Din Djarin Finds His Way Home in ‘The Mandalorian’ Season 3 Trailer

January 17, 2023January 18, 2023 Michael Lee

Though The Mandalorian season two finale saw Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) part ways with Grogu, their separation was short-lived as the two were eventually reunited in the final episodes of The Book of Boba Fett. Together once again, they’ll travel across the galaxy in pursuit of adventure. And a new trailer reveals more of the overarching plot and character drama, which sees Din trying to make amends for his past transgressions and the Republic making an effort to move away from its dark past.

Animation, Interview, Star Wars

‘The Bad Batch’ Stars and Executive Producers Discuss Making the Second Season

January 3, 2023January 2, 2023 Lauren Lola

One day remains until the return of Star Wars: The Bad Batch. For its second season, audiences will get to continue riding along with this troop of genetically altered clones as they navigate the ever-changing galaxy following Order 66, and where they fit into all of this.

Animation, Star Wars, Streaming

New ‘Bad Batch’ Trailer Teases Action Packed, High Stakes Second Season

December 7, 2022December 7, 2022 Lauren Lola

A peaceful-looking island on an unknown planet, followed immediately by members of the squad of genetically altered clones, the Bad Batch, being chased by large crabs, breaks the ground for a glimpse at what’s to come from the upcoming second season of Star Wars: The Bad Batch. Set in the aftermath of Order 66, the show follows these group of rogue clones, as they navigate a galaxy under this questionable new Empire.

Anime, Star Wars1 Comment

Studio Ghibli and Lucasfilm Team on a Grogu Short

November 11, 2022November 12, 2022 Keith Chow

Yesterday, Studio Ghibli, the iconic Japanese animation house founded by Hayao Miyazaki, set the internet ablaze when it cryptically tweeted a video of the Lucasfilm logo morphing into its own studio card.

Animation, Reviews, Star Wars

Background and Filler Stories Unfold in ‘Tales of the Jedi’

October 27, 2022October 28, 2022 Lauren Lola

One of the positives — in my opinion, anyway — to come out of streaming services creating their own original content is making space for short films to be created and to live on. Whether they be standalone tales or bits and pieces of a larger franchise, they are opportunities for filmmakers to tell a moving story within a short span of time.

Hard N.O.C. Life, Podcasts

Hard NOC Life 287: K.E.V.I.N Can Fix Himself

October 17, 2022October 17, 2022 Hard NOC Media

With Britney out this week, it’s up to Keith and Dominic to cover a week even an A.I. Kevin Feige couldn’t predict, such as the fallout from the latest MCU schedule shuffle, as well as She-Hulk lampshading Marvel’s greatest flaws.

Hard N.O.C. Life, Podcasts

Hard NOC Life 286: Y Tu Namor También

October 10, 2022 Hard NOC Media

This week, Britney, Keith, and Dominic are joined by Friend of the NOC, Catrina Dennis to break down the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trailer, and marvel at Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal’s ascension up the Disney ranks with Andor and Werewolf By Night, respectively. They also geek out over Daredevil’s appearance in She-Hulk and share what’s nerd poppin’ from Star Trek: Picard to Hocus Pocus 2 and “Super” Black Adam rumors.

Hard N.O.C. Life, Podcasts

Hard NOC Life 285: Welcome to the MC-Hugh

October 3, 2022October 3, 2022 Hard NOC Media

This episode was recorded before Marvel dropped the Wakanda Forever trailer so tune in next week for thoughts on that! In the meantime, Britney, Keith, and Dominic weigh in on Hugh Jackman’s return as Wolverine in Deadpool III, reported trouble on the Blade set, and the latest She-Hulk and Andor episodes.

Hard N.O.C. Life, Podcasts

Hard NOC Life 284: ‘Andor’ Can Never Be Too Emo

September 26, 2022September 26, 2022 Hard NOC Media

The three-episode premiere of Andor is finally here, and Britney, Keith, and Dominic have thoughts! They break down everything they love about the latest, and potentially greatest, Star Wars property — including the everyone’s favorite Emo droid –and why it’s nice to finally have a Star War that f*cks. Later, Keith interviews Friend of the NOC Marc Bernardin about his various projects and his 10-year podcasting adventure and friendship with Kevin Smith.

Music, Star Wars1 Comment

Listen to B2EMO’S Extra Emo Playlist After Watching ‘Andor’

September 26, 2022September 26, 2022 Britney Monae

As both an emo girl and a Star Wars fan for life, it felt only fitting that I come up with a playlist for the newest and most emo droid on the block: B2EMO from Disney+’s series, Andor. Here are twelve songs that B2EMO is definitely rocking out to when Cassian isn’t around.

Interview, Star Wars, Streaming

‘Andor’ Cast Reflects on Finding Human Stories in a Star Wars Universe

September 20, 2022September 20, 2022 Michael Lee

Andor provides us with a brand new perspective of the Star Wars universe. It’s one that doesn’t concern itself so much with the battle between Jedi and Sith, but more so the political angst as well as life under authoritarian oppression.

Hard N.O.C. Life, Podcasts

Hard NOC Life 283: How Do You Celebrate Batman Day?

September 19, 2022September 19, 2022 Hard NOC Media

Britney, Keith, and Dominic celebrate Batman Day! They also break down the latest She-Hulk and speculate about Daredevil’s forthcoming appearance. Then, Keith explains what a HasLab is and why toy collectors are freaking out about the latest offering.

Hard N.O.C. Life, Podcasts

Hard NOC Life 282: Madisynn, Wongers, and D23

September 12, 2022September 12, 2022 Hard NOC Media

Britney, Keith, and Dominic go over all of the best announcements from the D23 Expo. They also break down the importance of the Wong and Madisynn relationship on She-Hulk. The discussion goes in many different directions. But not where you think!

Animation, Conventions, Star Wars

D23Expo: Star Wars Animation Expands with ‘Tales of the Jedi’

September 10, 2022September 11, 2022 Michael Lee

Dave Filoni brought his love for all things Star Wars to the Clone Wars animated series. While he has made the jump to live-action, directing a handful of episodes of The Mandolorian, he found his way back to animation with shows like The Bad Batch — a series that focuses on a team of specialized clones who go on black-ops missions that no other Clone dare go on. But just in time for the D23 Expo celebration, Filoni announced a brand new series of shorts called Tales of the Jedi. And he revealed a first look at the upcoming six-episode series.

Star Wars, Streaming1 Comment

D23Expo: ‘Andor’ Teases A Dark and Gritty ‘Star Wars’ Spy Thriller

September 10, 2022September 19, 2022 Michael Lee

The D23 Expo is currently underway, which means we are getting a first hand look at some of the new content that will appear in film or on Disney+. After yesterday’s animation, live-action, and Pixar panel, Disney shared a few sneak peeks at Lucasfilm. And they started things off with Andor, the highly anticipated prequel series to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Set five years before the events of Rogue One, the series follows Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) who joins the Rebel Alliance as a spy fed up with the Galactic Empire.

Star Wars, Streaming

New Looks and Release Date for ‘Andor’

August 2, 2022August 2, 2022 Lauren Lola

Yesterday, Star Wars fans got a new trailer for the upcoming live-action series, Andor. Starring Diego Luna returning as Cassian Andor from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the show begins five years prior, as we see him at the beginning of his journey in both making a difference in the galaxy, as well as getting involved in the burgeoning Rebellion against the Galactic Empire.

Books, Fandom, Scholarship1 Comment

The Power of Fandom for Radical Change

July 16, 2022July 17, 2022 Shawn Taylor

Hello Folks,

It has been a minute. I’ve been working on too many projects so I’m not able to write as much as I would like for NOC. I wanted to show folks some of the stuff I’ve been crafting while I’ve been away.

Conventions, Toys

Action Figure Fans Can Collect Themselves with Hasbro Selfie Series

July 13, 2022July 13, 2022 Keith Chow

Hasbro just announced an awesome new way to collect action figures called Hasbro Selfie Series! Launching exclusively on the Hasbro Pulse Mobile App this fall, the custom offering allows fans to create a collector-grade 6-inch action figure in their likeness based on fan-favorite character costume designs from G.I. Joe, Ghostbusters, Power Rangers, Marvel, and Star Wars.

Hard N.O.C. Life, Marvel

Hard NOC Life 274: Take Me Down to Omnipotence City

July 11, 2022July 18, 2022 Hard NOC Media

Keith is back with Britney to review Thor: Love and Thunder and episode five of Ms. Marvel on this episode of Hard NOC Life. What’s #NerdPoppin: The Umbrella Acadmey on Netflix and Talkville, the Smallville rewatch podcast with Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum.

Hard N.O.C. Life, Marvel

Hard NOC Life 273: Happy Colonizer Cotillion

July 4, 2022July 4, 2022 Hard NOC Media

Keith and Dominic are still off, so Brother Nate is back with Britney to share the latest news from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and break down the latest Ms. Marvel on this Fourth of July edition of Hard NOC Life.

Podcasts, Star Wars

FDI Cast 147: ‘Obi-Wan’ Spoiler Cast

July 2, 2022July 16, 2022 Jamie

Spoilers abound! We go episode by episode and do our big series review of Obi-Wan.

Hard N.O.C. Life, Marvel, Star Wars

Hard NOC Life 272: Qui-Gon Djinn

June 27, 2022June 27, 2022 Hard NOC Media

Keith and Dominic are off this week, so Britney has invited her former Black Lightning Podcast co-host Vanessa Shark to discuss the finale of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Swara returns once again to discuss the latest Ms. Marvel.

Star Wars, Streaming

An Additional Notable Little Detail from ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’

June 27, 2022June 27, 2022 Lauren Lola

WARNING: The following contains spoilers from the Obi-Wan Kenobi limited series.

There are so many little moments and details from the Star Wars limited series, Obi-Wan Kenobi, that deepened character dynamics, character development, or the overall story. In sharing a list of the ones that caught my attention last Friday, somehow, there was one that I had left off by accident, and found it wise to share on its own: