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  • EXCLUSIVE: First Look at Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop

    EXCLUSIVE: First Look at Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop

    Earlier today we shared a nice set photo of Lucky the Pizza Dog from the set of Hawkeye. Now, we are lucky enough to bring you set video of what should be the first look at Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop!

    A video from the subway set in Brooklyn, taken by fan Edward Baker, shows Jeremy Renner’s Clint Barton, Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop and Lucky running down the stairs and through the subway. Baker confirmed for us that the actress in the video was Steinfeld, who was seen around set during the day.

    Steinfeld was said to be in talks for the role of Bishop, one that is expected to serve as the face of Disney Plus for the next few years, in September of last year. Rumors have swirled since then about why she hadn’t been confirmed and if Marvel Studios had gone in another direction. Her contract with Apple TV seemed to be a sticking point, but it seems now that the COVID-related delay in production on Hawkeye may have smoothed that road out bit. Steinfeld is our Kate Bishop!

  • EXCLU: First Look at Lucky the Pizza Dog on ‘Hawkeye’ Set

    EXCLU: First Look at Lucky the Pizza Dog on ‘Hawkeye’ Set

    Hawkeye finally started filming in NYC. Going by Anchor Point, they are currently filming underground, so it is difficult to get any good shot. Luckily, we were able to snag something rather special. Yes, we finally got our very first look at Lucky the Pizza Dog. It looks like they are getting ready for a scene with him, as he is just waiting above the stairs. It is uncertain what they might be filming but it is great we finally get our first look at him. There is a chance he might bolt down the stairs, or someone is about to run towards him.

     

     

    I still hope he might get his very own episode, where we follow him around. It was one of the best chapters in Matt Fraction‘s Hawkeye run. We still don’t know who is playing Kate Bishop but at least we got our first look at the iconic archer companion in live-action. He was briefly teased a while back during the Disney+ special that showcased artwork for the various upcoming series. Just these few glimpses are already making this quite an exciting project.

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Leak Teases Super Adaptoid Ahead of First DLC Release

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Leak Teases Super Adaptoid Ahead of First DLC Release

    Marvel’s Avengers has been facing quite the drought, but we are only one week away from finally getting our hands on the game’s first major DLC. Kate Bishop will hopefully kickstart the game’s expansion, which got delayed due to bugs. Now, we are closing in on the release, which is slated for December 8th. One more week to go until we get our first look at what the future may hold for us. Luckily, the always reliable leaker @mmmmmmmmiller seems to be starting what one can describe as the Seven Days of Kate-mas. As we are building up to the release, he promises that we will get a small leak per day. So, let’s not waste any more time and jump into our first tease.

    That robotic voice would automatically make one think of Ultron. Of course, we know that this is most likely the voice of the Super Adaptoid, who will be the main enemy of Kate’s unique single-player campaign. He is a robot designed by AIM that copies the abilities of our favorite heroes. His design is surprisingly comic-accurate, especially with his green glow. I am surprised he has a voice, which sounds surprisingly similar to that of the Roy robots that are vendors in the various outposts. There is a good chance that they were prototypes that would eventually become the Adaptoid and, just maybe, Ultron later down the line. We’ll see what else may be heading our way in the coming days, but it is a nice little tease of what is to come.

    Source: Twitter, Vocaroo

  • Exploring ‘Daredevil’s Future Beyond Its Netflix Run

    Exploring ‘Daredevil’s Future Beyond Its Netflix Run

    For those out there hoping to support the return of Netflix’s Daredevil, be sure to check out the site SaveDaredevil.com. They’ve probably been campaigning for its return since its cancellation, so be sure to give them a visit while you’re at it!

     

    It is crazy to think that Daredevil‘s third season aired two years ago. Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio reminded us why they were the perfect duo to take on the dynamic between Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk. The original Netflix deal was massive, as they signed up for four series consisting of 13 episodes. Not just that, they also made a deal to film most of the series directly in New York City, where it would all lead up to a The Defenders crossover. It was going to be the small-screen Avengers built on Marvel’s Television division. Right now, Netflix still held a tight grip on the rights to all franchisees that aired on the streaming service. So, many of us were waiting for the moment they could return. Supposedly, the rights return two years after it aired its final episode, and we are finally at that point. So, let us look at how exactly Daredevil could become part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

     

     

    Now, like many, I want the core cast to return. Charlie Cox, Deborah Ann Woll, and Elden Henson were outstanding. Matt Murdock is always conflicted between the devil calling him to defend the streets, but also his human need for a normal life. He is nothing without Karen Page and Foggy Nelson keeping him centered, as he balances being a lawyer and vigilante. Of course, there is also Vincent D’Onofrio‘s Wilson Fisk, who may be one of the best Marvel villains brought into live-action. Also, I hope we also see the return of Ayelet Zurer‘s Vanessa. Her relationship with Fisk elevated it in unique ways and managed to humanize all of Fisk’s actions in an interesting way. While we’re at it, Wilson Bethel deserves more time as Bullseye, just saying. Now that Jamie Foxx is going to return as Electro in Spider-Man‘s still-untitled third entry, there is no excuse that they can’t have the iconic cast return.

    There is, sadly, one major issue of continuing the series where it originally ended. I don’t believe that every part of The Defenders will remain the same. Most notably, there is a good chance that Iron Fist will get a complete reboot. Out of all of the Netflix series, it felt like it was trying its hardest to avoid the aspects that made the character unique, which may be something that Marvel Studios CEO Kevin Feige wants to change. Yet, a massive part of the crossover was how the main antagonists, the Hand, had strong ties to K’un-Lun, where Danny Rand gained his magical fist. Maybe this time we get to visit the hidden city. Daredevil‘s third season has built on the events that transpired during Netflix’s mini-series. If it weren’t for the four vigilantes taking on a group of supernatural ninjas, we wouldn’t have had Matt’s reawakening that would lead to him taking on his original mantle.

     

     

    As I write that, it doesn’t mean it is impossible, just that it may not fit into Feige‘s plans. Plus, they seem to have mapped out quite a bit ahead, as plenty of series and films are about to enter production. So, we might not see anything related to any of the Netflix series by the latest of 2023 or even 2024. Now, there is a way that it could work to integrate the events from all Defenders into the mainline MCU overarching storyline. The approach is simple: all of them are already active once we meet them again. It would be a similar approach to that of The Incredible Hulk. Yes, Mark Ruffalo looks nothing like Edward Norton, but the storyline mainly remained the same. So, why couldn’t everything from Daredevil‘s first season up until Jessica Jones‘ final season has taken place in the same timeline with some slight alterations?

    Even if someone else takes over the role of Iron Fist, Jessica Jones, or Luke Cage, the main events still occurred. Viewers are technically familiar with what transpired. They can make references to past events as an easy recap for newer viewers. They can also leave some aspects vague to adapt it to fit the new narrative. There is no need to rehash Murdock’s origin story again besides showcasing some of the emotional cores that defined him. Netflix could be part of a different dimension, as the mainline MCU’s events were similar in most places.

     

     

    They did something similar with Spider-Man: Homecoming, where they built on everyone’s understanding of the character’s core principles. It was a popular show on Netflix, so there is no need to retread old ground. That would only be necessary if Feige had any plans to reuse the Hand in different ways. Even if they don’t continue the storyline set up by the first three seasons of Netflix, they can still use people’s understanding of the characters to move forward rather than retread familiar ground once again. We also saw the advantage of an ongoing format for the characters, so it would be a waste not to continue the series on Disney+, especially when they are exploring darker characters like Moon Knight on the platform. Their introduction though could open up the potential to having them crossover into films, which seems to be the plan for many of the streaming characters. Either way, if Marvel Studios decides to move forward, I hope to see this amazing cast return so that they can continue the story where they left off.

    Source: Digital Spy

  • Sony Pictures’ Panel Announced for CCXP Worlds

    Sony Pictures’ Panel Announced for CCXP Worlds

    Earlier today, CCXP announced via Social Media that Sony Pictures will mark their presence at CCXP Worlds on December 4th. While details are scarce on how exactly it will play out, they announced that at the Omelete Stage, Sony Pictures is going to be hosting a panel where ONE (emphasis on the one) of their guests will be the director of Fantasy Island, Jeff Wadlow. We can expect more announcements to be made regarding this panel since the tweet implies more guests. We suspect that this panel might focus on the Home Entertainment section of Sony Pictures.

    Yet, their presence there could hint at Sony also giving some attention to their other upcoming film projects like Morbius, Venom: Let there be Carnage, & the untitled Spider-Man threequel, which we got the tease for a first look sometime this month. It would make sense to use an event of this size to tease something of their 2021 content even if it is as minor as announcing the subtitle for Spider-Man. It’ll be interesting to see what we can expect from the event on a global stage. We are still anxiously waiting if Disney may also end up having a panel at the event, but so far nothing has been officially confirmed.

     

    Check the tweet and Instagram post down below:

     

    To see what more CCXP Worlds will have to offer this weekend, check out our latest article on What to Expect from CCXP Worlds. There we discuss the schedules and what to expect from the panels occurring this week from the likes of AMC, Collider, Funimation, Paramount, Prime Video, Universal, Warner Media, and many more.

     

  • David Ramsey Returns to CW’s Arrowverse as John Diggle and a Mystery Character

    David Ramsey Returns to CW’s Arrowverse as John Diggle and a Mystery Character

    Since the dawn of the Arrowverse, alongside Oliver Queen was his trusted confidant and partner in crime David Ramsey‘s John Diggle. Throughout the series, Diggle would come to take up the mantle of Spartan and became a permanent member of Team Arrow, as he joined Oliver in his crusade across Star City. Towards the end of the recent mega-crossover Crisis on Infinite Earths, we last saw Diggle packing up his things and moving to Metropolis. Shortly before he made his way to a new home, he came into contact with what looked to be Green Lantern Ring. For years it had become a running tease that Diggle would assume the role of a Green Lantern but never came to be but seems all the more likely now.

    It looks like David Ramsey will be returning to the Arrowverse to direct and reprise his role as John Diggle in multiple episodes across the network lineup of DC-based series. He will return to direct episodes of The Flash, Superman and Lois, Supergirl, Batwoman, and even Legends of Tomorrow. Not just that, Ramsey will also be playing a mystery role in his episode on Legends of Tomorrow. Most fans could easily conclude that his role will be that of a Sector-2814 Green Lantern, especially after the tease his story ended on.

    While we may not know until he officially returns on screen, it would be great to finally see Diggle assume the title once the Arrowverse makes its long-awaited return in 2021. The Arrowverse suffered some big hits this year. Every production got a delay, and then news broke that fan-favorite shows Supergirl and Black Lightning would come to an end. All this right after the show that started it all officially ended with its eight-season. Perhaps the return of Diggle might be a new beginning for the franchise in the new year.

    SOURCE: Deadline

  • Peter Dinklage Joins ‘Toxic Avenger’ Reboot

    Peter Dinklage Joins ‘Toxic Avenger’ Reboot

    No, you read that title correctly. It looks like Peter Dinklage has already selected his next feature film, which will be a remake of the 1984 low budget comedy. Toxic Avenger was a cultural phenomenon when it became a success through midnight screenings in New York City. The film managed to get three more sequels before It was created by Troma Entertainment, who is well-known for some rather bizarre films like Redneck Zombies, Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead, and Tromeo and Juliet. That last film was co-written by James Gunn, as he started his career with the studio. Co-Founder Lloyd Kaufman even has a cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy.

    It is uncertain which role Dinklage will have in the film and how closely it’ll follow the original. Toxic Avengers is the story of a mild-mannered janitor who lives in Tromaville. After being dumped into a vat of toxic waste, he transforms into the titular character, who will become an unlikely hero of the fictional city of Tromaville. He tries to keep his community safe from corruption and greed that is threatening their suburban lives.

    Macon Blair joined the production last year after Legendary acquired the rights to the comedy franchise. He will act as the writer and director of the film. His debut film I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore was highly-acclaimed and won the Grand Jury prize at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Troma Entertainment founders Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz are also involved with the picture, as they will serve as producers. Legendary’s Alex Garcia and Ashenfelter are overseeing the project.

    Source: Deadline, Variety

  • Jeremy Renner in NYC Ahead of Filming for ‘HAWKEYE’

    Jeremy Renner in NYC Ahead of Filming for ‘HAWKEYE’

    Last week evidence surfaced that production on the Marvel Studios Disney Plus streaming series Hawkeye would be shifting to Brooklyn for a while. Several notices for production on the project were found around the borough, including some neighborhoods that looked awfully similar to David Aja’s work on his Hawkeye solo series. While it was unclear exactly what filming would entail, it seems pretty clear now that it’ll be more than just a few days of exteriors as series lead Jeremy Renner is in the Big Apple.

    According to Renner’s Instagram, the star is in a very rainy New York this afternoon. With filming set to take place over the next 10-14 days, there should be plenty of opportunities for passersby to snag a look at Hawkeye!

  • Star Wars’ ‘THE MANDALORIAN’: Who is Grand Admiral Thrawn?

    Star Wars’ ‘THE MANDALORIAN’: Who is Grand Admiral Thrawn?

    Chapter 13 of The Mandalorian gave us the first live-action Ahsoka Tano as well as the first time Grand Admiral Thrawn was referenced to in a live-action Star Wars project. But who is Thrawn and why is Ahsoka searching for him?

    Mitth’raw’nuruodo, better known by his core name, Thrawn, is a Chiss, a species renowned for their blue skin that comes from the planet Csilla in the Unknown Regions. He is a brilliant and ruthless strategist that believed that one should get to know their enemy profoundly to be able to predict every move they make in battle. He understood that every single aspect of a certain culture, from music to architecture, from its values to its traditions, is what would ultimately define one’s modus operandi on the battlefield.

    During the Clone Wars, he traveled the galaxy learning everything he could about several races (including the Mandalorians and the Twi’leks), ending up crossing paths with Anakin Skywalker himself.

    Once the Empire rose to power, he understood that it would be in his interest to swear fealty to the Emperor by assimilating himself into galactic society. He did so by graduating from the Royal Imperial Academy on Coruscant and then rising through the ranks fairly quickly, mostly due to his impeccable performances in battle as well as some shady maneuvers behind the scenes.

    Some time later, when the rebels of Lothal became increasingly effective in their fight against the Imperial forces that had tried to establish themselves on the planet, he was called to help tear down the advances of said rebellion. This is where he came in contact with the crew of the Ghost. Their final confrontation at the end of Star Wars Rebels (set before the events of A New Hope) ended with both him and Jedi Ezra Bridger being dragged into hyperspace by the Purrgil (whale-like creatures with the natural ability to fly through hyperspace) being lost somewhere in the Unknown Regions never to be seen again.

    After the Battle of Endor, where the second Death Star was destroyed and the Empire was defeated, Ahsoka made it her mission to find her missing Jedi friend. And she seems to acknowledge that if she manages to find Thrawn, Ezra should be close by.

  • ‘THE MANDALORIAN’: Grogu’s Force Quest Could Redefine the Jedi

    ‘THE MANDALORIAN’: Grogu’s Force Quest Could Redefine the Jedi

    Almost all of the buzz around Chapter 13 of The Mandalorian was understandably centered on the spectacular live-action debut of Ahsoka Tano with the name of The Child and his heartbreaking backstory taking a distant second place. As interesting as the reveal of Grogu’s (dude, it is so hard to convince myself to type that) past as a Jedi Youngling was and as many questions as it generates, it’s the path he’s been set on to determine his future that I’ve found fascinating. In what’s become modus operandi for this series, Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka casually laid out the plans for the next episode or two:

    Go to the planet Tython. There you will find the ancient ruins of a temple that has a strong connection to the Force. Place Grogu on the seeing stone at the top of the mountain…If he reaches out through the Force, there’s a chance a Jedi may sense his presence and come searching for him. 

    And with that, Din and Grogu are onto the next part of their journey, a journey that has successfully followed a simple, straight-forward and repetitive beat for 1.5 seasons now. Each new stop seems to deepen and enrich the story and relationship of the Mando and The Child as it expands on the already massive mythological tapestry of Star Wars and, lately, that’s meant drawing from more than just previous live-action films and, in some cases, cracking open the “Legends” treasure chest.

    The Mandalorian: Rosario Dawson Comments Following Ahsoka Tano's Debut

    If you’re new to Star Wars and unsure about the “Legends” label, have no fear. For a long, long time, all of Star Wars was made up of 3 films and a Holiday Special. Over the years, the Star Wars universe grew unofficially through novels, comics and video games in what was known as the Star Wars Extended Universe (EU). In 2012 when Lucasfilm was purchased by Disney, Disney inherited all of George Lucas’s “canonical” work plus a whole mess of “non-canonical” stuff in the EU. In an apparent effort to streamline what was and was was not “canon”, Disney labeled the EU stuff as Legends material and the films, Holiday Special, Ewok Adventures, The Clone Wars (and maybe some other stuff) as Canon. This schism was pretty painful to a lot of folks as great characters with incredible stories such as Thrawn, Jacen and Jaina Solo, Mara Jade and more “didn’t count” now. Since that time, however, some characters and locations from the EU/Legends have made their way into modern Canon. Season 1 of The Mandalorian introduced Death Troopers to Canon and then we got Dark Troopers in Chapter 12. Grand Admiral Thrawn was a major player in Star Wars Rebels and was named dropped by Ahsoka in Chapter 13. And finally and most relevant to Grogu’s growth, the Deep Core planet of Tython has made the jump as well.

    Originally introduced in 2013 in a short story in Star Wars Insider 141, Tython actually made the jump from Legends to Canon in 2019 when it appeared in Doctor Aphra #40 (yes, Star Wars comics written by Marvel Comics after the purchase of Lucasfilm by Disney are part of Canon). The issue presents very little information about the planet, but we do quickly learn it was once inhabited by Jedi and that the Force is incredibly strong there similar to Ach-To, the planet where Rey met Luke at the end of The Force Awakens. In this instance, the Canon depiction of Tython seems to share quite a bit in common with its more fleshed out Legends counterpart and, if that is the case, Din is taking Grogu not only to a location where he might choose his own destiny but, quite possibly, the place where the Force itself was first discovered.

    In Canon, Tython is thought to be one of five locations to have been home to the first Jedi temple; in Legends lore, Tython was home to the Je’daii Order, a precursor to the Jedi Order, and the very place where the Je’daii came to understand the true nature of the Force: the Light, the Dark and the balance of the two. Tython’s two moons, Ashla and Bogan, represented the duality of the Force as one shined brightly in the night sky while the other remained cloaked in darkness. As Je’daii grew in the Force, they would spend time on one moon or the other to help them remained balanced. Get a little too dark-sidey and you head to Ashla for some light; get a little too light-sidey and you go chill on Bogan in the shade. The planet was also home to nine temples, each of which was home to Je’daii masters teaching different skills to their pupils. Eventually and as is the way with all things Force-related, some people chose the Dark side, others chose the Light and, a war broke out. The Light-siders won and formed the new Jedi order.

    The planet itself was incredibly geographically diverse and at least some of the Legends design made into its appearance in Doctor Aphra. Should Dave Filoni be so inclined, he could use Grogu’s Force quest as an opportunity not only to develop the geography of the planet beyond what we saw in the comic book but also shine a light on the mysterious past of the Jedi order in a streaming series that is being watched by millions. In truth, only the hardest of hardcore Star Wars nerds know anything at all about the origins of the Jedi and the Sith and I’d wager only a small percentage of that already exclusive club could take folks to school on the ANCIENT history. I know I certainly couldn’t.

    The Mandalorian's Grogu: Baby Yoda's Real Name and Star Wars Origin Explained | Den of Geek

    Grogu’s journey to Tython can do more than help the one-time Youngling determine his future; it can serve as the first legitimate, live-action history lesson on the Force. Think about it, outside of “its an energy field that created by all living things”, what does the casual Star Wars fan (and there are a great many of those watching this series) truly know about the Force? As the curator of the great mythology that Lucas created, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Filoni take us all to school for part of an episode. Bust out your space macarons. We all want to know if Grogu is going to get in touch with Sebastian Stan Luke or Kylo Ren or someone we aren’t even expecting (Ezra Bridger ?), but maybe it’s what we don’t know that we want to know that will truly make these next 2-3 episodes as mind-blowing as they’ve been promised to be.

    Chapter 14 of The Mandalorian will begin streaming this Friday at 3:00 AM EST!