them All Talk. On television, Chan can be seen in the lead role of Humans, as well as Sherlock, Doctor Who, The IT Crowd, Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Bedlam, Fresh Meat, and Project Catwalk. Next, she'll star in Marvel's Eternals. She'll also appear in Olivia Wilde's Don't Worry, Darling.

Daniel Dae Kim (Chief Benja)

As Chief Benja, Raya's beloved father and the legendary Guardian of the Dragon Gem, Daniel Dae Kim plays a man known as "the baddest blade in the five lands" in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, the actor is known for Lost, Hawaii Five-0, and Angel. He also played recurring roles in Beverly Hills, 90210, 24, ER, Star Trek: Enterprise, and The Good Doctor, where he serves as an executive producer. Currently, Kim plays a recurring character in NBC's New Amsterdam. And as a voice actor, he's heard in The Legend of Korra, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, The Casagrandes, Justice League Unlimited, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Additionally, Kim lent his voice to the Saints Row series, as well as other video games like Scarface: The World Is Yours and Agents of Mayhem.

Outside of television, Daniel Dae Kim appears in Hellboy (2019), Always Be My Maybe, The Divergent Series: Insurgent and Allegiant, Spider-Man 2, Crash (2004), Hulk, Cradle 2 the Grave, and For the Love of the Game.

Sandra Oh (Virana)

In the role of Virana, the chief of the Fang Land, Sandra Oh voices a main character in Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, Oh starred in ABC's Grey's Anatomy and BBC America's Killing Eve and won Golden Globes for both. Likewise, she received Emmy nominations for each show, along with nominations for co-hosting The Golden Globes and hosting Saturday Night Live. Her other TV credits include Arliss, Judging Amy, American Crime, and voice roles in American Dad!, American Dragon: Jake Long, The Proud Family, Mulan II, Phineas and Ferb, and She-Ra and the Princesses of Power.

Away from TV, Sandra Oh appears in Sideways, Double Happiness, The Diary of Evelyn Lau, Big Fat Liar, Full Frontal, Bean, The Princess Diaries, Under the Tuscan Sun, Hard Candy, Rabbit Hole, The Red Violin, and Dancing at the Blue Iguana. Recently, Oh lent her voice to Under the Moon. Next, she will be heard in Invincible and seen in Umma.

Benedict Wong (Tong)

Playing the part of Tong, a formidable giant, Benedict Wong voices a large and looming supporting character in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, the actor is known for playing Wong in Doctor Strange, as well as Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. He also appeared in The Martian, Prometheus, Kick-Ass 2, Annihilation, Johnny English Reborn, Gemini Man, Moon, The Lady, Sunshine, Dirty Pretty Things, Shanghai, Spy Game, Hummingbird, and, most recently, The Personal History of David Copperfield. Additionally, Wong was recently heard in Disney+'s Lady and the Tramp.

On television, Benedict Wong played Kublai Khan in Netflix's Marco Polo. He was also seen in Deadly Class, Spirit Warriors, Law & Order: UK, Prey, Black Mirror, State of Play, and What We Do in the Shadows, as well as heard in Netflix's The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. Next, he'll appear in Nine Days and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which is now filming. Also, Wong will be heard in The Magician's Elephant.

Izaac Wang (Boun)

As Boun, a savvy entrepreneur and boat restaurant owner, Izaac Wang plays a notable supporting character in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, Wang is known for his supporting role in Good Boys. He was also recently seen in Think Like a Dog. On TV, the child actor appeared in Teachers. Next, Wang will be seen in Clifford the Big Red Dog and heard in HBO Max's Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai.

Thalia Tran (Little Noi)

In the role of Little Noi, a thieving toddler, Thalia Tran voices an adorable troublemaker in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, Tran starred in NBC's short-lived Council of Dads. She can also be seen in Little. Her other TV credits include Tiny Feminists, Hotel Du Loone, and Sydney to the Max.

Alan Tudyk (Tuk Tuk)

Playing the part of Tuk Tuk, a bug/armadillo/pug hybrid, Alan Tudyk voices an odd-but-loyal sidekick in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Tudyk is known for his role as Hoban "Wash" Washburne in Fox's short-lived Firefly and its film continuation, Serenity. Also, he appears in Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Wonder Boys, A Knight's Tale, Knocked Up, 3:10 to Yuma (2007), Trumbo, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, Deadpool 2, 42, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and Death at a Funeral (2007). Additionally, Tudyk wrote, directed, and starred in the web series, Con Man, for which he was Emmy-nominated. As a voice actor, he's heard in I, Robot, Wreck-It Ralph, Frozen and Frozen II, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Big Hero 6, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, Ice Age, Zootopia, Moana, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and Aladdin (2019).

On television, Alan Tudyk's other credits include Suburgatory, Newsreaders, Powerless, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, Dollhouse, and V. Currently, he can be seen in Doom Patrol and heard in Harley Quinn.

Lucille Soong (Dang Hu)

As Dang Hu, the leader of the land of Talon, Lucille Soon plays a sage supporting character in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. An actress with nearly 60 years of acting experience, Soong is best known for her main role in ABC's Fresh Off the Boat. She also played a recurring role in Desperate Housewives. Her other television credits include Dharma & Greg, The Troubleshooters, Bones, The King of Queens, Without a Trace, The United States of Tara, According to Jim, and The League, to only name a few credits. In film, meanwhile, Soong can be seen in The Joy Luck Club, Freaky Friday (2003), Nancy Drew, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Mission: Impossible III, Employee of the Month, The Corrupter, Genghis Khan, One More Time, Sky High, and Just Like Heaven.

Patti Harrison (Tail Chief)

In the role of Tail Chief, Patti Harrison voices a prominent supporting character in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, Harrison stars in Hulu's Shrill. She can also be seen in Search Party, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Special Without Brett Davis, where she also wrote, Broad City, High Maintenance, The Chris Gethard Show, History of Swear Words, and I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson. Additionally, Harrison can be heard in BoJack Horseman and Magical Girl Friendship Squad. Most recently, the comedienne co-starred in Amazon Prime's Yearly Departed.

Furthermore, Patti Harrison is seen in A Simple Favor. She also stars in Together Together, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Away from acting, Harrison wrote for Dispatches from Elsewhere and Big Mouth and co-hosts A Woman's Smile.

Ross Butler (Spine Chief)

Playing the part of Spine Chief, Ross Butler voices a notable supporting character in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Butler is known for his main role on Netflix's 13 Reasons Why. He can also be seen in Riverdale, Shazam!, Teen Beach 2, K.C. Undercover, Perfect High, The Internship, Teen Wolf, Chasing Life, and the music videos for Steve Aoki's "Waste It On Me" and Juice Wild's "Graduation." Additionally, Butler played supporting roles in To All the Boys I Loved: P.S. I Still Love You and this year's To All the Boys: Always and Forever. Next, he'll be heard in Netflix's Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas. He was also set to star in Quibi's Swimming with Sharks, though the show's status is unknown after the company folded last year.

Raya and the Last Dragon arrives in theaters and on Disney+ on March 5th.

It has been fascinating watching the larger universes such as Star Wars and Marvel figure out how to transition their worlds to serialized television without losing the grandiosity that made these stories theatrical draws in the first place. The Mandalorian broke significant ground in this field by crafting an original story that exists in the gap between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, giving opportunity for characters we know and love to stop by.

Another live-action Disney series that will begin to fill in more story cracks from the Star Wars universe is Andor, a program centered around Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor that will be set five years before we first met the character in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Andor was accompanied at that time by a faithful droid, K-2SO, voiced by Alan Tudyk. It has been reported that K-2SO will not be part of Andor, so while interviewing Tudyk for his new show Resident Alien, we asked him if he’d like to bring his opinionated droid back in ANY other Star Wars series, the way that popular characters are finding their way to The Mandalorian.

Alan Tudyk told us:

Naturally, an actor who got to be in a Star Wars movie would jump at the chance to be in more Star Wars. That’s less the story than it is that the KX-series security droids can and should play a larger role in future Star Wars stories. As Alan Tudyk notes, there might have been a serious malfunction in that brand of droid, and there are ways that storytellers can access their programming to make them compelling characters on screen. Think of the way that The Mandalorian used Taika Waititi’s IG-11 as both a bounty hunter and eventually, a reprogrammed defender over the course of two seasons. You can give a droid an arc, and it’s cool to see Alan Tudyk recognize and express that.

We have to wait until 2022 to see Andor on Disney+, as the series is busy filming right now in the UK. But you can see Alan Tudyk in his SyFy series Resident Alien right now. Be sure to tune in to this debut season and see where the comedy-sci-fi combination is going.

As the Star Wars universe has expanded exponentially in the past five years, it’s especially been a joy to meet other droids of all walks of life as they assist or disarm the various characters we’ve met in the franchise. Although Taika Waititi’s IG-11 may be giving him a run for his Imperial credits, Rogue One’s K-2SO is also a favorite, played by Firefly’s immensely talented Alan Tudyk. The actor and voice talent is one of the sassier droids in the galaxy and an absolute highlight of Gareth Edwards’ spinoff, which as actually proved to be a somewhat "tricky" experience for Tudyk.

Since Star Wars is so beloved to so many people, it’s not an easy task Disney has taken upon itself by building the series out beyond the Skywalkers. But Rogue One was an early indication that audiences welcome new adventures and characters to fill in the timeline gaps or create new ones. Alan Tudyk talked more about the making of the film with these words:

Star Wars films have grown more complicated these days with Disney’s hands more actively in the mix to keep the machine rolling and on the up-and-up with fans. Fans were initially worried about some behind-the-scenes reshoots for Rogue One that were completed following the film’s principal photography, done largely by Tony Gilroy instead of Gareth Edwards.

Tudyk told Collider the tricky part was when the trailers didn’t reflect scenes that were kept in the film, and he also talked about how important of a director Gareth Edwards was to the film and his character:

It sounds like a really incredible experience. What’s great about Alan Tudyk’s role is he did get to be on set and play off Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor and the rest of the cast, even though CGI chiefly brought the droid to life. The cast has likened working on that movie to what George Lucas would have done with a lot of palpable sets. Felicity Jones called the experience “visceral” and “naturalistic” while recently reflecting on it herself.

As of right now though, Alan Tudyk's K-2SO is not expected to be part of the upcoming television follow-up to Rogue One that will see Diego Luna reprise his role as Cassian Andor for Andor. That show is set to follow the character’s life before the events of the 2016 film. The Disney+ series is expected to begin streaming in 2022, alongside a ton more Star Wars reaching the platform in the near future.

Few shows define the term “cult TV favorite” as perfectly as creator Joss Whedon’s Firefly, which follows a group of outlaws traveling through the stars in a colonized solar system. The series is heralded today as one of the best sci-fi TV shows of all time – despite being cancelled in 2003 after airing 11 of its 14 produced episodes – for its unique incorporation of traditional Western elements into a space odyssey.

Luckily, fans would receive some closure in the form of the space movie favorite, Serenity – a feature-length continuation released in theaters in 2005. So, what has the Firefly cast been up to since then? Buckle up and read on to find out.

Nathan Fillion (Capt. Malcolm Reynolds)

To many, Firefly is still the best TV show starring Nathan Fillion – whose performance as Serenity’s no-nonsense captain, “Mal” Reynolds, made him a “Geek God.” He would maintain that reputation by voicing Green Lantern in many animated DC titles and stealing the show as morally corrupt superhero Captain Hammer in Joss Whedon’s musical web series, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, to name a few. 

He would expand his audience as the lead of popular crime series Castle, which ran for eight seasons, and The Rookie, which has its seventh season on the way, as well as memorable recurring roles on Netflix’s Santa Clarita Diet and Big Mouth (the latter of which he voices himself in). He is about to make his live-action debut as Green Lantern (the Guy Gardner version) in James Gunn’s Superman cast, which marks his latest of many collaborations with the filmmaker – including 2006’s horror-comedy movie favorite, Slither, and his two MCU roles in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies.

Gina Torres (Zoë Washburne)

Even before playing Serenity’s first mate, Zoë, Gina Torres was already living the cult sci-fi hero lifestyle. She had recurring appearances on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and a main role on the obscure, short-lived dystopian series, Cleopatra 2525, in addition to playing Cas in The Matrix franchise the same year Firefly was cancelled. 

Her career has since been blessed with an intriguing variety of projects – from voicing Wonder Woman in some animated DC ventures, to playing Jessica Pearson in USA’s Suits cast (and later leading her own spin-off in the role), and playing Arnold Weber’s wife, Lauren, on Westworld. Torres would return to network television with a main role on Fox’s 9-1-1: Lone Star, starred in a Netflix rom-com in 2023 called The Perfect Find, and her latest film, The Everything Pot, recently premiered at 2024’s Tribeca Film Festival.

Alan Tudyk (Hoban Washburne)

Another one of Firefly’s undisputed “Geek Gods” is Alan Tudyk, who broke through on the series as “Wash” – Serenity’s pilot and Zoë’s husband. This would lead to a wonderfully eclectic career of voice acting (including many Disney animated movies like the Frozen films), playing numerous DC characters in live-action and animation, and reuniting with almost all of his Firefly co-stars on Con Man – an Emmy-nominated satirical web series he also created.

The Resident Alien star is coming back as Hei Hei for 2024’s upcoming sequel, Moana 2 and is also lending his voice to the upcoming DC TV show, Creature Commandos, as Doctor Phosphorus. Also, based on Tony Gilroy’s comments to Collider, we might be able to expect to see him reprise his role from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, reprogrammed imperial droid K-2SO, in Andor Season 2 for Disney+.

Morena Baccarin (Inara Serra)

Another Firefly alum with extensive experience in things nerds love is Morena Baccarin, whose sex worker role, Inara, had a “will they, won’t they” dynamic with Mal. She would go on to play the love interest to more iconic heroes, such as Talia Al Ghul in several animated Batman movies and Wade Wilson’s beloved Vanessa, whom she is reprising in the MCU’s Deadpool & Wolverine. 

The Brazilian actor has also played her fair share of heroes and villains, such as the voice of Gideon (an A.I. character from The Flash) and her leading role in NBC’s The Endgame cast as expert thief Elena Fedorova. Baccarin has another upcoming 2024 movie called Elevation on its way, as well as Greenland: Migration – a sequel to her 2020 disaster movie hit.

Adam Baldwin (Jayne Cobb)

Before playing Serenity’s trigger-happy mercenary Jayne Cobb, Adam Baldwin was best known for classic ‘80s movies like Full Metal Jacket and ‘90s movie favorites like Independence Day. After Firefly, he found more regular roles on series like Chuck as CIA Agent John Casey and TNT’s The Last Ship, and lent his voice to many video games – including Injustice: Gods Among Us, for which he got to play Green Lantern.

Baldwin starred in the 2021 Kurt Warner biopic, American Underdog, as Coach Allen and has reunited with some of his Firefly co-stars on the likes of Castle and 9-1-1: Lone Star. He also recently starred in the 2024 war history drama, Love, Courage, and the Battle of Bushy Run. 

Jewel Staite (Kaylee Frye)

Before playing Serenity’s young mechanic, Kaylee Frye, Jewel Staite unwittingly found the perfect way to practice for Firefly’s interplanetary environment on Nickelodeon’s teen sci-fi adventure series Space Cases in the late 1990s. Sci-fi television would continue to be her bread and butter in most cases – having been cast in Stargate: Atlantis, guest starring on Legends of Tomorrow, and landing a recurring role on SyFy’s The Magicians in 2019. 

Staite, more recently, found a regular role on a more grounded type of series as a member of a dysfunctional family of lawyers on the Canadian drama, Family Law. She is also starring opposite Bryan Austin Green in an upcoming feature-length thriller called Chasing Midnight. 

Sean Maher (Dr. Simon Tam)

After playing Serenity’s resident doctor, Simon Tam, Sean Maher led a career path similar to his co-stars, in the sense that Firefly would remain one of his better known credits while finding more roles of a nerdy variety. For instance, he has voiced Dick Grayson (a.k.a., Nightwing) in multiple animated DC movies and starred in a couple episodes of Arrow as Shrapnel.

In 2011, Maher came out as gay (via CNN) after playing a closeted man on the short-lived series, The Playboy Club in 2011, reunited with Joss Whedon for the director’s modern retelling of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing the following year, and has also reunited with the likes of Fillion on The Rookie and Tudyk on Con Man. His most recent acting credit is a scripted Stranger Things podcast spin-off called Rebel Robin: Surviving Hawkins, from 2021.

Summer Glau (River Tam)

Being a lifelong ballet dancer helped Summer Glau earn her first job as a dancer on Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s acclaimed spin-off, Angel. She would be able to use those skills in a different way when Whedon cast her on Firefly as Simon’s intellectually gifted, but socially challenged sister, River. 

The fan-favorite role led her to play more ass-kicking characters – including a cyborg named Cameron on another short-lived, but much-loved TV show, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, a supervillain on Arrow, and a larper who must fight an actual demon in the 2013 fantasy comedy, Knights of Badassdom. Glau’s most recent acting credit is Netflix’s Wu Assassins from 2019, but as she insinuated in a video shared on YouTube by a paparazzi, the mother of two is putting most of her attention into family these days.

Ron Glass (Shepherd Derrial Book)

When Ron Glass got his first acting job as a guest on All In the Family in 1973, some of his Firefly co-stars had not even been born yet. Prior to playing Shepherd Derrial Book – whom you could call Serenity’s resident chaplain – the actor rose to prominence from 1975-1982 in his Emmy-nominated role on the funny, classic TV mystery series, Barney Miller. 

Most modern audiences not familiar with Firefly may recognize his voice as Susie Carmichael’s father in Rugrats and All Grown Up or God’s cousin, Rod, on ABC’s short-lived Teen Angel. His more recent notable roles include the 2010 remake of Death at a Funeral (the original of which starred Tudyk) and a reunion with Whedon on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in 2014, but sadly, Glass has since passed away in 2016, at the age of 71, due to respiratory failure.

There has actually been much talk of a Firefly revival off and on for years, which may not be the same without Shepherd or Washburne (both of whom died in Serenity). However, for fans who wish to see more than the 14 episodes available to stream with a Hulu subscription and Serenity, it would be a dream come true.

Alan Tudyk will forever be known as Wash from the short-lived, but much loved, TV series, Firefly. But since then, the actor and voice performer has become part of many other film universes. Most of his work in recent years has been as a voice actor and in that role he's made regular appearances for Walt Disney Animation Studios and he was even the voice of Iago in the recent live-action version of Aladdin.

However Alan Tudyk's most popular role of the last few years is probably another outer space based character, the droid K-2SO from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. For May the Fourth, the voice actor combined his two galactic roles into one great scene, where K-2SO reenacts what is probably Wash's most popular moment from Firefly. Check it out.

The scene us actually the introduction of Wash in the Firefly series. We see him in the pilot's chair of the Serenity playing with his toy dinosaurs. The dialogue in the clip is exactly what we hear Wash say, only this time, it's K-2SO, and instead of playing with dinosaurs, he's got Stormtrooper action figures. Because apparently, even within the Star Wars universe, merchandise is a thing. I suppose it's the equivalent of playing with green army men in real life?

It's a funnier scene, if only because K-2SO is not a character you'd expect to see playing with toys. Or at least, he'd make very sure nobody caught him doing it.

If you liked the clip, you can thank Industrial Light & Magic. In a tweet posted by ILM director Hal Hickel, we learn that animator Maureen Seng, who was also an animator on Rogue One itself, is the one who created the digital short.

I'm certainly not the first person to say it, but it's still remarkable just how popular Firefly is for a TV show that didn't last a complete season nearly two decades ago. Even if you're not directly familiar with this scene, odds are you know it by reputation. It's a moment that gets frequently quoted and meme'd. It's also surprising how it seems literally nobody has ever gotten over what happened to Wash in Serenity.

While we're not likely in store for more Firefly anytime soon, we are going to get more K-2SO. Alan Tudyk has been confirmed to return as the voice of the sardonic droid in the new Disney+ series that will follow Diego Luna's Cassian Andor in a period prior to the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Of course, the truth is that's about all we know about the show at this point, and with production on that series stalled out along with everything else, it might be some time before we learn any more.

At least one of Alan Tudyk's characters will return, despite having met an unfortunate fate in their previous big screen adventure.

Firefly fans, prepare for another cast reunion courtesy of The Rookie! Firefly may have lasted only a single season on Fox and scored just one follow-up movie, but its legacy has endured thanks to the enthusiasm of the cast (and fans). Nathan Fillion in particular has brought fellow Firefly alums to his various shows, and the first season of The Rookie managed to incorporate Sean Maher, who played Dr. Simon Tam on Firefly and in the Serenity movie. So, who of the original series is coming to The Rookie in Season 2? Is it one of those who already reunited with Fillion on Castle, or somebody else?

Nathan Fillion himself revealed the exciting news via an Instagram video, and it should come as no surprise to any Fillion fan to learn that he didn't exactly play it straight and simply welcome his former Firefly pal to set. Take a look:

Yes, that would be Alan Tudyk, who famously played Wash on Firefly and in the Serenity movie! He and Nathan Fillion have remained friends, as shown via pics that had fans hoping for more Firefly, and they collaborated on the Con Man web series. Tudyk is often a comic relief kind of character, although his Doom Patrol character wasn't barrels of laughs, and K-2SO from Rogue One didn't exactly come to a happy ending. So, who will Tudyk play on The Rookie, which isn't exactly a comedy itself?

Alan Tudyk will guest-star in an upcoming episode of The Rookie Season 2 as somebody who teaches Nathan Fillion's John Nolan a little something about law enforcement. TVLine reports that Tudyk's character is called Ellroy Basso, and he's a bioremediation specialist who "schools Nolan on the art of crime scene cleaning." The dynamic sounds like it could be pretty entertaining rather than dark, assuming Basso doesn't end up as part of a crime scene that needs cleaning!

How The Rookie Wrote Off Afton Williamson's Talia Bishop In Season 2 Premiere

The Rookie can use all the levity it can get at this point. The show had to write off Talia Bishop after actress Afton Williamson decided not to return for Season 2, claiming harassment and sexual assault while working on Season 1. She even identified the person who allegedly harassed her. ABC's initial response to the allegations were followed up by the results of the investigation, and The Rookie actors responded to those results.

While The Rookie showrunner (and former Castle showrunner) Alexi Hawley suggested that the big change presents "an opportunity" for the show, fans who are missing Talia may be happy to see what Alan Tudyk brings to the show as a nice distraction from the new status quo. The ratings for the Season 2 premiere didn't exactly kill; could Tudyk's presence bring a boost?

Only time will tell. The air date of the episode featuring Alan Tudyk hasn't been revealed yet, but you can catch new episodes of The Rookie airing Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC this fall.

There are a lot of classic elements of the animated Aladdin still present in the new remake – from the colorful antics of the genie, to all the songs that have been stuck in your head for the last 27 years – but one aspect that is changed quite a bit is the presence of Iago. The parrot is still the right hand of the power-hungry Jafar, and regularly feeds him information that drives the plot forward, but as a character he is very different than what fans are familiar with. Rather than being an abrasive animal sidekick brought to life with the voice of Gilbert Gottfried, he’s instead, well… a parrot.

It’s an interesting choice that the film makes, particularly because there are still many other magical elements in play, but there is a good reason why it was done. According to director Guy Ritchie, a more anthropomorphic version of Iago in the new Aladdin simply didn’t fit as the story was brought from animation to live-action, and just didn’t feel right within the presentation.

I brought up the character when I recently sat down with Guy Ritchie at the Los Angeles press day for Aladdin, asking how those kinds of decisions were made, and he explained,

Going for a more appropriate adaptation of the character, Aladdin has the new Iago act much more like a scarlet macaw that you would find in real life, albeit with a slightly enhanced ability to speak (he has the occasional line, but nothing on the level of what we hear in the 1992 movie). Physically he’s entirely a digital creation, and the voice is done by Alan Tudyk – who has become a Disney regular in recent years, with parts in Wreck-It Ralph, Frozen, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, Moana, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and Ralph Breaks The Internet.

Unlike the human characters, which were easy to adapt from medium to medium, Aladdin’s animals presented a particular puzzle for the filmmakers, but it was a code they eventually cracked. It was all about finding what Guy Ritchie referred to as the “sweet spot” where things didn’t seem out of place or two extreme. Said the director,

You can watch Guy Ritchie discuss his approach to bringing Iago to life in the new Aladdin by clicking play on the video below!

In addition to Alan Tudyk, Guy Ritchie’s Aladdin sports an impressive ensemble cast that includes Will Smith, Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, Marwan Kenzari, Navid Negahban, Nasim Pedrad, Billy Magnussen, and Numan Acar. The movie will be hitting theaters this weekend, and be sure to stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more from my interviews with the cast and filmmakers!

Thanks to his fourth wall-breaking antics and his encyclopedia knowledge of pop culture (both in the X-Men universe and outside of it), Deadpool is a perfect terrain for cameos, if you think about it. The character knows no reverence and he likes to keep people on their toes, particularly through his fast-moving mouth. In that spirit, when it came time to make Deadpool 2, the original film's staggering popularity paved the way for a smörgåsbord of surprise guest appearances, including a few you might've missed!

Therefore, we wanted to take this opportunity to break down all the surprise cameos that were found in 2018's superhero sequel. Because even upon first or second viewing, there's a possibility that you missed a few of the film's biggest and most shocking cameos in Deadpool 2. With that, we want to let you in on the scoop. And be sure to let us know if there are any we missed. Also, it should be a given, but some of these cameos require a spoiler or two. Just a heads-up if you haven't seen the movie.

Matt Damon As "Redneck #2"

There's a very good chance that you missed Matt Damon's cameo in Deadpool 2. The actor is genuinely unrecognizable in the superhero sequel, adopting very heavy make-up, including a prosthetic nose, a fake beard and a body suit with an extended beer gut to disguise his normally-ripped physique. Damon was also not officially officially credited either, adopting the one-time pseudonym of "Dickie Greenleaf" in the credits (a reference to Damon's 1999 film, The Talented Mr. Ripley). Nevertheless, the role of "Redneck #2" was played by none other than Matt Damon himself.

While his voice might've been a giveaway for some people, there are many folks who had no clue Matt Damon was in the film. In fact, there is a good chance that some of you didn't know until you read this article. There's no judgment here; until I started writing this article, I didn't even know myself! In any case, if you skip to the 32-minute mark exactly, you will see Matt Damon in a field, throwing back beers and talking rather extensively about toilet paper with his friend before a time-traveling Cable (Josh Brolin) walks up to their car, electrocutes them and drives away with their truck.

Brad Pitt As "Vanisher"

It's a blink-and-you-miss it cameo, but at the same time, there's a good chance that Brad Pitt's surprise three-second appearance in Deadpool 2 was the biggest cameo you caught in the movie. Throughout the film, the running gag with the invisible, silent character of Vanisher is that it's unclear if he actually exists or if he's just a bunch of empty space. But when the X-Force find themselves killed in increasingly graphic ways due to Deadpool's miscalculations with the wind, there is a brief moment where Vanisher's parachute is caught in the wind, causing him to be electrocuted, then burst into flames.

In that moment, which occurs 73 minutes into the film, we finally get a visible glance at Vanisher. And it's revealed to be none other than Brad Pitt. Because the cameo is so fast, there might be reason to believe that it's just a CG-ed version of the actor, but it appears that it was actually Brad Pitt. Somehow, the filmmakers found time in the A-lister's very busy schedule for the actor to make quick (but very memorable) appearance in the film.

James McAvoy As "Charles Xavier"

One of the best recurring jokes in the original Deadpool movie is the often-commented absence of actual X-Men in this X-Men property. There are only two other characters from the series who made appearances in that film, and Deadpool is often disgruntled by their non-appearances in his film. Sure enough, when it came time for the much-anticipated sequel, which was accompanied with a bigger budget and a higher profile release, there was the strong likelihood of at least a few well-known X-Men making an appearance. But their cameos needed to fit the style of the film, and the filmmakers wanted to honor the winking satire that is crucial to the film's irreverent success.

So, yes, Charles Xavier does make an appearance in Deadpool 2. However, Deadpool himself never gets to meet the character. 29 minutes into the sequel, while the title character is babbling on about the lack of X-Men found in the house, it's revealed that Charles Xavier and several other X-Men are indeed there, but they're intentionally avoiding contact with the foul-mouthed merchant. It's a single shot and another sequence where if you turn your head at the wrong time, you'll miss it entirely. But for the fans who were paying close attention, you got your chance to see several high-profile X-Men, even if Deadpool himself missed his chance to get acquainted.

Nicolas Hoult As "Beast"

Similar to James McAvoy's Professor X, Nicholas Hoult's Beast was also in the X-Men residence as Deadpool was ranting about the dearth of X-Men to be found in his movies. He was the one who was the closest to the sliding door and the one who heard Deadpool coming their way, as the Merc with a Mouth made his long-winded spiel about his movies making more money than the person who invented pants.

The blue mutant ultimately wasted no time trying to discreetly close the doors in the hopes that Deadpool wouldn't discover their appearance. And it seems like he did it successfully, as Deadpool was none the wiser about them being right beside him. Since he's in the center frame, there's a good chance you saw Beast. Nevertheless, it was a surprise — and welcome — cameo, even if Deadpool himself didn't know about it.

Evan Peters As "Quicksilver"

In addition to Beast and Professor X, Deadpool also missed his opportunity to meet Quicksilver. The scene-stealer was in the room with several other X-Men during the aforementioned cameo-filled sequence, and ironically he wasn't quick to close the door when Deadpool was threatening to find more X-Men in the residence. Nevertheless, while the cameo went by in a flash, Evan Peters was there. And gone.

Tye Sheridan As "Cyclops"

Tye Sheridan's Cyclops hasn't been seen much in the X-Men universe. Beyond his appearance in X-Men: Apocalypse, his character has otherwise been played by James Marsden in the first three movies. But we'll get a better chance at seeing Sheridan's take on the character when he appears in this summer's long-delayed Dark Phoenix. And in the meantime, he got a chance to play the role (in very brief fashion) during this cameo with his fellow X-Men in hiding.

Alexandra Shipp As "Storm"

Similar to Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp has played her variation of Storm for only a brief window of time. But we'll see her take on a bigger role in this summer's X-Men: Dark Phoenix. And she made a cameo in Deadpool 2, smirking in the corner as Deadpool was trying to find his fellow X-Men.

Kodi-Smit McPhee As "Nightcrawler"

Much like his other two X-Men: Apocalypse co-stars, Kodi-Smit McPhee is still fairly newly acquainted to the X-Men universe. But he was among the X-Men seen (in hiding) during this memorable sequence in Deadpool 2.

Alan Tudyk as "Luke, i.e. Redneck #1"

Also in this scene, if a little more recognizable than his co-star Matt Damon, is Alan Tudyk. The actor is given less of a disguise (basically just a bandana) and he doesn't have as many lines as his scene partner. But he does get a name: Luke, though the shortly-seen character is also referred to as "Redneck #1." Considering that their on-screen conversation is filled with extensive potty humor, those numerals are probably intentional.

Luke, i.e. "Redneck #1," doesn't get as much to do in this cameo as his famous co-star. And considering that Alan Tudyk isn't as much of a household name as Matt Damon, that might not be surprising. Nevertheless, the cameo is certainly a fun one, and definitely an unexpected one, for fans of the veteran character actor and prominent voice actor.

Ryan Reynolds as "Juggernaut"

This one might not technically qualify as a cameo, since Juggeranut plays a prominent role in the third act. But there's a good chance that people do not know that in addition to his role as Wade Wilson/Deadpool, Reynolds also provided his voice to the role of Juggernaut. Making his first official appearance around 82 minutes into the film, Juggeranut becomes the final foe for which Deadpool must defeat. And it's hard for him to do so, not only due to his massive size and figure, but because Deadpool is constantly geeking out at the sight of such a titan in the comics.

While Juggernaut is typically a man of few words, he does speak from time to time throughout Deadpool 2, and when he does speak, his voice is lent by Ryan Reynolds in the surprise turn. Juggernaut was previously introductied into the X-Men movies in X-Men: The Last Stand. Much like Deadpool himself, he was given a second chance with Deadpool 2. So it's perhaps only fitting that Reynolds provided his voice to the oversized part as well.

Whew. There are all the big name cameos we caught in Deadpool 2. However, if you caught any other discreetly hidden cameos, feel free to let us know what is missing from our ranking in the comment section. And we'll be sure to keep you posted on all the latest movie news — X-Men related and otherwise — right here at CinemaBlend.

Just after we were granted the first full length trailer for Disney’s live-action Aladdin, here’s another long overdue detail – it looks like Doom Patrol star Alan Tudyk will be playing the hilarious parrot on Jafar’s shoulder, Iago. The actor has voiced characters apt with offering comedic relief in many recent Disney movies, such as Heihei in Moana and K-2SO the droid in Rogue One.

Alan Tudyk was also King Candy in Wreck-It Ralph, Knowsmore in Ralph Breaks the Internet, the Duke of Weselton in Frozen and Duke Weaselton in Zootopia. That must be some sort of Disney record?! Insert the line “I think I’m gonna have a heart attack and die from not surprise!” from the original Iago on this casting news from The Hollywood Reporter.

The latest addition to Aladdin’s cast is an exciting one. The actor has been used again and again by Disney for a reason, as he’s an expert character voice actor and will undoubtedly bring some new memorable moments to the live-action movie, just as he has to his other Disney supporting characters.

Tudyk will follow Gilbert Gottfried, who voiced the role in the 1992 animated film, which is still among the comedian’s most iconic roles to date. While there has been some brief sightings of Iago’s presence in a few sneak peaks for the live-action Aladdin, we have yet to hear the parrot talk, and Alan Tudyk being on board is evidence the character will.

Disney might have decided to muzzle up the character for a more realistic take on the world surrounding the animated Aladdin, but following the latest look of the upcoming release, it looks to be heavily recreating the beloved ‘90s flick. What would a remake like this be without the sassy back and forth between Iago and Jafar?

Jafar in this Aladdin will be played by Marwan Kenzari, alongside Will Smith’s Genie, Mena Massoud’s Aladdin, Naomi Scott’s Jasmine, Navid Negahban’s Sultan and Nasim Pedrad in a new role as Jasmine’s handmaid/friend. The movie will be a musical as the classic was and feature two new songs from La La Land and Greatest Showman songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.

Before the latest look at Aladdin, a previous teaser trailer went viral when a disturbing look at the blue genie went viral last month. Disney’s full length trailer shows a much more finished look at Will Smith’s Genie that may ease fans, along with showing a closer look at the movie’s song and dance numbers as well.

Alan Tudyk’s casting perhaps shows the film is using one of its tried and true animated voices to give the film a feel closer to the original, though we have yet to see the actor’s take on the character. Aladdin comes to theaters on May 24, following another Disney live-action take on Dumbo coming on March 29.

I think we can all agree that The Joker is one of the greatest villains in the history of fiction, and that he's welcome on TV as often as possible. Beyond Gotham's current "Is he?/Isn't he?" debate, the Clown Prince of Crime is next set to show up on DC Universe's upcoming Harley Quinn series, with Alan Tudyk providing the villain's voicework opposite Kaley Cuoco. The esteemed actor has revealed his animated Joker will get to drop some F-bombs on the new show. In his words:

Just about every mass-marketed Batman project that has been released outside of the comic books has been marketed to consumers of all ages, especially the live-action and animated movies and series. Sure, Heath Ledger and Jack Nicholson's Jokers were scary as bawls at times, but PG-13 doesn't hinder sheer menace in the way that it hinders certain four-letter words from being used ad nauseam.

Not that telling someone to fuck off is the epitome of criminal mastery, but it'll be kind of fun and refreshing to see this iconic villain dishing out dialogue that is more suitable for real-world lowlifes. If fans freaked out over hearing Titans' Dick Grayson say, "Fuck Batman," then some might want to plug their ears before The Joker starts flapping his painted jaws. He might have a few unique additions to throw in there.

For all the fans of Batman: The Animated Series out there, how bizarrely wonderful would it have been for Mark Hamill's Joker to tell Kevin Conroy's Batman to take a flying fuck at the moon? Granted, Hamill has voiced The Joker in animated projects that skewed more mature than B:TAS, but it's all about the context.

Speaking of Mark Hamill, Alan Tudyk told ComicBook.com that he distinctly kept himself distanced from the longtime Joker voice actor's various performances. In his words:

That's usually a smart move, and one that actors tend to employ often when it comes to portraying internationally renowned characters like this. Most people probably wouldn't be able to dream of recreating Mark Hamill's Joker, but Alan Tudyk definitely has the talent to pull it off if that's what he wanted to go for. Wisely, though, he chose to bring only his own spin to the role.

In fact, Tudyk got an amusing warning of sorts from fellow Harley Quinn actor and Veep vet Tony Hale, who played the Joker in the English version of the animated feature Batman Ninja. As Hale put it, fans weren't the nicest to him, telling him that he sucked because he wasn't Mark Hamill. (Some might just say Hale's performance was meh in general, but it's arguable.)

We still have a while to go before Harley Quinn arrives on DC Universe, but we'll hopefully get to see and hear from Alan Tudyk's foul-mouthed Joker via full-length trailer soon. The animated series is supposed to hit the streaming service in the fall of 2019.

While waiting to hear more, don't forget that the Titans spinoff Doom Patrol will be hitting DC Universe on Friday, February 15, at 12:01 a.m. PT. Head to our midseason premiere schedule to see when all the other new and returning shows are coming to primetime.

More comic book characters than ever are coming to the small screen courtesy of new streaming service DC Universe, and Alan Tudyk will play more than one of them. The Firefly and Rogue One alum will bring the Joker to life in the upcoming Harley Quinn animated series on DC Universe. Diedrich Bader, who is voicing Batman for the series, dropped the news, saying this:

The news that Alan Tudyk would be part of Harley Quinn was actually confirmed weeks ago with the announcement that Kaley Cuoco of Big Bang Theory fame would voice Harley herself, but there were no details about who exactly he would be voicing. He has voiced characters like Green Arrow and Leonard Snart on animated DC projects in the past, so it was possible he would reprise one of his past roles. Diedrich Bader is reprising a role himself, having voiced Batman on The Brave and the Bold.

Instead, Alan Tudyk will voice the Clown Prince of Crime. Diedrich Bader revealed Tudyk's role during a chat with The Mutuals Interviews, and it should get DC fans even more excited than ever for Harley Quinn. The series will obviously focus on Harley, and the first look at the new series didn't feature the Joker at all. In fact, the premise of the series is that Harley and the Joker broke up, and she decided to become the "criminal Queenpin of Gotham City."

The end of Harley's relationship with Joker could have meant Joker doesn't appear on the show. Gotham City is full of other villains who could turn up, and it seems that Poison Ivy will be Harley right-hand woman. There may have been no room for the Joker. Instead, Harley Quinn will indeed feature the Joker, which could mean relationship drama for the leading lady.

Given that Diedrich Bader did a recording session with Alan Tudyk, it's probably safe to say that Batman and the Joker will have scenes together in Harley Quinn. The new show is poised to be irreverent in just about every way, so it's possible we'll get a Joker/Batman dynamic unlike any before, especially since neither is actually the star of the series. Who knew we'd someday get a Harley Quinn show with Batman and the Joker as supporting players?

Harley Quinn marks the second DC Universe series that will feature Alan Tudyk. He also boarded Doom Patrol to play a villain by the name of Mr. Nobody, who lost his former identity after experimentation by ex-Nazis in Paraguay. At this point, I'm curious to learn if Tudyk will reprise one of the roles he voiced during the original run of Young Justice for the DC Universe revival.

On Young Justice, Alan Tudyk voiced Green Arrow, Psimon, and Leonard Snart. Young Justice or not, DC Universe is poised to be a better fit for Tudyk on DC projects than NBC was.

Only time will tell. As of now, Titans is the only DC Universe original series that has premiered so far. No release date has been released for Harley Quinn yet, but there are plenty of DC superhero options on the small screen thanks to the Arrow-verse on The CW.

DC Comics' upcoming streaming service is stacking the superhero decks for its original series, including Doom Patrol. Unlike Titans, Doom Patrol has not yet received a premiere date, but there are still plenty of reasons to get excited. In case you need one more, then you should be happy to learn that Alan Tudyk of Firefly and Rogue One fame has signed on to play the series villain, Mr. Nobody.

In case you're not familiar with Mr. Nobody, don't worry. He's not exactly Lex Luthor or The Joker or one of DC Comics' other most impactful bad guys. That said, he could be the ideal villain to motivate any reluctant heroes in Doom Patrol to fight the good fight. In Doom Patrol, Mr. Nobody was originally known as a man named Eric Morden, but he lost the man he was before after experimentation by ex-Nazis in Paraguay after a war. The experiments are unknown, so it would make sense if nobody was able to find a cure to restore him to his previous state.

Eric Morden becomes Mr. Nobody, who Deadline describes as "a living shadow" capable of draining the sanity of the people around him. Given that he's totally insane himself, Mr. Nobody could be a very formidable foe. If the good guys can't get too close without risking their own sanity and they're dealing with a madman, they may not be able to predict what he plans to do. Since Doom Patrol will be one of DC Universe's live-action shows rather than animated like Young Justice: Outsiders, we can probably expect Alan Tudyk won't particularly resemble the comic version of Mr. Nobody unless significant special effects are in play. Take a look at the Mr. Nobody of DC Comics:

If Doom Patrol does choose to present Alan Tudyk's Mr. Nobody as physically similar to the comics version, he may find himself back in a specially-designed suit, much as he was for his role in Rogue One. If that's the case, we can only hope that he doesn't suffer any burns like he did on the set of the first Star Wars anthology movie!

Interestingly, Doom Patrol is the second DC Comics-based series Alan Tudyk joined in the last couple of years. He had a major role in the enjoyable but short-lived NBC comedy Powerless. Perhaps Doom Patrol will be more of a hit with viewers. Ratings likely won't matter on DC Universe the same way they did on NBC, and Doom Patrol will have ties to at least Titans. Considering Titans is being presented as DC Universe's flagship original series, any connections to that project will undoubtedly be helpful.

Alan Tudyk joins a Doom Patrol cast comprised of Brendan Fraser as Robotman, Joivan Wade as Cyborg, April Bowlby as Elasti-Woman, and Diane Guerrero as Crazy Jane. The heroes are called into action by Cyborg, who is a new kind of hero suited for the new digital age. Rejected by society due to their powers, they'll band together to venture into some of the most bizarre aspects of the DC world and clearly battle some oddball bad guys.

DC Universe will launch way sooner than we expected, although no date for a Doom Patrol premiere has been revealed at this point. For some superhero viewing options in the not-too-distant future, check out our fall TV guide.

Traditionally, Disney is fairly gunshy when it comes to theatrically released animated sequels. In fact, Disney Animation Studios has only ever produced one direct sequel to a theatrical release, The Rescuers Down Under, back in 1990. However, the sequels begin to increase in 2018 when Wreck-It Ralph sees a sequel of its own, Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-it Ralph 2.

The first movie brought us into a world that exists inside our favorite video games. The sequel, as the name implies, will expand on that theme and take on the entire internet. With a scope that large, nearly anything can happen, and, based on what we know, quite a lot of it will. Here's everything we know about the sequel to Wreck-It Ralph.

What Is The Wreck-It Ralph 2 Release Date?

There are several "big weekends" on the release calendar, and Disney is frequently associated with all of them. However, there may be no weekend more synonymous with Disney than Thanksgiving weekend. Movies like Frozen, Moana, and Coco have all been released the day before Thanksgiving, and Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 will be Disney's 2018 representative for the holiday weekend when it gets released on November 21, 2018. Originally, Ralph 2 was going to be released in the spring of 2018. However, likely due to the issues Disney was having producing Gigantic, Ralph was pushed to November. The film will have some competition for that release, as it opens the same day as Creed 2. It also opens the week after Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

What Is Wreck-It Ralph 2 Rated?

It's a bit early to know exactly what the release date for Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 will be. However, the first movie received a PG rating and so it's a safe bet the sequel will fall in line with that. This is Disney that we're talking about, so really a G rating is the only other viable option. At this point, PG is becoming the standard for Disney animation and while the first film likely could have gotten away with a G rating, we expect the tone of the sequel to be on par with its predecessor.

What Have We Seen From Wreck-It Ralph 2?

Lucky for us, after years of waiting to see something from Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2, a trailer was finally released at the end of February 2018. In it, we see that Mr. Litwak, the arcade owner, has installed a Wi-Fi router in his business, which is plugged into the same power strip as the games, making it possible for Ralph and Venellope to go from the game world to the internet. While we still don't get much of the larger story in this two-minute trailer, it's easy to see that this sequel will be a lot of fun.

What Is Wreck-It Ralph 2 About?

The first details about the actual plot of Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 came out last summer during Disney's D23 Expo. While we already had an idea where the movie would take place due to the title, we have a bit of information as to why. Apparently, the copy of Sugar Rush inside the arcade from the first movie is in need of a replacement part. This leads Ralph and Vanellope to make use of a router that has been installed in the arcade to jump from the arcade onto the internet in order to go looking for it. This will take the pair to, we assume, a number of different worlds, similar to the way that each game in the arcade was unique in the first film.

Exactly how a couple of digital characters are going to pick up a physical replacement part from the actual internet is unclear. Maybe they need to make nice with an Amazon buy box or digitally alter the results of an eBay auction in order to make sure the arcade wins. Either way, we saw how scary going "Out of Order" was for the people inside Fix-It Felix Jr in the first movie, and clearly that possibility happening for Sugar Rush will make this adventure an equally serious one.

The Writers

The story of Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 comes to us from three Disney veterans who have a strong history behind them. The Head of Story is Jim Reardon, who previously was part of the story team for both Zootopia and the original Wreck-It Ralph. Then we have Pamela Ribon who previously assisted with the story for Disney's Moana. Before that, she had worked on television comedies like Mind of Mencia and Samantha Who? Finally, the third member of the story team for Ralph 2 is Phil Johnston, who co-wrote the screenplay for both Zootopia and the first Wreck-It Ralph. He's also got another big job on this movie, which takes us to our next section.

The Directors

The first Wreck-It Ralph was a solo directorial effort from Rich Moore, who also co-directed Zootopia. He'll be back in the director's chair for Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2, but this time he'll share directorial responsibilities with Phil Johnston. This is Johnston's debut as a feature film director, but considering how intimately he's been involved with this franchise, it certainly feels like he's picked the right film to start with.

Wreck-It Ralph

Long before Wreck-It Ralph 2 was official, we knew that it was coming, mostly because voice actor John C. Reilly likes to talk. The original Wreck-It Ralph was all about a character who had been designed to be a particular way, in this case, a video game villain, who tried to step outside his role and find more in his existence. His quest took him outside of his Donkey Kong-esque 8-bit video game and into other games, including modern first-person shooters and kart racers. Ralph succeeded in finding more, but also made peace with his role as the bad guy. One assumes that we'll find Ralph in a similar state as Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 begins. The shift away from video games and into the internet will probably be the biggest shift for him. We certainly got the impression in the first movie that the characters were very much a product of their era, and so Ralph, from a game over 30 years old, likely won't know where to start when navigating the web. We've been promised that the friendship between Ralph and Vanellope will be tested in the sequel, though we're not exactly sure what that means.

Vanellope Von Schweetz

Most of Wreck-It Ralph took place in the game of Sugar Rush, the candy go-kart game and home of Vanellope Von Schweetz, voiced by Sarah Silverman. At the end of the first film, we learned that Vanellope was actually the princess of the land, though her time as an apparent glitch made her feel more comfortable in a hoodie than a frilly dress. Sugar Rush will be key to the sequel as well, as Vanellope and Ralph's journey into the internet is undertaken in an attempt to find a part that will fix the Sugar Rush arcade cabinet. This could indicate a slight shift in the character dynamic. Even though the film's title is all about Ralph, he may take a more secondary role in Vanellope's quest to fix her game.

Fix-It Felix Jr.

Fix-It Felix Jr. was the name of the video game that Ralph came from, and Felix was an important supporting character in the first film. While Jack McBrayer was apparently the last person to know that Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 was coming, it has been confirmed that he'll be back to reprise his role as the guy who fixes everything. It's unclear how big a role Felix will have, but as the character was married at the end of the first movie, there are a lot of opportunities to do some new things with him.

Calhoun

Fix-It Felix Jr's bride at the end of the first movie was the tough-as-nails Calhoun, voiced by Jane Lynch. The actress has confirmed that she will be back for the sequel, and we would expect her part to be on par with that of Felix as far as its size an importance, but that's pure speculation. Calhoun's modern military video game character represented the current generation of more mature games, which are very popular among actual online communities, so, perhaps, she'll be in a better position to navigate the world of the internet than the others.

Mr. Litwak

One character from the first film who has seemingly not been confirmed for the sequel is Mr. Litwak, the owner of the arcade where Ralph and the gang all reside. He was voiced by the hilarious Ed O'Neil and while he wasn't a major character in the first film, with the plot of the game revolving around the Sugar Rush arcade cabinet, there's a good chance that the owner will make another supporting appearance as he did before.

Other Returning Characters

There was a nearly endless number of small supporting characters in Wreck-It Ralph in the form of the Nicelanders of Fix-it Felix Jr. and the additional racers in Sugar Rush. Since this adventure will take our leads out of the arcade, we wouldn't expect any of them to have roles even as large as what they had before. Still, expect the likes of Mindy Kaling and others to appear briefly, if only to keep the worlds feeling lived in and to help give us an idea of what has happened in the intervening years.

Yesss

So far, only one brand new character has been introduced for Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck it Ralph 2. During the D23 Expo last summer, attendees were treated to footage of the character known as Yesss who is voiced by Taraji P. Henson. She plays a digital algorithm for a website known as Buzzaholic, the apparent stand-in for BuzzFeed in this universe. She will be the film's tour guide of sorts as the character who introduces the internet world to our characters and helps them navigate it. No images have been released publicly of Yesss, but she's described as a character with blue hair that dresses fairly hip and has clothes made from fiber optics.

New Voices

Two voice actors have been attached to the movie to play brand new characters that we don't know much about. Ugly Betty's Ana Ortiz was the first name announced for what is being called a "small role," but beyond that, we don't know much. Late night TV host James Corden, who seems to be doing voice acting in everything these days, is also apparently involved in Wreck-it Ralph 2. His casting was revealed by Jane Lynch, so it's possible his role will be involved with whatever Calhoun is up to in the new movie.

Alan Tudyk

There are only about two things you can be sure of when it comes to a Disney Animation Studios movie these days. First, it will open with a shot of a castle, and two, you'll hear the voice of Alan Tudyk at some point. He's been in every animated Disney movie for the last several years, including voicing the major role of King Candy in the first Wreck-It Ralph. Tudyk has confirmed he'll be back for the sequel, though in a different role. It could be another major role like it was last time, though in Moana he voiced a sidekick chicken, so, really, anything is possible.

Disney References

Disney has become a massive entity in recent years and Wreck-it Ralph 2 will actually make reference to this fact with a major scene that they showed off at the D23 Expo last year. The characters will actually go to one of Disney's real homes on the internet, OhMyDisney.com, where they will see elements of Star Wars and Marvel as well as Disney animation. In fact, Ralph and Vanellope will meet all of the classic Disney princesses in one place, in a moment that will be a major joy for all the Disney fanatics out there. All of the original voice actors who are still with us will reprise their roles. With everybody from Snow White to Anna and Elsa making an appearance. Whether this will actually be a scene that is important in the grand scheme of the story or just one for fun is unclear, but it will be a major event either way.

Not many shows gain more popularity in the years after their cancellation, but the short-lived Firefly is an exception to the rule. It lasted only a single season on Fox before it got the axe due to low ratings, but the fanbase refused to give up on the series. A movie and even comic series were produced after the initial cancellation, and fans still hold out hope for a revival. Well, we haven't gotten a revival, but stars Alan Tudyk and Nathan Fillion have worked together on another project. Con Man tells the story of an actor (Tudyk) whose claim to fame is a short-lived sci-fi show, while his co-star (Fillion) went on to establish a successful movie star career. Tudyk revealed how Con Man was a blast from the past, saying this:

In Firefly, Nathan Fillion starred as Mal Reynolds, who was captain of the spaceship Serentiy. Alan Tudyk played Wash, who functioned as the pilot of the ship. Mal and Wash had a fun dynamic -- although there was tension from time to time -- that made for some great scenes in the series. Tudyk's comments to Gold Derby indicate that playing captain and pilot once again for Con Man was a seriously good time, and it's exactly the kind of thing that fans love. If we're not going to get the actors back together for another movie or batch of episodes, Con Man does the trick.

Of course, even if there is someday a Firefly revival, we won't get Mal and Wash back together without either ignoring the events of the Serenity movie or setting it chronologically before Serenity went down. It's not out of the realm of possibility if the stars somehow align, as there is precedent for projects using do-overs and timeline shenanigans for revivals. The upcoming Roseanne and Will and Grace revivals will both pretend the series finales never happened, and the Wet Hot American Summer on Netflix just went ahead and used the original cast (now mostly middle-aged) for a prequel series. Fans are often willing to fudge the details if it means recapturing magic, and I'd say that Firefly devotees would be on board for just about anything that brought the cast back together.

We'll have to wait and see if a revival ever happens. In the meantime, we can only hope that Con Man has a long future ahead of it. Alan Tudyk just scored an Emmy nomination for the series, so the critical acclaim is clearly present. Who knows? Maybe he'll be able to reunite more members of the Firefly team in the next batch of episodes. Only time will tell. For what you can watch in the not-too-distant future, take a look at our fall TV premiere schedule. If you're in the mood for a Firefly rewatch, you'll have to look elsewhere than Netflix. Hulu has the whole series streaming, so you can check it out there.

Disney has been digging deep into its content catalog for animated classics to be given the live action treatment. Winnie the Pooh is among the ever-growing bunch, only rather than re-tell the story of the young Christopher Robin spending time with the denizens of the 100 Acre Wood, the Christopher Robin movie will follow a grown-up Christopher, played by Ewan McGregor. Until today, the only other actor who'd been announced to co-star alongside McGregor was Agent Carter's Hayley Atwell, but now we know who's been chosen or being looked at to voice Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore and Tigger in the new movie.

It was reported today that Jim Cummings, who has been voicing Winnie the Pooh for nearly 30 years, will retain his duties performing the honey-obsessed bear for the Christopher Robin movie. As for Eeyore and Tigger, Disney selected Everybody Loves Raymond's Brad Garrett to take over over as the depressed donkey, while Firefly's Alan Tudyk is interested in stepping in to voice the energetic feline. That Hashtag Show also revealed that Sherlock star Mark Gatiss has been brought aboard to play Keith, Christopher's boss, and Bronte Carmichael will play Madeline, Christopher's daughter.

Jim Cummings took over as Winnie the Pooh in 1988 when Hal Smith retired from the role, but the yellow bear is just one of numerous characters Cummings has breathed life into over his voice acting career. His other notable roles include Tigger, the Tasmanian Devil, Darkwing Duck, Pete from the Mickey Mouse cartoons, Hondo Ohnaka on Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, and Dr. Robotnik in the 1990s Sonic the Hedgehog animated series.

Outside of his live action work on Everybody Loves Raymond, 'Til Death and more, Brad Garrett has also developed quite the voice acting resume thanks to his especially deep voice. You might remember him as Dim in A Bug's Life, Fatso in Casper, Bloat in Finding Nemo, Lobo in Superman: The Animated Series, the Easter Island Head in the Night at the Museum movies and Krang in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.

Alan Tudyk was most recently seen playing Van Wayne in the short-lived Powerless series, but he's been an especially important contributor for Disney in recent years, playing King Candy in Wreck-It Ralph, the Duke of Weselton in Frozen, Allistair Krei in Big Hero 6, Duke Weaselton in Zootopia, Hei Hei in Moana and, if we count the Star Wars brand, K-2SO in Rogue One.

In addition to the casting news, some new story details regarding the Christopher Robin movie were revealed. Similar to Peter Pan in 1991's Hook, Christopher has lost his sense of imagination due to the responsibilities of adulthood, with his boss pushing him to prioritize work over family. After Christopher's wife, Evelyn, and their daughter, Madeline, move away, that's when Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger and the other 100 Acre Wood citizens find their way back into his life.

Christopher Robin doesn't have a release date set yet, so check back with CinemaBlend for that information and more updates as they come in.

Back in early 2014, fans of writer/director Eli Craig's growing cult horror comedy Tucker and Dale vs. Evil had the opportunity to celebrate, as it was officially announced that a sequel was in the works. Sadly, however, there hasn't been any news on the project since -- and it turns out there's a good reason why: according to stars Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine, there was a script that was put into development, but apparently it just wasn't any good. Speaking at San Diego Comic-Con last week, the actors revealed,

Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine are both set to appear in the upcoming second season of the BBC America series Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, and while participating together in roundtable interviews at San Diego Comic-Con they provided an update about Tucker and Dale vs. Evil 2. At the very start of the conversation the duo was asked about the horror comedy sequel, and they bluntly explained that the project hasn't moved forward because the screenplay being written wasn't up to standards.

In Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, which was given a limited release in September 2011, Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine starred as the titular duo -- who are a couple of poor hillbillies trying to make the best of a dilapidated vacation house they've purchased in the woods. Serving as a parody of redneck horror movies, things go terribly awry when they encounter a group of remarkably clumsy college kids who are convinced they are serial killers. The movie didn't ultimately make anything at the box office following its successful festival run, but it has found an audience thanks to its availability on Blu-ray and Netflix.

Ultimately, it's the preciousness of that "cult" status that is really preventing Tucker and Dale vs. Evil 2 from moving forward. Both Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine are proud of the movie that they've made, and they don't want to do anything to lessen that particular legacy. Said the actors,

So while we should give up hope on Tucker and Dale vs. Evil 2 coming out any time soon, the good news is that the project isn't entirely dead. If someone can come up with a proper idea so that the characters could come back, it sounds like Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine are totally game to reprise the parts.

In the meantime, fans of the actors will next be able to see them both on Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency Season 2, which is now filming and will start airing on BBC America this fall.

Nathan Fillion is up to something, but won't explicitly say he's plotting a Firefly reunion. That must be super frustrating for fans as Fillion can't stop and won't stop posting pictures with members of the cast. On the heels of our last report, in which Fillion was pictured with Alan Tudyk and Morena Baccarin, comes another picture that has us very curious what these guys have been up to. Take a look:

The picture above (via Facebook) is just one of many Firefly reunions that Nathan Fillion has been sharing. Fillion and co-star Alan Tudyk spent a few days cruising around on a boat, and at some point found time to hang with Morena Baccarin. It could be that this was just three friends who happened to work together on Firefly who wanted to spend a fun couple days out together, but Fillion seems to be dropping some major hints the three could've met to discuss a potential Firefly reunion.

Let's start with the fact that Alan Tudyk, who played the pilot Wash in Firefly, is driving the boat while Fillion does his best captain's pose. Considering that photo credit Nathan Fillion gives belongs to Tudyk's wife Charissa Barton, it's not all that unusual that a man is driving a boat he owns, but then that caption teasing the reference to the show really gives it away. Let's hope things didn't get too nostalgic, and someone decided to launch a harpoon! Has enough time passed to make that joke? Considering how many fans are constantly begging for this show to have a reboot of some kind, it may still be too soon.

Alan Tudyk actually shared with CinemaBlend not that long ago that Nathan Fillion has an idea for how to bring back Firefly, and it sounded pretty rad. Is it possible that idea may have developed into something more in the little over half a year since we've heard anything? If so, what could be in the works that involves Tudyk? Perhaps Fillion is hitting him up for a producer role, or we're all just too hopeful that Firefly is going to return sooner or later.

Unfortunately, Firefly has been ripped from Netflix recently, so those who thought they were going to hop on there tonight for a binge watch after reading this news will have to look elsewhere. While there's nothing new from Firefly coming out in the next couple months, there is a lot of great summer programming new and returning that folks should be tuning in to watch. Take a look at the summer premiere guide to find a new favorite and keep those fingers crossed that someday one of Joss Whedon's amazing shows will make a comeback.

While some TV shows are only popular while they're airing, there are some small screen adventures that are cult hits, only continuing to grow in populartity in the years following the original run. And director/writer Joss Whedon has the distinction of creating multiple cult hits, such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and his massively popular sci-fi adventure, Firefly. While the latter only ran for one season, Firefly has continued to remain in the lexicon of nerd culture and TV history, eventually inspiring Whedon to create the 2005 film Serenity to continue the show's narrative. And the droves of fans should be super happy today, as three of Firefly's leads recently reunited, and there's a picture to commemorate the occasion. Check it out.

How cool is that? Above you can see Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, and the always delightful Nathan Fillion reunited, and it feels so good. Since their brief run on Firefly, they've each gone on to fantastic careers, especially in the past few years.

While the Firefly community would have been happy to enjoy the image Nathan Fillion shared on his personal Instagram, the Castle actor proceeded to tease the fandom with possible reunion talk. While Fillion didn't explicitly confirm this possibility, his caption reads "What do you want to believe we talked about?". Fillion seems all too familiar with how excited the fans would be with the photo, and how the rumors will likely fly regarding a reboot of the popular sci-fi series. And with all three actors enjoying a certain level of notoriety, it certainly seems like good timing for Joss Whedon to produce new Firefly content. Although he's probably a bit too busy making various changes to Zack Snyder's Justice League at the moment.

But with the trend of nostalgia proving extremely effective and lucrative, TV reboots are becoming more and more popular. Netflix went viral with Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, and there will be new episodes of sitcoms Will and Grace and Roseanne coming down the pipeline this year. And considering how adoration for Firefly has only grown in the decade and change since its cancellation, now would be the time to expand the franchise, if ever.

Of course, this venture would be easier said than done considering the cast and Joss Whedon's various schedules. Whedon is currently in bed with the DCEU, finishing Justice League before developing his eventual Batgirl movie.

The three actors pictured in the above reunion pic are also extremely busy. Morena Baccarin is a series regular on FOX's Gotham, while also starring in the Deadpool franchise as the title character's love interest. Alan Tudyk just made waves as the delightful droid K-2SO in Rogue One: A Star War Story, as well as a lead role in NBC's cancelled comedy Powerless. And Nathan Fillion is set to appear in the second season of Netflix's A Series Of Unfortunate Events.

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Even though it was released back in December, we still can't stop dissecting and discussing every frame of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. A true experiment by Lucasfilm and Disney, Rogue One was a learning experience in how to craft fascinating Star Wars stories that aren't directly connected to the main franchise. But it also appears that a few other hard lessons were learned, especially when it came to the motion capture work done by Firefly actor Alan Tudyk.

Rogue One producer/visual affects supervisor John Knoll recently spoke at last weekend's Star Wars Celebration about the learning process associated with producing the standalone film. This includes motion capture work, because K-2SO actor Alan Tudyk reportedly suffered some on set injuries that could have been avoided. He said (via StarWars.com):

Well, this sounds about right. If you're going to have an actor run around a live set with little more than some spandex, you may want to make sure they at least have some fire protection. Let's hope Lupita Nyong'o gets some fireproof suits in her next outing as Maz Kanata.

Motion capture is one of the most fascinating new aspects of film production. Because while voicing CGI/animated characters used to be as simple as stepping into a recording studio, it's now become common practice for actors to get their hands a bit more dirty. Motion capture technology will help bring an actor's physicality and facial expressions to life, allowing for voice performances to become more detailed and nuanced work.

But there are still some voice acting roles that don't involve the process of motion capture. The Guardians of the Galaxy franchise in particular doesn't require Bradley Cooper to be onset while the rest of the cast films. And they're likely going to continue this process when the Guardians crossover in Avengers: Infinity War.

But regardless of how blockbusters handle their voice acting, actor safety should be a priority. While Alan Tudyk didn't fall victim to a major accident on the set of Rogue One, he did sustain quite a few burns from falling sparks. The Star Wars franchise has never been cheap in regards to explosions and action, so John Knoll's resolve to make sure each future motion picture suit is fireproof is a step in the right direction.

The next trip into the galaxy far, far away will be Star Wars: The Last Jedi on December 15th, 2017. Be sure to check out our full 2017 premiere list and plan your next trip to the movies.

Warning: spoilers ahead for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story! Don't read ahead if you haven't seen the latest adventure in the galaxy far, far away!

Although Rogue One: A Star Wars Story admittedly skimped on character in favorite of continuity, one member of the film's central, rebellious ensemble has already carved out a legacy as a Star Wars classic: K-2SO. Alan Tudyk's sassy Imperial droid stole every scene in the movie and undeniably left us wanting more. Very little of the character's backstory was revealed during Rogue One, but Tudyk seems to believe that the reprogrammed droid's existence was tantamount to slavery before he joined the Rebellion. Tudyk explained:

Alan Tudyk recently spoke to Comicbook.com about K-2SO's life before joining the Rebels in the war against the Empire, and it doesn't sound like he was too much of a talker during that period in his life. Although Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) allowed him to have a much more vibrant personality, his Imperial masters were far stricter and kept him in line with boring security detail at less than vital locations. He was likely very prim and proper (not unlike C-3PO) and relished the opportunity to get his hands a bit dirty when the opportunity presented itself to him.

We're just glad that Kaytoo dropped the whole "stoic" act by the time he hooked up with Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) to take down the Death Star. His colorfully cynical personality easily stood out as one of the highlights of the recent Star Wars film, and Alan Tudyk deserves quite a bit of credit for making the (literally) robotic character feels so human. However, the design of the character also played a significant role in conveying his evolution from his days under the Empire's thumb. Compared to the other Imperial droids in Rogue One, Kaytoo is considerably more scratched and dented, which further adds to the idea that he has lived an entire life since his liberation.

Check out some of Kaytoo's best moments from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story below for a reminder as to why we love that Star Wars droid so much.

While Alan Tudyk's description of K-2SO's old life doesn't sound entirely glamorous, we will have to wait and see if any future films or projects in the Star Wars franchise will delve further into his story. The Rogue One Blu-ray is currently available, and Rian Johnson's The Last Jedi will hit theaters later this year on December 15.

The following story contains spoilers for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. You have been warned!

The cat is out of the bag by now. Very few Rebels survive the ending of Gareth Edwards' Rogue One. The plans for the Death Star are obtained by Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and beamed back to the leaders of the Rebellion. But in order to complete the mission, Jyn, Cassian (Diego Luna) and the members of their ragtag team have to give their lives up. During the normal junket for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, that topic was Off Limits (with a capital "O" and "L"), but when I recently sat down with Alan Tudyk at a Rogue One press event at ILM, I finally asked him about K-2SO's demise, and if it played out the same way in the script. He told me:

The Rogue One reshoots have been a popular topic among fans, so it's nice to be able to signal out an example where, according to K-2SO actor Alan Tudyk, they were able to merge elements together and find a better resolution. K-2SO does receive a particularly heroic death in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, holding off an increasing wave of Stormtroopers for that Jyn and Cassian can make it farther up the tower in the center of Scariff. Because Tudyk and the geniuses at Industrial Light and Magic used a motion-capture suit to capture K-2SO, the actor tells me that he was able to be ON set, acting out the death and collaborating with his fellow thespians. It's a great story, and one that you can watch below:

Disney invited a gang of film journalists to ILM in San Francisco recently to show us how they helped Gareth Edwards bring his vision for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story to life. It was an incredibly insightful experience, learning how modern technology permits a character like K-2SO -- a CGI droid -- to interact with human characters on actual locations. Supplemental material on the new Rogue One Blu-ray and DVD will dive even further into the magic behind these new Star Wars movies, so I encourage you to check them out immediately.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story reached Digital HD on March 28. It is now available on Blu-ray and DVD as of Tuesday, April 4. For more on Upcoming Star Wars Movies, click those words.

Warning: spoilers ahead for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story! Don't read any further if you have not seen the latest Star Wars movie yet!

In the realm of geek culture, few actors have become more cherished than Alan Tudyk. The actor has appeared in countless beloved franchises, and his voice has defined many legendary projects. In fact, Tudyk recently sat down and ran through some of his most iconic silver screen voices of all time, and the video is an absolute treat for Tudyk fans all over the world.

As you can very clearly see from that video, Alan Tudyk has a long history as a voice actor, and he has lent his impressive vocal chops to some of the most popular Disney movies of the few years. From King Candy in Wreck-It Ralph to Duke of Weselton from Frozen, and Duke Weasleton in Zootopia, the guy has very clearly made the rounds and become part of Disney history.

Then, of course, we have his most recent foray into the world of Disney with his fan-favorite portrayal of Imperial droid K-2SO during the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Unlike the characters that Alan Tudyk has voiced for Disney, Kaytoo is a stone cold killer, as well as a complete and utter badass. Sadly, as those of you who have seen Rogue One already know, we likely won't get a chance to see much more of this awesome droid following the events of the film.

Having said that, the Empire would've had to get the voice for Kaytoo from somewhere. Even if we never get a chance to see the crew from Rogue One again, our hope remains incredibly high that we will still get to hear his lovely voice on another droid at some point. We can dream, can't we?

Of course, while we're on the topic of Alan Tudyk, we need to address the sheer iconography of his live-action filmography as well. The guy has been in countless treasured projects, such as Joss Whedon's Firefly, A Knight's Tale, as well as cult classic comedies like Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, Knocked Up, and Dodgeball. His resume is the envy of anyone in Hollywood, and we can't wait to see what he does next.

Make sure to pick up the home release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story -- which will debut on Digital HD and Blu-ray on April 4. If you're on the lookout for more information concerning the rest of the most highly anticipated theatrical releases of 2017, make sure to take a look at our comprehensive movie premiere guide and fill out your TV viewing schedules accordingly!

Needless to say, this story will contain spoilers for Gareth Edwards' Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. You should turn back now if you haven't yet seen it.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story has the distinction of being one of the only Star Wars movies -- heck, one of the only Disney movies -- where the majority of the main cast dies horribly at the end. The first standalone solo story (aka, non-Saga film) to be told by Lucasfilm, Rogue One leads into Star Wars: Episode IV -- A New Hope. Only, it's populated by a slew of characters that we never see if A New Hope. Or Empire. Or Jedi. Why? Because they all die while stealing the plans for the Death Star on behalf of the Rebellion. Earlier this week, we learned that some of the team members almost survived. Today, I learned that K-2SO had a different outcome... one that Alan Tudyk tells me they actually filmed.

I attended a press day for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in San Francisco, where Alan Tudyk and Animation Supervisor Hal Hickel opened up about the process of bringing the droid K-2SO to life. I also asked Tudyk about putting him to death. When we interviewed Tudyk for Rogue One on the theatrical press junket, he couldn't take openly about the droid's dismal fate. That would have been a spoiler. Today, he was able to talk freely about the droid's demise, and he told me that they filmed an alternate death scene for K-2SO. The droid originally died at the hands of chief baddie Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn).

K-2SO has a heroic death in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. He is holding off numerous Stormtroopers as Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) are trying to retrieve the plans for the Death Star. It's a shocking moment, because it's one of the first significant deaths for Jyn's team, and it's an indication that all might not end so smoothly for our bang of Rebels. K-2SO takes a few blasts to the chest. He continues to communicate with Jyn and Cassian as his systems fail. Eventually, the blasts overwhelm him.

As Alan Tudyk recalls it at the Rogue One press day, the original ending for Rogue One had Director Krennic pulling the trigger on K-2SO. And they actually filmed the scene, but Tudyk says it never felt right, and that they all thought that K-2SO deserved a more heroic finish, a more fitting demise. The battle with the Stormtroopers in the crowded and deadly corridor was conceived, and the rest is history.

We will have plenty more from our press day at ILM on Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, including more from our chat with Alan Tudyk and Hal Hickel, as well as our interview with VFX Supervisor John Knoll. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is out on Digital HD on March 28th and will reach Blu-ray shelves on April 4th.

NBC jumped into the superhero game in a unique way when it ordered up Powerless, an extremely rare comedic addition to the comic book TV lineup. But while the DC Comics-based show was initially developed as an office-space show on the outskirts of the high-stakes costumed action, there's a much heavier embrace of the comic source material now, and in fact, one of the lead characters has a pretty massive connection to Batman. Alan Tudyk's character is now named Van Wayne, and he is officially Bruce Wayne's cousin. Here's hoping he doesn't have anything in common with other Wayne family members we've met in the past.

Alan Tudyk's character was originally named Del Heller, but that wouldn't put him in the Bat-family tree, so now his new boss will be of a more familiar lineage, and I know the questions are already building up inside your heads. Does this mean we're going to see him prank calling Gotham's Bruce Wayne and teasing him about kissing girls? Is he going to ask to borrow the Batmobile for some work-related trip? Does Van have his own secret identity? These questions and more may or may not be answered by Powerless when it premieres, but I'm most of my betting money is on Batman never making an on-screen appearance, at least not in the early days. Depends on how much money NBC is willing to shell out to use him, though.

Speaking of money and billionaires, Powerless had already teased its connection to the Batman mythos whenever the show got revamped following its season order, and the company at the heart of the premise was changed from an insurance company to Wayne Security, which develops safety products for innocent bystanders who get caught up in fights between superheroes and their villains. For those unaware, the show was initially only on the outskirts of comic action, with more subtle nods and winks, but original creator/showrunner Ben Queen exited the project after it was ordered to series, and the remaining creative team doubled down on all the DC elements and reshot the pilot. (That first ep is now called "Wayne or Lose.")

Check out the new trailer for the comedy below, in which the wackiness is turned up to maximum.

With its cast of talented stars - Alan Tudyk joins Vanessa Hudgens, Danny Pudi, Christina Kirk and Ron Funches - Powerless will finally spread its spring-powered wingsuit or whatever when it premieres on NBC on Thursday, February 2, at 8:30 p.m. ET. Head to our midseason TV schedule to see everything else coming to you in the near future.

Jyn Erso may have been Rogue One: A Star Wars Story's main character, but when it came to comic relief, K-2SO's shined above the rest. The reprogrammed Imperial droid now follows behind C-3PO, R2-D2 and BB-8 as one of the Star Wars franchise's memorable robotic characters, so it's fitting that he receive a special video showing all the work and fun that went into making him such a captivating character.

Whether you've already seen Rogue One or have yet to enjoy it in the theater, this featurette from the official Star Wars YouTube page is perfect for anyone who's enamored with K-2SO, the Imperial enforcer droid who was reprogrammed by Cassian Andor to serve the Rebellion. Alan Tudyk of Firefly fame portrayed the droid, both vocally and on camera, so just because you never see Tudyk's face in the movie (though that almost happened) doesn't mean he wasn't working hard alongside the other actors during principal photography. In fact, along with staying in character like everyone else, Tudyk also had to wear a special motion-capture suit and stilts every time on camera.

Fortunately, all that hard work paid off making K-2SO the "anti-C-3PO." Despite serving the Rebellion, K-2SO's reprogramming meant that he had a tendency to stay the first thing that popped into his mind. While most of these comments lacked tact, they also made him the source for a lot of Rogue One's humor. Some of K-2SO's funniest moments in the movie included backhanding Cassian in the face to make it look like he was still serving the Empire and expressing his lack of optimism in their odds of surviving dangerous situations. It's clear watching the video that Alan Tudyk had a lot of fun shooting Rogue One, as running around while explosions were going off made him feel like he was a kid again "playing Star Wars."

Warning: spoilers for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story are ahead!

Despite being one of Rogue One's most popular characters, like the rest of the main cast, K-2SO didn't escape the movie in one piece. After breaking into the Imperial base on Scarif with Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor to retrieve the Death Star plans, K-2SO covered his allies while they went into the data archives. Once stormtroopers broke into the area, K-2SO was gunned down, but not before he delivered final instructions on how to access the plans. He was built to serve the Empire, but he "died" a Rebel hero.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is now playing in theaters across the United States. Click here to read our thoughts on the movie if you haven't already.

Many have said that one of the best parts of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was the vocal turn of Alan Tudyk as the droid K-2SO. Even the previous Star Wars celebrity droid has something to say about the performance, but it isn't necessarily that nice. Alan Tudyk says that he and Daniels spoke a bit about Daniels' experience playing C-3PO vs. Tudyk's motion-capture experience. After seeing the film, at the afterparty for the premiere of Rogue One Anthony Daniels came up to him and had two words to say to him...

Anthony Daniels has something of a reputation of having a bit of an attitude, but to hear Alan Tudyk tell it, on Conan, the man who plays C-3PO was being only complimentary when he dropped an F-bomb to his Star Wars castmate. It's only fair. The droids of Star Wars have always been some of the most memorable characters in the entire franchise. Daniels has been able to enjoy that fact for decades. However, now he has to share the stage with another character.

Another reason that Anthony Daniels is apparently incredibly jealous is that Alan Tudyk was able to do his performance with motion capture, meaning he didn't have to wear a robot costume, something Daniels always had to do, even in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

We were told before the release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story that Alan Tudyk and K-2SO would steal the movie and that appears to be the case for many. The former Imperial droid has a very different attitude than any of the droids that we've seen in Star Wars films so far. It's a bit refreshing to see one that has an attitude. Especially considering that it's clear that Anthony Daniels could have played a character like that but has to do something else. He clearly has the temperament for it.

Sometimes there is no compliment better than "that was so good I sort of hate it a little." It's the way I feel about really good writing. For Alan Tudyk, it appears to be about the highest compliment he thinks he could have received from the man who will go down in movie history thanks to his iconic role as C-3PO. Certainly, Tudyk would love for his character to be as fondly remembered by fans.

If you've seen Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, do you agree that K-2SO stole the movie from the rest of the team? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Last year, I had the incredible fortune of sitting with the stars of Star Wars: The Force Awakens prior to the blockbuster's release, and during each of those conversations I asked each of them their favorite and least favorite part of the whole process. Each of them provided diverse and fun answers, which gave a great glimpse into what what the unique experience was like. So, naturally, when I sat down with the cast of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story earlier this month, I took the opportunity to ask the same question.

During the San Francisco press day for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, I spoke with Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Riz Ahmed, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen, Mads Mikkelson and Ben Mendelsohn, and got all of them talking about their favorite and least favorite parts of making the movie. Check out their answers below and on the next few pages!

Felicity Jones

Before entering the Star Wars universe, Felicity Jones was primarily known for her work in serious drama (her Oscar-winning performance in The Theory Of Everything being a prime example), so when it came to making Rogue One, her favorite bit was diving into the action. The actress told me that she had a great deal of fun working with the stunt team and making the film's action sequences authentic. The downside of the production for Jones was just the rough conditions that many of the film's environments had to offer -- but it certainly sounds like it was a tough time that was worth it in the end.

Diego Luna

Of all the Rogue One actors I talked to, Diego Luna had far and away the most apparent enthusiasm for his time in the world of Star Wars - and that was fully reflected in his answer to my question and favorite and least favorite moments. He was clearly overtaken with joy any time he was surrounded by the world of the classic sci-fi saga, and he never wanted any of it to end. Literally his least favorite part of production was whenever Gareth Edwards would always say 'Cut' at the end of a shot.

Alan Tudyk & Riz Ahmed

Alan Tudyk didn't always have to get into the tougher stuff in Rogue One (an extended rainy sequence seeing K-2SO staying indoors), but Riz Ahmed found that flying around in spaceships wasn't always the most comfortable thing. Similar to Oscar Isaac's experience making Star Wars: The Force Awakens, he quickly found out that it can make you just a bit ill to stay in one for too long. At least they got to be in some amazing places while they were filming!

Donnie Yen

Donnie Yen found his favorite and least favorite parts of making Rogue One: A Star Wars Story orbiting the same arena. As cool as it is making a Star Wars movie, it is also hard work when you're doing a lot of stunt and action work in rough environments -- which is why Yen felt a sense of relief when it all came together. As for his least favorite part of the production, the thing that was hardest for him was just being away from his family during the many months of shooting. Surely getting to go back to them made the aforementioned last day of filming that much sweeter.

Mads Mikkelson & Ben Mendelsohn

Like Diego Luna, Mads Mikkelson wasn't shy about expressing his Star Wars love and getting to wear his "fanboy hat" while making Rogue One (taking off that hat when diving into the material as an actor). Impressively, that left him with zero complaints and nothing to qualify as his "least favorite" thing about making the movie. Similarly, Ben Mendelsohn felt it was an honor just to be a part of this legendary franchise, while also admitting that keeping so many secrets about the production wasn't his favorite thing to do.

While buzz is only increasing for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story as we get closer to its theatrical release, one of the main narratives surrounding the film continues to be the reshoots that the film underwent earlier this year. We've been hearing stories for months about the involvement of screenwriter Tony Gilroy, and director Gareth Edwards has even gone on record to explain what went down and what happened. A new piece of trivia that we recently picked up, however, is that the reshoots also allowed actor Alan Tudyk to have some creative input on the movie as well, given the opportunity to punch up some of K-2SO's scenes in the blockbuster.

Alan Tudyk himself told me about his work on the Rogue One reshoots earlier this month when I had the pleasure of sitting down with him for a one-on-one interview during the recent Star Wars press day in Los Angeles. During our conversation, I asked how both he and K-2SO were affected by the reshoots, and he explained that while there weren't massive changes made, he did get the chance to contribute to the process and write a few new lines for his character. Said Tudyk,

While many know Alan Tudyk for his work in front of the camera -- from Wash in Firefly to Steve The Pirate in Dodgeball - those who follow his work closely know that he has been doing some behind the scenes work in recent years. Specifically, he created his own show Con Man, which just started its second season on Comic-Con HQ last week. Because of this, it makes all the sense in the world that Gareth Edwards and company would trust him to write a few bits of dialogue for his new droid character.

Speaking to the Rogue One reshoots on a more macro level, Alan Tudyk also told me that some of the stuff that was done after principal photography wound up being some of the best material in the film -- with the actor/writer/director giving high praise to the work from Tony Gilroy. What makes it funny, however, is that he didn't know about all of the work that was done until recently when he had the chance to see the finished cut of the Star Wars movie for himself:

For now, the exact details of what went into the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story reshoots remain a mystery, but Alan Tudyk does certainly make it sound like all of the changes that were made for the betterment of the film. We'll have to wait and see if we ever get official word on precisely what went down -- but for now, be sure to stay tuned here on Cinema Blend for a whole lot more from our interviews with the cast and filmmakers behind the blockbuster, and get ready for the film's release this Friday, December 16th!

Early next year, NBC will be rolling out a new superhero show of a different kind. Taking place in the DC Universe, Powerless focuses on the mundane normal people who exist in a superpowered world. The show was always going to have references to iconic characters like Wonder Woman and Green Lantern, but after some reworking, Powerless has a huge connection to Batman. Or more specifically, his alter ego Bruce Wayne; they work for him.

Originally, the office comedy was set in an insurance company called Retcon that specialized in claims caused by the actions of superheroes. According to Batman News, that is no longer the case, and Powerless has changed the entire setting of the series. The comedy will now take place at Wayne Security, a subsidiary of Wayne Enterprises that specializes in products that make defenseless bystanders feel a little safer. This means that the characters of the show now technically work for Bruce Wayne, and it could potentially leave the floor open for Bruce Wayne to cameo on the office comedy in the future.

It's unknown why the change was made, but now the show has a more obvious connection to the DC Universe. It's possible that the setting was moved so that general audiences can more easily tell that Powerless takes place in the same world as characters like Superman and the Flash. Seeing as how the first superhero seen on the show is apparently the lesser known Crimson Fox, that might have been a good call.

Another possibility could be to give Powerless a bit more superhero flair. Taking place in a high-tech development lab means that there's a wider range of storytelling options, with opportunities for more zany shenanigans than if this was at an insurance company. Although if that's the case, then doesn't it undermine the whole premise of the show of ordinary people in a world of superheroes? They are still dealing with the actions of heroes, but it doesn't seem quite as mundane anymore. We'll just have to let the pilot speak for itself.

Powerless is a sitcom on NBC set in the world of DC comics characters. The show is lead by Vanessa Hudgens as Emily Locke, the new Director of Research and Development of Wayne Security. She has some big ideas on how to improve the lives of everyday citizens, but it's an enthusiasm unmatched by her boss (Alan Tudyk) and officemates. It's up to Emily to lead her team toward their full potential. Powerless also stars a very solid cast of Danny Pudi, Ron Funches, and Kate Micucci. The office comedy is set to make its premiere on Thursday, February 2, 2017, at 8:30 p.m. EST. For more on which shows are coming back and when then check out our midseason premiere schedule on CinemaBlend.

The Star Wars franchise is a funny thing. Spanning decades and generations of fans, the George Lucas property has been known for its groundbreaking visual affects, wide appeal, and legendary plot twists. But the films aren't without their faults, especially when you consider the less than stellar prequel trilogy. The Phantom Menace, in particular, is a blemish on the face of Star Wars, as the highly anticipated movie pandered to younger audiences, despite its otherwise serious subject matter. And perhaps nothing is more loathed in the entire franchise than Jar Jar Binks, the idiot Gungan that unfortunately graced the silver screen during the prequel trilogy as an attempted comic relief.

Because the last comic relief was such a disaster, actor Alan Tudyk was nervous about his role as K-2SO in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. In a recent interview with Huffington Post, Tudyk described how Jar Jar's cautionary tale factored into his role in the standalone film, saying:

There we go, ladies and gents. Alan Tudyk was happy to provide some levity to Rogue One, but he wasn't going to allow himself to become a pariah of the Star Wars community. Smart move, if you ask me.

Overall, it looks like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is set to be a pretty dramatic and serious addition to the franchise. It has been described as a classic war movie, that just happens to be set in space. We can assume that much of the humor seen in The Force Awakens will be absent, as the stakes are so much higher in the standalone film. But then there's K-2SO.

Kaytoo is by far the biggest comedic relief of the upcoming Star Wars installment, mostly due to a juxtaposition within his programming. While the droid was originally built to serve The Empire, he was eventually captured and reprogrammed for the rebel cause. This, coupled with a C-3PO-esque quality of having no filter, results in K-2SO often speaking out of term about the hopelessness of the mission. He's passive aggressive and pessimistic, which will surely help add a level of fun to an otherwise serious Rogue One.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will fly into theaters on December 16th.

Big spoilers below for Con Man Season 2. If you don't want to have this spectacular moment in your brain before watching, please read one of our other fabulous articles.

If you woke up this morning thinking it was going to be a great day, you were onto something, for today marked the Season 2 premiere of Alan Tudyk's laugh-a-minute series Con Man. Fans, as well as new recruits, can watch Tudyk's put-upon actor Wray Nerely trying to legitimize his career in the second season, all with the help of Nathan Fillion's superstar Jack Moore. And it's Fillion that's at the heart of a scene that executive producer P.J. Haarsma is most excited for fans to see. Here's how he described it during a recent Con Man conference call that CinemaBlend took part in.

Bald Nathan Fillion. The sound of that is enough to send shivers up and down one's spine, since Fillion always looks like he just stepped out of a photo shoot for one of those giant pictures on a hair salon's wall. Not that being bald is a bad thing - we could all stand to be a little more like George Costanza - but no one expects Captain Malcolm Reynolds (or even author Richard Castle) to sport a shiny dome. Although that would make an interesting look if Firefly ever came back.

I have seen the scene in question, and it is every bit as shocking and hilarious as P.J. Haarsma implied. I won't go into the details behind the moment here, since that's not necessary, but suffice to say viewers at home will do just as those at the various cons did, and gasping will be a synchronized activity for anyone in the room.

Schedules worked out so that Nathan Fillion could be a bigger part of Con Man Season 2, and fans get to watch the ego-driven Jack Moore attempting to spin a feature film out of the short-lived sci-fi series Spectrum. Thankfully, the actor doesn't have the pride of his character. Here, P.J. Haarsma talked about how he and Alan Tudyk weren't all that optimistic they could get Fillion to do it.

For anyone who watches Con Man Season 2, which should be all of you and then some, this moment could very well go down as one of the most memorable Nathan Fillion moments in his entire career. It's that gorram good, and barely anything happens.

Con Man debuted the first two episodes from its sophomore season over at its new home on Comic-Con HQ, where you can also find the entirety of Season 1, as well as many other genre-friendly TV shows and movies. To see what else you'll be able to watch every week as Season 2's episodes are released, check out our midseason premiere schedule.

In classic Disney fashion, Moana is packed to the gills with memorable and funny side characters, but certainly one of the funniest is Hei Hei -- the incredibly dumb rooster played by Alan Tudyk. While he never actually talks, his impressive stupidity regularly lends to some of the movie's funniest moments. He is just about guaranteed to become a fan-favorite for years to come... which is why it might surprise you to learn that he was almost cut because he initially just didn't work within the story being told.

I learned about the story of Hei Hei and his near meetup with the cutting room floor when I had the pleasure of sitting down with Moana directors Ron Clements and John Musker earlier this month during the film's Los Angeles press day. While discussing Alan Tudyk's role in the movie (having featured in every Walt Disney Animation Studios film since Wreck It Ralph, I learned from the two filmmakers that there was a point when the team almost decided to remove Hei Hei completely. Of course, at that time he was a very different character than the one audiences have grown to love on the big screen. Said Musker,

Fortunately for us, this wasn't something that the Moana animators were too keen on doing. It turns out that they had grown attached to Hei Hei, and while there was talk from John Lasseter about axing the character entirely, they worked hard to try and keep him in the movie. What ultimately became the key to the entire situation was an idea from story artist Ryan Green, and a way to use the rooster in a special way during the action sequence with the coconut-shaped Kakamora. Said the directors:

Do you think that the Moana directors and animators ultimately made the right choice? Hit the comments section below with your thoughts, and in case you haven't seen it yet, you can check out the new Walt Disney Animation Studios film in theaters now.

We're in the midst of a Star Wars renaissance. With Disney now leading the franchise, we can expect one new Star Wars movie every December for the foreseeable future. And in addition to the main chapters following Luke, Rey, and Chewie, we'll also be treated to standalone movies that will introduce us to more exciting characters and further flesh out the galaxy far, far away. The first of these spinoffs is Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which will bridge the gap between A New Hope and the prequel trilogy. Most of the characters are brand new, so who will be the breakout star? We may have an idea.

Rogue One's director Gareth Edwards recently spoke to Disney Rewards about what to expect from the franchise's first spinoff. The conversation eventually turned to Alan Tudyk's droid character K-2SO, who is apparently the scene stealer of the movie. Edwards said the following:

Really, who doesn't love a good droid?

It has been stated quite a few times that Alan Tudyk's K-2SO would serve as the main comic relief of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Much of this isdue to the juxtaposition in the droid's programming. K-2 is actually an Imperial enforcer droid who was captured and reprogrammed by Diego Luna's Cassian Andor. But because he's originally supposed to hate and kill Rebels, he ends up being a sassy presence with no filter as to the motley crew's slim chance of winning. He definitely wouldn't get along well with Han Solo, because we all know he doesn't like to know the odds. Ever.

It's pretty interesting to think about how K-2SO was brought to life on the silver screen. Rather than completely CGI, Firefly actor Alan Tudyk actually did motion capture work on set with the other actors. He wore the weird jumpsuit, and actually acted with the rest of the starring cast. This will surely add a level of chemistry and realness to the role, as well as the performances given by actors who share the screen with K-2.

If you're chomping at the bit to see Alan Tudyk's role on the silver screen, fear not. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will fly into theaters on December 16th, 2016. And much like R2-D2, BB-8, and C-3PO, the newest droid is likely going to steal the heart of audiences.