Chris Hayner

Chris Hayner is a senior entertainment editor, writer, host, and producer at GameSpot and Fandom. He also hosts the Big Kid podcast and writes for his Substack, Haynerland.

GameSpot •

Marvel's Secret Invasion Review - The MCU Tries Its Own Andor With Mixed Results

The latest entry in the long-running Marvel Cinematic Universe is quite a departure from the superhero fare you're used to. It's hard to narrow down a Marvel project to just one thing, but chances are it involves superheroes, mind-bending special powers, and a massive roster of returning characters that may or may not mean something in the long run. Secret Invasion isn't that and, truthfully, that's somewhat refreshing.
GameSpot •

How Falcon And The Winter Soldier's Action Stands Alone In The MCU

When it came to figuring out the fighting sequences in Disney+'s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, keeping things fresh was top of mind. That can be a tall task where the Marvel Cinematic Universe is concerned. After all, we've seen everything from people turned to dust mid-battle to epic space showdowns (and dance-offs). Kari Skoglang, who directed the series, had an idea for how to keep things fresh, though: lean away from superpowers and into good, old-fashioned fighting.
GameSpot •

Falcon And The Winter Soldier Will Dig Into Sam And Bucky's Personal Lives

With the release of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Disney+, two or Marvel's most recognizable superheroes are getting the opportunity to shine like never before in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While the franchise's leading characters--those with movies named after them--have gotten ample time to have their personal lives and issues explored, now Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) are getting their shot.
GameSpot •

Critics Of WandaVision Are Missing The Point

When 2020 passed without a single Marvel Cinematic Universe release, fans were anxious for the next piece of the massive puzzle, after being accustomed to getting new servings regularly. However, the releases of and Eternals on the big screen were delayed, while Disney+'s was pushed after production was halted during the pandemic. Finally, though, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. WandaVision became the first MCU Phase 4 entry and, it should be argued, it's also one of the strongest projects Marvel Studios has ever released.
GameSpot •

The CW's Superman & Lois Isn't Trying To Be Another Arrow-Verse Show

While there is plenty of variety on The CW's roster of DC universe TV shows, it's hard to argue that they are not all action-first. Whether it's The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Black Lightning, Supergirl, or Batwoman, these series spend the majority of their time with superheroes in colorful costumes saving the universe time and time again. While that's not a bad thing, Superman & Lois, which premieres on February 23, is looking to change up the formula.
GameSpot •

WandaVision Review: Disney+ Kicks Off MCU Phase 4 In Style

The Marvel drought is over. With no MCU movies released since 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home, Marvel Studios' cinematic universe has reopened with its first TV show on the Disney+ streaming service. picks up some time after Avengers: Endgame and finds the characters of Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) living their lives in a sitcom world, with different episodes highlighting different eras of the genre.
GameSpot •

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Impossible Story Behind Coming Out Of Their Shells

It was August 1990, and there was no more popular franchise than the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The comic book that two creators--Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird--created as a joke and printed in their garage had spawned a hit animated series and, now, a blockbuster movie. Following a March 30 release, the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie went on to earn over $202 million at the box office. The sky was seemingly the limit on what could be done with this property.
GameSpot •

Legends Of Tomorrow Boss Explains Why And How Two Main Characters Are Leaving

With its constant traveling to different time periods, altering historical events, and even sometimes fighting a massive furry blue toy named Beebo, Legends of Tomorrow has consistently proven itself to be the strangest and often times most entertaining corner of The CW's Arrow-verse. However, at the end of the day, it's a story about a makeshift family and in mere episodes, that family will be losing two of its primary figures.

It was revealed last August that Brandon Routh and Courtney Ford w
GameSpot •

Harley Quinn Review: This DC Universe Cartoon Is Vulgar, But Has A Heart Of Gold

After being introduced in Batman: The Animated Series, Harley Quinn has become one of the most beloved characters throughout comics. She's had a countless number of her own comic stories and made appearances in movies, video games, and more. Now, with the launch of the Harley Quinn animated series on DC Universe, the former Dr. Harleen Quinzel is ready to make her mark on the world of streaming.

Harley Quinn launches on DC Universe on November 29, and you need to know that it's an incredibly vu
GameSpot •

Arrow Twist Significantly Changes The Crisis On Infinite Earths Crossover

Just when you thought you were starting to grasp how the upcoming Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover might play out, Arrow is here to take a quick turn, unraveling almost any theory you could possibly have. As the CW series continues its final season, the episodes are designed mainly to continue setting the stage for the massive Crisis event that kicks off in December.

However, after the latest episode--titled "Leap of Faith"--everything had changed. Warning: The following contains spoilers fo
GameSpot •

DC Universe's Harley Quinn Cartoon Will Tackle Abusive Joker Relationship

As long as the character of Harley Quinn has been around, there's been a discussion among Batman fans about her relationship with Joker, which is incredibly abusive. It was revealed in the 1994 comic The Batman Adventures: Mad Love that Harley was a former psychiatrist that fell in love with the Clown Prince of Crime, even though he regularly insulted and demeaned her--and held very little regard for her life.
GameSpot •

How Arrow And Batwoman Got The Original Robin For Its Crisis On Infinite Earths Crossover

San Diego Comic-Con was filled with surprises, from the announcement of a massive slate of films and TV shows from Marvel Studios to new trailers for things like The Witcher and Westworld Season 3. One of the most exciting moments, though, came during the Batwoman panel. It was revealed that in the upcoming Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover, which will encompass the five Arrow-verse shows, original Batman TV series star Burt Ward will appear.
GameSpot •

Avengers: Endgame's Crowning Achievement Is Tony Stark's Story

We now live in a post-Avengers: Endgame world, which is a weird thought. A decade of storytelling all led up to one massive final chapter, and now it's just out there for the world to experience. With Endgame in theaters and destroying box office records, there's plenty to discuss. This will be your one and only warning: The following contains major spoilers for Avengers: Endgame. If you haven't seen the movie, please stop reading now.

Avengers: Endgame isn't a perfect movie. In fact, it's far
GameSpot •

Dark Phoenix Gives The X-Men Movie Franchise Some Closure

With the upcoming arrival of Dark Phoenix, the future of the X-Men film franchise is in a strange position. In the wake of Disney's purchase of 20th Century Fox, and the rights to the Marvel characters it controlled, it seems to be a foregone conclusion that the team of mutant superheroes would become part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

But what about the universe that's been built over the last 20 years through X-Men movies? If the continuity of this franchise ends, will fans get a sense of
GameSpot •

Gotham's "Trial Of Jim Gordon" Is "A Nice Way To Say Goodbye" For Show's Star

The next episode of Gotham, "The Trial of Jim Gordon," isn't the series finale of the Fox show. However, it is the final installment of the series that was filmed before production wrapped. In the episode, Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie) is near death after being shot and finds himself hallucinating a trial to determine whether or not he deserves to live, taking a deep look at everything Gordon has done since Gotham's pilot, for better or worse.
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