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Category: News

  • ‘Black Adam’ and ‘Shazam’ Were Originally One Film

    ‘Black Adam’ and ‘Shazam’ Were Originally One Film

    After a long wait, the Black Adam trailer has finally arrived Dwayne Johnson‘s dream project of taking on the role of Theo-Adam is finally revealed to the world. The trailer gives us a quick recap of his origin and teases his eventual battle with, or perhaps against, the Justice Society of America. Yet, it turns out that the original plan was for him to appear in the Shazam film, which would’ve actually been the origin of both. We did get a brief tease, but Johnson offered some insight into their initial plans.

    The original plan, maybe five or six years ago I think, was to tell the two origin stories of Shazam! and Black Adam in the same movie. That’s what we had worked on. The script was delivered. When we all read the script, I immediately felt like, ‘We have to separate these two movies. We have to honor Shazam! and that origin story and what that is and what that can be for the fans and then we also have to tell our story, too, as well.’ I think in separating them, with the majority of the world not knowing who Black Adam if you weren’t a serious comic book fan, it was important I think to separate them and tell each story respectively.

    Producer Beau Flynn also recalls what it was like when he and Hiram Garcia got the call from Johnson that they would turn Black Adam into its own separate project rather than just have both these properties smashed together.

    I got a phone call very early in the morning from Dwayne Johnson which is always very intimidating. He called Hiram and I, he just said, ‘Brothers. We’re gonna make Black Adam. We’re gonna tell this story. It’s so big and so important,’ and that was it. It was really an amazing… Dwayne’s instincts are so extraordinary but he was right. Again, we were deep in it and developing that script with both of them and there’s a reason why sometimes in our business sometimes you have to keep moving forward and sometimes the business tells you. We weren’t really cracking it. It wasn’t really working and then that’s when that call came through and everything changed.

    Beau Flynn

    It’s certainly interesting to get a look behind the scenes and find out how films were originally pitched. The move was definitely smart as it gave the films a unique opportunity to build up a special crossover while also giving their respective (anti-)heroes time to find their footing in the world.

    Source: ComicBook.com

  • REVIEW: ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Part 4

    REVIEW: ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Part 4

    We’re already more than halfway through the limited series focusing on Obi-Wan Kenobi‘s story before his eventual final confrontation with Darth Vader. The fourth episode picks up right where the last one kept us, as Reva got her hands on Leia and Obi-Wan ended up getting a bit burnt by his former Padawan. As he seeks to save her from whatever the Empire has planned for the young girl, he seeks a find a way to get her out of the Inquisitor’s home base. Yet, can it build up from the highpoint that was last week’s first confrontation between former master and padawan?

    The opening is a powerful one by having Kenobi in a Bacta tank (The Book of Boba Fett is going to sue) echoing the experiences of Anakin. As he was also burned by his former protégé and now going through a similar, even if brief, experience, there’s something powerful about the parallels the show is pulling. The former Jedi Master’s journey generally has been one faced with hardship and him trying everything he can to save Leia was heartwarming, especially after the bond they built in the last episode.

    It’s a surprisingly short episode with barely 40 minutes, and it goes by quite fast. Kenobi uses the help of some smugglers that help out Jedi younglings to safety to break into the Inquisitors’ home base known as Inquisitorius. Together with Indira Varma‘s Tala, he sets out to find some way to save Leia as he takes some cues from Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order where Cal Kestis also used an underwater passage to enter the area.

    The backdrop of Inquisitorius was great, as the slick design offered some visually stunning sequences. Plus, Obi-Wan trying to sneak around is not something I expected in the show. The big highlight was that after being “forced” to pull his lightsaber in the last episode, he’s slowly embracing it more and more. Ewan McGregor continues to highlight the inner turmoil without much dialogue.

    Varma‘s Tala is a great addition, and we’re slowly uncovering the first sparks of rebellion to face the Empire. The ending moments especially highlight that very development and there was some fun with the last-minute save. Though the show still sometimes struggles with action sequences as the way it was shot, it looked a bit off when the two ships came rushing in as it cuts before they slow down creating the illusion they just rammed into the spire’s landing zone. Still, the emotional moment was surprisingly gripping and the line of them becoming soldiers highlights that this is indeed what would become the Rebels one day.

    The lightsaber sequences were a highlight though this time around. It’s strange that it took this long for anyone to actually use darkness in combination with a lightsaber to make them stand out even more, but the lighting effects were beautifully done. A small detail that was well hidden is that the more he used his lightsaber, the more fluid Obi-Wan’s movements got highlighting that he’s slowly regaining his old self. I wouldn’t be surprised if his final battle is him doing the same flips he did in the Prequel trilogy.

    Reva gets quite the spotlight and it doesn’t seem like they are going down a redemption arc with her character. Ingram gives a great performance and her character highlights the more traditional understanding of a Sith. Potentially her arrogance might be the eventual undoing of the Inquisitors, to begin with, but we’ll see. She pretty much dominated the Sith side, as Vader had a much smaller role this time around but he does know how to make an entrance as per usual. Fifth Brother also mostly appears at random times to be annoyed by his co-worker.

    Overall, the episode pushes the story forward and seemingly sets up the final arc as we’re building up to another showdown between Obi-Wan and Vader. The show’s pacing is generally a bit more relaxed and it was surprising on how fast the new episode moved. Outside of the flight sequence, the action was much stronger this time around and it’s going to be exciting to see where the series is heading in its final two episodes. While it isn’t a mind-blowing show, there’s a strong emotional core and great character development at play. Here’s hoping that it pulls it all together by the end of the series.

  • New ‘Ghostbusters’ Animated Series Heading to Netflix

    New ‘Ghostbusters’ Animated Series Heading to Netflix

    It looks like Netflix isn’t quite done with acquiring as many iconic IPs as it can. Variety has broken the news that a new Ghostbusters animated series is heading to the streaming service. Not only that but Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan of Ghost Corps, Inc. are joining as executive producers. They just recently worked on the live-action Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which Reitman also directed.

    As is usual, there are no exact details given on what the plot will be about or even who it will focus on, as there’s no word if it might pay tribute to the ABC animated series The Real Ghostbusters that ran from 1986 to 1991 or be its own thing. There was also the sequel, Extreme Ghostbusters, that had a completely new lineup of characters.

    It does seem likely that the new series will be its own thing with new characters. The announcement was also timed with the annual Ghostbusters Day, where rumors have it we’ll get more announcements regarding the future of the iconic franchise from Reitman and Kenan. So, we’ll see if we might even get a first look at this new series or even a tease of what to expect from its live-action ventures with no official sequel announced yet for Afterlife.

    Source: Variety

  • 2006’s ‘Silent Hill’ Director Tackling a New Entry in the Franchise, Eyeing 2023 Release

    2006’s ‘Silent Hill’ Director Tackling a New Entry in the Franchise, Eyeing 2023 Release

    Here’s a rather interesting surprise, but it looks like the director of 2006’s Silent Hill film is returning to tackle a new entry. Christophe Gans has been mentioned in an article by Jeux Video, where his involvement with a new adaptation of the iconic horror franchise has been confirmed. In the interview, he reveals that he was inspired during COVID to write two scripts, one of which is for his upcoming adaptation. That’s not all, as he is also seemingly eyeing a 2023 release of the film, which will be an independent release from the previous two entries. The following quote from Gans has been translated by Twitter user @LordEmmerich.

    I’m currently working on it. There were the COVID-19 years, which finally forced us to stay at home. I took the opportunity to write two scripts. The script for a new Silent Hill movie is totally independent of the two previous movies made and respects the way Silent Hill has evolved. Most of the time, these are stand-alone stories. Silent Hill is a bit like the Twilight Zone, the Fourth Dimension, a place where anything and everything can happen.

    Christophe Gans

    He goes on to highlight that it’s an adaptation for “today’s audiences” and also goes on to praise the game for being ahead of its time. With the number of rumors teasing the franchise’s return to modern consoles, it does seem like Silent Hill could be facing a renaissance soon. It’s an exciting prospect to also have a new film entry, especially with the director of the 2006 version involved.

    While 2012’s Silent Hill: Revelation wasn’t well-received, the original did eventually become a bit of a cult favorite adaptation of the games. Tackling a unique story in Silent Hill does sound like an exciting prospect to revisit the location in various ways to explore unique storylines.

    Source: Jeux Video

  • The Morning After Huddle: June 8, 2022

    The Morning After Huddle: June 8, 2022

    It’s another day to be great and that means another chance to catch up with us. Welcome to The Morning After Huddle! The NFL is coming to Africa and a former Giants great is leading the charge.

    Here’s what you need to know:

    • Osi Umenyiora is leading the NFL’s quest for more talent. The former All-Pro DE is spearheading efforts in traveling to Ghana for the league’s first official events starting June 21. A talent identification camp will be the centerpiece of the program. ESPN’s Jason Reid has more.
    • Twelve teams are conducting mandatory mini-camp this week and there are several noteworthy storylines: Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf was not present at minicamp on Tuesday as contract talks have not yet resulted in a new deal. 49ers WR Deebo Samuel did show up, which is a good sign that things with the team are not as frayed as we think. His teammate, DE Dee Ford, did not fair as well. Coach Kyle Shanahan said Ford will report to camp to take his physical, but will not be joining the team, suggesting Ford could be released. Across the league, Colts All-Pro LB Darius Leonard underwent successful surgery for lingering back issues and is expected to miss the start of training camp. Another Colts player to monitor – Pro Bowl CB Kenny Moore II. Though he showed up to mini-camp, Moore did not participate in voluntary OTAs because he is unhappy with his current contract.
    • Finally, your daily Key Signings Roundup: The Raiders are signing free agent TE Jesper Horsted. Horsted has spent the last three seasons in Chicago.

    Try not to think about us too much until tomorrow’s Huddle. We promise we’ll have plenty of news you want to know!

    ICYMI: Tuesday, June 7, 2022 Edition

  • J.J. Abrams’ ‘Demimonde’ No Longer Moving Forward at HBO

    J.J. Abrams’ ‘Demimonde’ No Longer Moving Forward at HBO

    Well, now it’s official. After being teased for some time that HBO has been unhappy with the lack of developments as part of their Bad Robot deal, it seems that Demimonde is now officially dead over at HBO. Budget issues are the main issue and creator J.J. Abrams did try to make a last-ditch plea with Casey Bloys, the lead behind HOB and HBO Max, but decided against it as he was seeking a budget that was upwards of $200M.

    Even Game of Thrones‘ upcoming spinoff House of the Dragon doesn’t have a budget of that size and the uncertainty of its success may be the reason they moved away. While they did cast Danielle Deadwyler in the main role but very little moved forward with the project. The series already changed showrunners early on after HBO got the rights to it from a bidding war with Apple.

    The project isn’t quite dead yet, as it seems that Warner Bros. Television is actively finding a new home for it. Apple and Netflix are seemingly the big choices, as they are also already the home for various projects by Abram‘s Bad Robot label. The move is also not too surprising as newly appointed CEO David Zaslav has been making some big changes while reworking Warner Bros. Discovery. So, the future of this project is currently still quite uncertain.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Doctor Who’s Director Tackling Live-Action ‘One Piece’s Baratie Episodes

    ‘Doctor Who’s Director Tackling Live-Action ‘One Piece’s Baratie Episodes

    We just recently got the announcement of some additional cast members, as well as a first official look at the impressive sets from Netflix’s upcoming live-action One Piece series. It was announced that actor Craig Fairbrass would be taking on the role of Chef Zeff, Sanji’s mentor, and father figure. Yet, his agency, United Agents, may have accidentally also revealed who is directing the episodes from the Baratie.

    In an official tweet congratulating Fairbrass, they reveal that he’ll appear in episodes directed by Emma Sullivan. So far, we only knew about Daredevil‘s Marc Jobst, which we reported back in September, and later on, would find out about Lost in Space‘s Tim Southam. So, it’s our third confirmed director on the project. It’s also our first confirmation that Sullivan will be tackling multiple episodes and hints that Baratie will not be told in just one singular one.

    It’s great to get more and more details in regard to what the series has to offer. Netflix does oddly rarely announce its directors in advance, but it’s great to get some teases of who’s bringing this vision of the East Blue to life. Before One Piece, Sullivan has directed quite a variety of shows that include The Watch, Doctor Who, 4 O’Clock Club, Call the Midwife, Silent Witness, and more. So, she definitely is no stranger to

    Source: Twitter, IMDb

  • ‘One Piece’s Final Saga to Kick Off With Chapter 1054 in July

    ‘One Piece’s Final Saga to Kick Off With Chapter 1054 in July

    When the message arrived from Eiichiro Oda that he was going to take a break to restructure the upcoming final saga of One Piece, many theorized that it might still be some time until they actually jump into the final steps of the iconic manga franchise. Yet, it turns out that it wasn’t just a generalization.

    During a live stream to promote the upcoming One Piece Film RED, Oda’s editor came in and teased that there will be some special concept art released building up towards the return of One Piece after the break titled “The Road to Laugh Tale.” Yet, he also went on to confirm that Chapter 1054 will be the official start for the final saga and the Straw Hat crew will move on from Wano. It’ll be made available with Weekly Shonen Jump #34.

    So, we have three more chapters to wrap up the current storyline which is still hard to believe considering how long the saga went on. Still, it seems that the final years of the manga franchise have begun. Don’t worry that this means we’re only getting a few more chapters, but as it is highlighted as a “saga,” we might have a few more yers ahead of us before the story wraps up. There’s no specific timeframe or chapter count given, but it’s still bizarre to think after 25 years, the end is near.

    Source: YouTube, Twitter, Twitter

  • Todd Phillips, Joaquin Phoenix Returning for ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’

    Todd Phillips, Joaquin Phoenix Returning for ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’

    Back in 2019, there was the heavy buzz surrounding the release of Joker, a standalone film following the origins of the clown prince of crime. The film took home a plethora of awards such as Oscars, BAFTAS, and even the coveted Golden Lion award from the Venice film festival. The film was a smash hit at the box office, bringing in over a billion at the box office with a small $60+ budget. Word has been around for quite a while now that a sequel to the film was in the works, with co-writer and director Todd Phillips returning.

    The word seems to have been true as Phillips has taken to Instagram to confirm that the script for the sequel is complete and even posted a photo with Joker himself, Joaquin Phoenix holding the script, all but confirming the actor’s return. The script was once again co-written by Todd Phillips and Scott Silver, who return from the first film. It’s unknown if Phillips will direct the sequel, but seems very likely.

    The sequel features a pretty interesting sub-title, with Folie à deux translating into “Madness for Two” hinting what the sequel will hold for fans. One plot we could see is Joker facing another Joker. Towards the end of the first film we saw Arthur Fleck rally the citizens of Gotham city to riot in the streets, and fight back against those that look at them as a lesser being. It would be interesting to see Arthur face the consequences of his actions, and come face to face with someone whom he has inspired to rise up in his absence, as we saw Fleck locked up in Arkham at the end of the film.

    We still await word on the sequel as we’ve yet to hear any casting information or even when the film could possibly release. Its definitely and interesting turn for Phoenix, as this would be the actors first sequel in his entire career.

    Source: Instagram

  • ‘Inventing Anna’s Julia Garner Offered the Role of Madonna in Upcoming Biopic

    ‘Inventing Anna’s Julia Garner Offered the Role of Madonna in Upcoming Biopic

    Deadline has revealed that Julia Garner is set to play Madonna in a forthcoming biopic about the pop icon. Per the outlet, Garner managed to emerge the favorite from over a reported dozen candidates. The actress is said to have been a frontrunner for the part for a few months now, however, the offer was just now presented to the rising actress. It is expected Garner and her team will accept the offer.

    A biopic about Madonna has been in the works for a while now, but this is the first real movement on it. In the past, Madonna has expressed interest in having Florence Pugh (Black Widow) portray her in the film. Interestingly enough, Pugh is among those reported to have been in contention for the role at one point. Other actresses that auditioned included Alexa Demie (Euphoria), Odessa Young (The Professor), Bebe Rexha, and Sky Ferreira. The production took its time trying to find the right actress for the role, with those auditioning needing to showoff not just their singing abilities but also their abilities as dancers.

    The untitled Madonna biopic is currently set up at Universal Pictures and is expected to follow the early days of the “oft-controversial artist and queen of perpetual reinvention.”

    Universal Filmed Entertainment Group chairman Donna Langley won the project in a bidding war between studios. Amy Pascal, the former Chairperson of the Motion Pictures Group of Sony Pictures Entertainment, is on board as a producer.

    As of right now, the film does not yet have a release date.

    Source: Deadline.