The Nerds of Color

‘Zootopia 2’ Creators Discuss the Film’s Global Success and After Credit Scene With Zootopia 2 now on Digital and Blu-ray, the BAFTA-winning sequel arrives with new bonus extras, including a peek inside Walt Disney Animation Studios, recording-booth behind-the-scenes, a Shakira music spotlight, and deleted scenes. In this interview, The Nerds of Color speaks with director Byron Howard and producer Yvette Merino about the film’s global impact, its emotionally resonant and timely themes, and that mysterious after-credits feather.

‘Zootopia 2’ Creators Discuss the Film’s Global Success and After Credit Scene

With Zootopia 2 now on Digital and Blu-ray, the BAFTA-winning sequel arrives with new bonus extras, including a peek inside Walt Disney Animation Studios, recording-booth behind-the-scenes, a Shakira music spotlight,…

‘The Bride!’ Proves That Women Should Be Running Hollywood The Bride! is an electrifying tale that leaves you clawing for more. Jessie Buckley delivers a phenomenal performance as the troubled Bride brought to life, with Christian Bale delivering a moving portrayal as Frankenstein‘s monster. Maggie Gyllenhaal’s script and direction are an absolute masterclass in storytelling and proves that women should be in charge of Hollywood with this retelling. “People love a monster,” and Gyllenhaal certainly serves up all of the good and bad monstrosities one could hope for in this film.

'The Bride!' Proves That Women Should Be Running Hollywood

HBO’s ‘DTF St. Louis’ Cast and Creator on Unique Characters and a Murder Mystery HBO's new suspense miniseries DTF St. Louis turns surburban life on its head. We had the opportunity to speak with creator Steven Conrad and actors Richard Jenkins and Joy Sunday about bringing this show to life.

HBO's 'DTF St. Louis' Cast and Creator on Unique Characters and a Murder Mystery

Pixar’s ‘Hoppers’ is a Hilarious Avatar Riff That Gets Surprisingly Real When it comes to animated originals, few studios do it like Pixar. Their best films keep raising the bar. So when something like Hoppers comes along, you do not just hope it is good. You hope it delivers the kind of craft and storytelling that reminds you why Pixar is still the gold standard. And Hoppers does exactly that. It pairs humorous chaos with emotionally resonant storytelling, memorable characters, and astonishing visuals, while exploring timely ideas about anger, powerlessness, and empathy without ever losing its heart.

Pixar’s ‘Hoppers’ is a Hilarious Avatar Riff That Gets Surprisingly Real

When it comes to animated originals, few studios do it like Pixar. Their best films keep raising the bar. So when something like Hoppers comes along, you do not just hope it is good. You hope it delivers the kind of craft and…

Octavia Spencer on ‘Lost Women of Alaska,’ ‘Feds,’ and True-Crime Storytelling Octavia Spencer executive produces and narrates the Lost Women franchise and Feds. Lost Women of Alaska consists of three episodes, all streaming on HBO Max. Season 2 of Feds will begin airing weekly on Wednesday, March 4, at 9/8c on ID.

NOC Interview: Octavia Spencer on ‘Lost Women of Alaska,’ ‘Feds,’ and True-Crime Storytelling

@octaviaspencer #LostWomenOfAlaska #FEDS @investigationdiscovery @hbomax

#Bookcover concept for my novel "JQK" by the excellent @sisaliks.bsky.social! A serial-killer thriller about sports gambling, casino culture, Asian American gender issues that're close to my heart. There's a 007-ish subplot about writing fanfic.
#debutnovel #querying #asianamerican #murdermystery

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘The Dignity Circle’ Exceptionally strong acting from their two leads make up for a somewhat predictable and safe pyramid scheme story in Lauren Smerkanich's The Dignity Circle, now having its world premiere at Theatre of Note.

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘The Dignity Circle’

Exceptionally strong acting from their two leads make up for a somewhat predictable and safe pyramid scheme story in Lauren Smerkanich's The Dignity Circle, now having its world premiere at Theatre of Note.

The Cast of ‘Scrubs’ on the Importance of Medical Professionals They might not be Superman, but they're still heroes! Today, medical professionals are being questioned more than ever before by everything and everyone, from people on TikTok and YouTube, to government officials attempting to discredit science and medical facts. During times like this, folks need to be reminded of all the medical community does for people, and the proven scientific expertise they actually provide everyone for the benefit of all mankind.

The Cast of ‘Scrubs’ on the Importance of Medical Professionals

They might not be Superman, but they're still heroes! Today, medical professionals are being questioned more than ever before by everything and everyone, from people on TikTok and YouTube, to government officials attempting to…

Butterbeer Season Returns to Universal Resorts Wands at the ready! Universal Destinations & Experiences has just announced the return of Butterbeer Season at the Hollywood, Orlando, Beijing, and Japan Universal Parks.

Butterbeer Season Returns to Universal Resorts

Wands at the ready! Universal Destinations & Experiences has just announced the return of Butterbeer Season at the Hollywood, Orlando, Beijing, and Japan Universal Parks.

Disney California Adventure Park’s Food & Wine Festival 2026 New and Returning Favorites The Disney California Adventure Park's Food & Wine Festival returns to Disney California Adventure Park from March 6 through April 27, 2026, inviting guests to eat and drink their way through California-inspired flavors across the park. Offerings will be available at festival marketplaces, select quick-service locations, and reserved dining experiences.

Disney California Adventure Park’s Food & Wine Festival 2026 New and Returning Favorites

The Disney California Adventure Park's Food & Wine Festival returns to Disney California Adventure Park from March 6 through April 27, 2026, inviting guests to eat and drink their way through…

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A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Room By The Sea’

It's been so long since I felt this indelible feeling of magic while watching a play but the world premiere of John Guerra's Room By The Sea, a triple co-production…

https://thenerdsofcolor.org/2026/02/23/a-los-angeles-theatre-review-room-by-the-sea/

‘Hoppers’ Star Piper Curda Talks Heart, Humor, and Mabel’s Playlist In Disney and Pixar’s Hoppers, Piper Curda voices Mabel, a passionate animal lover who ferociously follows her heart. She cares deeply for creatures both big and small, though her patience for humankind occasionally wears thin. For Curda, the key was figuring out what kept Mabel consistent, even when the story’s chaos kept escalating.

‘Hoppers’ Star Piper Curda Talks Heart, Humor, and Mabel’s Playlist

In Disney and Pixar’s Hoppers, Piper Curda voices Mabel, a passionate animal lover who ferociously follows her heart. She cares deeply for creatures both big and small, though her patience for humankind occasionally wears thin.…

‘Hoppers’ Director Daniel Chong on 3D Animation and Landing SZA Those familiar with Daniel Chong's We Bare Bears know that his storytelling and visual style thrive on emotional sincerity wrapped in playful absurdity. Hoppers, his feature directorial debut, is an expansion of those principles. During our visit to Pixar’s campus, we learned more about his jump from 2D to 3D and what it took to bring SZA on board for the film’s end credits song.

‘Hoppers’ Director Daniel Chong on 3D Animation and Landing SZA

Those familiar with Daniel Chong's We Bare Bears know that his storytelling and visual style thrive on emotional sincerity wrapped in playful absurdity. Hoppers, his feature directorial debut, is an expansion of those principles.…

‘Toy Story 5’ Trailer Reveals How Woody Returns To Save The Day Disney and Pixar have released the newest trailer for Toy Story 5, and it feels like the franchise is stepping into something very real. Not another collector’s item. Not a daycare disaster. This time, the toys are up against technology in the form of a cute green frog tablet named Lilypad (Greta Lee)

‘Toy Story 5’ Trailer Reveals How Woody Returns To Save The Day

Disney and Pixar have released the newest trailer for Toy Story 5, and it feels like the franchise is stepping into something very real. Not another collector’s item. Not a daycare disaster. This time, the toys are up against…

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Here Lies Love’ A fantastic all-Filipino cast cannot hide the simple fact that Here Lies Love, now having its West Coast premiere at Center Theatre Group, is a shallow, poorly written musical with relentless static disco tunes. In addition, it is absolutely confused in whether they want to glorify their subject Imelda Marcos or warn about the dangers of fascism.

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Here Lies Love’

A fantastic all-Filipino cast cannot hide the simple fact that Here Lies Love, now having its West Coast premiere at Center Theatre Group, is a shallow, poorly written musical with relentless static disco tunes. In addition, it is absolutely confused…

‘The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins’ Cast on Second Chances and Comedy Tracy Morgan, Daniel Radcliffe, Erika Alexander, and Bobby Moynihan star as Reggie Dinkins, Arthur Tobin, Monica Reese-Dinkins, and Rusty Boyd in The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, which premieres on February 23 at 8 PM with an encore of the pilot followed by a new episode at 8:30 PM. After that, episodes will continue to air Mondays at 8:30 PM on NBC, before becoming available the next day on Peacock.

NOC Interviews: ‘The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins’ Cast on Second Chances and Comedy

@tracymorgan @erikaalexanderthegreat @bibbymoynihan @utvalternative @nbc #TheFallandRiseofReggieDinkins

Breaking Down the Trailer for ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ At its core Star Wars has always been about rebels and underdogs standing up to dictators using their own private armies to take over the galaxy. Since its debut in 2019, The Mandalorian strengthened those themes, centering on a ragtag duo of outcasts fighting the good fight against villains still trying their hardest to hold on to authoritarianism. Now the battle continues on the big screen as Din Djarin and Grogu return in…

Breaking Down the Trailer for ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’

At its core Star Wars has always been about rebels and underdogs standing up to dictators using their own private armies to take over the galaxy. Since its debut in 2019, The Mandalorian strengthened those themes, centering on a ragtag duo…

Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi Brings ‘Predator: Badlands’ Home This past year director Dan Trachtenberg, who brought us Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers introduced us to the franchise’s first Yautja protagonist, Dek, in Predator: Badlands! Portrayed by breakout star, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, both Trachtenberg and Koloamatangi infused pathos and complexity into Dek, bringing us something completely different; a sympathetic and richer side to Yautja culture.

Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi Brings ‘Predator: Badlands’ Home

This past year director Dan Trachtenberg, who brought us Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers introduced us to the franchise’s first Yautja protagonist, Dek, in Predator: Badlands! Portrayed by breakout star, Dimitrius…

Exclusive Clip From Apple TV’s International Hit ‘Drops of God’ Apple TV has sent The Nerds of Color an exclusive sneak peek clip from tomorrow’s fifth episode of Drops of God, the multilingual French-Japanese wine mystery drama.

Exclusive Clip From Apple TV’s International Hit ‘Drops of God’

Apple TV has sent The Nerds of Color an exclusive sneak peek clip from tomorrow’s fifth episode of Drops of God, the multilingual French-Japanese wine mystery drama.

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Amadeus’ Despite a golden missed opportunity to cast global majority actors for the main roles of Mozart/Salieri/Constanze that would have richly amplified the narrative, there is a lot to love about the Pasadena Playhouse production of Peter Shaffer's Amadeus with the fantastic set & lighting design, the incredible ensemble cast, and the powerhouse performances of their lead actors Jefferson Mays and Sam Clemmett as Salieri and Mozart respectively. The stage is set for a riveting rivalry between two composers: Antonio Salieri, the court’s celebrated musician, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the vulgar prodigy whose brilliance threatens everything Salieri holds dear.  

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Amadeus’

Despite a golden missed opportunity to cast global majority actors for the main roles of Mozart/Salieri/Constanze that would have richly amplified the narrative, there is a lot to love about the Pasadena Playhouse production of Peter Shaffer's Amadeus with…

Pretty Enigma Trope (P.E.T.) YouTube video by 12 Valentines - Topic

New 12 VALENTINES tune! A song for all the problems. Working titles were "Since Prince Died" "F--k Those Guys" "Pretty Good Elegy" but anyways, now it's called "Pretty Enigma Trope." I was feeling mad at the bros and wrote lyrics and Rowan sings em so beautiful.
#newmusicfriday #Prince #altpop

Feeling the Love with ‘Kissing is the Easy Part’ Stars Asher Angel and Paris Berelc Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and so is another YA rom-com from Tubi. Directed by Fawzia Mirza, Kissing is the Easy Part follows straight-A student Sean (Asher Angel), who agrees to tutor the rebellious Flora (Paris Berelc) in exchange for a recommendation letter to MIT. Opposites attract, so naturally, it doesn't take long for sparks to fly between the study buddies — but with great chemistry also comes great complications.

Feeling the Love with ‘Kissing is the Easy Part’ Stars Asher Angel and Paris Berelc

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and so is another YA rom-com from Tubi. Directed by Fawzia Mirza, Kissing is the Easy Part follows straight-A student Sean (Asher Angel), who agrees to tutor the…

Ben Watkins, Matthew Lillard, and Wes Chatham on Expanding ‘Cross’ for Season 2 While covering New York Comic Con 2025, I attended the press conference for the second season of Cross and asked executive producer/showrunner Ben Watkins, Matthew Lillard, and Wes Chatham about bringing new characters and dynamics to the crime-thriller. The show is based on James Patterson’s best-selling book series.

NOC Interview: Ben Watkins, Matthew Lillard, and Wes Chatham on Expanding ‘Cross’ for Season 2

@matthewlillard @_benipedia_ @crossonprime @primevideo #CrossOnPrime

Destin Daniel Cretton Discusses ‘Wonder Man’ and its First-Gen Influences Wonder Man co-creator, writer, and director Destin Daniel Cretton speaks with The Nerds of Color and shares the process of bringing Simon Williams' backstory to life.

Destin Daniel Cretton Discusses 'Wonder Man' and its First-Gen Influences

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Poetry for the People: The June Jordan Experience’ With the West Coast premiere of Poetry for the People: The June Jordan Experience at the Fountain Theatre, this uniquely moving and stirring choreopoem honors the work and life of June Jordan, one of America’s most fearless writers and human rights activists. Amongst many wonderful things about this play led by such a strong ensemble cast, what makes this special and also true to Jordan's fearless spirit is that it does not leave out her realization of the interconnected struggles between Black people and Palestinians. What does resistance sound like?

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Poetry for the People: The June Jordan Experience’

With the West Coast premiere of Poetry for the People: The June Jordan Experience at the Fountain Theatre, this uniquely moving and stirring choreopoem honors the work and life of June Jordan, one of America’s most…

Luc Besson and the Cast of ‘Dracula’ Discuss its Recontextualization of Romance The whimsy-goth fever dream from the mind of Luc Besson (The Fifth Element) gives its classic heroine more romantic agency than any other version of the story put to screen.

Luc Besson and the Cast of ‘Dracula’ Discuss its Recontextualization of Romance

NOC Review: Toxic Love Entices and Torments in ‘Wuthering Heights’ Why are so many drawn to toxic love? Like an addiction, many cling to the idea that only a single person can complete their soul and possess their very being, holding on to the feeling of euphoria that exists when that person is by your side. However for any and all purity that might seemingly be derived from love, sometimes it can be utterly poisonous if the obsession consumes you.

NOC Review: Toxic Love Entices and Torments in ‘Wuthering Heights’

Why are so many drawn to toxic love? Like an addiction, many cling to the idea that only a single person can complete their soul and possess their very being, holding on to the feeling of euphoria that exists when that person is by…

‘Wuthering Heights’ is a Visually Stunning Retelling of a Cautionary Affair Wuthering Heights immediately whisks you away into a dark reimagined telling of Emily Brontë‘s novel. Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi give us a searing portrayal of the tortured lovebirds Catherine and Heathcliff in a story filled with passion, depicted by two deeply troubled individuals. The film is cinematically stunning, and the costumes lean beautifully into a whimsically modern twist on period pieces.

‘Wuthering Heights’ is a Visually Stunning Retelling of a Cautionary Affair

Wuthering Heights immediately whisks you away into a dark reimagined telling of Emily Brontë‘s novel. Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi give us a searing portrayal of the tortured lovebirds Catherine and Heathcliff in a story…

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Guards at the Taj’ Despite the usage of a dangerous Islamophobic myth that is the base for its central conflict, the Los Angeles independent remounting of Rajiv Joseph's Guards at the Taj (the last one was in 2015 at the Geffen Playhouse) is a strikingly well done and hauntingly relevant production that also utilizes fantastic genderbent casting and an endearing post finale that credits all crew involved, a practice that is rarely ever seen in theatre.

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Guards at the Taj’

Despite the usage of a dangerous Islamophobic myth that is the base for its central conflict, the Los Angeles independent remounting of Rajiv Joseph's Guards at the Taj (the last one was in 2015 at the Geffen Playhouse) is a strikingly well done…

‘GOAT’ is an Animated Love Letter to the Game of Basketball GOAT may look like one of those underdog sports movies where you can clock the protagonist and antagonist in the first five minutes, but it has more on its mind than simply winning the big game. The animated film is a love letter to basketball and everything that comes with it. This isn’t just about the score. It’s about the plays, the chemistry, the legacy a veteran fights to protect, and the way a team can become the heartbeat of a community.

‘GOAT’ is an Animated Love Letter to the Game of Basketball

GOAT may look like one of those underdog sports movies where you can clock the protagonist and antagonist in the first five minutes, but it has more on its mind than simply winning the big game. The animated film is a love letter to…