Amazon Greenlights a Warhammer 40K Animated Series and Henry Cavill Is Producing

God of War Season 2 Recasts Atreus and Thrud: Time Jump Confirmed and Filming Restarts in October

Amazon Prime Video's God of War series is shaking up its cast again, and this time it's by design. On this episode of Geek Freaks Headlines, Frank breaks down the report (via Polygon) that Atreus and Thrud are being recast for Season 2. The Season 2 casting call lists "Joshua" and "Ruth," the same codenames used for these characters in Season 1, but with the age range pushed up to 17 when it previously topped out at 12. Frank explains what that age bump signals: the show is doing a time jump between seasons, just like the games did, and rather than letting the young actors grow into the older roles, production is simply casting new performers. It also points to a clear structure for the series: one game per season. Season 1 covers the first game, Season 2 moves into the sequel, no stretching a single game across multiple years of TV. Plus, the Kratos situation is still unresolved after Ryan Hurst's injury, but there's good news on the production front: cameras roll again in October. * 00:00 Casting update: Atreus and Thrud recast for Season 2, per Polygon * 00:24 Why the recast points to a time jump, new actors instead of aging up, and the "one game per season" structure * 00:38 Kratos still uncast after Ryan Hurst's injury, filming resumes in October * Atreus and Thrud are being recast for God of War Season 2 * The Season 2 casting call uses the Season 1 codenames "Joshua" (Atreus) and "Ruth" (Thrud) * The listed age range now goes up to 17, where it previously topped out at 12 * The jump points to a time skip between seasons, matching the gap between the two games * Production is casting new actors rather than letting the current young cast age into the roles * The series looks set to do one game per season: Season 1 for the first game, Season 2 for the sequel * Kratos still needs to be recast following Ryan Hurst's injury * Filming resumes in October after a pause tied to that injury * "Atreus and Thrud are both being recast." * "Instead of letting the actors age up, they're just going to be casting new ones." * "Season one, game one. Season two, game two." * "It looks like it's full steam ahead for filming on this." If you like your geek news fast and to the point, hit subscribe so you never miss a Geek Freaks Headlines drop. Leave us a rating and review to help more geeks find the show, and share this episode with the God of War fan in your life using #GeekFreaksHeadlines. Full story and more geek news: https://GeekFreaksPodcast.com [https://GeekFreaksPodcast.com] * Website: GeekFreaksPodcast.com * Handle: @franklourence79 * Email: thegeekfreakspodcast@gmail.com [thegeekfreakspodcast@gmail.com] Have a take on the God of War recasts, or a story you want covered on a future episode? Send it our way and we might read it on the show. Drop it in the comments or email thegeekfreakspodcast@gmail.com [thegeekfreakspodcast@gmail.com]. God of War, God of War TV show, Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video, Atreus, Thrud, Kratos, Ryan Hurst, God of War Ragnarok, Santa Monica Studio, video game adaptation, geek news, gaming news, entertainment news, casting news, Geek Freaks, Geek Freaks Headlines, pop culture, TV news, Norse mythology TimestampsKey TakeawaysMemorable QuotesCall to ActionSourceFollow UsGot a Question?Apple Podcast Tags

Amazon Greenlights a Warhammer 40K Animated Series and Henry Cavill Is Producing

Amazon is going all in on Warhammer 40K. On this episode of Geek Freaks Headlines, Frank breaks down the newly greenlit animated series now in development alongside the previously announced live action project, with Henry Cavill producing both. The animated show expands directly off the standout Secret Level episode from 2024, the 4K entry that became a breakout hit and left fans wanting more. Frank digs into the creative team assembling behind the project. Blur Studio, the team behind Secret Level, is handling the animation. Games Workshop is involved to keep the lore locked in. Director Dave Wilson is back, and he is co-writing with Jon Orloff, whose credits include Band of Brothers. Frank also shares a personal angle: a friend is deep in the 40K universe right now, feeding him the cliff notes so he can keep up without reading every book on the shelf. The through line of the whole conversation is simple. Henry Cavill has personally made it his mission to keep Warhammer 40K in the cultural conversation, and it is paying off for fans. * 0:00 Amazon greenlights a Warhammer 40K animated series * 0:20 The creative team: Blur Studio, Games Workshop, Dave Wilson, and Jon Orloff * 0:35 Getting up to speed on 40K through a friend's cliff notes * 0:45 Why Henry Cavill deserves the credit for keeping 40K in the zeitgeist * 0:55 What are you most hyped for? Frank wants to hear from you * Amazon has greenlit a Warhammer 40K animated series, now in development alongside the live action project. * Henry Cavill is producing both the animated and live action projects. * The animated series expands off the 2024 Secret Level episode, which was a 4K breakout hit. * Blur Studio, the studio behind Secret Level, is handling the animation. * Games Workshop is directly involved to keep the lore consistent. * Director Dave Wilson returns and is co-writing with Jon Orloff of Band of Brothers. * Henry Cavill's ongoing push is a major reason Warhammer 40K keeps landing in the mainstream spotlight. * "It is a great time to be a 40K fan." * "You all need to be thanking Henry Cavill, who just took it upon himself to make sure it is in the zeitgeist." * "I do not have time for all the 40K stuff that's out there, so he's giving me the cliff notes." Read the full story and more geek headlines at GeekFreaksPodcast.com [https://GeekFreaksPodcast.com]. * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast [https://www.facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast] * Threads: https://www.threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast [https://www.threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast] * Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast [https://www.patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast] * Frank: @franklourence79 What part of the 40K universe are you most hyped for as the animated and live action projects come together? Drop your questions and hot takes and we may read them on a future episode of Geek Freaks Headlines. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, leave us a rating and review to help more geeks find the show, and share it with a friend using #GeekFreaksHeadlines. Warhammer 40K, Warhammer, Amazon, Henry Cavill, animated series, Secret Level, Blur Studio, Games Workshop, Dave Wilson, Jon Orloff, geek news, geek culture, tabletop, sci fi, Geek Freaks, Geek Freaks Headlines, pop culture news, streaming, Prime Video, fandom TimestampsKey TakeawaysMemorable QuotesWhere to Get Your NewsFollow UsJoin the ConversationSupport the ShowApple Podcast Tags

Nettles Explained: How House of the Dragon Replaced a Fan-Favorite Character With Rhaena

House of the Dragon Season 3 just made one of its biggest departures yet from George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood, cutting the fan-favorite dragonseed Nettles entirely and folding her role into Rhaena Targaryen. In this episode of Geek Freaks Headlines, we break down who Nettles is in the books, how she claims the wild dragon Sheepstealer, her complicated relationship with Daemon Targaryen, and why showrunner Ryan Condal chose to merge her arc with Rhaena's instead of adapting her directly. We also dig into what this change means for Daemon's redemption arc going forward, and whether the show just skipped past some of the richest material in the source text. **Timestamps** - 0:00 Intro, the big change to House of the Dragon - 0:12 Who is Nettles in the books - 0:28 The showrunner's reasoning for replacing her with Rhaena - 0:49 The Battle of the Gullet aftermath - 1:03 Daemon takes Nettles in as a companion - 1:26 Rhaenyra's paranoia and the hit on Nettles - 1:48 Nettles' fate in the Vale - 2:20 What this means for Daemon's redemption arc - 2:36 Final thoughts and wrap up **Key Takeaways** - Nettles is a lowborn dragonseed who claims the wild dragon Sheepstealer by feeding it dead sheep daily until it trusts her - Showrunner Ryan Condal chose to give her arc to Rhaena Targaryen to keep the story centered on the Targaryen family - Unlike Rhaena in the show, book Nettles was not responsible for Jace's death and fought valiantly in the Battle of the Gullet - Daemon takes Nettles in afterward, teaching her the ways of court, and the book leaves it ambiguous whether their bond is romantic or fatherly - Rhaenyra grows paranoid and puts a bounty on Nettles, forcing Daemon to help her flee - The show's choice to skip this material may cost us the redemption arc for Daemon that the book's ending sets up **Memorable Quotes** "She's a fighter, you know, she grew up tough. She claims Sheepstealer by feeding him dead sheep every day until the dragon trusts her." "Nettles is a great character I think really deserved to be in the show, but I understand making Rhaena more substantial." "He has not been a good dad. He's a terrible dad." **Got Thoughts on This Change?** Do you think replacing Nettles with Rhaena was the right call, or should HBO have found a way to keep both characters? Send us your take, we want to hear it. **Follow Geek Freaks Podcast** Website (our news source) https://GeekFreaksPodcast.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast Threads https://www.threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast Patreon https://www.patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast Twitter @franklourence79 **Subscribe and Share** If you enjoyed this breakdown, subscribe to Geek Freaks Headlines wherever you get your podcasts, leave us a review, and share this episode with a fellow House of the Dragon fan using #HouseOfTheDragon. **Apple Podcast Tags** House of the Dragon, Nettles, Rhaena Targaryen, Fire and Blood, Daemon Targaryen, HBO, Season 3, Sheepstealer, Battle of the Gullet, Jace death, Game of Thrones, book to screen adaptation

God of War Recasts Kratos After Ryan Hurst Injury

Big news out of Prime Video on this episode of Geek Freaks Headlines. Frank breaks down the shocking decision to recast Kratos in the God of War series after Ryan Hurst tore his bicep on the Vancouver set in late June. He covers why the surgery recovery timeline of four to six months, and possibly up to a year, made waiting impossible, what the mid-August prep and October production restart means for the show's schedule, and why the four completed episodes will need to be reshot. With two seasons filming back to back, the production simply could not stay on hold. Frank also sends his best wishes to Hurst, who has a big week regardless with Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey hitting theaters. Timestamps * 0:00 God of War Recasting Kratos After Ryan Hurst Injury * 0:15 Production Restart Timeline and Reshoot Plans * 0:30 Well Wishes for Ryan Hurst and The Odyssey Key Takeaways * Ryan Hurst is out as Kratos after tearing his bicep on set in late June * Bicep tear surgery recovery runs 4 to 6 months, with full recovery possibly taking a year * Production paused immediately and prep restarts in mid-August, with filming resuming in October * The four episodes already filmed will be reshot with the new actor * The show is filming two seasons back to back, which made waiting for recovery impossible * Hurst appears in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, in theaters now Memorable Quotes * "Once that happened, they immediately paused everything and he went into surgery." * "They're also filming two seasons back to back, so like they can't wait for a guy to recover." * "Ryan Hurst is a fantastic actor. I really hope the very best for him." Call to Action Enjoying Geek Freaks Headlines? Subscribe so you never miss a story, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, and share this episode with a fellow geek using #GodOfWar. Source Get the full story and all our geek news coverage at GeekFreaksPodcast.com [https://GeekFreaksPodcast.com] Follow Us * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast [https://www.facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast] * Threads: https://www.threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast [https://www.threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast] * Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast [https://www.patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast] * Frank: @franklourence79 Got Questions? Have a take on the God of War recast or a question for the show? Send it our way on social and we might feature it in a future episode.

Good Mythical Morning Hits Netflix and This Mythical Beast Has Feelings

Big news for Mythical Beasts everywhere. Good Mythical Morning is coming to Netflix starting September 7, and Frank breaks down what this means for the show, the fandom, and the future of creator content on streaming. GMM is one of three Mythical Entertainment shows making the jump, alongside Last Meals and Mythical Kitchen, with new episodes releasing day-and-date on both Netflix and YouTube. As a longtime fan who starts every morning with GMM, Frank shares an honest mix of excitement and concern. On the worry side: Rhett and Link know the YouTube algorithm better than almost anyone, but Netflix brings a whole new distribution model with its own incentives, and Good Mythical More staying YouTube-exclusive raises questions about how content gets divided. On the positive side: this could finally push GMM into the Emmy conversation alongside Dropout shows like Game Changer, it brings a new funding stream for a company that reinvests in itself, and it hands Netflix its first-ever daily show. * 0:00 A Mythical Beast Reacts to the Netflix News * 0:17 What GMM Means to Frank as a Daily Viewer * 0:49 The Algorithm Worry and How Netflix Could Change the Show * 1:27 Good Mythical More Stays YouTube Exclusive * 1:40 The Case for a GMM Emmy * 2:12 New Funding and Netflix's First Daily Show * 2:27 Final Thoughts and a Question for the Beasts * Good Mythical Morning, Last Meals, and Mythical Kitchen all arrive on Netflix September 7 with new episodes dropping the same day as YouTube * Nothing is leaving YouTube, so fans keep watching where they always have * The big concern is the algorithm shift, since Netflix optimization could quietly reshape a show built for YouTube * Good Mythical More remains YouTube-only, which could become the home for anything that doesn't fit the Netflix model * Netflix legitimacy could be the push GMM needs to join Dropout in the Emmy race * This marks the first daily show on the biggest streaming service in the world, a gap GMM is uniquely built to fill * "I'm a proud Mythical Beast. So when this news came out, I was anxious about it." * "Algorithm is king for content creation, and they know the YouTube one better than most." * "GMM deserves an Emmy." * "If you're not familiar with them yet from YouTube, get ready, because they're coming to Netflix and you will love them if you give them a shot." Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Geek Freaks Headlines so you never miss a story, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, and share this episode with a fellow Mythical Beast using #GoodMythicalMorning. All our news and full coverage lives at GeekFreaksPodcast.com [https://geekfreakspodcast.com]. Follow us: * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast [https://www.facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast] * Threads: https://www.threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast [https://www.threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast] * Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast [https://www.patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast] * Frank: @franklourence79 * Thomas: @thomascraigviii Are you excited or nervous about GMM on Netflix? Send us your take and we might read it on a future episode. TimestampsKey TakeawaysMemorable QuotesStay Connected