Right now, WandaVision is on everyone’s mind as we build-up to the final four episodes. Yet, the Super Bowl gave us a brand new Falcon and the Winter Soldier trailer that showcased all the action and our new antagonist, Flag-Smasher. The character is the leader of a secret organization ULTIMATUM, which seeks world peace through violence. The trailers revealed a gender-swapped version of the Marvel villain with a very different design from the comics. Our first look at the actress confirmed that Erin Kellyman is indeed playing this interpretation, as reported by Lizzie Hill. Many might remember her from Solo: A Star Wars Story.
A few months ago, we even saw that the Disney+ show is using the comic’s world symbol with an additional bloodied handmark. The only question was if this was an adaptation of the original Flag-Smasher or a brand new character. Well, it looks like the merchandise site Zazzle may have accidentally revealed her identity. The description for the graphic card states the following:
Check out this paint splatter graphic featuring Karli Morgenthau, leader of The Flag Smashers!
It looks like the show’s Flag-Smasher is indeed a gender-swapped version of the original Karl Morgenthau. It would imply that she might have a similar origin story, as the daughter of a wealthy Swiss banker and diplomat who traveled the world in her youth before a tragedy would warp her world-view. It will be interesting to see how they tackle her story and how it may intertwine with the overarching plot about who will be the next Captain America. It certainly will be a battle of world views when Marvel Studios’ second show hits Disney+ in March.
It has been a while since we had any real news on the upcoming MODOK Hulu Original show. We got our first official look at the stop-motion animated series around four months ago. Robot Chicken‘s Stoopid Buddy is behind the wheel with their classic animation style making a return and showing the difficulty of balancing his family life while trying to conquer the world. So far, the only confirmed character outside of MODOK’s family is the main antagonist Austin Van Der Sleet, who owns a rival company. Luckily, it looks like we will see a variety of other Marvel icons make an appearance in the series. Co-Creator Jordan Blum took to Twitter to reveal that the iconic X-Men antagonist, Mr. Sinister, will make an appearance.
The design truly embraces the character’s taste in capes. Sadly, we don’t know who will be voicing Mr. Sinister or how large the role will end up being. It also is the last show after Hellstrom to come from the time before the Marvel TV and Studios merger. MODOK will be an adult comedy. As such, it makes sense that it will not become a Disney+ show. There is a chance it will get released as the first Marvel series under the STAR banner in selected markets. Hellstrom technically will have that title, but it didn’t come with a Marvel logo. Originally, it was eyeing a release early this year. So, they might have pushed it back with no official release date announced. Hopefully, this reveal is just the beginning of other iconic Marvel characters that will join the animated series.
At the tail end of 2019, DiscussingFilm revealed that famous director Dan Trachtenberg is working on the film Skulls. He will work alongside producer John Davis, who worked on Chronicle, The Man From UNCLE, and Disney’s upcoming Jungle Cruise film. It turned out that this film is the fifth installment in the Predator title that got revealed sometime before. It would continue the franchise after Shane Black‘s 2018 film The Predator. He will work based on a script written by Patrick Aison, whose work includes Jack Ryan and Kingdom. The film will follow a Comanche woman who defines her culture’s norms and decides to become a warrior. Now, we can exclusively report some details about the upcoming project and its main characters.
Let’s start with our rebellious girl, whose name Kee means “no”. They are looking for a 15-year-old to take on the role of a rebellious Comanche teen. She has a close relationship with her brother. He is our second lead, the 18-year old Taabe, whose name means “sun”. Kee is a truth-teller who sees what others don’t, as she guides her brother, who is expected to become Chief one day. After a successful hunt, he believes he has come of age and no longer requires his sister’s help, which creates a rift between them. She decides to set out and prove that she is just as capable as the others. She aims to defy the rules set by the masculine world of the Comanche.
Their dynamic will be quite an interesting one to explore throughout the film, especially if these hunters have to face one of space’s deadliest hunters. The production is currently still shying away from the Predator title. It still is being produced with the working title Skulls. I like this new angle, as the alien race has visited Earth multiple times to face their greatest foes. The film’s casting is also an important move for representation and will offer a unique perspective on a classic franchise.
Marvel’s Avengers has been building up to their next character reveal. Hawkeye was the first DLC character to get, and we will finally get to see him in action on next week’s War Table Deep Dive. We already got a glimpse when he briefly joined your squad in a mission from Kate Bishop’s DLC storyline Taking AIM, but it was only the beginning to whet our appetites. Now, Hawkeye will face a desolate future in his original Operation Future Imperfect. As the name implies, it is based on the comic run by the same name. Maestro takes center stage and rules over what remains of humanity in the future. Crystal Dynamics used this opportunity to highlight its first new biome, the Wasteland. Tore and Oscar from their development team offer a few more insights into what we can expect with our first official look at the brand new biome.
Old Man Hawkeye is their main inspiration behind the Wasteland’s design. The spin-off of Old Man Logan revisited the titular hero’s journey throughout a broken and desolate world. The new biome’s design was grey and sandy early on until they decided to embrace the desert’s orange tint. Our first look certainly showcases how beautiful even a deserted world can look with the right color scheme. As teased in Bishop’s storyline, the world gets invaded by the Kree sentry. Some humans were able to take down a few of the Sentry but still got overrun by the alien invaders. If things weren’t bad enough, pollution and tectonic shifts have destroyed almost all life. Only a few humans are holding on for dear life, as nuclear bombs have created new canyons and a barely recognizable landscape
CD highlights that there will be various points of interest that players can check out to explore what happened in the future. A major aspect of the landscape will be the previously-mentioned Kree Sentry that are littered across the landscape. The images certainly show a promising new environment that will add a new spice to the game. Here are some of the screenshots and art work from their Developer Blog that highlights the new environment as we anticipate the reveals from next week’s Deep Dive:
It looks like The CW has found its next hit franchise to adapt, as Variety has just revealed they ordered a pilot for a live-action adaptation of Powerpuff Girls. We first heard of its development around six months ago, where it was revealed that CW regular Greg Berlanti and his team from Berlanti Productions are developing a series around the famous Cartoon Network franchise. Their success in adapting Riverdale may have sparked an interest to explore the story of three crime-fighting sisters in their later years. It comes at the worst time, as the world needs them more than ever before. The series joins other orders, such as a remake of USA Network’s The 4400, DC’s Naomi, and an untitled religious dramedy.
It will be based on the characters from the original animated series, which ran for six seasons from 1998 until 2005 before getting a reboot in 2016. This live-action adaptation will be written by Heather Regnier and Diablo Cody. The series will follow the trio in their early twenties, as they resent their childhood for wasting it on crime-fighting. So far, the series has only gotten a pilot, which means that CW still has to sign off on the series before ordering it to series.
It will be interesting to see how they adapt this iconic franchise. There is a chance it might be part of the HBO Max deal, as the production budget might rival Superman & Lois given the wide range of superheroic abilities the trio wields. There is also the question if they will include iconic characters from the series like Mojo Jojo or HIM, who might also require some heavy effects work. For now, we can only wait and see how the pilot turns out and if CW is interested in giving this adaptation a shot. It also opens up the question of which other Cartoon Network shows might be up next for a live-action adapation.
WandaVision has been an insane ride. Its sitcom-based premise was strange enough, but it started to throw in one twist after another. The fifth episode probably gave us the biggest surprise yet, as Wanda welcomed her brother Pietro back to the living. While it did turn out to be Quicksilver, it wasn’t Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Knocking on Westview’s door was none-other than Evan Peters. Yes, the very same that played the iconic character in 20th Century Fox’s X-Men franchise. It was also one of the site’s biggest stories written by Charles Murphy some time ago, which finally got confirmed.
The fifth episode’s title: “On A Very Special Episode…” was certainly fitting. Luckily, everyone who is still confused about the reveal and what it might mean, head writer Jac Schaeffer offered some details on how they managed to cast him.
This show is such a mind scramble, and because it’s working on so many levels, and there’s so many notions of what’s real and what’s not, and performance, and casting, and audience, and fandom, and all of that, we just thought it would be the biggest thrill to bring Evan over to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We thought like, how do we give him this entrance, and then enjoy that, and then make it crazy? And we had long had the idea of the trope of the brother, or the relative, or whoever comes to town and like, stirs things up with the family — that sitcom trope.
The idea came from Schaeffer and executive producer Mary Livanos, who wanted to make it a reality. His inclusion was at a perfect time, as Wanda and Vision were at a standstill. They truly utilized the 80s cliché to its fullest potential. Of course, Peters brought along an accent to make the trope fully come to life. She also discusses how difficult it was for his inclusion to make sense within the larger story that is getting told. They worried how organic it would be, especially as they had so many different ideas already bouncing around. They confirmed that Marvel Studios CEO Kevin Feige was adamant that his inclusion had a reason. Hopefully, it will play out in the upcoming episodes. It also seems that Peters was excited to join the MCU, as we are to see what his character’s inclusion might be setting up for the franchise’s future.
WandaVision is a unique experience in comparison to the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It embraces its nature as a mystery show by continuing to confuse us with each new episode. There are many unanswered questions so far, but one stands out. Every sitcom-themed episode featured an advertisement that seemed connected to a traumatic experience in Wanda’s life. Until now, most of us focused on trying to figure out who the couple is that keeps reappearing. Current theories still point to them being Wanda’s parents, but it tends to overshadow one aspect of the ads. The latest ad features a paper towel brand named Lagos that fixes problems one didn’t mean to do. It reveals a rather interesting red liquid that, at first, seems mainly as a pun on spilling blood due to the incident. Yet, if we look at the other ads, you start to notice a pattern. We have the blue square of the HYDRA soap, the blinking light on the toaster, and the watch’s recurring reference to time. Each ad seems to represent an Infinity Stone.
Now, I am not the only one to notice this pattern. ComicBook.com’s Adam Barnhardt also noticed the trend in an article you can check out here. The before-mentioned red liquid is most likely Thor: The Dark World‘s Aether. Episode 3 introduces a blue-shaped square that is the Tesseract. Of course, the watch is connected to the Time Stone even if its iconic green color was absent. The toaster most likely builds on the joke from Tom King‘s The Vision run, where Wanda describes the poor Synthezoid as such. It seems to have a face with a blinking light where its forehead is, which creates the connection to the mind stone. As such, there are two more stones left that have yet to get showcased. It also matches that the next two episodes may be the last sitcom-based stories, as we haven’t explored the 90s or 2000s yet.
Let’s start with how the Power Stone may appear in an upcoming ad. Now, each advertisement has been pretty close to the era they represent. So, we need to think about a product that would best personify the purple rock. There is the possibility they could go down the route of the famous “A diamond is forever” commercial with the stone acting as jewelry. Yet, it feels like there is no actual connection to the stone’s ability. It’s about giving people power or even strength beyond human comprehension. It also needs to connect to an event that is traumatic for Wanda. Lagos represented Captain America: Civil War. So, the next installment would be Avengers: Infinity War. We all know what happened in that event, so it would be connected to head pains. What if the Power Stone is a purple pill that echoes the 1994 ad of Extra Strenght Tylenol?
Now, there is only the Soul Stone left. It is the toughest one to connect, as the whole concept of its abilities is uncertain. To some degree, I wonder if it may not get an ad, but rather a reference to the events that Thanos went through. So far, it seems plausible that Wanda’s abilities are connected to each one of the stones. She might be the first to introduce us to what it can do, as it could explain how Vision has returned from the dead and why we see her parents in the ads if that theory turns out to be true. I was doing some research on advertisements of the early 2000s, so there are, in my opinion, plenty of hilarious potential ways it may appear. Remember the strange hair-raiser Bumpit? It would certainly be hilarious to see that iconic stone of unlimited power is used to raise someone’s hair. Maybe it is in the form of something that warms the soul like a bowl of Chicken Noodle Soup from Campbells. Its strong focus on family-friendly advertisements would make it the perfect choice. It would be hilarious if they recreate the mysterious Soul World showcased in Infinity War, but the water is chicken noodle soup. That might not be likely, but we’ll see if the next advertisement has something purple or orange to confirm this theory.
Just two weeks ago, Kevin Hart joined the upcoming production of Borderlands in the role of Soldier Roland. He joins Cate Blanchett, who will take on the role of thief Lilith. It looks like they aren’t done yet, as Collider got the exclusive news that Jamie Lee Curtis will also be joining the production in the role of Dr. Patricia Tannis. She is certainly an interesting choice in the role of the non-playable character from Borderlands 2and its sequel. It seems that they decided to age up the character. Her role could be quite similar to the games, as she might play a supporting role that sends out the main characters on their quest. It is uncertain if Blanchett‘s Lilith might be the main focus, or it will be closer to an ensemble film.
Curtis has been seeing a return to form with her return to the iconic 1978 role of Laurie Strode in the 2018 Halloween reboot. She also gave a fantastic performance in Knives Out. She is set to return to the silver screen in A24’s Everything Everywhere All at Once, as well as the horror sequel Halloween Kills. The latter got delayed due to the ongoing pandemic with a threequel already planned for 2022. Borderlands will be directed by Eli Roth based on a script by Craig Mazin. Their shared horror roots are certainly an exciting tease for what we may expect from this film. It will get quite gory with the teased R-rating. Fans of the game might expect a very unique interpretation of the franchise that Gearbox launched back in 2009.
We have been anxiously awaiting the Super Bowl. Some are excited to see their favorite team win, while some are excited for the various trailer that teases what we can expect in the rest of the year. Among them, we got a brand new trailer for Disney’s next major animated film, Raya and the Last Dragon. It is the perfect opportunity to test out Disney’s next attempt at testing their Premier Access business model. It offers a closer look at Awkwafina‘s dragon Sisu.
The film still looks visually stunning, and I cannot wait to check it out when it releases in March. Awkwafina is joined by Kelly Marie Tran, who plays the role of the titular heroine Raya. The last trailer teased that she will be getting a small team together to face an ancient evil that returned after a 500-year slumber. The cast consists of Gemma Chan, Daniel Dae Kim, Sandra Oh, Benedict Wong, and so many more. The film will be available for $29.99 when it releases on March 5th.
Its success may define how Disney handles the rest of its 2021 release slate. We’ve already seen many others postpone their films, or completely embrace a simultaneous digital release. Warner Bros. certailny left an impact when they decided before the year started that they will utilize HBO Max alongside every release. No matter what they decide to do, Raya and the Last Dragon will be an essential film to keep an eye on. With those visuals, it certainly is a must-watch.
Nostalgia has been all the rage as various childhood classics got a live-action reboot on the silver screen. Not many were successful, but the Transformers franchise certailny proved that there is a market for 80s nostalgia. Michael Bay directed the original series of films before the franchise took a new direction in 2018. It was the sixth installment in the franchise that started back in 2007. Matt Travis brought back some of the charms that made the franchise so unique. At the time, it was uncertain if it connected to the original films. It wasn’t until November of last year that the franchise’s next installment would see the light of day. Creed II director Steve Caple Jr. got hired to tackle the now revamped franchise. Details were sparse, but luckily it seems that Illuminerdi got their hands on more information.
The upcoming film will develop under the working title of Transformers: Beast Alliance. Some might instantly recognize the Beast title from the 90’s show Beast Wars: Transformers. So, we might see a very different version of the iconic Autobots and Decepticons, who’ve embraced some more animalistic designs. They also revealed that the film continues the timeline set-up by the Bumblebee film. They say it will be like a heist film, where our titular heroes will travel from Brooklyn to South America in the 1990s.
The concept of a heist film with overgrown Transformers is certainly novel. If it does film in South America, it wouldn’t be too surprising for them to adapt to their environment and take on bestial forms. It would also be an interesting change of pace from their usual vehicle-based transformations to make the upcoming reboot feel new and exciting. Bay‘s interpretation of Optimus Prime and Megatron was far from what many fans remember. Bumblebee‘s opening did embrace the original designs that could make a return if it takes place within the same universe. Here’s hoping that the Transformers are back in action to roll-out into theaters in the coming years.
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