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Prime Video has proven it can find success bringing a popular video game franchise to TV with Fallout. Soon it will try to recapture its adaptation magic with two other highly anticipated series. It’s already at work on a Tomb Raider show starring Sophie Turner. Now, Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios have started filming Prime Video’s next big-budget show based on a video game. And to kick off work on God of War the studios shared a first look image of Ryan Hurst and Callum Vinson as Kratos and Atreus.

PlayStation’s iconic deities come to life in these first photos from God of War. It shows a keen Kratos watching closely as his son Atreus point and aim a bow and arrow. For fans of the video games, this image needs no explanation. But for newcomers, the series’ official synopsis provides a good introduction to the mythology-based story. From Prime Video:

The God of War series storyline follows father and son Kratos and Atreus as they embark on a journey to spread the ashes of their wife and mother, Faye. Through their adventures, Kratos tries to teach his son to be a better god, while Atreus tries to teach his father how to be a better human.

In addition to the folks we see in our first-look, Hurst as Kratos and Vinson as Atreus, God of War also stars: Mandy Patinkin as Odin, Ed Skrein as Baldur, Max Parker as Heimdall, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor, Teresa Palmer as Sif, Alastair Duncan as Mimir, Jeff Gulka as Sindri, and Danny Woodburn as Brok.

Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica, Outlander) serves as showrunner, executive producer, and writer. Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios is co-producing the series, “in association” with PlayStation Productions and Tall Ship Productions.

This might be just a first look image, but God of War will be around for a while. It won’t have to prove itself as the next great Prime Video video game adaptation. It already has a two-season order. And if it’s as good as Fallout, it’ll be around for a lot more than that.

The post GOD OF WAR Shares First Look Image of Kratos and Atreus as Production Begins appeared first on Nerdist.

Americans are leaning toward traditional, lower-cost gestures this Valentine’s Day, with most preferring a romantic dinner over expensive gifts, according to a new national survey.

A recent CouponFollow poll of 1,005 adults in relationships found that 61% consider a dinner date the ideal way to celebrate the holiday. Experiences such as travel or concert tickets ranked closely behind at 57%, while 46% said a handwritten card or letter would be their top choice.

Despite continued enthusiasm for the occasion, couples appear to be tightening their budgets according to the survey. On average, respondents said they plan to spend $87 on their partner this year — a notable decrease from 2025, when Americans reported budgeting $155 for Valentine’s gifts overall.

As reported by CNBC, Clay Cary, senior trends analyst at CouponFollow, said the shift reflects a broader recalibration rather than a loss of interest in the holiday. “There has been a significant change in how Americans are approaching this holiday,” Cary said. “They are not pulling away from Valentine’s Day, but they are being more selective on how much they are willing to, or can, spend on this holiday.”

Rising costs may be playing a role. Since early 2020, cumulative inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, has increased roughly 26%, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPI tracks price changes across a wide range of goods and services, including essentials such as groceries and fuel.

The financial strain is prompting some couples to skip the celebration entirely. One in five respondents said they plan to forgo Valentine’s Day this year.

Douglas Boneparth, president of wealth management firm Bone Fide Wealth, said perceptions about whether $87 is a lot or a little depend largely on individual financial circumstances. For some households, that amount may feel substantial; for others, modest. Ultimately, he noted, spending should align with income and available resources.

Boneparth suggests that couples take time to reflect on their financial values before deciding how to celebrate. Individuals should consider what money represents to them and how those beliefs shape their priorities. Discussing expectations together can also clarify what each partner values most.

“I think by answering those questions about yourself and each other, you probably come to a much more meaningful Valentine’s Day,” Boneparth said.

As inflation continues to influence consumer behavior, this year’s data suggests many Americans are opting for heartfelt gestures over high price tags — keeping romance intact while keeping spending in check.

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We’re only one episode in with Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season two, and we have plenty of monsters already, both old and new. The first episode this season, “Cause and Effect,” introduces several new creatures into the saga. But it begins with one of the main stars of the Monsterverse, and his welcome return. Yes, we’re talking about Kong.

Kong

At the end of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season one, the characters Cate, May, and Keiko emerge from Axis Mundi into our world, in the year 2017. And they didn’t just emerge anywhere, they came out the other side on Skull Island, the infamous home of Kong. And we got a brief cameo of a very angry Titan at the end of that cliffhanger episode. So does Kong appear in season two? He most certainly does, as Monarch season two’s first episode opens with Kong’s rampage on a Monarch facility on his island. And this Kong is not happy about these intruders.

Before the opening credits even roll on this episode, we see dozens of Monarch employees fleeing from an Angry Kong on Skull Island. As scientists and staff try to escape, Kong starts smashing his way through everything. He throws a Monarch truck like it’s a beach ball, letting it explode. Kong then smashes his fists into the ground, killing several people. He then steps on several more as they try to run away. Our main characters manage to escape in a helicopter, as Kong roars at them as they flee. After the credits, we learn Kong killed sixteen people. As one character says about Kong, “It’s his island. The only reason he lets us stay there as long as we don’t stir the pot.”

The Electrical Dragon/Bat

Later in the episode, May, Cate, and Kentaro go back to Skull Island in an effort to rescue Lee Shaw from Axis Mundi against company orders. While trekking through the jungle, they hide from a creature that looks like a smaller dragon from Game of Thrones. It has electrical charges that come out of its mouth, not unlike Godzilla. The rescue party manages to hide from it, after it kills a giant worm for food and then flies away.

The Weasel Beast

In a scene that riffs on the famous “raptors in the kitchen” scene from Jurassic Park (which Stranger Things also paid homage to recently), we see the rescue party head into an abandoned Monarch control room on the island. The catch the attention of a creature that looks like a deformed weasel, whose face is literally molting. And it has a huge rat-like tail. It walks on all fours, and is killed when Kentaro pins it against a wall with a forklift.

The Boar with Antlers

In Axis Mundi, older Lee Shaw (Kurt Russell) encounters a giant boar-like creature in the woods. Only this boar isn’t just huge, about the size of a stegosaurus, but it has deer-like antlers coming out of its body. It starts to rev up to charge, but Shaw is saved by the bell, when his friends attempt to rescue him by sending a pod. This startles the beast, and it runs away. Unfortunately, something gets into the pod with Shaw. And it ain’t pretty.

The Crab Bug

While running to the Monarch rescue pod, dozens of crab-like creatures about the size of a dog start chasing Shaw. He manages to fight off most of them, but one of them gets inside the pod. And it nearly kills him. This ugly critter has a huge mouth with dozens of sharp teeth, but Shaw manages to stab it and get away.

The Giant Flea

Before he escapes from Axis Mundi, Shaw sees a massive Titan emerge from what looks like a mountain. We don’t get a good look at its face, but it has several spiked tentacles, that look about a football field wide. This nasty kajiu, which looks almost like a giant flea, escapes from the Axis Mundi into our world when it follows Shaw through the portal. It tangles with Kong, but escapes into the ocean.

This is just the beginning. The new kaiju, Titan X, is waiting in the wings. And of course, Godzilla will pop up before too long as well. We can’t wait to see what rears its ugly head in season two of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks

The post These Monsters Appear in MONARCH Season 2, Episode 1 appeared first on Nerdist.

In this interview, Jessica Chastain sits down alongside Isaac Hernández and director Michel Franco to discuss the bold vision behind Dreams.

The trio opens up about the film’s emotional intensity, the challenges of bringing these layered characters to life, and the creative collaboration that shaped this gripping story. Jessica shares what drew her to the project, Isaac reflects on his transition to the big screen, and Michel Franco dives into the themes that drive the film.

Interviewer: Jamie Broadnax

Video Editor: Jamie Broadnax

Dreams premieres in theaters Feb 27th.

The post The Making of ‘Dreams’ with Jessica Chastain & Michel Franco appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.