Hey there, it’s time for a brand new episode of the occasional series The Flickcast. That’s right, we’re excited too.

On this week’s episode Chris and Joe discuss a bunch of stuff including the Star Wars: The Last Jedi teaser/trailer, the season finale of The Expanse, a new season of the X-Files, Kylo Ren’s face, the potential WGA strike and much more. Plus, the usual even more. 

No beer selections again this week (the boys are on the wagon at the moment) except to remind you to buy local, if you can. Picks this week include Chris’ pick of the movie I Don’t Feel at Home In This World Anymore and Joe’s pick of the soundtrack to Guardians of the Galaxy 2.

As always, if you have comments, questions, critiques, offers of sponsorship, or whatever, feel free to hit us up in the comments, on Twitter, at Facebook, Google+ or shoot us an email.

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It’s been nearly ten years since Middle Earth unfurled across the screen, and in that time, the Lord of the Rings films have cemented their place in cinematic history. The actors have aged, technology has evolved, and the influence of Peter Jackson’s trilogy is evidenced in all the three-plus-hour epics we’ve seen over the past decade.

Jackson slips back into this world seamlessly, elevating the grandeur but also reigning it in; instead of army battles and global chaos pitting kings against wizards and demons, this is a merrier tale of Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf, and a band of dwarves hunting a lost treasure guarded by the fierce dragon Smaug.

Smaug, we’re told (and cleverly not shown until the very end) attacked the thriving dwarf city of Erebor years ago, evicting dwarven kind from their homeland (writing that I’m starting to wonder if there’s a parable here, big noses and all…) and forcing them to have it out with every other race in Middle Earth, from the orcs at Moria (the chief of whom kills the leader dwarf, Thorin’s, grandfather and becomes the main antagonist) to the elves at, uh, Elvania (the elves chose not to help the dwarves in the battle against Smaug).

Whether you loved, hated, or were merely disappointed by TRON: Legacy, the newest installment in the TRON saga should pique your interest. The animated Disney series TRON: Uprising received an incredible reception from fans of all ages at San Diego Comic-Con and it’s easy to see why.

Fans looking for the happy place between the updated graphics showcased in Legacy and the enduring storyline of the original movie will find that place in Uprising. Set after the end of TRON but before the sequel, the series, which premiered on June 7, follows a young program named Beck (Elijah Wood).

As the latest light cycle riding, identity disc welding hero of The Grid, Beck becomes the unlikely leader of a rebellion. An apprentice to the legendary warrior Tron (Bruce Boxleitner), Beck earns the name The Renegade as he battles against the villains Clu and General Tesler (Lance Henriksen).

Also starring Mandy Moore (Mara), Emmanuelle Chriqui (Paige), and Nate Corddry (Zed), TRON: Uprising airs Thursday nights at 8 p.m. on Disney XD, with encore episodes on Friday nights at 10 p.m. on Disney Channel.

Check out the clips after the break.

Tron: Legacy is a bit of a polarizing film. Some people loved it, others hated it while few could find much middle ground. Say what you will about the movie itself, it is hard to deny that Legacy re-introduced us to an intriguing universe that deserves to be explored a bit more.

While a third Tron film grows less and less likely with each passing month, Disney remains committed to the franchise with a new animated series set to debut on Disney XD soon. We have long known of this project, as it was announced shortly after the release of Legacy, but it has been awhile since we have been reminded that the show is still on the horizon.

That reminder has finally arrived in the form of a new trailer for the show, showcasing an impressive animated style that fits the digital world of Tron perfectly. The show also boosts an incredible voice cast, starring Elijah Wood, Mandy Moore, Lance Henriksen, Paul Reubens and even Bruce Boxleitner back as Tron.

You can check out the new trailer after the jump.

Max Landis’s Death and Return of Superman is a very long sketch. No, it’s a really funny short film. No, you know what it’s like? It’s like, after a long night of gaming, when you’re hanging with your best nerd friends having a laugh, debating movies and video games and all things geeky. Tie all that together into a 17 minute short film and you’ve got The Death and Return of Superman.

Screenwriter Max Landis (Chronicle) decided to film his late night nerd philippic and brought some familiar friends along for the ride.

Death and Return of Superman, affectionately dubbed DAROS, cuts back and forth between Landis recounting the story of Big Blue’s demise directly to the camera and live-action re-enactments by actors using Landis’s voice (much in the style of the Drunk History series).

The star-studded short features Mandy Moore, Morgan Krantz, Elijah Wood, Elden Henson, Dustin Romero, Matt Bennett, Zach Cregger, and Jimmi Simpson in key roles. Sharp-eyed viewers can also spot cameos by Simon Pegg, Sarah Shahi, Whitney Moore, Chloe Dykstra, Micah Sloate, Chris Hardwick, and Ron Howard. 

Check out the full film, which was released for free on YouTube Friday, after the jump.