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Brazil’s Supreme Court upheld a decision on Monday to ban the social media site formerly known as Twitter in the country after the site refused to comply with orders from a judge. According to ABC , the decision is the latest escalation in a feud between Elon Musk and Justice Alexandre de Moraes involving Musk’s support of the far-right both in Brazil and globally, as well as allowing massive amounts of disinformation on the site, which he renamed X.  Justice Moraes ordered that X accounts in the country accused of spreading disinformation, many of which are allegedly tied to former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, be banned. Bolsonaro lost Brazil’s election in 2022 to current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and his supporters and other far-right allies  rioted in the country’s capital a week after Lula’s inauguration in 2023. Bolsonaro frequently made claims that the election was rigged. "We have a right to defend fundamental rights. Those who violate democracy, who violate fundamental human rights, whether in person or through social media, must be held accountable," Moraes said in a speech on Friday, according to Reuters . Moraes ordered the immediate suspension of X in Brazil until all related court orders were complied with and fines were paid. Musk - who likes to call himself a “free speech absolutist” despite suspending or banning accounts on X he doesn’t like, along with imposing other restrictions on the site – likened Moraes to titular Harry Potter villain Voldemort.  “He is a dictator and a fraud, not a justice,” Musk wrote on his own platform. Brazil is one of the top ten countries in the world that uses X, with some 22 million users. Within just four days of the initial ruling, X’s smaller, punchier rival Bluesky registered nearly 2 million new users, according to the Financial Times . Bluesky, founded in 2019 by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, now boasts some 8 million users. “Good job Brazil, you made the right choice,” wrote Bluesky CEO Jay Graber.

If you've been around the Golden Arches your whole life, you know that as a kid, there was nothing better than that box full of golden fries, that little cheeseburger and some Hawaiian Punch. But the BEST thing of all in that box was the toy, and McDonald's always had some pretty spectacular things you could collect, from Barbie figurines to transforming McDonald's food items, Hot Wheels, Beanie Babies and more. That trend continued for the Gen Z among us, with Squishmallows and all sorts of trendy items that they just had to beg their parents to get them. And as it has for so many years, it led to a collectors craze, with people giving away the food or throwing it out (which we do not condone) just to get a chance to get those collectors items they'd missed. Now as grownups, we've been targeted with this same tactic, with all manner of McDonald's "collabs" that feature bizarre four-eyed Grimace like the Cactus Plant Flea Market collab or the return of the Nugget Buddies for the nostalgic, to varying success, but with the same sort of crazy aftermarket madness on Ebay we've seen, well, since the dawn of Ebay, really. This year's current collector craze centers around the Collectors Cup meal, which is a sort of inception of a collectible, being that it's actually cups that play on our already strong McDonald's nostalgia and feature the toys we were getting in our Happy Meals as kids. And the crowd goes wild. We picked up a few on a lark, because we enjoy the occasional Big Mac or McNugget meal anyway, and we figured why not, but we didn't see the storm coming. Cups are being traded on Facebook Marketplace and among friends and family, people are travelling to other towns, and employees are snaking some for themselves - but not just to put on their shelves or give to their kids- these cups are selling for almost $70 a piece even before the promotion has ended (though many restaurants, including ones local to us, are reporting that they're sold out). If you're in the market, one Reddit thread may be the key to finding the elusive Coca Cola cup, or the Hello Kitty cup, which seem to be two of the most sought after finds - as a McDonald's employee and several others confirmed that you can figure out which cup is in the blue bags by looking at the number printed on them. Or, if you're desperate, you can check out Ebay and place your bids as more and more stores sell out. And sure, it may be a trap - but we can't deny we went out of our way once or twice to pick up a few ourselves, though you won't see them on Ebay. Happy hunting, and may your cups be enjoyed!

Listen. You don’t have to be pulling out the Halloween decorations just yet – though we’re fully on board if you do. But summer’s coming to a close. School’s about to start and fall’s about to hit. And let’s face it, climate change means a lot of inclement weather. Rain’s a comin’, so to speak, and you should at least have some stuff to stream when it does. Maybe we’re nerds, but a good documentary goes a long way on a rainy day if you add some fuzzy blankets and hot drinks, and these three recent arrivals on streaming services are a great addition to your queue for just such an occasion. Simone Biles Rising (Netflix) If you’re already having a little bit of ennui about the end of the Paris Olympics, then Simone Biles Rising  might be the cure. This Netflix docuseries follows Biles’ from what may have been one of her lowest point post Tokyo Olympics, when a less than stellar performance and its accompanying case of the “twisties” presented what was basically the Everest of mental blocks for someone already carrying the heavy crown of GOAT. It’s rarified air to be sure, but being expected to win every meet you walk into and challenged to constantly top your already superhuman feats is a lot of pressure. Especially as an “elder” gymnast and new wife. One thing to love about this documentary is that it’s told mostly from Biles’ perspective as she navigates what could be a career ending pause in training, being a wife (a football wife, at that), taking care of her own mental health and still being in the spotlight, this time under new and uncomfortable pressure to be the shining beacon of knowledge on how to achieve good mental health. It’s a sports docuseries that appeals to more than sports fans, an intimate look into the life of an Olympian legend who is yes, absolutely the GOAT, but also a real human person, and a gentle reminder that mental health matters for everyone and needs to be prioritized no matter who you are. Dirty Pop (Netflix) Documentaries like Shiny Happy People and Quiet on Set are hard to watch but equally hard to stop watching. They make us face the reality of pop culture and religion and the darkness and injustice that can lurk just behind the scenes. Dirty Pop is the story of Lou Pearlman and the dirty deeds he did while creating some of the most iconic pop groups of the 90s and early 2000s.  Dirty Pop is a docuseries that correctly demonizes a man who made grandiose claims he couldn’t back up while also draining the bank accounts of pop stars and their family and friends for his own personal profit. While perhaps not as investigatory and scientific in its research, it certainly presents an intriguing look at a self-deluded narcissist that took a lot of people for a ride on their own dime. Dirty Pop itself ran into its own scandal after release over its use of “AI deepfake” technology to portray Lou Pearlman reading his own book, ‘Bands, Brands and Billions’ in interstitial scenes which highlight his criminality - which some are calling unfair portrayal and manipulation of the image of a dead man. While we prefer to let you as viewers make your own judgement call, we confess to a bit of “the ick” around those scenes even with full disclosure on its use.  Regardless of his morals and ethics (or lack thereof), it’s a compelling look at the people behind the scenes of some of the biggest cultural phenomena of our youth who were pulling the strings and tying them into neat little bows around the stacks of money they made exploiting the talents of other people. Jim Henson Idea Man (Max, Disney+) If you’re a documentary dork, which is how I like to identify myself from time to time, you might notice that there’s a lot of true crime and dark tales out there.  And while I can’t knock a good murder mystery now and again, sometimes you just want some of that good news on the newspaper page.  Jim Henson Idea Man is a Disney+ original that manages to bring to light the true genius of someone like Henson without seeming vacuous and overly honorific. It’s got the highlights of a biopic, following the exponential rise of Henson’s star and development of his trademark and truly groundbreaking creations, his struggles as someone who’d rather aim a spotlight than stand under one and someone who had a big dream that didn’t always leave enough time for familial relationships. It explores the evolution of the Muppets, Sesame Street, Labyrinth, the Fraggles and beyond and their rightful places in the pop culture oeuvre while also looking at the development of a body of work from one of what we believe is the true gentle geniuses of our time.  Do be warned though that despite the sunny days with Big Bird, it’s as much about Henson the person as it is about Kermit the Frog, and upon reaching the part of the documentary that touches on Jim Henson’s tragic early death, this documentary may require a tissue or two. It’s “feel good” in that “feel all your feelings” sort of way that cleanses your soul a little, and as we’re growing tired of the dumpster fires that seem to be alight all around us, that’s got real value. Butterfly in the Sky (Netflix) Speaking of genius and things of great cultural significance, Butterfly in the Sky is the story behind the creation and impact of Reading Rainbow. Focusing on Levar Burton and featuring the actor himself, we follow not only his career but the creation of a very important, very life-changing show for millions and millions of children.  One of our favorite parts of this particular documentary are the interviews with some of the children who appeared on the show. Many of them have gone on to further impact the world as authors, producers - the list goes on. Reading Rainbow ignited a love of reading and learning, helped children develop a thirst for exploration and let them have a real voice. Not only that, but LeVar’s presence as himself, a proud black man, let children of color know that their voice mattered, and gave them someone to look up to and connect with while that sort of presence was still rare on American TV. Overall, this is an inspiring look at a show with a huge presence in the lives of so many of us growing up, as well as a fun glimpse at LeVar Burton’s career and passion. Miss Americana (Netflix) Ok, so if you’re a Taylor stan, you’ve almost certainly already had this one on your watch list or you’ve seen it already, but if you’re not a Swiftie, you may have scrolled past it a few thousand times when you’re trying to figure out what to watch. I’m not a die-hard Swiftie, but I did actually like some of her very early music, saccharine though it seemed at the time, and despite the fact that I didn’t care much for country. And Imma finish, but since Swift went pop, her fandom has expanded to every area of the known universe and is widely known as a friendly, unified force for girliness and goodness. Though at times she’s been villainized, this documentary, which is partially told by Swift herself, is a great look at Swift as a person rather than a pop goddess, as she navigates things like not being nominated for Grammies, Kanye, and speaking out politically after a Senate race in Tennessee convinced the starlet she needed to use her platform to speak out against those trying to take rights away from LGBTQIA+ people and women in her state and beyond.  We thought this one had some interesting perspectives and great moments with the star herself, and is worth a watch even if you’re not making friendship bracelets or singing in the streets of Vienna.  What are your favorites? Let us know in the comments! Happy streaming!

This afternoon was Gamescom’s Opening Night Live. This would usually be a standard start of any kind of gaming journalism conference, but showman Geoff Keighley has turned it into another platform for major gaming announcements that lasted roughly two hours. That being said, here’s a list of what we’re excited for from the cavalcade of announcements today.  We Harvest Shadows: Described as a first person horror farming allegory all about farming in complete isolation and the kind of terrors one's mind can conjure late at night.   Borderlands 4: This was rumored to be in development but we got our first teaser for the FPS hot off the presses of its less than stellar theater debut (see our review discussion of the movie here .) Reanimal: From the creators of Little Nightmares 1 and 2 comes Reanimal, which keeps within that horror 2D platformer realm that has made this dev team so successful with their previous games. I am psyched for whatever these guys do. Speaking of Little Nightmares… Little Nightmares 3: We previously saw a teaser but now we got a full on gameplay trailer and boy does it not disappoint. It’s everything we’d expect from this series but now even more intense and scary. We can’t wait.  Marvel Rivals: This Overwatch PVP shooter has been in Beta for a few months now but goes 1.0 December 6th, free 2 play with two new characters announced: Captain America and The Winter Soldier.  Dark Pictures Anthology: Directive 8020: The Dark Pictures Anthology series has been a fantastic breath of fresh air, creating stand alone shorter games and releasing them piecemeal. The newest entry into this series Directive 8020 is sci-fi aliens themed, giving heavy vibes of Body Snatchers and The Thing. Those are the games we’re really excited for coming out of the Gamescom Opening Night Live. What games are you guys excited for? Did something stand out that we missed? Let us know in the comments!

Some of the rowdiest panels at any convention (and sometimes the most interesting) are group panels. When you get a group of celebrities together, especially ones that may not have seen each other in a while, it's almost guaranteed hijinks will ensue. And they did at Saturday's Terminator panel featuring Michael Biehn, Robert Patrick, Linda Hamilton, and a very old Lance Henriksen - who was also connected to Xfiles through Millennium.  And in this case, it wasn't just a Terminator reunion, but a reunion for several other iconic shows given the guest list. I grew up in the ‘90s, so Terminator and Terminator 2  ( T2) were huge parts of my childhood. The Terminator panel was a must-see. With the combination of Lance Henriksen and Robert Patrick it was a potential X-Files panel, too. Lance Henriksen and Michael Biehn were also in Aliens together–a topic that came up at least once.  Don’t meet your heroes, I guess. Or in this case don’t sit through a panel with them. I couldn’t help but get the impression that Lance Henriksen barely knew where he was while Robert Patrick and Michael Biehn give off the impression that they’ve spent their careers trying to avoid fans. Linda Hamilton was great, however. Perhaps I’m not being fair, as even celebrities have their bad days–they’re people,too... But when Linda Hamilton sat herself between Robert Patrick and Michael Biehn after the latter two got into a verbal sparring match, I wanted to crawl into my own body from second hand embarrassment. As cool as the T-1000 fighting Kyle Reese sounds to my inner child, it was a cringey display of small dick masculinity. They even kept arguing behind Linda Hamilton as she was trying, in earnest, to answer questions from the crowd.  I guess the tone of the panel was sort of set right at the beginning as the emcee asked the panelists “what is the coolest or weirdest Terminator -related thing you’ve signed?” and Lance Henriksen blurted out “a breast!” and while the crowd and emcee nervously chuckled he added “it’s true!” That pretty much ended that answer, and the questions went to the floor. One of the interesting insights that the cast provided–and one I hadn’t considered as a kid–was that the Terminator franchise wasn’t an overnight blockbuster success. It was a “slow burn” as described by Michael Biehn. Biehn gave some insight into where Terminator was in the cultural zeitgeist during the year of its release: ( The Terminator ) was 21st at the box office in 1985 and Ghostbusters, Karate Kid– there were a lot of movies that were big hits and Terminator wasn’t one of them.” Robert Patrick got a chance to talk about his portrayal of the T-1000, and the groundbreaking work that went into the making of T2 .  “When the tow truck exploded, that was a very challenging day. Very complex day. And that was that day that James actually said to me “hey man, you gotta relax because we’re making movie history here, and we don’t know what we’re doing but it’s gonna be great.” Linda Hamilton took some time to talk about her status as an icon of feminine strength. She said, “You don’t know where a movie role is going to lead you seven years later. But I’ll take the mantle that people have put on me, and be very grateful for it.” Despite her insistence that she chanced into icon status, Linda Hamilton’s portrayal of Sarah Connor was iconic–but it could have been different. James Cameron wanted Sarah Connor to have short hair, but Hamilton pushed back. “The fact that (Sarah Connor) was able to remain feminine, and she was able to kick ass. You know what I mean? She doesn’t have to look like a guy to be strong,” later adding, “let’s just put (my hair) into a ponytail and be done. And I think that paved the way for a sort of global appeal. It was an accident of timing, too. The world was ready to see a strong woman.” Despite how humble she is, there’s no arguing that Sarah Connor wouldn’t have been an icon without Linda Hamilton’s portrayal.  There's never a dull moment at Fan Expo Chicago and if you haven't already, check out our cosplay galleries and other writeups from celebrity panels starring Mark Hamill, Charlie Cox, Rosario Dawson and more!

Well, after a record-breaking Fan Expo Chicago 2024 (or so we've heard), we've come off the packed floors and panel rooms and back into the reality that is daily life. This year's Fan Expo had a guest list any con would rightfully be able to boast about, with a list of celebrities, artists and entertainers that'd make almost any other convention green with envy. And while things have changed since the days of Chicago Comic-Con and Wizard World, what hasn't changed is that people show up in some of the best cosplay we've ever seen at the Donald E Stephens convention center. Sure, C2E2 features the Crown Championship of Cosplay where the top cosplayers from around the world come to compete for the crown, but the sheer number of cosplayers at Fan Expo Chicago truly astound, and even more than that, you'll see creative, fun and funny cosplay at every level, from clever cardboard cutouts to top tier EVA foam, chain mail and special effects, with meetups celebrating all types of fandoms from Star Trek and Hazbin Hotel to Star Wars and beyond. What we're trying to say is - cosplay is amazing, and we have a blast capturing all the amazing costumes at conventions for you to enjoy. So: scroll forth, and enjoy! Photos by Marielle Bokor:

Kate Mulgrew is best known for her role as the stalwart Captain Kathryn Janeway on Star Trek Voyager . She has since reprised that role recently for Prodigy , which just had a second season drop on Netflix. And Mulgrew is her same feisty self as she sparred with the audience at Fan Expo Chicago while she gave out matronly advice ribbed with Nerf-tipped invectives. It’s hard for this author to separate the actor from the character, because as I look at Mulgrew and hear her talk, all I can think of is Janeway.  As soon as she came on stage, she began to praise the fandom, noting how Star Trek was a philosophy and fans are intelligent and thoughtful. Perhaps one of the more thoughtful questions ensued when she was asked how Janeway and her character Red Reznikov from Orange is the New Black were similar, noting that the thread that joined the two was in their drive for survival - though she did note that Janeway, as a scientist who loved exploration  “probably went back in her ready room and went ‘Yesss’’’ at the thought of being able to explore the uncharted territory of the Delta Quadrant. Another great answer came when a young girl asked how she got her hair that way - referring to the “steel space bun” Janeway was known for, and she discussed how often her hair was changed and she was ‘poked and prodded’ in ways that her fellow male captains just weren’t. While quite lovely herself, Mulgrew had to deal with some not-so-lovely questions from the audience, many of whom seemed obsessed with Janeway’s sexuality and romantic misfires. Mulgrew then groaned about Janeway's “Seven long years of agonizing celibacy.” When Mulgrew asked a fan who he thought Janeway should have ended up with, the fan said “Seven of Nine” to which Janeway rightfully scoffed, saying, “She’s half Borg!” she went on “I want a plain face. I want a male face, with a male body.” But she knew that the audience and producers wanted more, saying “I’m not going into my ready room with Chakotay and screaming Red Alert! I’m not going to do it. I’m not going to do it ever!”  Mulgrew went on: “And everybody wants romance. Well, they solved it. They brought on a beautiful sexy half Borg, half human woman. To play a very important part. And I thought that the relationship between Janeway and Seven of Nine was very important. It's shaped Seven’s Idea of human relationships, and it altered Janeway’s idea of the Borg. It was absolutely critical and beautifully done. I’m just sad you asked that question.” To the sexed-up audience members the MC added “I really hope some of you go home tonight and scream ‘Red Alert!’” Mulgrew replied, “Great tips, very sexy. It’s better than saying ‘there’s coffee in that Nebula.’” A young fan then asked Kate Mulgrew about her time working with Jeri Ryan. She said, “Well, you’ve all heard the stories, I'm sure. You know my vanity was hurt the worst. I was the first female Captain and I wanted that to be enough. Kirk was enough. Picard was enough. Sisko was enough. But I wasn’t enough. That’s how I took it. They had to bring in this ‘va va voom.’ She was very smart, the story was very good, and she was a very fine actress. But how did I feel initially? I was quite stung. And then I had to sort of figure it out. The value was in the story. The story was Star Trek Voyager, and I had to get them home. Jeri– she’s a very very smart and worthy partner. So it’s always hard, but I’d be a liar if I told you otherwise, right?” Kate Mulgrew is absolutely a gem.  And as was mentioned in the panel a few times: Star Trek: Prodigy is in danger! If you have a Netflix subscription, you are doing yourself a favor by checking it out.

Rosario Dawson was one of the final panels signaling the end of Fan Expo Chicago 2024, and she started the packed panel with a bang, showing off her cartwheel skills to kick things off. Rosario was at the con in promotion of her new Terminator animated series: Terminator Zero, in which she is voicing a character named Kokoro. Rosario has also found success within the Star Wars universe playing Ahsoka Tano in the Ahsoka series.  Rosario came off as very indebted to the fan base, being an avid fan herself. She shared memories of debating the Terminator timeline with her family, as well as being a calculus tutor when she was younger. She spoke on growing up nerdy, and how elated she is to now be part of many different series that she once grew up watching, such as Terminator and Star Wars as well as her humble beginnings from her start on the movie KIDS.  She especially attributed a lot of her fonder memories to cons, including being first introduced to Carrie Fisher at a Chicago con as well as freaking out the first time she met Mark Hamill on set. Despite the Mark Hamill freakout, she let the crowd in on who were the top two celebrities that have caused her to be most starstruck: David Bowie and Tim Curry. Her fandom runs deep, as the actress has a David Bowie memorial tattoo. Dawson also recalled how her mother would dress up for Rocky Horror Picture Show reenactments while pregnant with Rosario, citing it as the reason Tim Curry "runs in her blood. " Rosario did speak highly of her new Terminator series, hyping up the Japanese animation style as well as noting that it acts as a sort of reboot to the series, and a perfect entry point for new fans. All in all, it was a great panel to close out Fan Expo. Terminator Zero drops on Netflix August 29th, and for more con coverage, stay tuned to Culture Combine!

Maybe it's because of my long history with the conventions at the Donald E Stephens Convention center, but there's something special about Fan Expo. I dreamt of going to the Chicago Comicon as a little kid, eventually attending my first when it was renamed Wizard World, and now with a couple of years under the Fan Expo banner, I'm still smitten by its charm. Of course we saw a slew of panels, and you can read all about them here , here , and here , but we had to take a few photos of some of our favorite cosplays. It was a wonderful collection of impressive and genuine cosplays filling up the busiest day of the weekend, adding even more dazzle to the weekend . Photos by Julian Ramirez.

Charlie Cox was at Chicago’s Fan Expo 2024, and we were able to jump into a panel already in progress. I’ve never been to a convention where panels start to empty rooms as staff shuffle those who have been following the rules and waiting in lines are let into the theater only after the panel is in progress. While those people managing the lines at Fan Expo may be incompetent and often hostile to attendees, the guests and MCs were fantastic, asking Charlie Cox questions about his time portraying the Man With No Fear and his work on the series Kin . Charlie Cox started out as Daredevil in the Netflix series about 9 years ago now. And he’s starting to feel his age, saying “As I get older, it gets harder and recovery time is longer. I spend more time in ice baths than I did when I started (playing Daredevil)” He’s also learned that doing your own stunts might sound cool, but it can cause a lot of trouble. Cox’s longtime stunt double Chris Brewster managed to get a perfect take on a fall through a breakaway table. Since there were two more tables left, Cox decided he also wanted a chance to take the fall. “The first one went well, and we watched it back. It worked really well. So they had two more of these tables so they let me do one. I landed badly on the wrist. And it was fine, and I didn’t tell anybody. It wasn’t broken. And I was like ‘I’m going to be okay,’ but it was a really good example of like, if I had injured myself, that would have been so uncool. Because, you know, they had it, they had the shot. And if I get hurt, it would be a real problem with the production.” The conversation shifted over to the Irish TV series Kin , where Charlie Cox plays Michael Kinsella. Cox was surprised that Season 2 hasn't made it over to the United States yet, “I assume at some point they will bring it over. It’s been a very–it’s been a huge success in the UK and in part of Europe.” When the MC asked Cox if he thought that Matt Murdock would defend Kin protagonist Michael Kinsella, Cox said, “Oh wow. Well, he’d know he’s lying all the time, so I don’t know, I probably wouldn’t want to touch that.” He went on to talk about the research that went into Kin –and how it's closer to reality than you might realize. Cox said of his leading role in Kin:  “...once I'd accepted the role I started to do my research. And what I discovered was that this story is very closely based on a real ongoing crime feud, family like mafia feud in Dublin… I was like - somebody like Peter told me who my character is based on and - you know normally it's like historical events, right? You play someone from the past. Reading up about this guy, I'm like, ‘That guy just got released from jail. He’s in Dublin. I hope he doesn’t find out I’m portraying him–and then doesn’t like it. I mean, it’s really close to home.”   The host then chimed in, “I hope he’s a fan!” and Cox agreed, saying “I hope so. Still, I’ve never said his name publicly.” to which the MC responded “that’s probably just fine!” Soon the conversation turned towards Daredevil  and the MCU, starting with his turn in She-Hulk . Cox stated that he loved working with Tatiana Maslany, calling her “one of the greatest actors of our generation.” He also said that working on She-Hulk allowed him to have a bit more fun with Daredevil. He pointed out that some “very religious people don’t like the walk of shame, but I think it’s sort of fun” and when the MC pointed out that Matt Murdock is a religious dude, Cox said “(he) doesn’t always act like one. Yeah.”  When it got to fan questions, one attendee asked Charlie Cox about his experiences working with Netflix versus working with the MCU. Cox said, “My bosses were Marvel, you know, the day-to-day was with Marvel TV, really, which now is kind of under the umbrella of the MCU.” he goes on to say, “It feels really good, as so many people say, to be welcome to the MCU. It feels really good to be a part of that whole thing, and for us to have that opportunity, at least now, to have more of these crossovers which the fans love.” An attendee asked Charlie Cox about the change in direction for the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again . Cox initially said “I'm not going to answer that” but went on to explain “I’m not going to answer that because it’s more complicated (than the information that is available online.)” Cox went on to elaborate between the different direction the show took: “You know, there's some of the material, a lot of the material that we shot pre (writer’s) strike is brilliant and it's still in the show and works really well. There were just some complicating factors around what we had been tasked to do and what we were discovering wasn't working. So I would aim to answer that, and then make it sound like what people were doing before the changes were made was not good or wrong. It's just more. It's more complicated with that, so what I will say is credit to Marvel. That they looked at the episodes and would acknowledge that we can still do better. And that we may maybe need to go in a slightly different direction. And I mean, you have to count yourself so lucky to be working for a company that is willing to do that, you know, and spend more money together. Where…we have ended up felt really good.” We can't wait to see what happens with Daredevil and we're grateful Charlie Cox was able to come here to Fan Expo Chicago and let us in on some of his thoughts and experiences. Don't forget to check out the main page for more Fan Expo Chicago content whether you live here or not - we've got plenty of cosplay galleries, panel writeups and more to help you get caught up on what's new with your favorite franchises and actors.

We made it! Fan Expo Chicago's off to a crazy start, with the show floors and panel rooms packed to the brim with fans of, well, everything pop culture. This was no low-key first day, at least in part because of some truly big panels like Baldur's Gate 3, Adam Savage , and of course Mark Hamill to round it out. We spent a lot of time in panel rooms and queues as a result, but we never miss an opportunity to capture fans in all their cosplay finest. Enjoy this gallery and we'll see you back out there today for even more!

Mark Hamill joined a packed house on Day 1 of Fan Expo Chicago, and was greeted in a packed panel room with an introduction by none other than Giancarlo Esposito alongside a couple of Storm Troopers, Darth Vader and–hilariously–an extremely tall Jawa. Esposito was in full blown Moff Gideon mode as he waxed on about the lure of the Dark Side, and how he wanted to “have a piece of that big-eared bastard” Grogu. After asking the audience to “Follow me, Grand Moff Gideon” he turned to his entourage, who eagerly agreed to join him in his Dark Side activities. Even the Jawa let out a spirited “utinni!” Esposito really amped up the crowd, but Mark Hamill seemed tired when he finally got on stage–fresh off of filming his part in the film The Long Walk in Winnipeg–which he was only recently reported to have a role in. But he’s not done filming yet, saying “I have to go back.” The Long Walk is based on a Stephen King novel–which King wrote under his pseudonym, Richard Bachman–and is set in a dystopian future where a group of boys walk until only one remains in a grim endurance contest which is broadcast to a national audience, akin to something like The Hunger Games . Of his role and experience filming The Long Walk  he revealed precious little except to say it’s “grim stuff.” Hamill previously worked with Flanagan on The Fall of the House of Usher and will also have a part in Flanagan’s upcoming The Life of Chuck , which stars Tom Hiddleston. Sadly, Mike Flanagan canceled his Fan Expo appearance, so we won’t be able to get any more insight there. Hamill went on to talk about a range of subjects–including his voice work on Avatar: The Last Airbender where he portrayed Fire Lord Ozai. When he first got the role, he didn’t think the show would last very long. Hamill said, “I loved ( Avatar: The Last Airbender). And I didn’t say this to the people at work, but in my own mind that I said, this thing’s going to be five episodes and gone–it’s too smart.” Hamill went on to say of its success “you don’t talk down to children, you talk up to them. You can not only engage them, but their parents might watch with them, and that’s what happened with that show. That’s why it got renewed over and over and over again.” Covering all his major roles lately, Hamill moved on to talking about the Regular Show, which was revealed a few months ago to be getting new episodes, and Mark Hamill confirmed he was returning as Skips. Hamill recounted how William Sawyers–who voiced Mordecai on Regular Show –messaged Mark Hamill and asked if he was in for the new episodes. Sawyers relayed to Hamill that he was worried he wouldn’t be on board, to which the legendary actor replied ‘Like I’ve somehow outgrown them. ‘No, I’m sorry, I don’t do that anymore,’ I said. No. I wrote him back. I said there’s only one Skips.” There’s definitely only one Mark Hamill, too. He not only packed the hall, forcing General Admission attendees into an overflow room, he’s already sold out his pricey autograph packages for the entire weekend. We'll be on the show floor all weekend long with more tales from Fan Expo Chicago's panel rooms and cosplay photos from out on the floor. If you're making plans post-Hamill, make sure to make some time in your busy schedule for our panel on Sunday at noon on the Creator's Stage when we'll be hosting Culture Combine's Pop Culture Happy Hour, talking all things fandom, playing games, and giving away prizes. We'll see you out there! Happy con weekend, Chicago!