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  • ‘Superman Legacy’ to Feature Someone from ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’s Cast

    ‘Superman Legacy’ to Feature Someone from ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’s Cast

    James Gunn has always had a knack for keeping secrets on his various projects and outright even denying any claims made that he can easily debunk. As the new CEO of DC Studios, it creates an opportunity. Yet, in a short AMA on Twitter, he has given some the opportunity to ask a question he’ll answer with yes or no. While most focused on his latest release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 given he restricted it to that topic, someone asked if any of the cast members might appear in his next DC project.

    Surprisingly, Gunn actually did confirm that “Yes.” someone from the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise will appear in Superman Legacy. Of course, he hasn’t exactly said who it will be and what kind of role they’ll have, but it’s great to know that some of his usual faces will return one way or another. We already saw them in The Suicide Squad, where his brother Sean Gunn played the role of Weasel and will continue to do so in Creature Commando.

    Though, there’s also a good chance that he will include some of his usual cast members in one form or another. Nathan Fillion has appeared in all three Guardians films in a cameo or small role. He loves casting his close friend Michael Rooker in roles, who is also very likely to potentially appear. At the end of the day, we could also just see his brother Sean Gunn have some kind of role in bringing another CG creation to life. There’s ag good list of “definitely back” actors that would be listed that would fit the bill.

    Source: Twitter

  • James Gunn Reveals Pete Davidson’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Cameo

    James Gunn Reveals Pete Davidson’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Cameo

    There’s a long tradition of big names taking on tiny roles in Star Wars films, such as playing a Stormtrooper. Tom Hardy and even James Bond actor Daniel Craig famously took on the tiny roles, but it seems this tradition is also carried over into the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. Director James Gunn is no stranger to casting friends in his various projects, such as the surprise reveal that Pete Davidson, who appeared in his previous film The Suicide Squad, seemingly had a minor role in the film.

    As part of Twitter Movies’ promotion of the film, there’s a picture of Gunn with one of the film’s leads Chris Pratt alongside Pete Davidson. It seems he just had a chance to film this tiny cameo and going by what he is wearing, he is one of the soldiers who works for the High Evolutionary that was present in the scene when those two confront each other as showcased in the various trailers.

    Considering Guardians of the Galaxy is seen as the “Star Wars” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this kind of cameo is a fitting addition to the franchise and it’s also funny to think that this is the SNL actor’s first major appearance in the franchise. While it’s unclear if he has any hopes to join in a bigger role later down the line, it’s funny to know that he was already apart of it and we may have had no idea if it wasn’t for this picture.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Guardians of the Galaxy 3’ En Route to $110M+ Opening Weekend

    ‘Guardians of the Galaxy 3’ En Route to $110M+ Opening Weekend

    It looks like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has pulled in a strong $48.2M on Friday including its Thursday previews. That would currently put it on a path to making around $110M over the weekend, which is currently on the low end of expectations but it’s unclear how word-of-mouth might affect its Saturday and Sunday gross. This has been adding to some concern of superhero fatigue but it does have a strong A CinemaScore and strong PostTrak showcasing a potential long-run at the box office that may push against the recent developments.

    Deadline has pointed out that while CinemaCon snarked about superhero fatigue (ironically given The Flash was the “highlight” showcased by Warner Bros.), the film is Marvel’s eleventh time topping $100M in May, which is still something no other brand can really compare to at the moment. The film also remains quite male-dominated at 62%, whose positive reaction could keep it going for weeks until Fast X releases in June. The question remains if positive word-of-mouth and a strong hold for a few weeks could actually help push The Marvels later in the year rather than continue a downward trend (or perhaps it’s less a genre fatigue but more a reflection of its marketing as well).

    As of now, it’s new for a Marvel Cinematic Universe sequel to be behind previous entries but also not entirely something new. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Avengers: Age of Ultron was behind the previous entry and could also hint at Vol. 2 getting quite a big boost from releasing in 2017 during the Phase 3 boom after momentum built out of Captain America: Civil War. As of now, the film will likely open slightly ahead of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania which had a powerful opening but lost momentum quickly highlighting the film’s okay word-of-mouth and the Disney+ release strategy from previous years showing its fangs.

    Still, the film is continuing the trend of Marvel opening beyond $100M which isn’t a terrible thing to showcase. There was tracking towards $130M and if momentum suddenly spikes going into its Saturday, there’s a chance but things are a bit calmer for now. What should be noted is that the film has a much stronger international box office at around $71.5M, which would put it at $119.7M worldwide as of Friday.

    There’s a lot that can be said about recent developments, as 2022 still looked strong for Marvel Studios but this year had some surprise hits. The four-quadrant market has been quite focused on Super Mario Bros. Movie by pushing that beyond a billion making up for the missing families in theaters the last few years. That film is finally dethroned but still drops to a strong $18.5M while new release Love Again is dead on arrival with a $2.6M opening weekend.

    There is a good chance that the current development simply reflects a stuffed Summer market and it’s uncertain if other projects won’t face similar developments. With that many films on the horizon and a recession still at play, people might just be a bit pickier this year as seen in the first few months as well. Only a select few managed to hold with a strong male-driven audience but outside of Mario, nothing is really breaking records. What is playing in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3‘s favor is that the international market is seemingly doing quite a bit better now.

    It’s currently still projected for a $260M+ global opening, which is higher than the initially expected worldwide gross for the film. Social is pushing the film quite a bit, especially in Korea which has been a rather rough market as of late. Ironically, if Guardians mends any expectations with Marvel releases, they could be balancing out the domestic slowdown that has occurred this year. While some want to blame Ant-Man 3 for this current development, the Guardians are still some of the more obscure characters in the franchise that haven’t had a new entry since 2017.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Twitter, Deadline, Deadline

  • BOOK REVIEW: ‘Thornhedge’ by T. Kingfisher

    BOOK REVIEW: ‘Thornhedge’ by T. Kingfisher

    Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher
    My rating: 4 of 5 stars

    Thornhedge is my first book by T. Kingfisher, and my goodness, it’s a delight.

    Thornhedge is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty that turns the classic tale on its head. The story focuses on Toadling, a young woman who is forced to confront her past as she learns to navigate a world incredibly foreign to her. With just 120 pages, it’s hard to truly explain what Thornhedge is about without spoiling the story. It’s magical. It’s outlandish. It’s strange. And yet, it’s utterly delightful.

    I don’t recall requesting Thornhedge, although, I’m sure I requested it based on the cover (the ARC cover) alone having not read the description… and I’m kind of glad I went into this book blindly. I had no expectations, and that only made my reading experience all the more enjoyable. Toadling – yes, her name is ridiculously great – was stolen from her family at birth and was raised in the waters of faerieland. She’s a strange being that doesn’t seem to truly fit in anywhere outside of the muddy waters. She knows very little of the human world, or humans for that matter, but soon enough, she’s forced to return to a world she was stolen from – a world that doesn’t care for her. During her time within the human world, Toadling encounters a mysterious stranger named Hamlin who she soon builds an unconventional friendship with as he promises to help her explore the world.

    While that may sound like a simple premise, there’s so much more to Toadling’s story. Readers that enjoy stories about changelings, the fae and fairy tales will easily devour Thornhedge. Despite its short length, Thornhedge manages to successfully tell a compelling story that feels complete by the end. Sure, there’s room to revisit this world – should Kingfisher decide to – but it doesn’t feel as though it’s ever rushed or incomplete.

    Overall: Thornhedge is a delight. Don’t allow the short length to dissuade you. Give this unique and unusual tale a read, you won’t regret it.

    Disclaimer: I received a physical ARC copy for review. This in no way influenced my review.

  • Cinemascore Reveals ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Hit the Mark with Audiences

    Cinemascore Reveals ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Hit the Mark with Audiences

    As early reviews of MCU films continue to feel increasingly unbiased, word of mouth from opening weekend screenings has seemed to become more valuable than ever. Simply put, folks who are unsure if they’ll see a film or not are waiting for audience reactions before heading to a theater. In the case of Marvel Studios first Phase 5 release, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, less than enthusiastic word of mouth quickly diminished the film’s opening weekend momentum leading to a precipitous second weekend drop. After early reviews for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the latest installment of the studio’s Multiverse Saga, added to some pre-existing doubt about the film’s opening weekend performance it seems even more people were waiting to hear what audiences had to say about the film before deciding to take in a showing. Now they have the answer they’ve been waiting for.

    More than one review of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (including our own) has indicated that the film is a return to form for Marvel Studios and it would seem opening night audiences agreed. Cinemascore, which polls opening night audiences as they exit the theater, has revealed that the Guardians farewell flick resonated strongly with fans and scored an A.

    With an “A”, Vol. 3 joins the two previous Guardians of the Galaxy films in earning the high rating. It also joins Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as the only films in the Multiverse Saga to be scored an “A” (Spider-Man: No Way Home earned the elite “A+” Cinemascore).

    With Vol. 3 currently tracking for somewhere in the ballpark of a $120M opening weekend, it’ll be worth following how the positive word of mouth impacts the second weekend. There’s no immediate box office challenger to Guardians and while there’s always a second weekend drop off, the studio will hope to avoid the massive 69% drop suffered by Quantumania.

    Source: Twitter

  • Blade Production Delayed Indefinitely Due to Writers Strike

    Blade Production Delayed Indefinitely Due to Writers Strike

    The WGA strike is ongoing and an essential milestone to ensure the industry’s future. It naturally was going to hit quite a few productions, especially going by how the TV landscape was shaped the last time it happened. Marvel Studios is famous for experimenting and trying out different elements while filming, which relies heavily on the writer being present on set and working alongside the creatives to bring the project to life. So, it’s no surprise that Marvel Studios’ Blade which was set to start production next month is put on hold indefinitely.

    As of now, this is likely the first tentpole release affected by the strike and it’s good to see Marvel Studios hold back rather than force a production. Cast and crew members have seemingly been notified this afternoon and the pre-production will be shut down. Nic Pizzolatto of True Detective fame joined but an insider stated “time simply ran out” before they could get the camera rolling. They also highlight that production will not start until the strike is over, which could take months and once again postpone the release.

    There’s no word if the other productions will be hit in the same way, but for now, it does seem likely they’ll be gearing down some of the projects due to the writer’s strike. Marvel Studios is likely not going to say anything about it but the Disney+ releases might slow down productions as they also require a writer on set, but there’s no word as of now. The only film production likely to finish is Captain America: New World Order. Thunderbolts and Fantastic Four are seemingly going to get pushed back as a result.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Opens with Franchise Record Thursday

    ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Opens with Franchise Record Thursday

    Marvel Studios next big thing kicked off its theatrical run with the same Thursday previews box office take as its last big thing. According to THR, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 opened to $17.5M on Thursday, matching the preview night take of Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. Quantumania went on to a franchise-best opening weekend before quickly losing momentum, something Marvel Studios is hoping not to see happen with Vol. 3.

    Early forecasts for Vol. 3‘s opening weekend box office have it trending at or below the opening of its 2017 predecessor, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and the $17.5M previews number would seem to indicate that might be the case. Not only does the $17.5 match Quantumania, but it also outdoes the $17M Thursday previews take Vol. 2 had 6 years ago. And while that number is on par with Avatar: The Way of Water‘s Thursday and a top 40 all-time Thursday value, it seems to indicate some hesitancy on the part of audiences to head out to see another Marvel Studios film.

    All three of Marvel Studios’ 2022 theatrical releases opened far stronger than Quantumania and now Vol. 3. Sam Raimi‘s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness took in more than double on its first Thursday with $36M, Thor: Love and Thunder saw $29M in receipts on its opening Thursday and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever too in $28M. Unlike Quantumania, those three films held a strong at the box office for weeks, something Disney is hopeful will happen with Vol. 3. The new film won’t see much competition at the box office and it does seem that it’s generating a little more positive word of mouth than Quantumania which means while it might not open to a huge number, it could have legs and ultimately end up with a satisfactory cumulative box office take.

    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is now playing.

    Source: THR

  • New Promo Art for ‘The Marvels’ Showcases Zawe Ashton’s Villain, Flerken Army

    New Promo Art for ‘The Marvels’ Showcases Zawe Ashton’s Villain, Flerken Army

    Marvel Studios Captain Marvel sequel, The Marvels, was originally slated for a July release before moving to November but the Marvel marketing machine was already hard at work behind the scenes before the move. As such, fans have already been treated to a teaser trailer for the Phase 5 film and now, some brand-new promo materials have made their way online.

    The promo art, which was first shared on Instagram by Ironman.TW and then on Twitter through the Captain Marvel News account, not only shows off the film’s three leads but also gives a great look at Zawe Ashton‘s villainous Kree leader Dar-Benn.

    Also of note, is the confirmation of something that fans have been buzzing about since the teaser trailer first aired. During a scene set on the planet Aldana, several cats can be seen running around and the new concept art seems to confirm that they are all indeed Flerkens, just like Goose!

    The presence of what’s essentially a Flerken army should provide Carol, Monica and Kamala with some formidable allies in their fight against Dar-Benn and the Kree. The release of The Marvels is just a little over six months away which means fans can expect another trailer and a lot more promotional material to make its way online ahead of November 10th.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’: Karen Gillan Reflects on Her Time as Nebula

    ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’: Karen Gillan Reflects on Her Time as Nebula

    James Gunn‘s original Guardians of the Galaxy were all unlikely heroes. A thief. An assassin. A tree. A talking raccoon. Whatever Drax is. Over a decade in the MCU, the team has evolved and brought on new members but there may be no more unlikely hero on the team than Nebula. After originally teaming with the Kree extremist Ronin to take on the new team in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Nebula went on a journey unlike anything else we’ve seen in the MCU. After reconciling with Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, she was tortured at the hands of her father, Thanos, killed a past version of herself and joined the Avengers in saving the galaxy. Now, in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, she finds herself a full-fledged member of the team as they go on what Gunn has said will be their final tour. That’s a lot of growth for a villain who was supposed to be a one-off.

    Of course, the reason Nebula was provided with the opportunity to grow was the wonderful work of the actress who brings her to life, Karen Gillan. Gillan went all in on her performance in Guardians of the Galaxy, shaving her head and working with Gunn on finding a way to make Nebula more than the one-note character she’s often been portrayed as in the pages of Marvel Comics. Gillan‘s work was so good that Gunn carved out a bigger role for her in the 2017 sequel and the Russo brothers took it from there. While talking with host Nathan Fillion during the global press junket for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Gillan reflected on her time as Nebula.

    (L-R): Karen Gillan, James Gunn, and Chris Pratt on the set of Marvel Studios’ GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3. Photo by Jessica Miglio. © 2023 MARVEL.

    “She’s had quite the arc,” said Gillan of her character. After describing the character as “misunderstood” and “bitter” in Guardians of the Galaxy, the actress explained where Nebula stands in Vol. 3. “I think, you know, post-Thanos being eliminated from her life, she’s starting to flourish a little bit more and she’s starting to have a lighter personality and she’s a little more willing to show vulnerability.” It’s always good to see someone overcome their personal monsters.

    Interestingly enough, Gillan explained that it wasn’t only Nebula who has grown. After playing the character for nearly a decade, the actress explained how the experience has changed her as well. “What’s changed for me? Definitely my understanding of what it’s like to be a scapegoat sibling,” she said. “I’m an only child,” explained Gillan, “because Nebula was definitely that. She was never the golden child. And so, I never understood that because I’m an only child. And so, that was a really sort of interesting exploration for me. So, now I just have so much respect for people that have gone through that.”

    Gillan’s time as Nebula may or may not have run its course but she’s certainly established the character as an MCU powerhouse and one of Marvel Studios’ most interesting and complex.

    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is in theaters now!

  • Yoda’s Age in ‘Young Jedi Adventures’ Revealed

    Yoda’s Age in ‘Young Jedi Adventures’ Revealed

    Though Lucasfilm’s new animated series, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, is set during the High Republic Era, a period of time that spans 500 BBY-82 BBY and is set well before the prequel films, it does include a familiar face. At the center of the series are three Jedi Younglings, Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay and the adorable Poob, Nubs, who are learning the ways of the Force and the core values of the Jedi Order. While the trio of Younglings are assigned a Jedi Master at their Jedi Temple on the planet Tenoo, they are frequently visited throughout the seven-episode series by one of the most iconic Jedi: Master Yoda.

    Including Yoda gives the show a sense of familiarity while exploring the High Republic era, a time period which to date has only been developed through comic books and novels; additionally, it fills in the gaps of the Jedi Master’s long life. Fans of the original trilogy remember that Yoda was 900 years old at the time of his death in The Empire Strikes Back. Given that the events of that film took place four years after the Battle of Yavin, that places Yoda’s birth in the year 896 BBY…well before the beginning of the High Republic Era. So how old is Yoda in Young Jedi Adventures?

    Though he’s already walking with a cane, Yoda is a bit sprier than he’s shown to be during the prequel era…as to be expected from a youngster only in his 600s! According to an official synopsis of the show, the events of Young Jedi Adventures are set 200 years before the events of The Phantom Menace. That film was set in the year 32 BBY, so following that canonically established timeline, Young Jedi Adventures is set in the year 232 BBY meaning Yoda would be 664 years old during the time period explored in the animated series.

    By the time Luke Skywalker came to him on Dagobah, Yoda had been training Jedi for over 800 years and that’s exactly what he’s up to in Young Jedi Adventures. Given his incredibly long life, Yoda’s inclusion in the High Republic Era was always a given and this is hardly the first time he’s appeared in a project set during that time. Since the conception of the High Republic Era’s rollout, Yoda has always been a part of the plan to introduce the new time period and has been featured in multiple comic books already. According to Daniel José Older, a lead story architect for the High Republic Era publications, Yoda is “already a respected member of the Jedi Council at this point,” and is “doing what he loves best: looking out for the young folks.” Given the expansion of Yoda’s story currently ongoing in a solo comic, it’s safe to say the wise, old Jedi Master will continue to show up across Lucasfilm’s line of media.

    Source: Star Wars