Distance NERDing

Ryan Reynolds bringing Alpha Flight to the MCU? Ryan Gosling becoming Ghost Rider in Avengers: Secret Wars? James Gunn's DCU entering the Superman Saga? This week on Distance NERDing, we're breaking down the latest Marvel rumors, DC movie news, Star Wars updates, and pop culture chaos! Yung Phil, Jenn The Fraygirl (Fray), and SHDU are back for Chapter 298, and apparently Canadia's got some superhero-sized assets! We kick things off with Ben Wang's rumored Iceman casting, Ryan Reynolds potentially developing an Alpha Flight project, and Hugh Jackman's possible role in Avengers: Secret Wars. Meanwhile, Fray takes over the Watchtower to debate the Superman Saga and a Halloween costume photo that may have accidentally revealed villains from The Batman Part II. Then we're getting groovy with Doctor Evil's rumored return in Austin Powers 4, heading back to Panem with The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, and exploring more entertainment news, including Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Reacher, and a possible Donald Glover-led PUBG adaptation. Plus, we're diving into Ryan Gosling's Star Wars: Starfighter, the future of the Skywalker saga, and enough questionable jokes to make Deadpool request a Canadian apology. It's superhero speculation, fandom debates, and the usual Distance NERDing chaos! KEY TAKEAWAYS 🍁 Marvel & X-Men: Ben Wang as Iceman, Ryan Reynolds and Alpha Flight, Ghost Rider rumors, and Wolverine in Secret Wars. 🦇 DCU News: James Gunn's Superman Saga, Man of Tomorrow, and potential Two-Face and Court of Owls clues in The Batman Part II. 🎬 Movie News: Austin Powers 4, Doctor Evil, and The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. 📺 Streaming & Gaming: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Reacher spin-off talk, and Donald Glover's reported PUBG adaptation. 🌌 Star Wars: Ryan Gosling's Starfighter, Eva Mendes rumors, and the proposed future of the Skywalker saga. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Would you watch Ryan Reynolds bring Alpha Flight into the MCU? Should Ryan Gosling become Ghost Rider? And does Superman deserve an entire DCU saga? Drop your answers, questions, fan theories, and future episode suggestions in the comments! Subscribe, leave us a five-star review, share this episode with your favorite nerd, and help us keep NERDing together! LINKS & RESOURCES 🎧 Listen: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 🌐 Website: https://DistanceNERDing.com ⚡ Dubby Energy: Use code NERDING10 for 10% off! 💥 Proud partner of the Geek Freaks Network: https://GFpods.com 👕 Merch Store: https://www.streamlabs.com/distancenerding/merch FOLLOW DISTANCE NERDING 📸 Instagram: @distancenerding 🎵 TikTok: @distancenerding ▶️ YouTube: Distance NERDing 📘 Facebook: Distance NERDing 💬 Threads, Bluesky & X: Find Distance NERDing 🎮 Discord: Join our community through DistanceNERDing.com Thanks, and keep NERDing together!

Keanu Reeves, Maelstrom, Marvel rumors, and DC movie talk collide in Distance NERDing Chapter 297, "The Hurricane Knows Kung-Fu." A survival-thriller discussion becomes John Wick versus a hurricane, because apparently the weather needed a fight choreographer. Yung Phil, Jahmez 5000, and SHDU unpack chatter about Charlie Cox's Daredevil future, possible Defenders reunions, and Zodiac's rumored Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. connections. Then it's X-Men casting speculation, Kitty Pryde, and Phil's very reasonable demand: give us Lockheed, you cowards. On the DC side, the crew weighs Clayface's box-office discussion and horror expectations before tackling Keanu's reported Maelstrom role and the storm-powered Matrix riff behind this chapter's title. We also dig into the Elden Ring movie's fantasy-and-horror balancing act, debate Ridley Scott's Alien direction, and ask whether The Rocketeer deserves another shot at takeoff. Along the way, expect Dungeon Crawler Carl enthusiasm, reflections on beloved performers, gaming-industry frustration, and a debate about Legendary, Lionsgate, and Hollywood consolidation. Come for the pop culture news; stay for three nerds wondering whether the hurricane can actually throw hands. Key takeaways • 03:53 — Marvel rumors: Daredevil, the Defenders, Zodiac, and X-Men casting. Lockheed remains nonnegotiable. • 19:16 — Clayface: box-office talk, horror expectations, and DC taking risks. • 24:47 — Keanu Reeves and Maelstrom; the kung-fu hurricane joke erupts at 25:49. • 26:55 — Elden Ring adaptation talk, followed by Alien and The Rocketeer debates. • 55:41 — Legendary and Lionsgate: more competition or more Hollywood consolidation? Listen: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/search/Distance%20NERDing Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1540462354 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DistanceNerding Visit: https://DistanceNERDing.com Dubby Energy — Use code NERDING10 for 10% off Proud partner of the Geek Freaks Network — https://GFpods.com Merch Store: https://www.streamlabs.com/distancenerding/merch Follow @DistanceNERDing on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, and X for more nerd news and show updates. Who wins: John Wick or a kung-fu hurricane? Send your questions and future episode topics to [email protected] or DM @DistanceNERDing. Subscribe, leave a review, and share Chapter 297 with your favorite nerd. Keep NERDing together!

Marvel goes dark, Batman rumors explode, Street Fighter throws hands, and Jenn the Fraygirl chooses CHAOS! Welcome to Chapter 296 of Distance NERDing! Yung Phil, SHDU, Jenn the Fraygirl, and special guest host Frank from the Geek Freaks podcast tackle the latest Marvel, DC, Star Wars, movie, and streaming news. EPISODE SUMMARY Is Daredevil: Born Again really ending? Can Marvel's rumored Zodiac spy thriller redeem Secret Invasion? Will Peggy Carter survive the madness of Avengers: Doomsday? And why is James Gunn constantly battling DC rumors? We're breaking down Swamp Thing, Mister Miracle, The Batman Part II, a possible Batman cameo in Man of Tomorrow, the Warner Bros./Paramount-Skydance merger, and the return of RoboCop! Plus, Yung Phil defends the new Street Fighter movie, Taika Waititi's Star Wars project gets put on ice, and Netflix executive drama takes center stage. Meanwhile, Jenn questions Charlie Cox's abs, demands more from DC animation, admits to spreading a Martian Manhunter rumor, and gets so gloriously unhinged that the episode practically names itself. TIMESTAMPS & TOPICS 00:00 – Welcome to Distance NERDing! 04:32 – Daredevil: Born Again ending and Wonder Man's future 12:22 – Marvel's Zodiac spy thriller and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 18:55 – Peggy Carter and Avengers: Doomsday 26:02 – DC's Swamp Thing movie update 31:15 – Mister Miracle casting and animated series 34:16 – James Gunn shuts down DC rumors 38:57 – The Batman Part II and Matt Reeves 41:44 – Batman's rumored Man of Tomorrow appearance 47:17 – Warner Bros., Paramount-Skydance and the DCU 53:09 – RoboCop reboot and Paul Verhoeven 55:29 – Street Fighter movie review and box office 1:02:04 – Taika Waititi's Star Wars movie on ice 1:05:22 – Netflix leadership drama 1:13:16 – Community updates and Geek Freaks KEY TAKEAWAYS Daredevil: Born Again ending doesn't necessarily mean the end of Charlie Cox's MCU journey. Zodiac could bring grounded espionage and new characters to Marvel. Avengers: Doomsday's alternate scenes spark theories about Peggy Carter and Marvel's editing process. James Gunn is pushing back against rumors surrounding Batman, Supergirl, and Man of Tomorrow. DC's darker characters could thrive if projects like Clayface succeed. Street Fighter delivers video game action, but can it win over non-gamers? Taika Waititi's Star Wars movie is on hold, while Netflix faces leadership uncertainty. NERDY MOMENTS OF THE NIGHT Jenn: "I want to see a sex scene." Frank: "You don't have to raise your hand. It's a podcast." Jenn: "I did not start this rumor this time." Yung Phil: "She wants to be their unicorn." And yes, we somehow debated whether Hugh Jackman and Charlie Cox are aliens. JOIN THE NERD ARMY! Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and share the episode with your fellow nerds using #DistanceNERDing! What Marvel or DC project has you most excited? Did Street Fighter deliver? Send us your questions, theories, and future episode topics in the comments or on social media! 🎧 Listen: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 🌐 Website: DistanceNERDing.com ⚡ Dubby Energy: Use code NERDING10 for 10% off! 💥 Geek Freaks Network: GFpods.com 🛍️ Merch: https://www.streamlabs.com/distancenerding/merch 📱 Follow: @DistanceNERDing on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Threads, X, and Bluesky. Join the NERDington Post Facebook community and our Discord! Keep NERDing Together!

EPISODE SUMMARY The dinosaurs are unionizing! 🦖 Jurassic World's next chapter apparently comes with pension negotiations, mandatory lunch breaks, and a T. rex demanding representation. Meanwhile, Yung Phil accidentally transforms Avatar: A Wave of Chaos into "Avatar: Wave of Ass," Jahmez 5000 knows an episode title when he hears one, and SHDU tries to steer this runaway nerd-mobile back onto the road. Join Distance NERDing for New York Comic Con 2026 news, Marvel and MCU theories, X-Men '97, Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel Zombies, the X-Files reboot, Stargate, Cyberpunk 2077, Star Trek and more! TIMESTAMPS & TOPICS 00:26 Meet the crew: Yung Phil, Jahmez 5000 & SHDU 03:44 Cody Rhodes at Marvel Studios: MCU casting speculation 08:03 Nick Fury and Avengers: Secret Wars 11:48 Marvel's Zodiac and possible S.H.I.E.L.D. connections 19:15 Marvel Zombies animated specials 22:26 X-Men '97 Season 3: Mystique, Deadpool and Rogue/Gambit 27:07 Avengers: Doomsday's darker tone and Doctor Doom theories 34:38 Ryan Coogler's The X-Files reboot 36:34 Ghost of Tsushima: Legends anime 38:09 Stargate revival and Jac Schaeffer 40:15 Greta Gerwig's Narnia: The Magician's Nephew 43:04 Avatar: Seven Havens and the next Avatar 46:34 Avatar Kuruk: A Wave of Chaos becomes "Wave of Ass" 49:42 Cyberpunk 2077 live-action movie and Keanu Reeves debate 54:28 Jurassic World: dinosaur union negotiations 🦖 58:23 Chris Hemsworth / Optimus Prime speculation 1:00:31 Star Trek: Starfleet Academy and Trek's optimistic future 1:02:59 Show updates and sign-off KEY TAKEAWAYS • Marvel's Zodiac logo sparks S.H.I.E.L.D. and Secret Wars theories. • The crew debates whether Doctor Doom needs to win in Avengers: Doomsday. • Avatar's expanding universe inspires enthusiasm and an unforgettable accidental title. • A Cyberpunk movie needs Night City atmosphere, not just familiar faces. • Star Trek works best when it gives humanity something hopeful to aspire to. • Dinosaur workers deserve a fair pension. Probably. BEST BITS "I'm in the closet. I'm eating tacos. I don't know what's happening." "Wave, wave of ass." "The dinosaurs are unionizing everyone." "I want to feel good about humanity for once." JOIN THE NERDINGTON Subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share your favorite chaotic moment with #DistanceNERDing. Which MCU theory are you buying? Would you watch Avatar: Wave of Ass? And what benefits should the Jurassic World dinosaurs demand? Send us your questions and topics for a future show! 🎧 Listen: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 🌐 DistanceNERDing.com ⚡ Dubby Energy: NERDING10 for 10% off 💥 Geek Freaks Network: GFpods.com 👕 Merch: www.streamlabs.com/distancenerding/merch 📱 Follow @DistanceNERDing on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, X/Twitter, Facebook and other socials. Join our Discord community!

Yung Phil, Jahmez 5000, and SHDU are back to tackle another week of nerd news... although we're beginning to suspect SHDU doesn't actually WATCH anything. Fast & Furious? Nope. Various movies? Nope. At this point we're pretty sure he just waits for Yung Phil and Jahmez to explain pop culture to him live on the show. This week, Hollywood has apparently unlocked its final form as Paramount and Warner Bros. become one gigantic media Voltron. We break down what the Paramount Warner Bros. deal could mean for movies, streaming, DC Studios, theatrical releases, and the increasingly tiny number of corporations controlling your entertainment. Meanwhile, Avengers: Endgame climbs back onto the box-office throne, Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom raises some multiversal questions, The Batman Part II hits pause, and James Gunn and Peter Safran appear to be sticking around DC Studios. Then ONE SHOTS goes completely off the rails: Stephen Colbert's Lord of the Rings project hits trouble, Sicario 3 becomes "The Search for Churros," Fast & Furious heads to television, Arnold Schwarzenegger becomes Santa Claus, Helldivers gets delayed, Game of Thrones heads to theaters, Neagley gets another season, and KPop Demon Hunters 2 prepares for a massive theatrical run. Plus, Star Trek heads into an unfamiliar future, the Transformers/G.I. Joe crossover is officially dead, Bradley Cooper could become Duke, Steven Spielberg and Michael Bay circle Transformers again, and we ask the question Hollywood refuses to answer: Will any of these corporate mergers make the churros cheaper? Spoiler: absolutely not. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Welcome to Chapter 294 04:23 – Avengers: Endgame reclaims the box-office crown 06:50 – Is RDJ's Doctor Doom really a Tony Stark variant? 10:11 – The Batman Part II pauses production 13:29 – James Gunn & Peter Safran survive the WB shake-up 17:54 – ONE SHOTS begins 18:14 – Stephen Colbert's Lord of the Rings project paused 22:00 – Sicario 3: The Search for More Churros 24:22 – Fast & Furious races onto television 26:22 – Arnold Schwarzenegger becomes Santa 31:04 – Alan Ritchson & the Helldivers movie 34:16 – Game of Thrones: Aegon's Conquest heads to theaters 36:09 – Neagley scores Season 2 38:41 – KPop Demon Hunters 2 goes BIG theatrically 41:39 – Star Trek gets a fresh crew and future 46:40 – Transformers/G.I. Joe crossover is DEAD 48:59 – Bradley Cooper, Danny McBride & a new G.I. Joe 50:03 – Spielberg + Michael Bay return to Transformers? 53:43 – TREND UP: The Paramount Warner Bros. mega-merger 🧠 KEY TAKEAWAYS • The crew debates whether RDJ's Doctor Doom could flip the MCU's Tony Stark story completely on its head. • DC fans can breathe a little easier with Gunn and Safran seemingly maintaining control of the DCU. • Netflix finally seems ready to treat KPop Demon Hunters like the theatrical juggernaut it could become. • G.I. Joe and Transformers are both moving forward, just no longer together. • Paramount + Warner Bros. creates an enormous entertainment company, but regulatory conditions could protect theatrical releases and some independent filmmaking. • Churro inflation remains the greatest threat facing modern civilization. 😂 QUOTES & BITS "If I would've went and saw it, it would've went $3 billion." "We could get Leonardo DiCaprio, but we'd have to raise churro prices by $3." "Sicario 3: The Search for Churros." "Nothing is stronger than family... except the streaming deal." "Cautiously... pessimistically optimistic." 🚀 KEEP NERDING TOGETHER! Enjoyed Chapter 294? Subscribe, leave us a 5-star review, and share the episode with the nerd in your life who still thinks one company owning everything sounds perfectly normal. Join the conversation on social media using #DistanceNERDing and tell us: Does the Paramount/WB merger make you excited, nervous, or both? Got a question, hot take, rumor, or topic you want us to tackle? Send it our way and it could make a future chapter! 🎧 Listen: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 🌐 Visit: DistanceNERDing.com ⚡ Dubby Energy – Use code NERDING10 for 10% off 💥 Proud partner of the Geek Freaks Network – GFpods.com 👕 Merch Store: streamlabs.com/distancenerding/merch 📲 FOLLOW DISTANCE NERDING Follow @DistanceNERDing on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, X/Twitter, Facebook and BlueSky, and join the Distance NERDing community on Discord. Keep NERDing Together!

🔥 Jen came prepared to do one thing this week: intentionally anger the internet. Unfortunately for Yung Phil and SHDU, they were sitting within the blast radius. This week on Distance NERDing, Yung Phil, Jen The Fray Girl, and SHDU dive headfirst into the latest nerd news, rumors, casting chaos, and fandom debates. Before the news even starts, Jen declares war on Masters of the Universe, forcing Phil to defend Gym-Bro Skeletor before the show completely derails. Then we're talking Sean Gunn retiring from Rocket Raccoon motion-reference work, Lady Gaga possibly joining the MCU, Vision Quest, Elle Fanning potentially becoming Mystique, the wild new Avengers: Endgame Encore ending, Chris Pine potentially voicing Batman, an R-rated Godzilla, Gremlins 3, live-action Naruto, more Reacher, a darker Mary Poppins, Dan Trachtenberg tackling Sleeping Beauty and, finally, the question guaranteed to summon the fandom pitchforks: Do we actually need MORE Skywalkers? Jen has thoughts. Phil has counter-thoughts. SHDU would just like an Old Republic trilogy. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS & TOPICS 00:00 – Welcome to Distance NERDing 03:13 – Jen immediately rage-baits Phil over Masters of the Universe 06:28 – Sean Gunn retires from Rocket Raccoon motion-reference work 10:17 – Lady Gaga reportedly joining the MCU 14:32 – Vision Quest: Human Torch, Ultron & Jocasta theories 18:46 – Elle Fanning rumored for Mystique 24:45 – Avengers: Endgame Encore gets a new ending & Doomsday connections 29:42 – Dynamic Duo: Chris Pine as Batman? 36:35 – ONE SHOTS! 37:00 – Godzilla goes R-rated 38:27 – Gremlins 3 and the existential problem with "after midnight" 40:31 – Live-action Naruto goes back to the beginning 43:56 – Reacher already renewed for Season 6 47:46 – A darker live-action Mary Poppins series? 50:05 – Dan Trachtenberg's darker Snow White-inspired project 53:05 – Somehow… the Skywalkers returned 56:00 – Jen chooses violence and DEFENDS more Skywalker stories 59:46 – SHDU demands an Old Republic trilogy 1:00:07 – Show updates, RPG necromancy & zombie Jen 1:04:31 – Keep NERDing Together! 🤓 KEY TAKEAWAYS Jen did not like Masters of the Universe. Phil would like the record to show that she is wrong. Marvel's rumor mill is overflowing with Gaga, Mystique, mutants and Vision Quest speculation. Endgame Encore potentially creates major connective tissue heading toward Avengers: Doomsday. An R-rated Godzilla somehow feels overdue. Nobody has completely solved the "don't feed Gremlins after midnight" logistical nightmare. The crew is cautiously intrigued by live-action Naruto. Reacher's body count may eventually require international intervention. The Skywalker debate proves Star Wars discourse remains the internet's renewable energy source. SHDU's solution: forget all of this and give us the Old Republic. 😂 QUOTES & BITS Jen: "It had commitment issues." Phil: "Gym Bro Skeletor was amazing." Jen: "His body count is getting to the point where he might have to go to The Hague." Phil: "Jen was just trying to immediately piss off the internet right there." SHDU: "I think we should get an Old Republic trilogy, and we're moving on." 🚀 KEEP NERDING WITH US What do YOU think? Do we need more Skywalker Saga? Who should Lady Gaga play in the MCU? Would Elle Fanning work as Mystique? And most importantly, was Jen right about Masters of the Universe? Subscribe, leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review, and share the episode using #DistanceNERDing! 🎧 Listen: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 🌐 Visit: DistanceNERDing.com ⚡ Dubby Energy: Use code NERDING10 for 10% off 💥 Geek Freaks Network: GFpods.com 👕 Merch: streamlabs.com/distancenerding/merch 📲 FOLLOW US Follow @DistanceNERDing on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Threads, X/Twitter, BlueSky and more for nerd news, interviews, convention coverage and daily videos. ❓ LISTENER QUESTIONS Got a fandom hot take, question, rumor, or topic guaranteed to start an argument? Send it our way and you might hear it on a future episode!

Beam us up, Alfred! 🖖🦇 Yung Phil, Jahmez 5000, and SHDU are back to break down another week of Marvel, DC, horror, Star Wars, and general nerd chaos. Unfortunately, before we can discuss movies, we once again have to establish whether SHDU has actually SEEN any movies. World War Z? Nope. Live-action Aladdin? Nope. At this rate, his Letterboxd account is just going to be a blank page with Project Hail Mary sitting in the middle. This week we debate the future of Daredevil: Born Again, speculate about Marvel's new X-Men casting, investigate a Funko Pop leak potentially spoiling Avengers: Doomsday, and ask the question nobody expected: Chris Pine as Batman?! Then the zombies rise as World War Z 2 crawls back to life, Zack Snyder potentially returns to 300, Disney reportedly dusts off Aladdin 2, and Yung Phil explains why the new Resident Evil movie feels like watching someone actually play a Resident Evil game. Finally, we venture into a galaxy far, far away to discuss the rumored Simon Kinberg Star Wars trilogy and accidentally create our next show: SHDU Hasn't Seen. ⏱️ Timestamps & Topics 00:00 – Welcome to Chapter 292 02:53 – Tonight: Marvel, Batman, zombies, abs & more abs 03:55 – Daredevil: Born Again reportedly ending with Season 3 08:32 – Marvel's X-Men reboot casting rumors 11:17 – McKenna Grace's rumored new MCU role 14:55 – Avengers: Doomsday Funko leak & Binary 18:28 – "Beam Me Up, Alfred!" Chris Pine as Batman? 21:35 – World War Z 2 lives! 24:34 – Zack Snyder returning to the world of 300 29:03 – Disney reportedly reviving Aladdin 2 34:13 – Resident Evil reaction & box-office discussion 37:08 – Why Resident Evil feels like playing the game 43:57 – Simon Kinberg's rumored Star Wars trilogy 48:14 – SHDU HAS seen Project Hail Mary! 48:39 – Introducing our future series: "SHDU Hasn't Seen" 49:00 – Distance NERDing schedule & what's next 🤓 Key Takeaways • Daredevil ending may not necessarily mean the MCU is finished with Matt Murdock. • Marvel's X-Men casting rumors have the crew considering Jubilee, Psylocke, Warpath, Sunspot, Kitty Pryde, Dazzler and more. • A Funko leak may have revealed another Avengers: Doomsday character. • Chris Pine could potentially voice Batman in DC's stop-motion Dynamic Duo. • World War Z 2 is moving again after more than a decade of sequel limbo. • Resident Evil succeeds by borrowing the tension, puzzles, locked doors and player reactions of the games instead of simply retelling one. • Another Star Wars trilogy may be moving forward, but the crew wants to see cameras rolling before celebrating. 😂 Best Bits "Nailed it. 292nd time." "My 401K is wrapped up in Funko." "This proves that the zombie genre isn't dead yet." "You could even say it's undead." "The name of the show is SHDU Hasn't Seen." And somehow Conan the Barbarian briefly became Conan O'Brien. We're leaving that one for the historians. 🚀 Keep NERDing Together! Enjoyed Chapter 292? Subscribe, leave us a 5-star review, and share the episode with another nerd! Join the conversation using #DistanceNERDing and tell us: What movie does SHDU absolutely HAVE to watch? 🔗 Links & Resources 🎧 Listen: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 🌐 Visit: DistanceNERDing.com ⚡ Dubby Energy – Use code NERDING10 for 10% off 💥 Proud partner of the Geek Freaks Network – GFpods.com 👕 Merch: www.streamlabs.com/distancenerding/merch 📲 Follow Distance NERDing Follow @DistanceNERDing on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Threads, X/Twitter, BlueSky and wherever nerds gather online. ❓ Listener Questions What are YOU nerding out on? Send us your questions, theories, casting ideas, hot takes, or something SHDU apparently needs to watch, and we may tackle it on a future episode. Keep NERDing Together!

Zoinks! This week Yung Phil, Jenn the Fray Girl, and SHDU are back to break down another ridiculous week in nerd news... assuming Jenn doesn't swipe left on the story first. 😂 Marvel kicks things off with Vision Quest, the MCU's upcoming X-Men, Angel casting talk, Al Pacino rumors, and the possibility of The Maker appearing in Avengers: Secret Wars. Over at DC, we're talking The People vs. Gorilla Grodd, Matt Reeves expanding his Gotham universe, and theories surrounding the Court of Owls. Then the Mystery Machine crashes directly through the studio. Netflix's live-action Scooby-Doo Origins inspires perhaps our greatest terrible idea yet: Scooby-Doo: How to Catch a Predator, where Scooby solves the crimes, Shaggy translates because he's definitely seeing things, and nobody believes the detective because... he's a dog. Plus: Netflix goes to Hell with an animated Diablo series, Yung Phil nerds WAY too hard over StarCraft, Jenn continues swiping through stories like Nerd Tinder, and The Odyssey becomes an excuse to argue about Greek mythology, Homer, IMAX, and spoilers for a story that's roughly 3,000 years old. Just another completely normal Tuesday at Distance NERDing. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS & TOPICS 00:00 – Welcome to Chapter 291 + Jenn returns 05:00 – Vision Quest and the future of Vision 09:50 – Marvel's X-Men, Angel & Apocalypse talk 16:25 – Al Pacino joining the MCU?! 21:15 – The Maker in Avengers: Secret Wars 24:10 – The People vs. Gorilla Grodd gets wonderfully weird 30:35 – Matt Reeves expands his Batman universe 36:05 – Court of Owls theories for The Batman Part II 40:40 – Scooby-Doo Origins + a REAL Great Dane 43:45 – SCOOBY-DOO: HOW TO CATCH A PREDATOR 💀 45:20 – Netflix's animated Diablo series 47:30 – BlizzCon, Diablo, Warcraft & Yung Phil's StarCraft meltdown 53:05 – The Odyssey conquers the box office 55:00 – SHDU's Greek mythology origin story 58:40 – Spoilers for a 3,000-year-old book 59:25 – Distance NERDing schedule + what's next 1:02:00 – Subscribe, review & KEEP NERDING TOGETHER! 🧠 KEY TAKEAWAYS Vision Quest may operate more as its own Vision story than simply the finale of the WandaVision/Agatha saga. The crew dives deep into how the MCU could approach Angel, Mister Sinister, Apocalypse and the next generation of X-Men. Gorilla Grodd in a true-crime/mockumentary-style DC series is exactly the kind of comic-book weirdness we want. A grounded Gotham TV universe could explore Arkham, Hugo Strange, Scarecrow, Harley Quinn and other corners of Batman mythology. Netflix's live-action Scooby-Doo needs to remember one crucial ingredient: Scooby has to feel like SCOOBY. Diablo has plenty of lore for animation, while Yung Phil is apparently willing to wait until the next geological era for more StarCraft. The Odyssey discussion proves you apparently CAN spoil a 3,000-year-old story... but you've had time. 😂 QUOTES & BEST BITS Jenn the Fray Girl: "I think what they should do is make it Scooby-Doo: How to Catch a Predator." Yung Phil: "Zoinks! The dog just talked to me, man." Jenn the Fray Girl: "Scooby is actually the one solving all of the crimes, but nobody believes it because he's a dog." SHDU: "It has been out for 3,000 years. You have had time." Jenn the Fray Girl: "I've read them a couple of times in the 3,000 years that they've been out." Yung Phil: "Because she is immortal." 📣 KEEP NERDING TOGETHER! Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, leave us a 5-star review, and send Chapter 291 to the Scooby-Doo, Marvel, DC, gaming or Greek mythology nerd in your life. Share your favorite moment using #DistanceNERDing and tell us: Which story gets YOUR swipe right... and which one are you launching directly into the sun? 🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🎧 Listen: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 🌐 Visit: DistanceNERDing.com ⚡ Dubby Energy: Use code NERDING10 for 10% off 💥 Proud Partner: Geek Freaks Network – GFpods.com 👕 Merch: www.streamlabs.com/distancenerding/merch 📱 FOLLOW US Follow @DistanceNERDing on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, X/Twitter, Facebook and BlueSky. Join the NERDington Post Facebook Group and hang with us on Discord for even more nerdy nonsense. ❓ LISTENER QUESTIONS What are YOU nerding out on? Send us your questions, theories, hot takes and future episode topics. Would you watch Scooby-Doo: How to Catch a Predator? Who should Al Pacino play in the MCU? And which nerd-news story are you swiping right on? Come join the conversation. ⚡ KEEP NERDING TOGETHER!

It's morphin' time... apparently, MATT DAMON?! ⚡ Yung Phil, Jahmez and SHDU dive headfirst into another week of pop culture chaos as Marvel rumors multiply faster than Gremlins after midnight, the DCU may have found its new Wonder Woman, Vin Diesel potentially eyes the director's chair, and Matt Damon shows up looking suspiciously ready to yell, "IT'S MORPHIN' TIME!" We break down the future of NOVA in the MCU, the surprising end of SPIDER-NOIR, Sydney Sweeney casting rumors, possible AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY cameos and Noah Jupe potentially playing an older Franklin Richards. Over in the DCU, could Adria Arjona secretly be WONDER WOMAN? Then Matt Damon's mysterious new Daniels movie gives us major Power Rangers energy, Dave Bautista gets absolutely SHREDDED for KRATOS, Florence Pugh could enter the JAMES BOND universe as Moneypenny, and THE KANE CHRONICLES could expand Disney's Percy Jackson mythology. We also celebrate BRUCE CAMPBELL, somehow develop a business plan involving Graveyard, roadside pizza balls and a lawsuit, and debate whether THE MANDALORIAN & GROGU belonged in theaters or on Disney+. Because apparently the road to meeting Bruce Campbell begins with intellectual-property-infringing pizza. 🍕😂 ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS & TOPICS 00:00 – Welcome to Chapter 290 04:16 – Should Marvel's NOVA be a movie or Disney+ series? 08:09 – SPIDER-NOIR canceled after one season 13:04 – Sydney Sweeney MCU casting rumors 15:44 – AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY rumors go completely feral 19:30 – Noah Jupe as Franklin Richards? 23:42 – WATCHING THE WATCHTOWER 24:15 – Adria Arjona secretly playing WONDER WOMAN? 28:22 – HEADLINES 28:59 – Could Vin Diesel direct FAST FOREVER? 31:10 – GO GO MATT DAMON RANGERS! ⚡ 34:26 – Dave Bautista getting shredded for KRATOS 37:06 – Florence Pugh as Moneypenny in the James Bond universe 40:28 – THE KANE CHRONICLES coming to Disney+ 44:26 – Bruce Campbell update and celebrating his career 45:19 – Pizza Balls, Graveyard & the world's strangest Bruce Campbell plan 🍕 47:32 – Did THE MANDALORIAN & GROGU belong in theaters? 51:46 – Why audiences may be waiting for streaming 55:55 – Final thoughts & outro 🧠 KEY TAKEAWAYS • The crew votes for NOVA getting room to breathe as a series rather than squeezing Richard Rider's cosmic MCU story into one movie. • AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY rumor fatigue is real... until somebody drops another juicy Deadpool, Wolverine or Tobey Maguire rumor. • Adria Arjona's comments aren't exactly helping convince anyone that she ISN'T the DCU's Wonder Woman. • Matt Damon plus The Daniels plus superhero suits equals one giant "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!" that we absolutely want to see. • Dave Bautista already looks Kratos-ready, and somehow he's STILL training. • Florence Pugh could be an intriguing way to expand the James Bond universe beyond 007. • Rick Riordan's Kane Chronicles opens the door to an even bigger shared mythology universe on Disney+. • The Mandalorian & Grogu debate exposes a larger Hollywood problem: audiences increasingly wait for streaming unless a movie feels like a MUST-SEE theatrical event. 💬 QUOTES & BEST BITS ⚡ "Go, go, Damon Rangers!" 😂 "He looks... kind of like a low-rent One Punch Man." 💪 "He looks more ripped than a sheet of paper, bro." 🍕 "Why don't they have pizza balls in Avengers Campus? I want a pizza ball." 😂 The plan to meet Bruce Campbell: Move Graveyard to Oregon, open a roadside Pizza Ball stand, wait for Bruce to sue him... and BOOM, introduction secured. 🎬 On endless Doomsday leaks: "Give us the damn movie." 🚀 JOIN THE NERDINGTON POST Enjoyed the episode? SUBSCRIBE, leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and share Chapter 290 with another nerd! Join the conversation on social media and tell us what YOU'RE nerding out about using #DistanceNERDing. And remember: KEEP NERDING TOGETHER! 🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🎧 Listen: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube🌐 Visit: DistanceNERDing.com⚡ Dubby Energy – Use code NERDING10 for 10% off💥 Proud partner of the Geek Freaks Network – GFpods.com👕 Merch Store: www.streamlabs.com/distancenerding/merch 📱 FOLLOW DISTANCE NERDING Follow @DistanceNERDing on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Threads, X/Twitter and BlueSky. Join the NERDington Post Facebook community and keep the conversation going between episodes! ❓ LISTENER QUESTIONS What should we talk about next? Send us your questions, casting debates, theories, convention stories and gloriously unnecessary nerd arguments! Who should play Wonder Woman? Is Matt Damon officially an honorary Power Ranger? Should Mando have stayed on Disney+? And most importantly... would YOU eat a Pizza Ball? Send us your questions and you might hear them discussed on a future chapter!

Episode Summary The studios are merging, the Avengers need more chairs, Tom Cruise is climbing back into a race car, RoboCop is returning, and somehow SHDU STILL hasn't read Dungeon Crawler Carl. Clearly, civilization is thriving. Yung Phil, Jahmez and SHDU dive into a packed week of nerd news, including Jeremy Renner teasing Hawkeye's return, Avengers: Doomsday reportedly adding even MORE cameos, and rumors surrounding Hulk, Scarlet Witch, Ghost Rider and Deadpool. Then we enter the Crisis in Infinite Studios as the crew debates James Gunn and Peter Safran's DCU future, Paramount's potential Warner Bros. takeover, stalled DC projects, Supergirl's box office performance, and why Lanterns, Clayface and genre-driven storytelling could keep the DCU moving forward. Elsewhere, Coyote vs. Acme finally hits theaters, Tom Cruise and Anne Hathaway head toward Days of Thunder 2, Murderbot loads up Season 2, and Dan Stevens becomes RoboCop. The episode also takes a heartfelt turn as we remember the extraordinary careers and legacies of Peter Cullen and Tim Curry before debating whether Hayden Christensen really needs his own Darth Vader movie. Finally, Paramount wants to release THIRTY movies every year. Thirty. Apparently sleep is no longer part of the theatrical business model. ⏱️ Timestamps & Topics 00:00 – Welcome to Distance NERDing 03:30 – Jeremy Renner teases Hawkeye's return 05:34 – Avengers: Doomsday adds MORE cameos 08:22 – Ghost Rider, X-Men & Deadpool rumors 10:21 – Has the Doomsday plot leaked? 11:54 – Crisis in Infinite Studios: the future of DC 13:12 – Supergirl, James Gunn & DC's growing pains 16:22 – What gets audiences back into theaters? 19:18 – Coyote vs. Acme hits the box office 20:45 – Tom Cruise & Anne Hathaway in Days of Thunder 2 23:24 – Murderbot Season 2 stacks its cast 24:48 – Dan Stevens becomes RoboCop 27:17 – SHDU's required RoboCop homework 29:23 – Remembering Peter Cullen 34:16 – Remembering Tim Curry 39:34 – Hayden Christensen's rumored Star Wars deal 40:03 – Do we REALLY need a Darth Vader movie? 45:21 – Paramount promises 30 theatrical movies a year 47:35 – Are longer theatrical windows coming back? 49:18 – Paramount/Warner Bros. monopoly concerns 50:27 – Can 30 movies a year actually be GOOD? 🧠 Key Takeaways Avengers: Doomsday could be turning into an enormous MCU reunion with rumored cameos from across Marvel. James Gunn and Peter Safran appear to remain central to DC Studios despite corporate uncertainty. DC's genre-first strategy could be one of the DCU's biggest strengths. Coyote vs. Acme finally getting released proves shelving finished movies isn't the only option. Dan Stevens could be a fascinating choice to bring RoboCop back to television. Hayden Christensen returning as Anakin/Vader sounds exciting, but Vader may work better as a looming threat than the center of another movie. Paramount committing to 30 theatrical releases could help theaters, but quality control, ticket prices and corporate consolidation remain huge concerns. Peter Cullen and Tim Curry leave behind extraordinary bodies of work that shaped generations of nerd culture. SHDU has somehow found time for Star Wars, Murderbot discussions and RoboCop homework, but still hasn't read Dungeon Crawler Carl. Goddammit, Donut. 😂 Quotes & Best Bits "We need a Hulk." "I think I'm cursed to have crushes on all of the Jean Greys." "NASCAR has a senior circuit." "My friends call me Murphy. You call me RoboCop... excuse me, I have to go somewhere. There is a crime happening." "He's an unstoppable force." "A broken clock is right twice a day." 🚀 Keep NERDing Together! Enjoying Distance NERDing? Subscribe, leave us a 5-star review, and share Chapter 289 with the nerdiest person in your multiverse. Post your favorite moment using #DistanceNERDing and help another nerd stumble onto the worst-kept secret on the internet. 🔗 Links & Resources 🎧 Listen: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 🌐 Visit: DistanceNERDing.com ⚡ Dubby Energy: Use code NERDING10 for 10% off 💥 Proud partner of the Geek Freaks Network: GFpods.com 👕 Merch Store: www.streamlabs.com/distancenerding/merch 📲 Follow Us Follow @DistanceNERDing on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Threads, X/Twitter and Bluesky, and join the Distance NERDing community on Discord. ❓ Listener Questions Should James Gunn stay in charge of the DCU? Who do you think is secretly appearing in Avengers: Doomsday? Do we need a Darth Vader movie? And most importantly: How many more chapters until SHDU finally reads Dungeon Crawler Carl?! Send us your questions and future episode topics!