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  • ‘One Piece’ Creator Offers First Tease of Netflix’s Live-Action Designs

    ‘One Piece’ Creator Offers First Tease of Netflix’s Live-Action Designs

    The latest news for Netflix’s live-action adaptation of One Piece has finally arrived with an official statemenr by series creator Eichiiro Oda. Yet, after a close inspection and tease by the cast, it seems there’s a lot more here than just an episode count confirmation.

    Emily Rudd, who plays Nami in the live-action adaptation, shared a piece on Instagram that Oda drew Nami with her blue-eyes instead of her usual design. Taking a closer look, there are quite a few changes that actually highlight this is the series creator drawing the live-action cast as the characters.

    Taz Skylar’s Sanji also is missing his curly eyebrows, which confirm he will have regular ones throughout the first season. Of course, they could just be to simplify the design for these chibi art style but it is part of his design. They could use the curly eyebrows when he reaches a certain story point to have that original design bleed into live-action.

    The other major change is Jacob Gibson’s Usopp has a short nose rather than the elongated one from the manga. It was the one change many expected at the time but there’s always a chance it is slightly longer than normal or they bring it back for comedic bits like a running gag of stuff getting stuck on his nose.

    Still, it may just be a tease for now but it’s certainly highlighting that the show’s release is just on the horizon. Here’s hoping that the actual first look isn’t too far off to confirm what they look like in the costumes that already seemed quite close to the original.

    Source: Twitter, Instagram

  • ‘Young Jedi Adventures’ Synopsis Clarifies Canonicity of the Animated Adventure

    ‘Young Jedi Adventures’ Synopsis Clarifies Canonicity of the Animated Adventure

    As part of Star Wars Day 2023, Lucasfilm rolled out new a seven-episode animated series set in the High Republic Era, Young Jedi Adventures. Though it’s aimed at younger audiences, the question of whether or not the events in the series are considered canon has been raised as the series introduces new characters–and even a brand new species–during an era that’s yet to be explored outside of publication. In a press release, Lucasfilm has addressed the issue of the canonicity of the new series.

    Set 200 years before “The Phantom Menace,” during the High Republic era, “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” follows Jedi younglings as they study the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way. Produced by Lucasfilm in collaboration with Wild Canary for Disney+ and Disney Junior, “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” is executive produced by Lucasfilm’s James Waugh, Jacqui Lopez, and Josh Rimes. Michael Olson (“Puppy Dog Pals”) is showrunner and executive producer; Elliot M. Bour (“Elena of Avalor”) is supervising director and co-producer; Jeannine Hodson (“Puppy Dog Pals”) is producer; and Lamont Magee (“Black Lightning”) is consulting producer. “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” stars Jamaal Avery, Jr. as Kai Brightstar, Juliet Donenfeld as Lys Solay, Dee Bradley Baker as Nubs, Emma Berman as Nash Durango, Jonathan Lipow as RJ-83, and Piotr Michael as Master Yoda. 

    The reference to the events of The Phantom Menace would certainly seem to cement the series as canon in the Star Wars universe despite the show not really targeting the type of audience who cares about such things. As executive producer and Lucasfilm Senior Vice President Franchise Content & Strategy James Waugh explained “Star Wars transcends generations; fans of all ages deeply connect with its imaginative worlds, mythic stories, and unique characters.”

    Fans of the Marvel animated series, Spidey and His Amazing Friends, will find it shares a lot in common with Young Jedi Adventures. Not only does the new Star Wars series share the animated style of the Spidey show, it’s also similarly formatted and each pair of episodes is packed with opportunities for young viewers to learn core values through brand new characters. “When developing Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, the first Star Wars series created for preschoolers, the creative team never stopped thinking about how this show may be a “youngling’s” first step into a larger world and their first time experiencing the limitless potential of the Star Wars galaxy,” explained Waugh. “The show’s characters, tone, and the life lessons woven throughout each episode were written just for them, and our talented team was committed to honoring the cinematic legacy while staying true to the expectations of parents for the youngest of audiences.“

    You can read our full review of the new animated series right here before checking out the series which is now streaming on Disney Plus.

    Updating…

  • CONFIRMED: Live-Action ‘One Piece’ Will Consist of 8 Episodes

    CONFIRMED: Live-Action ‘One Piece’ Will Consist of 8 Episodes

    It’s been a long road but after a long bit of silence, we finally get an official update for Netflix’s ambitious adaptation of One Piece. Surprisingly, the news drops is an official statement from series creator Eiichiro Oda to celebrate Monkey D. Luffy’s birthday.

    In an official statement, Oda shared the trials he underwent early on trying yo find a compromise between him and Tomorrow Studios, as the cultural differences make such an adaptation quite challenging for everyone involved.

    He also goes on to highlight that while a 2023 release is confirmed with the posters earlier this year, they promised to not release the series until it has his final stamp of approval, which further highlights just how involved he is with the series.

    That is not all, as it also confirms that One Piece won’t consist of ten episodes as previously announced back in 2017. As we shared in January of last year, the series will not consist of eight episodes overall. It’s been a long ride since the news initially broke with mang hints along the way until the final confirmation.

    Overall, it’s great to get an update on the series and see the passion Oda has for this franchise. There’s a lot riding on getting this adaptation right for himself, fans, and those involved in production. Showrunners Steven Maeda and Matt Owens have proven their love for the series many times, which adds to the hope even more of finally seeing the first footage.

  • REVIEW: ‘Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures’

    REVIEW: ‘Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures’

    The galaxy far, far away gets a little bigger–and cuter–in Lucasfilm’s new animated series, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. The seven-episode series follows the adventures of a trio of Jedi Younglings and their normie friend during the High Republic Era. Cast in the mold of the wonderful Spidey and His Amazing Friends, each of the 27ish-minute runtimes is broken into two stories full of fast-paced action and plenty of teachable moments. As is the case with Spidey and His Amazing Friends, young viewers will have the opportunity to learn core values such as altruism, courage, patience and teamwork right alongside the Younglings. And though it’s aimed at a young audience, there’s plenty to enjoy for older viewers.

    Young Jedi Adventures is a Star Wars project through and through. The series checks just about every box: Jedi. Droids. Hotshot pilot. Bad guy with a cool helmet. Strange new worlds full of fascinating creatures. Even a bounty hunter for good measure. Not to be outdone by its more adult in-house competition, Young Jedi Adventures even introduces a new species to the Star Wars universe in the Jedi Youngling Pooba, Nubs, voiced by Star Wars vet Dee Bradley Baker. The show’s core group of Nubs, fellow Younglings Kai Brightstar and Lys Solay, and the brash young pilot Nash Durango see the bulk of the action but the rotating supporting cast, including Yoda, helps to keep the series seem both fresh and familiar.

    (L-R): Jedi Younglings: Lys Solay (voiced by Juliet Donenfeld), Kai Brightstar (voiced by Jamaal Avery Jr.) and Nubs (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker) in a scene during a training sequence from “STAR WARS: YOUNG JEDI ADVENTURES” exclusively on Disney+ and Disney Junior. ©2023 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.

    As opposed to recent animated fare such as Tales of the Jedi or The Bad Batch, Young Jedi Adventures doesn’t feel like a must for Star Wars completists. Despite being the first series of any kind set during the High Republic Era, the series doesn’t make much of an effort to cash in on the opportunity to incorporate any of the storylines or characters from the publication side. An Easter egg here, a namedrop there (Old Republic Jedi!) and a fun continuity nod or two make up the extent to which the series feels like it’s reaching out to canon completists…and that’s ok!

    This is, after all, a kids’ show, and as such it really does work wonderfully. The animation is bright and vibrant and the character designs are great, especially the show’s serial “baddie”, juvie pirate Taborr Val Dorn. It’s a fun, galaxy-hopping adventure that, much like Dora the Explorer, makes you question how the Jedi Master in charge of these Younglings keeps letting them take off on their own and find trouble. If you’ve seen Spidey and His Amazing Friends, you know the template for the show and if it ain’t broke, why fix it? Young viewers are sure to love the show, especially the core group of Younglings. Jamaal Avery Jr. infuses Kai Brightstar with a wealth of charisma; Juliet Donenfeld Lys serves as the team’s empathetic center; and Nub the Poob is about to be Star Wars’ next big seller. It’s a wholesome adventure series set in an ever-expanding universe that provides a wonderful jumping-on-point for young Star Wars newbies. Top-notch work by Lucasfilm as they branch out a bit more.

    4.5/5 stars!

  • WGA Strike Seemingly Won’t Impact ‘Superman: Legacy’ Production

    WGA Strike Seemingly Won’t Impact ‘Superman: Legacy’ Production

    While the WGA strike might have come as a surprise to some, the possibility of an impending work stoppage has been buzzed about for months. As such, studios have been able to do some advance work on scripts to ensure their completion ahead of the strike. Marvel Studios brought Lee Sung Jin in to touch up Thunderbolts and Nic Pizzolato to work on Blade about a month ago, possibly in hopes they’d be able to complete their work before the strike shut down that particular production arm. While those seem safe, the status of other major productions will remain in limbo for the time being but there is at least one more tentpole that seems to have made the cut.

    According to The Wrap’s Umberto Gonzalez, the first theatrical release on DC Studios new slate, Superman: Legacy, won’t have to wait on a resolution to the contract dispute for a finished script. Gonzalez reports that James Gunn‘s script for the reboot was finalized just days ahead of the strike. Gunn is also directing the film and is in the process of casting ahead of an expected January 2024 start of production.

    Gunn’s Superman: Legacy will be based on DC Comics All-Star Superman and will focus on the Man of Steel seeking to balance his “Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing,” according to DC Studios’ co-chair Peter Safran. Gunn has long been a fan of the character and has been working hard to make sure the newest version of the character both lives up to the previous live-action versions and carves its own nice. “Superman is for everyone,” explained Gunn. “That’s [Superman: Legacy] a four-quadrant film that should speak to everyone in the world.”

    Superman: Legacy is currently slated to hit theaters July 11, 2025.

    Source: The Wrap

  • Chris Pratt Addresses the MCU Future of Star-Lord

    Chris Pratt Addresses the MCU Future of Star-Lord

    And now his watch is ended. James Gunn‘s MCU tenure comes to a close when Marvel Studios latest release, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, opens this week across the globe. And as Gunn moves on from the MCU, a pair of the Guardian franchise’s key players, Dave Bautista and Zoe Saldaña, have both indicated that the threequel will mark their final appearances as their respective characters. While the team has expanded over time, Drax and Gamora were part of the original group of a-holes that took the world by storm in 2014 and will be tough to replace but would anyone be tougher to replace than Chris Pratt‘s Star-Lord?

    Though he’d been in the comics since 1975, most folks had no idea who Star-Lord was until Pratt brought him to life as a music-loving moron in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy. The character grew so popular that he became a key player in both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame and while his story arc is taking a bit of a backseat to Rocket’s in Vol. 3, Peter Quill is still one of the MCU’s heaviest hitters. Is there more in the tank for Star-Lord after Vol. 3?

    (L-R): Zoe Saldana as Gamora and Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord in Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Photo by Jessica Miglio. © 2022 MARVEL.

    It sure sounds like it, according to Pratt. In an interview with GamesRadar+, the star made it clear that while it might not be the same without Gunn, he’s up for reprising the role…but only under the right circumstances.

    It would be strange to continue Peter’s story without James. He’s done such a masterful job in the first three films. We really found the voice of Peter Quill together and without him, obviously, I would never have had this opportunity. He writes it, he directs it, he dreams up the music, it’s his imagination on screen. So, to continue to tell the story, it would really be important to honor what he’s done in the first three films and to honor what the fans have grown to love about the character and not simply do it because people might show up to pay for it, you know?

    Chris Pratt

    All that being said, it’s no guarantee that we’ll see Pratt back in the role. “I don’t want to be cynical in the approach and if that’s the case, I just wouldn’t do it at all,” explained Pratt. “So maybe down the road if something makes sense I would do it but it would really have to check a lot of the right boxes,” he concluded.

    Pratt certainly has no problem finding work in Hollywood but he’s also become one of the faces of the MCU. While Marvel Studios has never been much for one-to-one adaptation of comic books or comic book events, the truth is that many of Star-Lord’s greatest adventures from the pages of Marvel Comics have yet to be told in the MCU. So, depending on what plans Kevin Feige and the Parliament have in store for the Cosmic corner of the franchise, there could be plenty of action ahead for Pratt should he chose to continue in the role.

    Source: GamesRadar+

  • James Gunn on What He’ll Miss the Most as His Time at Marvel Studios Comes to an End

    James Gunn on What He’ll Miss the Most as His Time at Marvel Studios Comes to an End

    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 marks the end of a passion project that has occupied a decade and change of director James Gunn‘s career. Marvel Studios brought Gunn on board in 2012 and tasked him with making a tentpole film around a group of comic book characters most people had never heard of that included a talking raccoon and a tree. What followed was nothing short of a cultural phenomenon as Guardians of the Galaxy took the world by storm in 2014. The characters quickly worked their way into the hearts of the audience and through subsequent appearances in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, went from unknowns to major players in the MCU’s Infinity Saga.

    And while the Infinity Saga marked the end for many of Marvel Studios major heroes, the Guardians kept on keeping on into the Multiverse Saga where they’ve seen action in Thor: Love and Thunder and their own Holiday Special ahead of their latest adventure set to be told in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. With Gunn moving on to shepherd the new era of DC Comics projects at Warner Bros. Discovery, his time with the team has come to an end, even if some or all of them may find their way into new stories. During the global press junket for the film, host Nathan Fillion asked Gunn if he’d miss the characters he’s created as his time working with Marvel Studios comes to an end.

    (L-R): Karen Gillan as Nebula, Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, and Dave Bautista as Drax in Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Photo by Jessica Miglio. © 2023 MARVEL.

    “I’m gonna miss the characters,” said Gunn. “That’s the saddest part for me, is I really, truly love these characters. I love all of them. I think there’s certain ones that I have a special fondness for, especially Rocket.” Gun continued, “And yeah, the saddest part of all of this. I’m gonna see all these people again. They’re all friends of mine. But I’m not gonna see the characters. I’m not gonna be writing the characters again, at least not in the near future. And so, that’s a real sadness, yeah.“

    Interestingly enough, Gunn left the door slightly open for his return to the MCU at some point down the road; however, given how busy he is with Superman: Legacy and the rest of the all-new, all-different DCU, it’s hard to imagine him carving out time to return to the Guardians no matter how much he loves them.

    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 opens across America on May 5th.

  • James Gunn Considered Telling the Story of ‘Vol. 3’ without Most of the Guardians

    James Gunn Considered Telling the Story of ‘Vol. 3’ without Most of the Guardians

    As fans steel themselves for an emotional farewell to one of Marvel Studios’ most beloved cast of characters, the mastermind of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise reveals he once deviously plotted to undermine the grieving process. James Gunn has made no bones about the fact that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is Rocket’s story, so much so that he once considered telling it without most of the rest of the team!

    And I thought about, ‘Well, okay, if there was a talking space raccoon, how would he have come to exist?’ And as I mused upon it, I started thinking about how this was the saddest creature in the universe, and that was actually the seed to me for the entire Guardians trilogy. That was my way into it, this underpinning of just isolation and sadness, and all of these characters are isolated and sad. So I knew what Rocket’s backstory was from that moment before I had come up with the rest of that stuff for Vol. 1. It was the first thing I came up with.

    James Gunn on how Rocket became the center of Guardians of the Galaxy
    -io9

    In an interview with io9, Gunn revealed that while he’d cracked Rocket’s backstory years ago, he wanted it to be at the center of the emotional conclusion to his time with the franchise; however, there was a time when he wasn’t sure the story needed to include the entire team. “I always thought it was a third movie thing because I thought we had to tell Peter Quill’s story first and then get into Rocket’s story,” explained the director. “I think the only question was, was it going to be a Rocket and Groot movie or was it going to be Guardians 2—because initially, I was going to do it as Rocket and Groot.“

    Baby Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) in Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 MARVEL.

    Rumblings of a Rocket and Groot project have been around since the Guardians made their MCU debut. In fact, Gunn confirmed that prior to the 2014 release of Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel Studios had considered making as series of shorts to introduce the core team of Guardians and one of those would have featured Rocket and Groot. “I forgot about this, but this is true,” said Gunn referring to the scrapped projects in a Tweet from October of 2021. “Not only did we plan it,” Gunn continued, “we shot footage for one of the scripts (Rocket & Groot) – part of which was the first shot of Rocket shooting a machine gun on Groot’s back that we showed at San Diego Comic Con.”

     We toyed with the idea of doing short films on Drax, on Rocket and Groot, and on Gamora, leading up to Guardians. This One-Shot series would have led into the Guardians movie proper — which would have also been directly preceded by a fourth self-contained short film about a mysterious kid who loved fantasy things. Then you’d start Guardians. And half-way through, we would reveal that big space hero is the kid from the short. We thought that would be clever, but it was too much.

    Kevin Feige on the scrapped Guardians of the Galaxy prequel One-Shots

    Rocket’s special connection with Groot certainly helped fans fall in love with not only the offbeat duo but the rest of the team almost a decade ago, so Gunn’s instinct to focus on them while exploring Rocket’s origins is understandable. However, once it became clear that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was set to be Gunn’s MCU sendoff, you can bet he wanted to make sure each of the characters he’d created and curated over the years had a proper sendoff.

    Marvel Studios Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 opens in theaters on May 5th!

    Sources: io9, Inside the Magic

  • Taika Waititi’s Star Wars Movie May Hit Theaters Sooner Than Expected

    Taika Waititi’s Star Wars Movie May Hit Theaters Sooner Than Expected

    As part of Star Wars Celebration 2023, Lucasfilm announced three new Star Wars films that would usher the galaxy far, far away back into theaters. According to recent reports, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy hopes to have director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy‘s untitled New Jedi Order Era film ready to hit theaters in December 2025 but after that, it’s a bit murky. The timing of Dave Filoni‘s “Heir to the Empire” film is entirely dependent on the New Republic Era stories that are being told on Disney Plus and James Mangold‘s untitled Dawn of the Jedi Era project seems like a massive undertaking that could be several years off. But now, a previously announced project that only got a brief mention at Celebration is back in the news and may be ready for theaters sooner than expected.

    According to Deadline, Thor: Love and Thunder director Taika Waititi is not only still very much on board to direct his Star Wars project but might be ready to do so next year. The trade reports that while Waititi’s next project is likely to be his adaptation of the New York Times best-seller Klara and the Sun, his sights are still set on getting started on his untitled Star Wars film in 2024.

    Taika is still working away. He’s writing the script himself. He doesn’t really want to bring others into that process and I don’t blame him. He has a very, very unique voice. So we want to protect that and that’s what he’s doing. But we’re going to make that one day.

    Kathleen Kennedy on Taika Waititi’s Star Wars film, Star Wars Celebration 2023

    Waititi’s Star Wars project is still cloaked in mystery and has been pushed around on the schedule a few times already. Once upon a time, the film was expected to hit theaters in 2023. With Waititi needing more time on the script, production on the film was delayed to an expected 2023 start which, obviously, won’t happen with the director tackling Klara and the Sun. The good news is that Waititi likely won’t get pulled away from his Star Wars film by Marvel Studios for Thor 5 so it’s likely that he’ll make good on Kennedy’s promise that the film will get made “one day.” Even if production on the film does start in 2024, it’s highly unlikely it would hit theaters in 2025 with Obaid-Chinoy‘s film certainly the priority. However, it’s possible Lucasfilm could add a 2026 date to Disney’s theatrical slate should the film be ready for release by then.

    Source: Deadline

  • REVIEW: ‘Star Wars Visions’ Returns With Style and Beauty

    REVIEW: ‘Star Wars Visions’ Returns With Style and Beauty

    There’s no easy way to really talk about a project like Star Wars Visions. The anthology series offers something unique with different studios getting the chance to tell a unique story in a galaxy far far away. Going into the second season, Lucasfilm is taking a new approach by expanding beyond Japanese studios to give the world an opportunity to leave a unique stamp on this anthology series. Did their ambitions continue to make this series stand out in this ambitious era of animation?

    One thing is clear: the idea to go beyond anime made this season truly stand out. The animation is beautiful and every studio brings something unique to each project. What continues to be the big selling point of this anthology is just taking known concepts and giving them new life by allowing other creatives to play around with the world we are familiar with. With the added variety of creatives, it adds to the feeling that these stories are quite a bit more personal this time around.

    El Guiri’s Sith offers a visual showcase that blends the lines between reality in its visual style to add something that uses color in such a creative way, it caught me off-guard when its story caught up with the visuals. A lot of this season, at least early on, explores the themes of on which side of the Force you’ll find yourself. Screecher’s Reach by Cartoon Saloon and Mir’s Journey to the Dark Head offer these really interesting stories in two distinct ways. They offer a look at what you’re willing to do to accomplish your goals but end up in very different places.

    Then you also have some fun with Aardman’s animated I am Your Mother, which just looks at a young X-Wing pilot cadet and her relationship with her mother. Of course, there’s also something just so charming about the stop-motion approach from the creators of Wallace and Gromit that makes this little special just stand out, especially with its humor.

    Then you also have 88 Pictures’ The Bandits of Golak and Punkrobot’s In the Stars, which explore the galaxy far far away from the unique perspectives of those just trying to survive. It highlights how two very distinctly animated projects explore tales of survival in a Sith-dominated world. Even Studio La Cachette’s The Spy Dancer uses that concept to offer a rather heartfelt twist in its short runtime.

    Then you also have Triggerfish’s beautifully animated Aau’s Song and D’art Shtajio’s The PIt that highlight just how diverse these stories can be told. The new season continues where the first left off and hopefully, they will continue making more seasons. Stand-outs personally were Screecher’s Reach and The Spy Dancer which felt like the perfect combination of beautiful animation with emotional storytelling. It’s not to say that the others didn’t provide the same but when you have so many good choices, it becomes difficult to truly pinpoint what makes a project stand out.