While Sony’s handling of the Spider-Man IP has been quite questionable, they have their own strengths when contrasted with the streaming craze. Most big studios have been busy trying to build up their own competitor to establish themselves in the market. It’s not too surprising that Netflix would eventually have more competitors to contend with but there’s been anothger strategy that has become quite popular for some. Sony is leading the way by mostly handling its projects to other studios and has now seemingly added a new deal to its belt.
In a report by Deadline, Canadian streamer Crave has inked a long-term deal with Sony Pictures that they’d get the first window rights to their upcoming blockbuster films after their theatrical and home entertainment runs. As such, it would be the exclusive streaming home for upcoming releases like Insidious, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Madame Web, and more.
This deal also includes older projects and is committed to spotlighting the content with “elevated promotional campaigns, including in-product merchandising and experiential marketing initiatives.” It’s a big move for Crave to position themselves in the streaming market but does add more confusion on how exactly these deals affect the releases. Sony has also made deals with Netflix for first look and Disney+, which only recently got access to some of its missing Spider-Man films that were co-produced with Marvel Studios alongside their legacy collection. For now, we can only guess and have to keep an eye out how this might delay releases on other streaming platforms.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has seemingly been pushing them forward. Work has already started on the second season in the United Kingdom, as the franchise sadly is moving away from New Zealand. J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay continue their work on the series exploring the Second Age of Middle-Earth and have seemingly added eight more to its cast for the next season.
Deadline reports that The Rings of Power has added Oliver Alvin-Wilson, Stuart Bowman, Gavi Singh Chera, Kevin Eldon, William Chubb, Calam Lynch, Selina Lo, and Will Keen to its cast. They join the previously announced actors Sam Hazeldine, Yasen ‘Zates’ Atour, Ben daniels, Nia Towle, Nicholas Woodeson, Amelia Kenworthy, and Sam Hazeldine.
So far the only confirmed role is Hazeldine is taking over the role of Adar, the leader of the orcs in the second season. They also teased that one of the elfs that carries Celebrimbor’s three rings will be introduced in Season 2. As such, one of the newly announced actors is expected and we should also meet other ring-bearers in the next season. So, the time is right to guess which new addition could be taking on what role moving forward.
That deal with Intrepid Pictures has already come to fruition as it seems that Mike Flanagan and Trevor Macy, long-time Netflix producers, have already set their sight on a massive IP for Amazon Studios. According to a new report by Deadline, they are set to adapt Stephen King‘s iconic The Dark Tower book series. They already have set out their adaptation with five seasons that’ll then be followed by two stand-alone feature films. They also got their hands on the series before the Amazon deal, as revealed in an interview with Deadline.
You’re the first person we’re saying it to, but yes. Predating our deal with Amazon, we acquired the rights to The Dark Tower, which if you know anything about me, you know it has been my Holy Grail of a project for most of my life. We actually have those rights carved out of our Amazon deal, which doesn’t mean that they can’t or won’t get behind it at some point — you don’t know. But that’s something we’ve been developing ourselves and are really passionate about finally getting it up on its feet at some point.
Mike Falagan
Intrepid is mostly known for its work on horror projects, but this mammoth series has its many influences throughout its long run. It seems that Flanagan has already written the pilot and outlined The Dark Tower‘s development, which has been a dream project of his for quite some time. They aren’t strangers to King’s novels either after developing Gerald’s Game and the Shining sequel Doctor Sleep in the past, which Flanagan was heavily involved with.
The opening two episodes of Doom Patrol, “Doom Patrol” and “Butt Patrol”, show that the series is still the best comic book adaptation on television. Amidst the DC Entertainment turmoil, Doom Patrol is a strangely shining beacon of hope despite being wildly underrated and skewing away from the comfortable tone and subjects adopted by most other projects. Season 4 proves that there is simply something overwhelmingly unique about the HBO Max show.
After finally ending last season as the “Doom Patrol”, we briefly see the superhero team in some classic action. The time machine introduced in Season 3 could be a key player going forward—it is used to facilitate the hero antics, but it is clear after Episode 1 that it can have a much larger role. Time travel played a large role previously, and Episodes 1 and 2 leave it questionable whether Season 4 will expand or retract it. Considering the team is trying to prevent a future apocalypse, a lingering question about a person they collided with in the time stream, and a General Immortus prophecy tease, there is a strong chance Doom Patrol will be playing with time as much as it ever has.
HBO
Just as time never stops, there is a never-ending theme of doom in the series. Aside from, obviously, the title, the group is relentlessly in a state of “doomed.” Not only does this season appear to revolve around the Doom Patrol stopping an apocalypse they themselves caused, but the main characters have also already met their future dead and ghostly selves and have started to dig their own graves in the aftermath. The show is a lively spectator sport where the viewer is constantly rooting for the loser. But as much as we might think we want a win in Doom Patrol, does that feel natural?
It all naturally leads to a consideration of how Season 4 could fall short, and the answer is stagnation. The three preceding seasons all felt like they were building to a larger moment where the group of misfits become the titular Doom Patrol. They did, but we certainly do not spend much time in that mode. Instead, the group generally falls back into its dysfunctional family routine. This is the irreplaceable heart of the show, but one wonders if this season will show more movement—with the conclusion of Season 3, the forming of the Doom Patrol, and the slow buildup to an expected “superhero team show”, settling back into old territory might not be enough.
That being said, Doom Patrol is generally the antithesis of commonality or familiarity. The current story is certainly intriguing—and ties in previous hits from last season—but only time will tell if the show can for a fourth time bring fans to a place wildly outside of any comfort zone. Still, some of the foundations laid are stronger than others.
HBO
Jane’s story is perhaps the trickiest one to predict here. Historically, her inner workings have been an extraordinarily strong subplot throughout all seasons, but it seemed to come to a strong peak last season. Episode 2 suggests that this aspect could be winding down, but the lingering solo subplot of Jane unraveling the depths of hers and Kay’s psyches—regardless of its quality—is starting to feel tired.
In any event, the cast remains yards above their peers. Diane Guerrero seems impossible to beat, pulling off multiple characters effortlessly. April Bowlby and Michelle Gomez are once again humble pillars of the show, both on their own and as a duo. While Rita in particular has become the closest character there is to a lead, her and Madame Rouge’s dynamic feels both grounded in traditional storytelling technique and entirely refreshing. Jovian Wade’s Victor is in quite an interesting place as a character—Cyborg without any of the cyborg. So far, it seems like Season 4 is in no hurry to “correct” that aspect and Wade shows promise of a very strong and nuanced performance over the season. The Brendan Fraser-voiced Cliff has some of the most emotional scenes of the first two episodes, and he and fellow faceless Larry (voiced by Matt Bomer) always find their way to being some of the most emotive characters in the series.
In sum, the first two episodes of Doom Patrol’s Season 4 capitalize on all of the series’ wonderful elements that have propelled it in the past. So far, there is a seemingly extra-cohesive plot, which may help glue the season together better than some of those in the past that felt slipperier than perhaps ideal. Of course, the first episodes raise many questions about the plot, but the biggest question may be how far the series is willing to stretch its core concept of a misfit bunch of powered-up rejects toward what its title can represent.
While Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is still years away, the film is already starting to take shape through other projects. Obviously, Loki served to set the stage for the fifth Avengers film by introducing the concept of Variants, introducing He Who Remains and opening up the Multiverse. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness added the terrifying concept of Incursions to the mix and introduced a character (America Chavez) whose unique ability to traverse the Multiverse might be useful down the road. Up next is a film that even just a few months ago, relatively few people probably had on their radar as a major player in the Multiverse Saga: Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. The film will introduce a dangerous Variant of He Who Remains, Kang the Conqueror. This version of the character, who has been described as a warrior by both star Jonathan Majors and director Peyton Reed, is expected to be the big bad of 2025’s Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and will pose a threat not only to the heroes we know and love but also the entire Multiverse.
As the threat of Kang grows leading up to Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, one ongoing thread will likely be the idea that, at present, Earth does not have a collection of its Mightiest Heroes actively working together. In fact, Phase 4 made it pretty clear that they’re all off doing their own things. Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, in which the Avengers Compound was destroyed, there are plenty of heroes on Earth, including a lot of new ones, but so far they haven’t come face-to-face with a day unlike any other when they would find themselves united against a common threat. That day is coming, however, and when it does who will take the lead?
Thanks to a new rumor, MCU fans can have a little fun thinking things through while they wait. According to Heavy Spoilers, a trio of heroes will take the lead in what he referred to as the “first wave” of Avengers to take on Kang: Captain America, Shang-Chi and Shuri.
An interesting trio to be sure with two characters who are stepping into legacy roles and one who is both brand new and wielding a powerful set of weapons that some believe are directly tied to the Conqueror. The prevailing theory is that The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars will play much like Infinity War and Endgame and that Earth’s Mightiest Heroes will fall and then rally. Given the unique nature of Kang’s power (which you’ll see on display in Quantumania) and the possibility that he’ll have quite an army on his side (he’s been building one in the Quantum Realm), it seems pretty likely that these characters might not fare well against the Master of Men and might well be taken off the board for a bit before returning in Secret Wars.
Who else should be among the first wave of Avengers to take on Kang? Let us know your thoughts.
It appears Marvel’s Avengers video game experiment is coming to an end. Developed by Crystal Dynamics and published by Square Enix, Marvel’s Avengers was an ambitious attempt at launching Marvel’s biggest superhero brand in the digital marketplace. The game was first teased on YouTube in 2017, with several brief images of damaged Marvel iconography effectively tantalizing fans for years before an official reveal at E3 2019 finally detailed the plot. Set in a world where a tragic event disbanded the Avengers and put A.I.M. in power, the story follows Kamala Khan as she discovers her Inhuman powers and sets out to regroup Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Expansions have dropped consistently in the years since the game released in 2020, but according to a new report from industry insider Miller Ross, that will no longer be the case after 2023.
On behalf of eXputer, Ross has claimed that Marvel’s Avengers will “sunset” in the new year, with support for the game and new content slowly ceasing to exist as 2023 goes on. There are reportedly no plans for any further additions or DLC expansions in 2024. Servers would supposedly stay active after support ends, allowing players to continue accessing the massive multiplayer mode designed for the project and enjoying some play time for a long while to come. There are still several rumored characters that have yet to be added to the game, which could make for some entertaining final content in the next 365 days. Of course, none of this is officially confirmed by the developers, so take the information with a grain of salt. That being said, the original plan for the game was apparently a “3-5 year” lifespan, and a quiet death in 2023 would match this concept pretty well.
As the internet continues to debate whether Black Adam will be profitable for DC Studios and Warner Bros. Discovery, a new report suggests a sequel is off the cards. Earlier in the week, Variety reported that Black Adam was set to lose $100 million for Warner Bros. Discovery, after only pulling in $387 million worldwide. Leading man, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnsonwould later refute that report, suggesting the film would make a profit of $52 million-$75 million. Despite Johnson’s claims, though, it appears a sequel to the film is off the table.
In a new piece exploring the future of DC Studios, The Hollywood Reporter reveals that it is unlikely a sequel to Black Adam will be given a greenlight. The decision is based on the film’s overall performance. As THR notes, much like Variety did, the film had a hefty price tag – a reported $190 million, but some suggest it’s more like $230 million – and that’s without the cost of marketing. With those numbers, a worldwide haul of $387 million is unlikely to make the film profitable. It could break even with ancillary revenue, but the costs to produce a sequel even at that point seems too high.
Also unlikely is a sequel to Black Adam. Despite the hype surrounding the movie of launching a new corner of DC, a lot of it led by star Dwayne Johnson, the movie has only grossed $385 million worldwide and insiders at the studio say the movie, which cost more than $190 million to produce (two sources peg the actual cost at $230 million, not including marketing), will be lucky to break even, even considering ancillary revenue. Even if the movie does eke out a minimal profit, any follow-up’s inherent rising costs dim the prospect of a sequel.
The Hollywood Reporter
Black Adam is currently playing in theaters and will hit Blu-Ray and DVD at the end of the month.
Nothing quite like another Warner Bros. shocker to end a quiet night. The Hollywood Reporter’s latest news drop has revealed an absolute bombshell – Patty Jenkins‘ Wonder Woman 3 is not moving forward, and the DC Cinematic Universe established by Zack Snyder with 2013’s Man of Steel is likely over. If this wasn’t enough, THR also confirmed there are good odds the films released by the newly formed DC Studios over the next couple years will also be the last time fans see many of their favorite actors in their most iconic roles. This, according to the trade, would be true of even the heaviest DC hitters, including Jason Momoa as the undersea hero Arthur Curry, a.k.a. Aquaman.
Momoa has portrayed Aquaman in live action since 2016’s Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, reprising the role in both versions of Justice League, the 2018 solo project Aquaman, and its upcoming sequel, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. He also appeared as the character in a brief cameo for HBO Max’s series Peacemaker, alongside Ezra Miller‘s Flash. THR states Momoa is currently set to make another cameo in the long-gestating film The Flash next year, but that the inclusion of his scene -as well as the other DCEU cameos present in the movie – is in flux as the studio decides on the theatrical future of his fan-favorite superhero. There is reportedly a very real chance that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom marks Momoa‘s final time playing the titular protagonist, with an unexpected exit making room for a fresh take on the DC universe on film.
Curiously, however, THR makes the claim that a departure from playing Aquaman would not necessarily mean an end for Momoa‘s relationship with Warner Bros. and DC Studios. Many inside sources have tipped the trade off to the idea that Momoa may return to DC as a pivotal figure in the new regime, only this time, he’d be playing the intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo instead. A surprise turn as the foul-mouthed antihero has been teased by both new DC Studios co-head James Gunn and Momoa in the past, so in a way, it would be a long thought abandoned dream come true. Unfortunately, there are no solid answers at the moment. Only time will tell how the next DC Cinematic Universe pans out.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom hits theaters December 25th.
Avatar: The Way of Water is so close to theatrical release, audiences can almost taste it. When it finally drops, it will only be the second film in the Avatar franchise, but director James Cameron has much bigger plans than just two movies. The Hollywood legend has infamously spent the last decade of his career developing multiple sequels to his 2009 megahit, with the third entry reportedly already done with the filming process. Not to be contained, Cameron has stated he has outlines for an overall Avatar story that lasts up to seven or eight films, though whether or not he winds up helming all of them remains to be seen. Either way, in a recent interview with Collider, the creative made a big promise that each sequel will only be more insane than the last.
Cameron has a long history of not holding back in his work, as evidenced by his gutsy bet to fully film sequels to a project that has yet to even release. However, according to his conversation with Collider, the currently-untitled Avatar 4 may be his most “nuts” achievement yet. The Titanic filmmaker explained a hilarious behind-the-scenes scenario during the interview:
I can’t tell you the details, but all I can say is that when I turned in the script for 2, the studio gave me three pages of notes. And when I turned in the script for 3, they gave me a page of notes, so I was getting better. When I turned in the script for 4, the studio executive, creative executive over the films wrote me an email that said, ‘Holy f-ck.’ And I said, ‘Well, where are the notes?’ And she said, ‘Those are the notes.’ Because it kind of goes nuts in a good way, right?
James Cameron
There’s no telling what audiences might be in store for when Avatar 4 hits cinemas on December 18th, 2026, but they can get a better idea when Avatar: The Way of Water drops on December 16th (of this year).
Willem Dafoe has left the ocean, or something like that. According to a new report from industry insider KC Walsh, the fan-favorite actor will not appear in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, despite playing a major role in the previous film and cameoing alongside Jason Momoa‘s Arthur Curry in Zack Snyder’sJustice League. Dafoe portrayed Aquaman’s mentor Nuidis Vulko, a chief Atlantean scientist and one of the hero’s foremost supporting characters from the comics. The former Spider-Man star was widely expected to reprise the Vulko role in the sequel, but Walsh states the story has other plans.
***POTENTIAL SPOILERS***
In response to an inquisitive fan on Twitter, Walsh made the claim that the friendly father figure will not only be absent from the film but will be snuffed out of the franchise altogether. Vulko will, supposedly, be killed offscreen at some point during the movie, ending Dafoe‘s time in the DC cinematic universe and stripping Aquaman of his most-trusted confidant.
Dafoe‘s journey as Vulko has been a bit strange from the start. He was originally cast in the role by Snyder for Justice League but saw all his scenes cut from the theatrical release. He eventually debuted in Aquaman before having his initial Justice League restored in the highly-demanded Director’s Cut.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is set to be directed by James Wan, returning from the first film. Momoa will be back in the title role, with Patrick Wilson also returning as his formerly villainous half-brother Orm Marius. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Dolph Lundgren, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Kidman, Randall Park, and Amber Heard are all expected to make a comeback as part of the cast.
Source: Twitter
Cookie Consent
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site, you consent to cookies.
This website uses cookies
Websites store cookies to enhance functionality and personalise your experience. You can manage your preferences, but blocking some cookies may impact site performance and services.
Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website.
Name
Description
Duration
Cookie Preferences
This cookie is used to store the user's cookie consent preferences.
30 days
These cookies are needed for adding comments on this website.
Name
Description
Duration
comment_author_email
Used to track the user across multiple sessions.
Session
comment_author_url
Used to track the user across multiple sessions.
Session
comment_author
Used to track the user across multiple sessions.
Session
Statistics cookies collect information anonymously. This information helps us understand how visitors use our website.
Google Analytics is a powerful tool that tracks and analyzes website traffic for informed marketing decisions.
Contains information related to marketing campaigns of the user. These are shared with Google AdWords / Google Ads when the Google Ads and Google Analytics accounts are linked together.
90 days
__utma
ID used to identify users and sessions
2 years after last activity
__utmt
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests
10 minutes
__utmb
Used to distinguish new sessions and visits. This cookie is set when the GA.js javascript library is loaded and there is no existing __utmb cookie. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
30 minutes after last activity
__utmc
Used only with old Urchin versions of Google Analytics and not with GA.js. Was used to distinguish between new sessions and visits at the end of a session.
End of session (browser)
__utmz
Contains information about the traffic source or campaign that directed user to the website. The cookie is set when the GA.js javascript is loaded and updated when data is sent to the Google Anaytics server
6 months after last activity
__utmv
Contains custom information set by the web developer via the _setCustomVar method in Google Analytics. This cookie is updated every time new data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
2 years after last activity
__utmx
Used to determine whether a user is included in an A / B or Multivariate test.
18 months
_ga
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gali
Used by Google Analytics to determine which links on a page are being clicked
30 seconds
_ga_
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gid
ID used to identify users for 24 hours after last activity
24 hours
_gat
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests when using Google Tag Manager
1 minute
Marketing cookies are used to follow visitors to websites. The intention is to show ads that are relevant and engaging to the individual user.
Pinterest Tag is a web analytics service that tracks and reports website traffic.
