Fandom Pulse

The Odyssey Christopher Nolan once refused to use his films to push political messages despite pressure from friends to do so: "I've had conversations with friends of mine and they all ask about why I don't make a film about the things I care about politically, and I always say, 'Well, because it doesn't work.' You can't use narrative to tell people what to think. It never works. People just react against it. You have to be neutral or objective in your approach. You can't tell people what to think, you can only invite them to feel something." What happened with The Odyssey?

Christopher Nolan, in a 2023 Telegraph interview, on what he is actually trying to do when he makes a film: "I don't make films to make a point. I make them to ask engaging questions and try to entertain an audience and give them an exciting experience that hopefully lingers." He just cast Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy and Elliot Page in an undisclosed role in The Odyssey. Does he still believe his own rule?

Project Hail Mary broke records. The Mandalorian & Grogu is set to not even make half the money at the box office. How did Andy Weir beat the entire Star Wars franchise?

A new Infamous game is in development: "There is a groundswell of people that want Infamous. I'm under the impression that there is an Infamous thing happening somewhere else in PlayStation at the minute" Are there people clamoring for a new installment of this game?

Valiant Comics is under fire from the comic industry for allegedly using AI in a promotional image for their new project. Can you tell this is AI and do you care?

Filmmaker Robert Meyer Burnett praises the conclusion of For All Mankind season 5: "Season Five roars to a stunning conclusion with episodes 9 and 10. A ferociously nail-biting pair of episodes, which, when combined with episodes 7 and 8, continue to elevate the series into the upper echelons of the finest science fiction series ever made." Are you watching this Ronald D. Moore sci-fi show?

George R.R. Martin posted a detailed criticism of House of the Dragon's most shocking scene — then deleted it after HBO issued a statement defending the showrunner. He wrote that readers of Fire & Blood found the sequence "underwhelming, a disappointment, watered down from what they were expecting" — specifically citing the removal of Maelor, a key child from the source material, as gutting the scene's impact. Did HBO pressure George R.R. Martin into deleting his own criticism of their show?

Peter Jackson on why Andy Serkis is directing The Hunt For Gollum instead of him: “I thought the film would be more interesting if Andy did it. I honestly, truly believe that if it’s a film about Gollum’s addiction and internal struggles, Andy would make a much more interesting film than me. If I thought I’d do a better film, I’d do it. But I thought, there’s a guy that’s going to make a really interesting film here and it’s not me.” Should they be handing off a story this important?

Science fiction Grand Master Robert A. Heinlein, writing decades before the current culture war, on how to identify who actually holds political power regardless of what they call themselves: "Political tags — such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth — are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire." Heinlein died in 1988. Does this still explain everything happening in 2026?

Brandon Sanderson, the bestselling fantasy author in the world and a devout Mormon, on his public FAQ page, addressing LGBTQ rights and his refusal to leave his church despite pressure from fans: "To the members of the LGBTQ+ community, or those aligned with them, who think I do not go far enough, I understand — but disagree. I will not disavow my faith. To do so would be pandering, because it is not where my heart is. I am proud to be a member of this church, and am proud of my heritage in it." The most successful fantasy author alive is Mormon, supports gay marriage, and refuses to leave his church over it. Is this contradictory?

Pedro Pascal, at the Cannes press conference for Eddington in May 2025, when asked if he feared re-entering the United States after making a politically provocative film: "Fear is the way that they win. Keep telling the stories, keep expressing yourself, and keep fighting to be who you are. F*** the people that try to make you scared. Fight back." He said this about political fear. Two weeks later he admitted being too afraid to answer a question about Trump. Which Pedro Pascal shows up in The Mandalorian and Grogu today?

Gina Carano on her Disney lawsuit settlement ahead of her big Netflix fight: “I took heat for standing up for freedom of speech. I don’t apologize one bit. We cannot let what was happening to this country happen again. We cannot let go of our freedom of speech even if you don’t like it” Is there anyone who's more of a freedom fighter?

Which brand betrayed its audience and tarnished itself more: Star Trek or Star Wars?

Star Trek is launching a new webtoon young adult romance comic billed as "where identity, and first love unfold against the backdrop of a galaxy recovering after war." It's written by lesbian activist Sam Maggs and appears to feature two gay men. Will Star Trek fans tolerate this after Starfleet Academy?

Director Jeff Fowler just said they wrapped filming on Sonic: The Hedgehog 4. "And that's a wrap on #SonicMovie4!!! On behalf of this amazing cast/crew, we have filmed the BEST Sonic Movie yet and can't wait to share " Should this franchise still continue, or is three movies enough?

Expendables filmmakers says there's an appetite for a female-driven sequel: “There has always been a strong global appetite for female-driven action franchises, and we believe the time is now to introduce a bold new generation of elite operatives into this universe. “What excites us most is the opportunity to elevate the material by pairing it with top-tier creative talent and delivering a fresh, stylish, adrenaline-fueled experience for worldwide audiences.” In what universe is there an appetite for feminism?

Jennifer Lawrence claimed online backlash cost her a role in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood: “Tarantino did want me for the role & then everyone was like, ‘She’s not pretty enough to play Sharon Tate.’ & then he [didn’t cast me]. I’m pretty sure it is true.” Is she not pretty enough?

Science Fiction writer Jon Del Arroz says The Mandalorian And Grogu will fail because of The Book of Boba Fett: "The Book Of Boba Fett killed Star wars more than Rey the Mary Sue in The Last Jedi or The Acolyte could have ever done. This is what did The Mandalorian in when it was the one thing people liked in Star Wars. And this is the primary reason the movie is going to fail." Is he right about this?

YouTuber Grace Randolph seems to love The Mandalorian And Grogu: "I just saw The Mandalorian and Grogu. This guy [Mandalorian], still a total badass... but this guy [Grogu] is pretty much totally worthless! Now, I can't review the movie until Tuesday, May 19th at 9:00 AM Eastern Standard Time. But I will tell you: if you're gonna see this baby in theaters, you gotta see it in IMAX... 'cause the visuals—they were stunning!" Is this what paid access media looks like?

Amazon has officially canceled development of their The Lord of the Rings MMO after it was rumored to be devleoped by Embracer Group through Kingdom Come Deliverance 2's studio, Warhorse Studios: "Our creative team continues to explore a compelling new game experience that does justice to Tolkien's world; we are working closely with Middle-earth and remain excited about the IP." A former developer says people "would have loved it." Is this a blessing for Lord of the Rings fans?