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  • Fantastic Four and Blade May not Appear in ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’

    Fantastic Four and Blade May not Appear in ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’

    With every Avengers movie, it becomes a big question of who we might see take on a major role in the project. Throughout the last three phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it was easy to follow the main cast that’ll appear in these films but as the franchise continues to grow, there are many more opportunities to see some new familiar faces.

    Many are excited about the prospects of their favorite characters having a major role in an Avengers film, especially with the more diverse offerings with Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, Kate Bishop, Spider-Man, and many more. We also have the upcoming new additions of Blade and the long-awaited Fantastic Four, though it seems that they may not have a role in the next Avengers film, The Kang Dynasty.

    In an interview with Gizmodo, Jeff Loveness revealed that he’s hard at work on The Kang Dynasty and is seemingly actively trying not to have any of the other projects shape his work in some way. As such, he hints that he’ll “probably not even” include the Fantastic Four or Blade in the upcoming Avengers sequel.

    But much like when I took on this Ant-Man job, I can’t really focus on that outside stuff. I have just got to lay down the bones of a good story, hopefully, and find the characters that I want to tell [it]. And then it becomes a game of ping pong with the other people. Like whoever comes on and does Fantastic Four or Blade or—I’m probably not even using those characters, you know—but it all informs itself. And so, you just keep an ear open if [someone says], “Hey, if Blade wants to jump in, go for it, man.” But it’s up to me to focus on my movie and, you know, work with [Michael] Waldron a little bit on his thing to make sure it all kind of makes sense. But I think the second you start looking at the 25 other movies coming out, you get a little lost in the sauce.

    Jeff Loveness

    He does keep the door open and who knows if Marvel Studios might consider some rewrites from Avengers veterans to help find the balance between the various crossovers. Still, it’s great that Loveness stands by his approach to creating a singular story which he also highlighted for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. While it didn’t get the reception as hoped, it still shows he just loves telling a good story.

    Source: Gizmodo

  • HBO Max’s ‘Dune’ Spinoff Falling Apart as Director and Star Exit

    HBO Max’s ‘Dune’ Spinoff Falling Apart as Director and Star Exit

    It’s not Dune yet but the upcoming spinoff Dune: The Sisterhood is facing quite some production troubles. It started production back in November but has gone through quite the creative shift that is definitely going to end up pricey for HBO Max. Chernobyl‘s Johan Reenck has seemingly left the project, as he was set to direct the first two episodes. Production has been put on hold but this also lead to one of its leads, Shirley Henderson, leaving the project as well.

    Henderson was set to play Tula Harkonnen, who is currently being recast. That isn’t all, as this news comes just as co-showrunner and pilot scribe Diane Ademu-John has also stepped down. Now, Alison Schapker is the sole showrunner for the project spearheaded by Legendary productions. An HBO Max spokesperson had the following to say:

    As Dune: The Sisterhood (wt) has entered a pre-scheduled hiatus, there are some creative changes being made to the production in an effort to create the best series possible and stay true to the source material. Johan Renck has completed his work on the series and a new director will be brought on; through mutual agreement, Johan is moving on to pursue other projects. Additionally, Shirley Henderson will be exiting the series and will no longer be playing Tula Harkonnen.

    It seems the showrunner change put a lot of pressure on Schapker, which led to major rewrites as the series was starting production in Budapest. It also seems the director Renck‘s more “auteur” approach wasn’t quite coming together with the vision of the series and was moving too far away from Denis Villeneuve‘s film. As of now, there’s no word if they’ll even use any of the footage he filmed or reshoot the entire thing.

    At the moment, there’s no clear indicator of if the current hiatus was planned or not. Some believe it was always meant to pause during the winter months while others hint it may have been pushed back by seven months to rework the entire series and find a new director. Henderson leaving is also unclear at the moment but it seems her schedule was one of the reasons that she had to leave.

    Source: Deadline

  • REVIEW: ‘The Mandalorian’ Reminds Us What’s Out There in the Galaxy Far, Far Away

    REVIEW: ‘The Mandalorian’ Reminds Us What’s Out There in the Galaxy Far, Far Away

    The Mandalorian has never been in hurry. For the most part, concerns about the pacing of the series have died down a bit over the years as fans seem to be able to accept it for what it is. Part of that acceptance has likely come from the fact that “filler episodes” have often turned out to be more than filler an episode or two down the road. With Chapter 17 of the series, The Apostate, it seems as though Jon Favreau and Rick Famuyia chose to kick off the third season of The Mandalorian with what feels like a “filler episode” but also feels like something a bit more.

    From start to finish The Apostate seems hellbent on reminding us (both directly and indirectly) of what’s out there in the vastness of the galaxy. The Watch. Greef Karga. Kowakian monkey-lizards. Pirates. IG-11. A host of Anzellans. Bo-Katan. We’ve seen it all before; however, as they hopscotched around the galaxy and caught up with familiar faces from their own story, Din Djarin and Grogu’s adventures almost certainly led fans astray on more than one occasion. As they journeyed through hyperspace Grogu’s first encounter with Purrgil reminded Star Wars fans that there are other stories left to be finished in the Filoni-verse. And certainly, no Star Wars fan worth their weight in credits didn’t wonder for a beat or two when Hondo was going to walk around the corner during the dispute on Nevarro. The decision to intentionally and indirectly bring Ezra Bridger’s ongoing narrative to mind in the season opener of The Mandalorian seems a fairly clear indicator of just how central the series is to the New Republic universe that Favreau and Dave Filoni are building but it also makes the galaxy far, far away feel a bit smaller than it probably should, even if for only a few moments.

    So while it’s a little awkward to kick off a fresh new season in first gear–indeed neither The Mando nor Grogu was much changed by the events of The Apostate–and fans of the series probably feel a bit indifferent about bits and pieces of the episode (did we really really need an update on Cara Dune?), the episode does provide plenty of opportunity for contemplation about just how important the story of Din Djarin and Grogu truly is in this New Republic Era. In fact, the episode is filled with an almost overwhelming amount of small and important details buried in exposition. So while The Apostate feels familiar and sluggish as it retreads old ground, it seems to be laying the foundation for an entire suite of New Republic adventures coming to Disney Plus this year. And, if past precedent for the series is to be followed, Chapter 18 will turn on the jets anyway.

  • REVIEW: ‘The Bad Batch’ Go Where No One Will Hear Them Scream

    REVIEW: ‘The Bad Batch’ Go Where No One Will Hear Them Scream

    Star Wars: The Bad Batch, as a concept, has so much potential. The context surrounding its titular team, as well as its placement on the galactic timeline, makes the animated series ripe for a mix of cerebral storytelling and unique action scenes. Perhaps this is why it’s so frustrating that the show constantly ignores its best attributes for the sake of forgettable plotlines and run-around episodes, and more importantly, why it feels so good when an episode actually does something interesting. Thankfully, this week’s entry is among the latter. Titled Metamorphosis, the latest chapter in The Bad Batch saga combines serious political intrigue with an exhilarating play on genre to craft a narrative that’s both entertaining to watch and momentous in the grand scheme of the series.

    In Metamorphosis, Dee Bradley Baker‘s Hunter and his tactile band of misfits investigate the mysterious wreckage of an Imperial cargo ship, only to find that what lies inside might have been best left undiscovered. The first half of the episode, especially its opening moments, is maybe the most horrifying Star Wars has been in recent memory. From the beginning sequence, which highlights a lone Imperial Commando desperately fleeing from an unseen terror through dark and silent hallways, Metamorphosis promises to be different from what viewers have grown accustomed to seeing. Most of what follows falls more in line with a suspenseful science-fiction thriller, specifically in the vein of Ridley Scott’s Alien than the protagonists’ usual cookie-cutter escapades. The gimmick, though sadly short-lived, works completely for the time it’s on screen.

    (L-R): Tech, Hunter, and Wrecker in a scene from “STAR WARS: THE BAD BATCH”, season 2 exclusively on Disney+. © 2023 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved.

    Star Wars is often its most fun when reviving, or replicating, the pulp of old-fashioned adventures. Watching a vintage space horror occur in the galaxy far, far away makes for a wildly enjoyable ten-to-fifteen minutes before the episode takes a surprising turn, shifting from one monster-based genre to another. Halfway through the runtime, the danger at hand is revealed to be a Zillo Beast, an evolving creature first introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. From there, Metamorphosis becomes a miniature kaiju film, with the Bad Batch chasing the larger-than-life organism across an otherworldly cityscape. The change in tone happens pretty organically, resulting in a delightful, pulse-pounding romp that pits the clones against an opponent they’ve never faced before. Especially striking in the climactic scenes is the show’s cinematography, its most consistent positive this season, vividly portraying the power of the beast against a sickly sky.

    The Zillo, however, is not the episode’s true villain. That honor belongs to Dr. Royce Hemlock, a fresh Imperial baddie hellbent on expanding Kaminoan cloning technology for the benefit of the Empire. Played to menacing perfection by the great Jimmi Simpson, Dr. Hemlock is exactly the type of antagonist The Bad Batch has needed. His existence, and ultimate plot to condense and control the galaxy’s cloning operations, immediately tie a loose narrative together and raises numerous thought-provoking questions for the Bad Batch and the show itself to answer going forward. Hopefully, the series doubles down on this seemingly new direction and follows up on it next week, instead of leaving it until the season finale.

  • REVIEW: ‘Daisy Jones & the Six’

    REVIEW: ‘Daisy Jones & the Six’

    Daisy Jones & the Six quickly took over the book charts when it was published in 2019. The story of a fictional rock & roll band and their ultimate demise is a fascinating concept and author Taylor Jenkins Reid managed to successfully hook readers with their story. Translating that story to another medium, such as television, was never going to be easy… but the Prime Video television adaptation is damn near perfect thanks in part to a stellar cast and stellar songs.

    Riley Keough stars as the titular Daisy Jones, a woman coming of age and trying to make her way in the music world. She works as a waitress and in her free time pens songs that she hopes to one day record. After having one of her songs stolen by a boyfriend, Daisy seeks to carve her own way out in the music world – not realizing just how quickly things will change, for better and worse. Starring alongside Keough’s Daisy is Billy Dunne, played by the always great Sam Claflin. He has Billy’s arrogance down to a tee; he’s stubborn, driven and easily gets wrapped up in the music. Like Daisy, Billy is driven to be bigger, to be more and live out his dreams of making music for a living. Something he eventually does with The Six. However, it isn’t until Daisy and Billy cross paths that their dreams truly take off and their worlds are changed forever.

    Taking place in the 70s, Daisy Jones and the Six showcases multiple viewpoints of characters trying to break into the music scene. There’s Daisy, who starts off as a singer-songwriter too afraid to put herself out there, and Simone, a woman with a voice who finds herself too scared to speak up for herself. Finally, there are The Dunne Brothers led by Billy. They start off playing in their garage before seeking to play local gigs where they eventually run into another band that’ll put The Dunne Brothers on the course for world domination… as The Six. Getting to watch as these three acts set out to follow their dreams, each taking a different path than the other, it’s hard not to get caught up in the story of Daisy Jones and the Six.

    One of the most fascinating things about Daisy Jones and the Six is that the series doesn’t try to make its characters likable. Daisy and Billy are both selfish assholes, and the series does not shy away from this; we see them as they battle addiction and as they struggle to work together. Even Simone, who is one of the strongest characters in the series, is allowed to make some mistakes along the way to her musical journey. None of the characters are perfect – in fact, the entirety of the Six is a pretty big mess – but that’s what helps to make the story so worth the ride it’ll bring audiences on. This is the type of the series that shouldn’t be binged. It’s full of heartache, anger, love and pain — which might sound bad — but in due time, we get to see these characters get to a healthier place… and the journey there is worth the time.

    Keough and Claflin are electric on screen. Their story, in particular, is frustrating, anger-inducing, and yet, one of the most compelling stories the series has to offer. Keough delivers a career best performance as Daisy, and Claflin gets to show off his chops as Billy. The often-overlooked Suki Waterhouse is great as Karen, and Nabiyah Be is captivating every moment she is on screen as Simone. While there might be some departures from the book, Daisy Jones and the Six successfully captures the heart of the novel and delivers a heck of a powerful story perfectly captured for the small screen.

  • ‘Shazam’ Director Teases More is Possible in James Gunn’s New DCU

    ‘Shazam’ Director Teases More is Possible in James Gunn’s New DCU

    The moment James Gunn showcased his new DC slate for the newly founded DC Studios, many expected the current run of DC-based characters to be ending their run. No one knows if Ezra Miller will return after The Flash, especially with all the drama surrounding his public actions. Dwayne Johnson‘s JSA-focused mini-cinematic universe is definitely out after the chaos that was Black Adam. Yet, we now stand at a curious crossroads where many are wondering if they should even check out the latest DC entry.

    Of course, it’s always good to support a film no matter if it’s part of some bigger plan or not. And, for those specifically uncertain about Shazam’s future in the newly founded DCU, director David F. Sandberg has confirmed that he’s already had talks internally in regards to the franchise’s future and there’s actively no reason that they couldn’t make more films. Well, only if no one ends up watching the film.

    https://twitter.com/ponysmasher/status/1630409449860141058

    The only thing potentially hurting Shazam! Fury of the Gods is that it seemingly is not getting any real marketing push from Warner Bros. and is projected to open to a soft $40M. That is a far cry from the first film’s release and it’s unclear if it truly is just the lack of promotion or also the sour taste left by the Black Adam fallout. There’s a chance with raving reviews that it builds up more momentum and could go beyond the soft opening expectations but the question is if it’ll end up turning a profit, especially if DC Studios sees potential in at least a third entry.

    Source: Twitter

  • REPORT: ‘Deadpool’s Karan Soni Voicing Spider-Man India in ‘Across the Spider-Verse’

    REPORT: ‘Deadpool’s Karan Soni Voicing Spider-Man India in ‘Across the Spider-Verse’

    It’s crazy to think how close we are finally to see the next animated entry in the Spider-Verse Saga. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse sees Miles Morales returning once again to take on an unlikely challenge, though this time he’s about to be thrust across the multiverse rather than it coming to visit him.

    We know of quite a few Spider-People that’ll accompany or even fight our unlikely hero with one of the first being the addition of Spider-Man India. Pavitr Prabhakar was one of the first teased when the first ever teaser for the sequel was released back in 2021. Though he wasn’t included directly in the trailer, the signs all hinted at his origin and that it was part of his universe.

    Now, we may even know who’ll be voicing the character, as One Take News has shared that Deadpool‘s Karan Soni will take on the voice of Spider-Man India. This marks another Marvel role for the character, as he famously played the loveable Dopinder, who ends up in quite a few troubles since he befriended Deadpool.

    He’s definitely a great choice for the role, as he has a soft demeanor that would match the character’s iconic comic portrayal. Though, we don’t know if he will be an ally for Miles Morales, who might help him navigate the relentless pursuit of Spider-Man 2099. We saw them fight in his universe, and he may have a bigger role than we know.

    Source: One Take News

  • Warner Bros Wants ‘The Lord of the Rings’ to be Like ‘Star Wars’

    Warner Bros Wants ‘The Lord of the Rings’ to be Like ‘Star Wars’

    In a surprising twist, Amazon’s Lord of the Rings series, Rings of Power, is about to get its biggest competition yet in Warner Bros. Discovery, as they purchased the rights to once again create films based around the iconic novels of J.R.R. Tolkien. While their future is uncertain about where they are going with this new take, it does seem they are once again being quite ambitious.

    According to insiders, it seems that Warner Bros. has high hopes to turn Lord of the Rings into their Star Wars. They seem to ambitiously want to explore stories that all take place in the same world that offer different glimpses of this sprawling fantasy world created decades ago. It’s an ambitious thought, though raises more questions on how exactly they hope to achieve it.

    Unlike Star Wars, they don’t have a galaxy worth of storytelling with a franchise that is steeped in a wide variety of genres. Marvel and DC at least have decades of history with a broad range of characters they can bring to the silver screen, yet Lord of the Rings is mostly famous for two distinct stories.

    So, it would be quite challenging for them to not only find a way to create unique stories that could carry a “Cinematic Universe” approach but also somehow keep this very traditional fantasy story fresh. Warner Bros. is definitely ambitious with this project, but it does raise some eyebrows on how exactly they hope to achieve this even if they bring back the original trilogy’s director, Peter Jackson.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • Latest ‘Persona 6’ Rumor Hints at a Potential Delay

    Latest ‘Persona 6’ Rumor Hints at a Potential Delay

    The hunt for any news regarding Persona 6 continues. After a rather disappointing Persona 25th Anniversary, Atlus has been coy about the future of the franchise. To be fari, we did get re-releases of their three most popular entries on all consoles, but it’s been strange not to end such a milestone with the next major installment even if it is years away. Ever since our Persona 6 news has mostly relied on online rumors.

    If there is one thing we know about the Internet, it is the fact that the rumor mill never truly rests. User “Im A Hero Too” has returned once again to ResetEra to unveil more on what may or may not be happening behind the scenes as we’re still missing out on any hints regarding the franchise’s future.

    In it, they reveal that Persona 6 has “absolute zero chance” to release in 2023, but does hint that they have a rough timeframe even if the project may have been delayed internally. The reasoning according to him is that they are focusing either to release the rumored Persona 3 Remake (also first unveiled by this user) or another game. Though he hints there’s a chance we’ll see a teaser at Sony’s next showcase, which might not be until this summer.

    Going by this timeline, we may have at least one potential Persona game releasing this year, but that might be a bit strange they’ll fast-track the remake of 3 given they just released a remaster of the PSP version. So, perhaps that won’t release until next year either, and who knows when Persona 6 may hit modern consoles. Though, we have to still take these statements with a grain of salt as neither project has officially been announced as of now. For now, it just looks like the wait for an official update may take quite a bit longer.

    Source: ResetEra via ComicBook

  • Warner Bros. Wants Peter Jackson Back for New ‘Lord of the Rings’ Films

    Warner Bros. Wants Peter Jackson Back for New ‘Lord of the Rings’ Films

    Every new franchise nowadays is more than just an ongoing series of films. We are long away from the days of trilogies or even long-running film series like Harry Potter. The Cinematic Universe is the template everyone aspires to be and that takes a visionary to push it forward. Warner Bros. already found their Kevin Feige in James Gunn and Peter Safran, but they have their eyes on another to revive their latest milestone franchise.

    Just after announcing to the world that they have acquired the rights to make Lord of the Rings films during the Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, insiders are hinting that they also already know who they want on board. After Amazon fumbled the bag, the production studio hopes to have Peter Jackson, the director of the original trilogy and The Hobbit trilogy, to bring this franchise back.

    Not just Jackson, but also his writing partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, who are “precious talent” for the studio. The biggest challenge ahead though is if this new film franchise can exist opposite the Amazon TV series, as they try to avoid them blurring the lines between these two takes on the same property. That will be quite tricky as they had the film’s original composer Howard Shore work on the main title.

    Amazon already has a 50-hour commitment to the series and is currently busy filming the second season. Showrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne are still working on the project that was supposedly one of Amazon’s biggest shows ever but was given a rather mixed reception by the Internet and critics. It is still surprising they never went for the film rights, especially with MGM Studio now being a part of their expanding media landscape.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter