The Legend of Vox Machina brought Critical Role’s first Dungeons & Dragons game to animation for anybody with a Prime Video subscription back in 2022, and now the company of voice actors are bringing their second campaign to the small screen before the end of the 2025 TV schedule. Called The Mighty Nein, a new sneak peek shows that a similar animation style doesn’t mean that this will be Legend of Vox Machina 2.0. As somebody without much background on the Mighty Nein campaign other than what I gleaned while researching Tusk Love, I’m pretty sure I already have a favorite.
(Image credit: Prime Video)
Prime Video’s The Mighty Nein
Major updates on The Mighty Nein were announced as part of Critical Role’s Prime Video panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, including a big treat for fans of the campaign who have been waiting years for the animated adaptation. The series will premiere Season 1 on November 19, and the reveals confirm that The Legend of Vox Machina wasn’t the only show from the company that could recruit big names as guest stars.
Alan Cumming, Tim McGraw, Anika Noni Rose, Ming-Na Wen, Auli’i Cravalho, Rahul Kohli, Robbie Daymond, and Jonathan Frakes. With guests like country superstar Tim McGraw and Disney movie musical vets Anika Noni Rose and Auli’i Cravalho, I have to wonder if The Mighty Nein has found ways to include original songs without having a bard on the team, like Vox Machina’s Scanlan (Sam Riegel). The misfits join forces to try and save the realm when The Beacon, a powerful arcane weapon, falls into the wrong hands.
true to LOVM style – voicing many, many characters.. Now, if I was picking my favorite character based on nothing but name, I’d probably have to go with Mollymauk Tealeaf, but the sneak peek has me choosing somebody else on more substance than a whimsical name.
Take a look:
The Mighty Nein – S1 Sneak Peek | Prime Video – YouTube
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I’m not sure if this is a snippet from an episode of The Mighty Nein or an in medias res opening to the series similar to what Critical Role did with The Legend of Vox Machina in a tavern, but I do know who made me laugh the most and therefore became my favorite character.
(Image credit: Prime Video)
I Already Love Caleb Widogast
Have I magically picked up all the background info about the Mighty Nein – or Sensual Seven – based on less than two minutes of a sneak peek, which doesn’t even feature Ashley Johnson’s Yasha? I have not, and the cast is showing off a variety of different accents than their Vox Machina characters. It is definitely enough for me to understand why there was so much of Jester involved in the packaging of Tusk Love, but my favorite? That would be Caleb.
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Characters like Jester and Nott seem like they’ve been set up to be the most comedic characters, but the one who actually got me to laugh out loud was Caleb. I think that Liam O’Brien may be speaking real-life German rather than an original language to Critical Role, but I’m also pretty confident that Caleb isn’t going to spend the whole series speaking in subtitles.
A seemingly straight man character speaking a different language just to avoid interrogation while goofier characters cause a scene? I’m in. Plus, if that is real German, the group’s name basically means “Mighty No,” which is also funny.
Will I still favor Caleb when The Mighty Nein premieres? Only time will tell, but Critical Role fans can look forward to the new series before the end of the year, while The Legend of Vox Machina Season 4 won’t arrive until 2026. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, November 19 to see the Mighty Nein in action!
Shark Week is that time of year when viewers will tune into Discovery in droves to learn about sharks and/or see scientists have fun with them, a la Dancing with Sharks with Tom Bergeron in the 2025 TV schedule. Forrest Galante is a regular contributor, and he was back with the latest Alien Sharks installment this year, but that wasn’t all on Discovery for July 2025. He also hosted a new three-part series called Animals on Drugs. According to Galante when speaking with CinemaBlend, he has a lot more animals in mind to continue for a second season.
I tuned in for the three episodes of Animals on Drugs, which all aired on Discovery on July 28 and are available streaming now with an HBO Max subscription. As somebody who was always fascinated by the tale of Pablo Escobar’s cocaine hippos in Colombia and a regular viewer of Forrest Galante’s attempts to find alien sharks each year (even when orcas pose a problem), the show was a natural fit for me. When I spoke with the host, he explained what sets Animals on Drugs apart and makes it important beyond a somewhat sensationalist title:
I’ve done a lot of series at Discovery at this point. A lot of different specials, and this one’s really impactful because it’s loud, it’s silly in title, it’s very fun and Discovery-esque. But the reality of it is it breaks down a really large problem, which is human-wildlife conflict in a pharmaceutical conflict way, which is our drugs going down the toilet, our booze getting left out for bears to get into. Literally, the cocaine trade, inspiring in the world’s largest and most deadly invasive species. I mean, it’s a crazy, actually scientific show, and I’m excited for people to understand that side of it, the animal side of it, and our human consequences of what we do and how it affects the environment.
Shark Week special called Cocaine Sharks a couple years ago, also available streaming now on HBO Max.)
(Image credit: Warner Bros. Discovery)
This year’s installment of Alien Sharks proved that he definitely hasn’t run out of sharks to cover in his recurring series of specials focusing on very specific, lesser known shark species that are often in danger from human encroachment. With 2025’s Alien Sharks: Death Down Under taking him to the waters of Australia and involving the host injecting himself with shark venom, I had to ask: is it ever hard to find a new angle for a series of species? He explained:
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With over 500 incredible shark species on the planet, it’s not hard at all. What’s hard is getting Discovery to understand how we can keep showcasing more and more unique, unbelievable species. And it’s not that hard, because they keep doing it and I keep doing it, so it’s a great partnership, and I love it. I think Alien Sharks is just so wonderful because it allows us to bring these less recognized species of elasmobranch to the screen.
If you missed the wild ride of Shark Week 2025 or Animals on Drugs, you’re in luck with them all available on HBO Max. I went in not knowing what to expect from Animals on Drugs, interested but not really expecting that there could be more than those three species so affected by human pharmaceuticals that a full Discovery special could be focused on them. That just goes to show what I knew about… well, animals on drugs! Perhaps Galante will have the chance to cover more of those sixteen species he has in mind.
The 2025 movie schedule has been quite active when it comes to the next age of 007. As the upcoming James Bond 26 continues to staff up, the search for the next face of Ian Fleming’s literary legend seems to draw closer. Another piece fell into place today, as Denis Villeneuve’s next gig after Dune: Part Three now has a writer. That hiring is not only exciting because it brings us that much closer to the new world of Bond, I think it tells us a lot about the sort of tone we should expect.
Steven Knight, creator of Peaky Blinders and writer behind such films as Eastern Promises and Allied, has been unveiled as the next scribe in charge of England’s superior spy. Per the official press release from Amazon MGM Studios, his hiring was announced as follows:
Today, Amazon MGM Studios announced that Steven Knight will write the script for the studio’s upcoming James Bond film. Denis Villeneuve is directing the film, with Amy Pascal and David Heyman producing via Pascal Pictures and Heyday Films, respectively. Tanya Lapointe will executive produce.
Roger Moore’s James Bond, but I think we’re about to see some more gritty adventure after our hero crosses that gun barrel. Bringing in the director of Sicario and the writer behind one of the darkest interpretations of A Christmas Carol together doesn’t exactly set off slide whistles in fans’ ears.
Amazon MGM’s James Bond deal being in full effect, it would probably be this.
(Image credit: Danjaq, LLC and MGM)
I’m not highlighting these facts to be a naysayer, especially as a fan of the darker, more serialized story told during Daniel Craig’s tenure in the tuxedo. Rather, this hire is set to dictate the tone of perhaps the most anticipated decision of all – the next 007. As Amazon’s supposed James Bond wishlist has Tom Holland and contemporaries tipped off as hot tickets, Steven Knight’s script is going to be the template from which actors will have to work with.
While there probably won’t be any specially written sides for future Bonds to try out, the tradition of using classic 007 moments to audition new actors will probably be the next indication of what to expect. As the writer is the engine that drives the direction of the story, provided it agrees with producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman’s vision, whispers about what Mr. Knight’s work will resemble are going to be more important than ever.
I wouldn’t be expecting any breadcrumbs in the near future though. Bond 26 is still in the early phases of development, with the rumored release date for James Bond’s returnnot arriving until 2028 at the “earliest.” So be sure to keep your martini cool in the meantime, as we’ve all got plenty of time to make sure our tuxes go to the cleaners.
In a broad context, co-dependence is wonderful thematic material for a horror film. There is tremendous beauty to recognize in the idea, as who wouldn’t want to find another person with whom they can perfectly harmonize for a lifetime? But we also live in a world of constant change that threatens that harmony, which can instill paranoia that an ending is always right around the corner, and there is also the fear of losing one’s independence and identity as a part of a couple. Mix that trouble with multi-dimensional characters, some dashes of the dark supernatural, and a sprinkle of freaky terrors, and you have an exciting and intimate scary movie. Or to be more specific, you have writer/director Michael Shanks’ Together.
Together
(Image credit: Neon)
Release Date: July 30, 2025 Directed By: Michael Shanks Written By: Michael Shanks Starring: Alison Brie, Dave Franco, and Damon Herriman Rating: R for violent/disturbing content, sexual content, graphic nudity, language and brief drug content Runtime: 102 minutes
Arriving in theaters during a brilliant summer for original horror, the film doesn’t have the mesmerizing complexity of Danny and Michael Philippou’s Bring Her Back or the arresting scope of Zach Cregger’s Weapons, but itsucceeds pairing a fairly simple narrative with big ideas and nasty execution that will be appreciated by sick puppy cinephiles. Married co-stars Alison Brie and Dave Franco are independently and collaboratively so excellent that you wonder about the stability of their actual relationship (it’s intense enough to make you question if simply taking this project on was an effort to test their marital bonds), and while it can’t be said that Together on the whole is full of unexpected twists, the finale is definitely a delightful shocker.
get out. Temporarily trapped, thirsty and out of water, they opt to drink from a pool that has gathered in the cave, and they make camp for the night to wait out the downpour.
Needless to say, drinking the water was a big mistake. In the morning, the couple wakes to find that two of their legs are stuck together, and while they are able to tear apart and chalk it up to cave mildew, it’s just the start of their shared nightmare. I kind of biological magnetism slowly starts to build, and Millie and Tim find themselves drawn to each other with increasing magnitude, both psychologically and physically.
There is a simplicity in the story of Together that doesn’t get in the way of it being captivating.
Together unfolds with a straightforward narrative that has natural escalation and momentum, and while that doesn’t ultimately leave much room for surprise during the journey, one is nonetheless entranced in anticipation of seeing just how far the horror is going to go. The lesions left after Millie and Tim rip apart their calves in the early cave scene is just the start of the experience and effectively teases the nastiness to come, and – with the exception of one sequence that I won’t reveal in this spoiler-free venue – it delivers on that promise. You have an idea of what’s on the way, but it still successfully gets you more and more excited for the next level of the supernatural force that is constantly growing in power.
Along similar lines, the movie isn’t particularly coy when it comes to its themes about co-dependency, as it’s the principal source of conflict for the couple as they enter a new stage of their relationship, but understanding the subject matter doesn’t render the Millie and Tim as flat caricatures. They’re equally likable, flawed, and passionate – which makes their arguments and fights all the more interesting, as Together doesn’t take sides and you can understand their points of view. The film effectively keeps you going back and forth regarding whether or not these two people need to cut ties or never let one another go, and your emotional investment in them adds weight to all the horrors.
Alison Brie and Dave Franco both bring great range to a pair of complicated characters in a complicated relationship.
Obviously nothing is hurt by the film starring two talented and charismatic leads who make effective use of their demonstrated range. There is a terrific blend of sweetness, awkwardness, and anger that make up the relationship between the main characters, and Alison Brie and Dave Franco have the natural chemistry that makes it all feel very real. And not only is there plenty of heavy emotional material for the performers to explore, but there is also impressive physical work as they are both attracted to each other and fused with awesome movie magic.
Some amazing makeup and effects work in Together will have you gasping.
It’s somewhat unfair that Together has to live in the shadow of Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance, which blew minds late last year with its extremely gory, body horror madness, but for its scale and what it attempts to do, Michael Shanks’ movie will most certainly have more sensitive members of the audience averting their eyes and covering their mouths in extreme shock. Not only are brilliant special effects employed as hands gets slowly embedded into arms, but there is also chilling (and seamless) work from contortionist performers and the stomach-churning action of Millie and Tim making efforts to separate themselves. Casual movie-goers will squirm, and genre fans will cheer – with the standout sequence being a very… special bathroom stall encounter between the protagonists.
As far as my personal tastes are concerned, I’m always going to appreciate a gnarly horror movie with smart themes and complicated characters, and Together effectively checks all of those boxes. It has limitations, which can be excused by production resources, but it’s still a standout during a hot time for the genre, and it immediately establishes Michael Shanks, a filmmaker with a wicked vision, as a talent to watch.
Severance is one of the most bingeable shows on streaming right now and for good reason. The edge-of-your-seat sci-fi series gets more and more intriguing as it goes on and audiences learn more about the mysterious inner workings of Lumon. The show’s star, Adam Scott, is absolutely phenomenal as Mark, and he earned himself a 2025 Emmy nomination for his role. His absolute commitment to the part is a good reason the show is so successful, and the actor recently revealed one scene in Season 2 was so intense he actually got a concussion.
In a recent interview with EW, Scott opened up about working on Severance after having a career mostly in comedy and what has driven so many people to check out the dystopian show. He also got candid about the buzzy Season 2 finale of Severance, which was a lot more violent than the previous episodes. Scott remembered that one particular fight scene required more from him than others, and it actually resulted in him sustaining a real injury. He said:
I’ve had fight scenes here and there over the years, but certainly never anything this brutal and this involved. I have an incredible stunt double, his name’s Justice, and he was in there doing incredible work as well. So it’s not just me in there, but I did do some of it, and I did get a concussion from that moment when I get thrown into the wall, and luckily, it looks awesome on camera. When it happened.
Parks and Rec star still had his actor brain on, and he was more concerned about how the take looked on camera. Considering the head slam was actually real, the take came out pretty great, and is the shot the Severance team ended up using in the final cut of the episode.
While director Ben Stiller obviously cared about his lead actor’s well-being, he was also concerned with the scene and made sure Scott knew how great the take turned out. He said:
Yeah, it’s in there. You can see my head get slammed against the wall and it’s great. And that was the first thing when it happened, everyone was like, ‘Oh my God.’ And crowded around. Once it was determined I was okay, and they called a doctor and stuff, but Ben came up to me and he’s like, ‘Hey man, it looks great.’
A concussion is no joke, and I’m glad Scott was okay overall after that blow to the head. This story shows his dedication to his craft and willingness to take a literal hit to heighten his performance.
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It also shows how committed the team is to the story at hand and the experience for the audience at home. This separates Severance from other binge-worthy TV, and is why people are so drawn to the AppleTV+ series. I can’t wait to see what Season 3 of Severance has in store, and if Scott manages to be put through more physical challenges as the plot thickens.
You can see Adam Scott’s Emmy-nominated performance in Severance with an Apple TV+ subscription. For more information on other exciting titles available on the streamer, make sure to consult our feature on everything new and coming soon to AppleTV+.
As the wait for the 2025 theatrical release of Wicked: For Good continues to fly by, it’s an interesting time for people who aren’t familiar with the source material. While some may think that what I’m about to share from cast member Ethan Slater will ruin the secrets of what’s to come, it’s doesn’t cross the line at face value. On the other hand, those who venture further down the rabbit hole may find a twist that could explain the decision to show Jonathan Bailey’s face turn as Fieyro in the Wicked sequel trailer.
As Slater spoke with People at this year’s San Diego Comic Con, he clearly had more than his recently confirmed role in the Gen V Season 2 cast to discuss. Sharing his viewpoint on what to expect in the hotly-anticipated second half of director Jon M. Chu’s smash cinematic adaptation, Slater dropped these hints on what to expect:
This is not a spoiler, I promise. There’s something that never made it onto the original Broadway cast recording. And that’s a really special moment that I remember filming and just being like, ‘I cannot wait for people to see Marissa do this.’
potential Wicked: For Good number that corrects that long absence of the song “Wicked Witch of the East” from any show recordings, some are convinced that this is what the former Spongebob of the stage is dancing around. Should that be the case, let serve as another firm example of why my griping about Wicked’s year-long gap exists.
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Anyone who can put two and two together would recognize Marissa Bode’s character as the infamous half-sister to Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba. Of course, the particulars of her transformation and its inspiration are still a mystery to me; a person who hasn’t seen the Broadway show.
Since this song isn’t on Wicked’s show album, I was double protected from that knowledge. Considering how much fun I had discovering Wicked’s first half at the movies, I don’t think anyone would blame me for trying not to look too deeply into what could be in For Good’s narrative finale. Concerns aside, I’m glad that Marissa Bode will get her moment to shine, because it truly embodies her on-screen half-sibling’s belief that everyone deserves a chance to fly.
(Image credit: Universal Pictures)
Wicked is currently streaming for all Prime Video subscription holders who want to partake in its splendor, with Wicked: For Good wrapping the story on November 21st. Meanwhile, Gen V will premiere this fall on that same streaming platform, with its debut set for September 17th.
