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  • The Best Red Carpet Looks at the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards

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    Ariana Grande. Getty Images for Critics Choice

    A mere four days into the new year, and the first awards show of 2026 is upon us. Tonight, the Critics’ Choice Awards celebrate the best in film and television, recognizing the finest actors, directors, writers, costume designers, editors and more in the industry.

    Along with the usual categories, the 31st Critics’ Choice Awards will include four new honors, for Best Variety Series, Best Sound, Best Stunt Design and Best Casting and Ensemble. Chelsea Handler is hosting the awards show for the fourth year in a row, and the ceremony will once again take place at the Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport in Santa Monica, California.

    It’s always an A-list guest list; this evening’s presenters include Ali Larter, Alicia Silverstone, Allison Janney, Arden Cho, Ava DuVernay, Bradley Whitford, Billy Bob Thornton, Colman Domingo, Diego Luna, Ejae, Hannah Einbinder, Jeff Goldblum, Jessica Williams, Justin Hartley, Justin Sylvester, Kaley Cuoco, Keltie Knight, Marcello Hernández, Mckenna Grace, Michelle Randolph, Noah Schnapp, Owen Cooper, Quinta Brunson, Regina Hall, Rhea Seehorn, Sebastian Maniscalco and William H. Macy.

    Sinners leads the film pack with a staggering 17 nods, followed by One Battle After Another‘s still-impressive 14, while Netflix’s limited series, Adolescence, scored the most for television with six, followed by another Netflix show, Nobody Wants This, with five.

    Before the awards are handed out, however, the stars will walk the red carpet in the first major fashion moment of 2026. Last year’s show brought us standout looks like Margaret Qualley in ethereal Chanel, Colman Domingo in a brown leather Hugo Boss ensemble, Cynthia Erivo in black peplum Armani Privé and Mikey Madison in vintage Giorgio Armani, so we’re just going to have to wait with bated breath to see what this season’s nominees bring to the table. Below, see the best red carpet fashion moments from the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards.

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals
    Leighton Meester and Adam Brody. Getty Images

    Leighton Meester and Adam Brody

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Red Carpet31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Red Carpet
    Jessica Biel. Getty Images for Critics Choice

    Jessica Biel

    in Lanvin 

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals
    Jacob Elordi. Getty Images

    Jacob Elordi

    in Bottega Veneta 

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals
    Elle Fanning. WWD via Getty Images

    Elle Fanning

    in Ralph Lauren 

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Red Carpet31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Red Carpet
    Ariana Grande. Getty Images for Critics Choice

    Ariana Grande

    in Alberta Ferretti 

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals
    Chase Infiniti. WireImage

    Chase Infiniti

    in Louis Vuitton

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    Amanda Seyfried. Getty Images for Critics Choice

    Amanda Seyfried

    in Valentino

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    Natasha Lyonne. Getty Images for Critics Choice

    Natasha Lyonne

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    Britt Lower. Getty Images

    Britt Lower

    in Bottega Veneta 

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Red Carpet31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Red Carpet
    Michael B. Jordan. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Cri

    Michael B. Jordan

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals
    Jessica Williams. WWD via Getty Images

    Jessica Williams

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Red Carpet31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Red Carpet
    Keri Russell. Getty Images for Critics Choice

    Keri Russell

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Red Carpet31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Red Carpet
    Meghann Fahy. Getty Images for Critics Choice

    Meghann Fahy

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Red Carpet31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Red Carpet
    Adam Sandler and Jackie Sandler. Getty Images for Critics Choice

    Adam Sandler and Jackie Sandler

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Red Carpet31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Red Carpet
    Jessie Buckley. Getty Images for Critics Choice

    Jessie Buckley

    in Dior 

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    Rose Byrne. Getty Images

    Rose Byrne

    in Valentino 

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    Ego Nwodim. Getty Images for Critics Choice

    Ego Nwodim

    in Carolina Herrera 

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    Kristen Bell. Getty Images for Critics Choice

    Kristen Bell

    in Elie Saab 

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    Michelle Randolph. Getty Images for Critics Choice

    Michelle Randolph

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Red Carpet31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Red Carpet
    Ethan Hawke. Getty Images for Critics Choice

    Ethan Hawke

    in Bode 

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    Sarah Snook. Getty Images for Critics Choice

    Sarah Snook

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    Paul Mescal. WireImage

    Paul Mescal

    in Gucci 

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    Emily Mortimer. Getty Images

    Emily Mortimer

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    Mckenna Grace. Getty Images

    Mckenna Grace

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Red Carpet31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Red Carpet
    Quinta Brunson. Getty Images for Critics Choice

    Quinta Brunson

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals
    Renate Reinsve. WireImage

    Renate Reinsve

    in The Row 

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    Mia Goth. WWD via Getty Images

    Mia Goth

    in Dior 

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    Ginnifer Goodwin. WireImage

    Ginnifer Goodwin

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Red Carpet31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Red Carpet
    Kaley Cuoco. Getty Images for Critics Choice

    Kaley Cuoco

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    Noah Schnapp. WWD via Getty Images

    Noah Schnapp

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals
    Chloé Zhao. Getty Images

    Chloé Zhao

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals
    Chase Sui Wonders. WireImage

    Chase Sui Wonders

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals
    Justine Lupe. Getty Images

    Justine Lupe

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Red Carpet31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Red Carpet
    Odessa A’zion. Getty Images for Critics Choice

    Odessa A’zion

    in Ott Dubai 

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    Chelsea Handler. Getty Images

    Chelsea Handler

    in Monique Lhuillier

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    Sara Foster. WWD via Getty Images

    Sara Foster

    in Monique Lhuillier

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    Erin Foster. Getty Images

    Erin Foster

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    Bella Ramsey. WireImage

    Bella Ramsey

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals
    Alicia Silverstone. Getty Images

    Alicia Silverstone

    in Stella McCartney 

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Red Carpet31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Red Carpet
    Erin Doherty. Getty Images for Critics Choice

    Erin Doherty

    in Louis Vuitton

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals
    Ali Larter. Getty Images

    Ali Larter

    in Nina Ricci 

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    Sheryl Lee Ralph. Getty Images

    Sheryl Lee Ralph

    in Tony Ward Couture 

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    Jackie Tohn. Getty Images

    Jackie Tohn

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals
    Rose McIver. Getty Images

    Rose McIver

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    Danielle Brooks. Getty Images

    Danielle Brooks

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals
    Hannah Einbinder. Variety via Getty Images

    Hannah Einbinder

    in Louis Vuitton 

    31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals31st Annual Critics Choice Awards - Arrivals
    Ejae. Getty Images

    Ejae

    The Best Red Carpet Looks at the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards

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    Morgan Halberg

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  • Eric Kripke Says ‘The Boys: Mexico’ Has “A Totally Different Tone” As He Shares Update

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    As Prime Video heads south of the border with the next The Boys offshoot, franchise boss Eric Kripke has an update for fans.

    The 2x Emmy nominee recently revealed that The Boys: Mexico, which hails from executive producers Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal, is “super fun” and “a totally different tone” from its parent series.

    “The pilot of [The] Boys: Mexico is being developed right now,” Kripke told Collider. “It’s very cool. I mean, who knows — obviously you never know, but I can say that the world itself meets the standard of all of our spin-offs. It’s our world but a totally different tone, and it’s super fun. Gael and Diego are executive producers, which is amazing and [they] really engaged with it, so — short answer is we’ll see, but I think the script is good.”

    Back in 2023, Deadline reported that The Boys franchise was expanding with the Mexico iteration, which will be penned by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer (Blue Beetle). With the series expected to film in Mexico, no plot details have yet been revealed.

    Luna and Bernal, longtime friends who previously starred together in Alfonso Cuarón’s Y Tu Mamá También (2001) will potentially star in the spin-off as well, although not in major roles.

    Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna attend the Cannes 75 anniversary dinner on May 24, 2022 in Cannes, France. (Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

    In July, Kripke wrapped the fifth and final season of The Boys, which premieres in 2026. Meanwhile, Season 2 of Gen V debuts Sept. 17, and the prequel series Vought Rising is currently in the works. Prime also has the animated spin-off The Boys Presents: Diabolical.

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    Glenn Garner

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  • What to stream: Jelly Roll, ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,’ Cate Blanchett and Charli XCX remixes

    What to stream: Jelly Roll, ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,’ Cate Blanchett and Charli XCX remixes

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    Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline co-starring in “Disclaimer,” a psychological thriller from writer-director Alfonso Cuarón, and Jelly Roll releasing “Beautifully Broken,” a follow-up to his breakout album “Whitsitt Chapel,” are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

    Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Sean Wang’s semi-autobiographical feature debut “Dìdi,” Hulu’s first Spanish-language series “La Máquina” and Charli XCX’s deluxe, remixed, double-album version of her culture-shifting album “Brat.”

    NEW MOVIES TO STREAM OCT. 7-13

    “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” was No. 1 at the box office as recently as two weeks ago, but beginning Tuesday, Tim Burton’s popular sequel will be available, for a price. You can buy it digitally for $25 on Prime Video, Apple TV and other video-on-demand platforms. In it, the Deetz family returns to Winter River after a family tragedy. There, Lydia (Winona Ryder), still haunted by Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), is forced into another afterlife odyssey when her teenage daughter (Jenna Ortega) discovers a portal. In her review, AP’s Jocelyn Noveck called it “a joyously rendered sequel that sometimes makes sense, and sometimes doesn’t, but just keeps rollicking.”

    — Sue Kim’s documentary “The Last of the Sea Women,” streaming Friday, Oct. 11 on Apple TV+, captures the lives and livelihood of the Haenyeo, the community of South Korean fisherwoman who for generations have free dived for seafood off the coast of Korea’s Jeju Island. Threats abound for the Haenyeo, who are mostly in their 60s and 70s. Thy ply their trade in a warming ocean contaminated by sea garbage and the Fukushima nuclear accident.

    — One of the indie highlights of the summer, Sean Wang’s “Dìdi,” is now streaming on Peacock. Wang’s semi-autobiographical feature debut, a coming of age story set in the Bay Area in 2008, is about a 13-year-old Taiwanese-American boy (Izaac Wang) struggling with where he fits in. That includes with his family (Joan Chen plays his mother) and fellow skater kids whom he begins making videos with. The film, funny and tender, is a breakthrough for the emerging filmmaker Wang, whose short “Nǎi Nai and Wài Pó, ” was Oscar nominated earlier this year.

    AP Film Writer Jake Coyle

    NEW MUSIC TO STREAM OCT. 7-13

    Brat summer came and went, but the hedonistic ideologies behind Charli XCX’s feel-good album endure. On Friday, Oct. 11, she will release “Brat and It’s Completely Different but Also Still Brat,” a deluxe, remixed, double-album version of her culture-shifting album “Brat,” this time featuring A-listers like Billie Eilish, Lorde, her tour mate Troye Sivan, her forever-hero Robyn, and more. Just don’t confuse this one with her other Brat re-release, “Brat and It’s the Same but There’s Three More Songs So It’s Not.”

    — He’s the not-so-new name on everyone’s lips: Jelly Roll will release a follow-up to his breakout album, 2023’s “Whitsitt Chapel” on Friday, Oct. 11. Little is known about the 22-track “Beautifully Broken” beyond its previously released tracks “I Am Not Okay,” “Get By,” “Liar” and “Winning Streak” — the latter of which he debuted during the premiere of Saturday Night Live’s 50th season, joined by a choir. That one was inspired by an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, and the album will no doubt center on the kind of stories he’s become known for: Soulful country-rock on adversity, addiction, pain, suffering, and ultimately, chasing safety.

    — A decade removed from “Shower,” the viral, bubblegum pop song that launched her career, and Mexican American singer Becky G has found her in lane in Spanish-language, hybrid-genre releases, crossing language barriers and cultural borders. “Encuentros,” out Friday, Oct. 10, is her latest — a follow-up to 2023’s “Esquinas” — and continuation of her work in regional Mexicana styles made all her own, from the single “Mercedes,” which features corrido star Oscar Maydon’s deep tenor, and beyond.

    — On Friday, Oct. 11, Duran Duran will release “Danse Macabre – De Luxe,” a deluxe reissue of their celebrated 2023 LP of the same name – a mix of covers and gothic originals. Surprises abound, even for the most dedicated Duran Duran fan: Like in their cover of ELO’s “Evil Woman,” or on the song “New Moon (Dark Phase),” a reimagination of “New Moon On a Monday,” featuring former member Andy Taylor.

    — AP Music Writer Maria Sherman

    NEW SHOWS TO STREAM OCT. 7-13

    — Friends and frequent collaborators Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal team up on Hulu’s first Spanish-language series called “La Máquina.” Bernal plays an aging boxer named Esteban Osuna. His longtime manager (Luna) secures him one last fight to go out a champ but there are major obstacles. The boxer has taken a lot of hits to the head over the years and his mind seems to be slipping and a criminal organization wants him to throw the fight or else. Eiza González also stars as Osuna’s ex-wife, a reporter investigating fixed boxing matches in Mexico. “La Máquina” debuts Wednesday.

    — The first spinoff of the 2023 Prime Video spy series “Citadel,” which starred Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden, debuts Thursday on the streamer. “Citadel: Diana” stars Matilda De Angelis takes place in Italy. An India-based version called “Citadel: Honey Bunny” stars Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and premieres in November.

    — Netflix’s favorite sun-drenched, treasure-hunting teens of North Carolina, known as the Pogues, are back for more adventures in “Outer Banks.” Season four, premiering Thursday, is divided into two parts. The show stars Chase Stokes and Madelyn Cline.

    Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline co-star in “Disclaimer,” a psychological thriller, on Apple TV+ from writer, director Alfonso Cuarón that premiered at last month’s Venice Film Festival. Blanchett plays a respected documentarian who recognizes she’s the inspiration for a character in a new novel that threatens to expose her secrets. The limited-series also features Kodi Smit McPhee, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jung Ho-yeon and Lesley Manville and premieres Friday, Oct. 11.

    Alicia Rancilio

    NEW VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

    — Atlus/Sega’s absorbing Persona series has grown over the years from a cult hit to a genuine blockbuster, but it’s been seven years since the last chapter. Meanwhile, several of its creators have branched off to form their own Studio Zero, and they’re about to launch their debut title, Metaphor: ReFantazio. Instead of Persona’s Tokyo-set teen drama, Metaphor presents a power struggle in a pseudo-medieval kingdom. The combat, however, evokes Persona’s zippy blend of turn-based and real-time action, and when you aren’t fighting you’ll need to spend time building relationships with the locals. If you’ve been craving a chance to explore a new world for dozens of hours, this one opens up Friday, Oct. 11, on PlayStation 5/4, Xbox X/S and PC.

    Lou Kesten

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  • ‘La Máquina’ Review: Boxing Series Throws a Lot of Punches That Don’t Land

    ‘La Máquina’ Review: Boxing Series Throws a Lot of Punches That Don’t Land

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    Gael García Bernal, Andrés Delgado, and Jorge Perugorría (from left) in La Máquina. (Photo by: Nicole Franco/Hulu)

    Daddy issues, mommy issues, traumatic brain injury issues, international organized crime syndicate issues . . . Hulu’s first Spanish-language series, La Máquina, is full of issues. Ostensibly an underdog boxing tale crossed with a crime thriller, the show collapses under the weight of its own story, making for a messy and often confounding viewing experience.

    La Máquina starts with a devastating blow to Esteban “La Máquina” Osuna (Gael García Bernal), as he’s knocked out in the first round of a massively hyped boxing match. His manager-slash-best friend Andy (Diego Luna, unrecognizable under layers of makeup and prosthetics) is left to pick up the pieces of his career. After some wheeling and dealing—and maybe some stealing—Andy manages to set up not only a rematch, but a world championship-level fight for Esteban.

    However, Esteban is hardly in title-reclaiming shape; he’s still recovering from his previous injury, and years of getting his head bashed in as well as drug and alcohol abuse have taken their toll. It’ll take a lot of work to get him in the right headspace and weight class, but that’s not all. A shady, secretive, seemingly omniscient organization that Andy worked with earlier in his and Esteban’s career is coming to collect, and their request for payment is that Esteban throws the fight. If he doesn’t, Andy, Esteban and everyone they’ve ever loved will be killed. Yikes!

    La Máquina throws a lot of punches, but few ever really land. Plot points and story beats become excessive, whether it’s Andy’s creepy, co-dependent relationship with his mother (Lucía Méndez) or the decision by Esteban’s ex-wife Irasema (Eiza González, who delivers some of the best work among the cast) to pick up her late father’s investigation into boxing match fixing. The writing gets overbearing, and there’s no time for any of these moments to sit and settle for the viewers and the characters alike. The stakes fluctuate so wildly and so often that it’s hard to take the drama seriously, and at just six episodes (of which only five were provided for critics) the series tries to do far too much.

    Jorge Perugorría, Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal in La Máquina. (Photo by: Cristian Salvatierra/Hulu)

    It’s a shame too, given that it’s the first television collaboration for long-time creative partners Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna. The project has been in the works for over a decade, with the actors also serving as executive producers; in interviews and press materials, they tout their love of boxing and how they’ve wanted to make something about the sport. That passion doesn’t really come through—you won’t find any expertly shot boxing matches here.

    Instead, La Máquina feels almost self-indulgent for the two talented actors: Luna gets to play a larger than life, cosmetic surgery-obsessed character, and García Bernal tackles a role that, in theory, is serious and emotionally complex. García Bernal does well to bring some of Esteban’s struggles to life, such as the aging boxer’s brain trauma-induced hallucinations that provide a pretty literal window into his psyche, but his character arc goes in so many different directions that it’s impossible to grapple with.

    La Máquina takes a real kitchen sink approach to its storytelling, stretching credulity with every scene. It’s not enough for the match fixing crime syndicate to just threaten the protagonists; the organization must also be part of an apparent international political conspiracy and somehow maybe have something to do with Esteban’s relationship with his father. Very little makes sense the longer the series goes on, and it seems unlikely that the final episode would tie up the show’s many, many loose ends. It’s a genuinely bewildering watch, and it’ll leave you scratching your head over how it got so out of hand.

    ‘La Máquina’ premieres on Hulu on October 9th. 

     

    ‘La Máquina’ Review: Boxing Series Throws a Lot of Punches That Don’t Land

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    Laura Babiak

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  • Diego Luna & Gael García Bernal Will Executive Produce Spin-Off Series ‘The Boys: Mexico’

    Diego Luna & Gael García Bernal Will Executive Produce Spin-Off Series ‘The Boys: Mexico’

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    Diego Luna, a man with in a black suit, stands next to Gael García Bernal, in a dark suit wearing sunglasses.

    Amazon Prime Video has announced that The Boys: Mexico, a spin-off series of The Boys, is in the works. But perhaps more exciting than the new series are the men behind it: Mexican actors, producing partners, and close friends Diego Luna (Andor) and Gael García Bernal (Old, Mozart in the Jungle).

    The duo broke onto the scene in Alfonso Cuarón’s critically acclaimed film Y Tu Mamá También in 2001, and have built careers working in both independent films and blockbuster productions. The Boys: Mexico will be co-showrun by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer (Blue Beetle). Casting and plot details are currently under wraps, but Luna and García Bernal may be appearing onscreen in minor roles. Both actors are already part of major genre franchises with Disney. Luna is best known for his role as Cassian Andor in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and the spin-off series Andor. And García Bernal recently joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Jack Russell in the Disney+ Halloween special Werewolf by Night.

    The Boys: Mexico will be the third spin-off series for the raunchy Amazon franchise, following the animated anthology series The Boys Presents: Diabolical and the college-set series Gen V, which has already been renewed for a second season. Season 4 of The Boys will be released sometime in 2024. Like many projects, season 4 was delayed as executive producer/series creator Eric Kripke didn’t want to premiere the series during the WGA strike.

    The Boys is based on the best-selling comic series by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, which debuted in 2006. The series quickly amassed a devoted fanbase thanks to its graphic violence, explicit raunch, and satirization of modern-day superhero culture and fandom. While the series takes aim at both DC and Marvel, it has developed into a razor-sharp indictment of the Trump presidency, with lead villain Homelander (Antony Starr) getting Trumpier with each season.

    Amazon is quickly assembling a sprawling shared universe based on The Boys, which is one of the streamer’s most successful original series. The Boys is quickly shaping up to be a major superhero franchise, not unlike the very franchises it mocks. This kind of corporate synergy is right up Vought International’s alley.

    (featured image: Kurt Krieger/Corbis via Getty Images)

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    Chelsea Steiner

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  • You Probably Aren’t Catching Andor’s Awesome Nods To Deep Star Wars Lore (And That’s A Good Thing)

    You Probably Aren’t Catching Andor’s Awesome Nods To Deep Star Wars Lore (And That’s A Good Thing)

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    A poster shows Andor's characters, including Mon Mothma, Luthen and Andor himself.

    Image: Lucasfilm / Disney

    As you may know, I’m a big ol’ Star Wars nerd. And one of my favorite things in Star Wars media is all the tiny references and Easter eggs embedded everywhere. But sometimes this fan service goes overboard and derails a story in a way that alienates or bores non-fans. Andor, the newest TV show set in the Star Wars universe, not only avoids this problem, but also finds perfect ways to utilize nerdy Star Wars lore without making it tedious or annoying for folks just wanting to watch a good show.

    Andor, which premiered in late September on Disney+, is the latest entry in the Star Wars franchise and is set before the events of the original Star Wars film and the movie Rogue One. It follows the life of Cassian Andor, played by Diego Luna, as he navigates a galaxy controlled by the evil Empire. He’s not yet the rebel we know from Rogue One, but over the course of this season and presumably the next season, he will evolve into the man we met in that popular spin-off.

    Disney / Lucasfilm

    People across my timeline have been loving Andor. Even people who’d previously sworn off Star Wars entirely are back and enjoying every minute of the series. Many of them happily point out how the show isn’t a giant excuse to do fan service every week. But funnily enough, Andor has some of the coolest and most interesting bits of deep-cut Star Wars lore out of anything Star Wars-related in years; it’s just handled so well that most folks miss it all.

    A great example comes in how the show handles Cassian’s home planet. In the first episode of the show, we learn that Cassian was born and raised on the planet Kenari. It’s newly created for Andor, which allowed showrunner Tony Gilroy more freedom to do whatever he needed with it and its people. But, technically, we already knew of Cassian’s home planet, and it wasn’t Kenari. Back when Rogue One came out, Lucasfilm released various book tie-ins. One reference tome listed Andor’s home world as Fest, an old Star Wars planet that first appeared in the game Dark Forces. So, at first, I thought the show had simply retconned that origin away. I wasn’t too annoyed by this, as I always prefer when Star Wars media focus on story over lore.

    But then, in Andor episode two, we learn that Fest was a lie that Cassian and his adoptive mother told everyone to hide the truth of where he was really from, Kenari. For most viewers, that scene wasn’t that big of a deal: Cassian lied because he was trying to hide where he came from, got it. But for Star Wars nerds like me, it was a fantastic way to retcon something using Star Wars lore while still honoring a reference book from years ago. And it didn’t interfere with the show at all, allowing normal, non-Star Wars sickos to enjoy the show without rolling their eyes at some forced bit of fan service.

    Lucasfilm / Star Wars Explained

    Andor is filled with Star Wars lore and connections like this that it sneakily deploys in ways that make sense for general audiences, but which have deeper, interesting connections to the franchise’s decades of prior material. And unlike the last Star Wars show, the fun (but not nearly as good) Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor doesn’t get tangled up in fan service that distracts from the actual story and characters. The refs are there to find in Andor, if you care, but it’s totally fine if you just want to enjoy the thrilling ride instead.

    For example, Mon Mothma’s daughter, Lieda, isn’t a brand-new character, but instead a very deep-cut one who barely existed in the old Star Wars Extended Universe. So her popping up in the show not only brought her into canon, but was a very fun bit of fan service that didn’t stick out to most viewers.

    Similarly, the kyber crystal Luthen Rael gives Cassian as payment for helping with a heist has its own subtle connection to old Star Wars lore. Sure, many viewers probably know vaguely that a kyber crystal powers lightsabers. And many also probably recalled that we previously saw Rogue One heroine Jyn Erso wearing a similar necklace. But while folks were looking at the crystal and going, “Oh that’s a thing I kind of know about…” Luthen drops one of the coolest bits of lore in the show, explaining that the crystal “celebrates the uprising against the Rakatan invaders.” That might have set off alarm bells in the heads of any fans who played Knights of the Old Republic.

    A screenshot of a comic book showing a Rakatan alien warrior screaming in space.

    That’s because the Rakatans were created for that game. They were an ancient race of super-powerful aliens who possibly invented hyperdrive and at one point controlled the galaxy as part of their Infinite Empire. Technically, they’ve been mentioned in canon before, but this is really the first big re-introduction of the species. Pondering how they could work into future Star Wars stories set far in the past has me very excited.

    Speaking of video game references, in Luthen’s shop—which is chockablock with fun Easter eggs that could fill a whole separate blog—we see what appears to be a suit of Sith Stalker armor as first seen in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. That game and its main character, Starkiller, are no longer canon, and this armor popping up in Andor doesn’t change that. But it could hint that perhaps one day parts of Force Unleashed will be reintroduced into the modern Star Wars universe. I mean, if Jaxxon is canon these days, anything can happen.

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    But all of these deep-cut references and bits of fan service were likely never spotted by 90% of people watching Andor, even though some of them directly connect to the plot or the show’s characters. That’s an impressive feat to pull off, and based on interviews with the show’s creator, Tony Gilroy, a lot of this was included by Lucasfilm nerds and not himself. He recently told Variety that he works closely with lore experts like Pablo Hidalgo to make sure he’s not doing anything that breaks the Star Wars universe. But for him, his real focus is on Andor’s story and its characters, not references to manuals or old video games.

    “The art department will sneak in all that crap into Luthen’s gallery,” Gilroy told Variety. “I had no idea. Like, ‘Oh my God, the thing in the background!’ and people are blowing it up. That’s the art department. So many cool people work on the show. There’s a deep geekdom in Pinewood, believe me.”

    That’s how it should be. If Disney wants to continue to create amazing Star Wars productions like Andor, it should bring in more creators and directors like Gilroy. People who, sure, might not be the biggest Star Wars fans in the world, but who have interesting stories to tell. Let those people create cool stuff while the nerds at Lucasfilm fill in the gaps with fan service that weirdos like me can get excited about, while never ruining the show for everyone else.

    I admit, this is a hard balance to strike, and I don’t expect all future Star Wars projects to be like Andor. In fact, I would prefer a world where we get both shows like Andor, which are for everyone, and shows like Tales of the Jedi, which are good but clearly target Star Wars nerds like me. Star Wars can’t grow if it only focuses on its big fans, and Andor shows that when you expand the franchise and do something different, you not only end up pleasing longtime Star Wars nerds like me, but also reach a whole new audience that might never have cared about Star Wars in the first place. Plus, Andor is just really entertaining, so more shows like this sounds like a good thing to me.

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    Zack Zwiezen

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