There were many questions once the reveal came for Persona 5: The Phantom X. While it has Persona 5 in the title, it is not developed by Atlus and there was some confusion surrounding where it might take place in the timeline of the original. Persona 5 Strikers is a direct sequel to the original entry and excludes any references to Persona 5 Royal.
P5X teased the original cast as part of its game, or at least in its gacha mechanic. As noticed by Twitter user @ScrambledFaz, who actively tested out the Beta version and shared some interesting details on the game. It seems the Beta included the first palace as well as a look at its base mechanics. The gacha and stamina systems are quite a bit concerning.
Either way, in a new post, it seems that there are a variety of films you can check out while playing the game and it may offer our first hint at when exactly the film takes place in the Persona timeline. While each story is telling its own story, they are still somewhat connected in one storyline. Going by these posters, it seems the game may take place ten years after the original in 2026.
Persona 5: The Phantom X apparently takes place in 2026, exactly 10 years after the events of Persona 5.
There is, however, one aspect that adds some confusion. As also pointed out by Faz, there’s a calendar in the main character’s room that seemingly reveals a 2022 date. While it still seemingly takes place in the future, it does add some confusion on where exactly the latest entry will place.
But it's a bit of a weird situation, as the calendar? in Wonder's room says 2022??
Perhaps the poster with the King Kong reference is just when the film takes place. Either way, it takes place quite a few years after the original and it also seems like all the Persona 5 characters aren’t the characters we’ve come to love in the various games but just figments created in the guise of their original. It also makes sense given its a new story but requires a gacha mechanic to add various other characters. Perhaps we’ll see some other characters join from previous games.
Current writer of Marvel Comics’ The Amazing Spider-Man, Zeb Wells‘ history with Marvel Comics dates back to 2002’s Spider-Man’s Tangled Web. Wells turned his trademark style with Marvel Comics into a gig at Marvel Entertainment, where he wrote the unreleased pilot forNew Warriors, and then into a spot in the writer’s room for She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Now it seems Wells’ success has led him to a spot on one of Marvel Studios’ most anticipated upcoming theatrical releases.
According to Deadline, Wells has joined Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese as a contributor to the script of 2024’s untitled Deadpool threequel. While Marvel Studios has yet to comment on Wells‘ contribution to the script, it’s possible he was chosen due to his work on Marvel Comics’ A + X and Savage Wolverine. Wells has quickly become one of Marvel Studios’ most hired guns, having not only served as a writer on She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, but also as an executive producer as well as co-writing 2023’s theatrical release, The Marvels, as well as being the head writer for the upcoming animated series Marvel Zombies.
Quality over quantity has been the long-echoed outcry on the internet surrounding Marvel Studios’ direction during the pandemic. With up to four shows on top of three films, it seemed like they were hoping too put out as much as they could. There were hints that Bob Chapek‘s era has forced them to also enforce more Disney+ releases to promote the streaming service while also trying to adjust to something no one ever expected to delay their releases for two years.
Marvel Studios was playing catch-up but there was enough drama to overshadow the troubles most production companies are facing in the current timeline. CG over specific shots in a 2+ hour project were the signs of this development, and many discussions have surfaced online. Ironically, most of this discourse only really arrived during 2022 and has been hyper-fixated on in the current mythos.
That was until Bob Iger once again took over as Disney CEO and many new rumors have surfaced hinting at a new yet old direction. Ironically, the number of rumors of potential projects was one of the causes for concern, these new rumors are potentially doing the same thing. On The Hot Mic, Jeff Sneider has added more fuel to the fire of a more regulated output in the form of an exact project count moving forward.
Marvel’s target output has been reduced. I don’t know if this has been reported, or if this was a line in the trades, or whatever, but I’m told that the target output has been reduced from four shows and four movies a year to two shows and three movies a year. And of course that’s malleable. You could get one on either side of that, or whatever.
Jeff Sneider
Two series and three films a year seem to be the current direction for 2023. We just recently saw Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania release with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and The Marvels on the horizon. We also had the longest pause between series releases with Secret Invasion finally getting its June release and likely only the second season of Loki on the horizon. While some future schedules might hint at a different schedule, they have reshuffled their schedules quite a bit as of late.
It is kind of funny to think that this schedule matches what we had with the Netflix series and the Marvel movies, as we had two series and three films every year. Yet, we also had additional Marvel series like The Runaways, Agents of SHIELD, as well as Cloak and Dagger. 2018 to 2019 technically had more projects airing with a higher number of episodes compared to the “stuffed” 2022 but perhaps the Marvel studios branding is creating the illusion of such. Either way, the current rumor mill will likely have many happy to see the studio dial it down.
the final numbers are in and the Dungeons & Dragons film has barely missed out on the $40M mile but still pulled in an okay $38.5M. While it is higher than its initial predictions, which were set relatively low but not surprising given how sci-fi and fantasy struggle at the box office at times, it’s still going to face an uphill battle to make up for its high $150M budget. Internationally, the film has made around $71.5M with a softer $33M global cume.
The reviews and PostTrak score are hinting that the film might have a chance at some strong legs but with tough competition on the horizon, it’s anyone’s game at this point. Including a premiere at SXSW, the marketing spend on this film is quite high and it’ll definitely need those legs to keep going but The Super Mario Bros. Movie is already on the horizon next weekend. As both share a similar audience, this year might become quite the bloodbath at the box office.
John Wick Chapter 4 faced a surprising 62% drop to $28.2M after its record opening. Some thought it would drop lower with its strong word-of-mouth. “Blockbuster” releases have faced much higher drops since the pandemic started as people are much more selective in their viewing choices but this won’t stop John Wick’s latest adventure to become the highest-grossing of the franchise.
Recently a listing on Disney Plus indicated that Marvel Studios upcoming streaming series, Secret Invasion, was set for a June 21st debut. Shortly after word of the listing begin to circulate online, the listing and any reference to the streaming project was removed from the service. Now, ahead of a new trailer for the series, the release date has been confirmed by a new poster for the project.
Sporting the familiar “Who Do You Trust?” tagline from the comic book crossover event, the new poster features a fascinating image of Nick Fury’s face intercut with a Skrull…and a release date!As indicated by the recent D+ listing, Secret Invasion will kick off its 6-episode run on June 21st.
While it has plenty of shortcomings, Marvel Comics’ 2008 comic book crossover event, Secret Invasion, could never be accused of not going big. Writer Brian Michael Bendis shot for the stars throughout the eight-issue limited series at the center of the event that culminated in a pair of major battles in New York City and the Savage Land. Just about every Marvel character you’ve ever heard of–and a few you probably haven’t–showed up in the event at one point or another in an effort to stop the Skrulls from taking over Earth.
In September of 2020, Marvel Studios began development on their adaption of Secret Invasion. The streaming series, set to debut on Disney Plus in the Summer of 2023, does share something in common with the comic book event as a faction of Skrulls has infiltrated positions of power around the globe and now looks to take Earth as their new home planet. As has been the case in almost every instance, however, Marvel Studios seems to have taken very little other than the title from the comic book event in adapting the storyline to the MCU.
The Disney Plus streaming series will see Samuel L. Jackson‘s Nick Fury, along with Ben Mendelsohn‘s Talos, at the center of the action. On the other side, Kingsley Ben-Adir‘s Gravik and a faction of extremist Skrulls, including Emilia Clarke‘s G’iah–the daughter of Talos–who have waited too long for Fury to make good on his promise of finding them a homeworld and have decided to take matters, and the Earth, into their own hands. Fury hasn’t been around much since the events of Avengers: Endgame and according to Jackson, there’s a great reason for that. “Even Nick Fury can be shaken, you know?” explained the MCU’s elder statesman.
Ever since first appearing in the MCU’s first post-credit scene in 2008’s Iron Man, Fury has been the man with the plan: putting together the Avengers to protect the Earth. With the core of that team now gone, Fury’s just never been the same. So what’s he going to do when the Skrulls show their hand? “What he’s not doing is calling in his super friends,” explains Jackson. “So that’s part of the whole dilemma. I mean, people want them and he’s not bringing them.“
He’s up there trying to process what the fuck happened, you know? And what his place in the world is. The death of Iron Man, the death of Black Widow—with that stuff going on, he just kind of checked out.
Samuel L. Jackson on Nick Fury
And so Marvel Studios’ Secret Invasion will significantly deviate course from the comic book event which had those “super friends” exclusively at its center. In place of those costumed heroes, Fury’s support in the paranoia-laden spy thriller will come in the form of a handful of others who are used to playing in the shadows. “Part of the fun of basing an espionage thriller around Nick Fury is getting to see him put the band together,” said executive producer Jonathan Schwartz in an interview with Vanity Fair. But just who is that band?
Cobie Smulders and Martin Freeman return to assist Fury in their respective roles as Maria Hill and Everett Ross. “There’s nobody here who’s glossy and ready for action in a spandex one-piece,” joked Smulders. “I mean, my wardrobe alone has changed so much since the original film. I was in platform knee-high boots and a skintight leotard in the Avengers movie. And I’m in a straight-up jeans and tee in this one.“
Hill and Ross aren’t the only ones Fury will turn to for help, though they may be the ones he can trust the most. Don Cheadle‘s James Rhodes is back for another turn in the MCU, though this time it’s not as the armored hero War Machine. “This is a different kind of Rhodey—a political animal and not, you know, a guy who has a special suit,” Jackson says. “He’s the president’s right-hand man in this. So he’s the guy that makes a lot of decisions—some good, some bad.” Rounding out Fury’s network is Olivia Colman‘s Sony Falsworth, “a high-ranking agent in the British Intelligence Service who has a past with Nick Fury,” according to Schwartz, whose interests may or may not always be aligned with Fury’s.
While avid readers of the comics and Wikipedia may be expecting a big superhero slugfest in Marvel Studios Secret Invasion, it doesn’t seem to be in the cards. “This is a Marvel story where the humans can shine,” explained Smulders. “Even though there are aliens, and there’s going to be extraordinary fight sequences, this is about people on the ground talking to each other, and interviewing people, and really doing hands-on work to get the information needed.” While fans may have to adjust their expectations for the series, it sounds like Fury and crew will still deliver something special when Secret Invasion hits Disney Plus this Summer.
Marvel Studios: Legends was first announced in late 2020, ahead of the release of WandaVision on Disney+. The series was meant to act as a recap for first-time viewers and kicked off with episodes highlighting Wanda Maximoff and Vision. Episodes of the series were released all throughout Phase 4, highlighting notable events of the Infinity Saga and moments that defined who our beloved characters were.
Earlier this year, Season 2 of Legends was announced with the onset of Phase 5, starting with episodes featuring characters from the Ant-Man franchise. The next episodes coming to this series have now been confirmed, bringing the episode count to 9.
In an official “Next On Disney+ | April 2023” video by Disney+, it was confirmed that episodes 4-9 of Legends will release on April 28, one week before Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 hits theaters. Although the titles of the episodes haven’t been officially confirmed, the episodes will likely focus on Star-Lord, Rocket, Groot, Gamora, and Drax, the founding members of the Guardians.
The Guardians were previously featured in Legends episodes for The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special.
As of now, the following episodes of Marvel Studios: Legends are available to stream on Disney+:
Joaquin Phoenix‘s romp down the Shakespeare Avenue Stairs located in the Highbridge neighborhood of the Bronx in 2019’s Joker turned the location into a destination. Now referred to as “The Joker Stairs”, the 132 stairs have become a must-see landmark in the city for fans of the film. Director Todd Phillips remained fairly fond of them, too, as a new batch of set photos from the sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, indicates that the film will return to the iconic location.
As production has been ongoing in and around New York City, set photos have been fairly easy to come by, including a first look at star Lady Gaga in full Harley Quinn regalia. While she’s not decked out in one of Harley’s familiar outfits here, Lady Gaga‘s Harley is out for a stroll on the same stairs Arthur Fleck danced down in Joker.
Harley’s trek on the stairs certainly looks a little less joyful than Fleck’s gleeful descent. That’s all part of whatever director Todd Phillips, who can be seen chatting it up with LadyGaga, has in store for the character in this particular part of the sequel.
Joker: Folie à Deux will be released on October 4th, 2024 under DC Studios’ new Elseworlds banner, meaning the story told within the film will not be part of the continuity of the new DC Universe being established by DC Studios co-chairs James Gunn and Peter Safran. Set in the aftermath of the events of Joker, the sequel will see Brendan Gleeson and Catherine Keener join Lady Gaga as newcomers to the cast alongside returnees Phoenix and Zazie Beetz.
Advance ticket sales are one of the most interesting modern-day phenomena in the entertainment business. With so many theaters and so many screens in each theater dedicated to major releases, it’s increasingly rare for showings of those major releases to sell out. Given that opening weekend now essentially begins early Thursday afternoon in most places, there are dozens of opportunities to catch a tentpole release on opening weekend and, for those not living in major metropolitan areas, most of them can be done in relatively empty theaters. However, fans LOVE buying their tickets online as soon as possible and now Marvel Studios, via Fandango, has made it clear when tickets will be available for advance purchase for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Fans looking to book their trip to see James Gunn‘s final installment in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise can purchase tickets online beginning Monday, April 3rd. The announcement of the date came via a teaser for the film which included some brief snippets of new footage.
In Marvel Studios “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” our beloved band of misfits are looking a bit different these days. Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.
Official synopsis courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Publicity
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 hits theaters on May 5th!
Disney and Pixar groundbreaking work in animation will once again be on display in Elemental. Beginning with 1995’s Toy Story, the animators at Pixar have been innovators and problem solvers as they continue to create visually stunning films. Their 27th film, Elemental, is no different as the creators laid out a huge challenge for the animators: bring fire and water to life to create the film’s two main characters, Ember and Wade. The animators were asked to keep in mind that while they were working with something recognizable, they were also creating something that had never been seen before: “Ember is fire, she is not on fire. Wade is water. He’s not something that’s wet.”
Director Peter Sohn envisioned the characters and dreamt up the world they’d inhabit. At the global press junket for the upcoming film, Sohn explained some of the challenges the artists faced while trying to create characters who looked, behaved and reacted to situations in ways that are consistent with how fire and water would.
The main challenge of fire honestly was, could we get something balanced that could be appealing and still exploit the element? That was the main challenge. We had tried fire that was really realistic, I know you guys saw a part of the presentation. That was just a tip of the iceberg of the reference, meaning we tried real, like realistic eyes. We tried, you know, we tried all sorts of things and they looked terrifying. I wish you could see more of it. We could make a good horror movie from that footage, honestly. But then there were 2D versions of Ember that were much more flatter.
As you might imagine, a task of this magnitude, even for some of the world’s greatest animators, wasn’t done in a day. As Sohn explained, it took time for the artists to find the right “balance” for the character of Ember.
And every time we saw the movements, you didn’t feel like it could touch anything or burn anything or it didn’t feel hot, you know, like where it was emanating, you know, the heat. But some of our artists found this balance between the two that I’m very proud of what they had accomplished to get to that, absolutely. That was a really hard challenge and I thought they found a great balance.
Peter Sohn
As tough as Ember was, it turns out Wade was even tougher. “He was just so unmanageableand he looked so weird all the time,” explained Sohn. “I just kept pushing the water, and I went over the line just ’cause I couldn’t see, but the way he moved played into that. He so easily could turn into Jell-O just by slowing some of the ripples down a little bit, or how fast he could turn into a ‘Soul’ character if the ripples didn’t appear. There were just so many avenues that he could shift into very quickly and that would surprise all of us.”
Ultimately, as production designer Don Shank–whose work with Pixar dates back to 2004’s Incredibles–explained, the animators’ “design ideas inspired new technology, which inspired new design” creating one of Pixar’s most beautiful films to date. You can check out the fantastic work done by the artists at Pixar when Elemental hits theaters June 16th.
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