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  • Now-Deleted Tweet May Have Confirmed ‘The Sandman’ Season 2 Renewal

    Now-Deleted Tweet May Have Confirmed ‘The Sandman’ Season 2 Renewal

    Netflix isn’t the safest streaming service nowadays, as we’ve long waited for any news on the renewal of The Sandman. The series saw one of the biggest growths from its initial viewing over time, and it made many wonders how it hasn’t been given a second season yet. As it turns out, a now-deleted tweet by DC Comics revealed that Netflix’s adaptation of The Sandman was renewed for more episodes.

    While DC has taken the tweet down, @OneTakeNews luckily has managed to save it and shared it on Twitter. As of now, it’s unclear why it was deleted, but there’s a chance that perhaps it went online too early as tweets are commonly scheduled in advance. Of course, there’s also the chance it was prepared just in case of a renewal and wasn’t meant to go online.

    Whatever may be the reason, it definitely feels right that there’s a second season of this Netflix series. The visual may have also been used to hint at the renewal but we’re going to have to anxiously wait a bit longer until the official announcement drops. So, here’s hoping it just leaked a little early and we can expect an announcement in the near future.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Wakanda Forever’ Producer on the Sequel’s Place on the MCU Timeline

    ‘Wakanda Forever’ Producer on the Sequel’s Place on the MCU Timeline

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s place in the chronology of the MCU has become the subject of a debate on social media lately. Marvel Studios has quite a job to do in keeping a tidy timeline, especially following the 5-year time jump of Avengers: Endgame which makes the MCU’s “present day” sometime in the year 2025. Some people believe that the film takes place in between the events of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame while others are convinced it’s not quite so easy to determine when it takes place. Fortunately, Cinema Blend asked Marvel Studios’ Parliament member and Wakanda Forever Executive Producer, Nate Moore, for some clarification.

    While hesitant to put a time stamp on it, Moore did place it chronologically amidst other films.

    This movie clearly happens after No Way Home and Eternals. I think it probably happens potentially concurrent with [Thor: Love and Thunder]. New Asgard does exist in our universe, for instance, or in our film. And almost concurrent with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which is coming out in February.

    Nate Moore

    Realistically, and in terms of understanding where the sequel fits in the timeline of the connected universe, Moore’s answer gives the only information fans really need. The film, which serves as the capstone to Marvel Studios’ Phase 4, takes place in the “present” of the MCU, making it part of the Multiverse Saga, unlike Black Widow which was clearly placed in the Infinity Saga between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War.

    Fans can do more work on giving it a proper time stamp when Black Panther: Wakanda Forever hits theaters on November 11th.

  • REVIEW: ‘Cowboy Bebop: Supernova Swing’ is a Great Read

    Fans — or at least, some of them –were disappointed when Netflix decided to cancel its live-action Cowboy Bebop series starring John Cho. However, those eager for more Cowboy Bebop will find solace in an accompanying side story coming this November titled Cowboy Bebop: Supernova Swing. Set in the year 2171, this story brings together the Bebop crew to hunt down an ex-gang member who has stolen a vest that gives its wearer unparallel powers. This isn’t an altruistic hunt, mind you: Spike, Faye, and Jet are down on their luck and need both a win and a way to be financially stable for a while, and the original owner of the vest has put a bounty on it that would give them both. However, they are not the only ones after the vest, as the Syndicate is also looking for it. 

    Think of the story as a play on Jason & The Argonauts, and the hunt for the almighty fleece in that story and you have the proverbial skeleton. However, this story is told with that classic Bebop flair. There is a casino heist that does not go the way the group hopes it will, and leads them to a planet that intoxicated the whole crew. This setting gives us more of an opportunity to see how drunken thoughts reveal sober truths for Jet and Faye, and how these three ultimately need each other for more than just good times. The artwork is what you have come to expect from Cowboy Bebop, but it is really the story that brings you in and hooks you from the beginning. Dan Watters, in a way that maybe the Netflix series didn’t get a chance to, captures the tone of the Bebop universe and its need to be multi-layered perfectly. This story goes from emotional (these are three characters thrown together not because they wanted to, but almost out of necessity) to funny (there’s a ramen exchange that works really well) to philosophical (the three characters often find themselves asking each other about the meaning of life in ways that are not often found in these mediums). The humor allows us to breathe during the more emotional beats, and the art helps but does not overwhelm this story.

    Speaking of the art, Lamar Mathurin deserves a shout-out because Cowboy Bebop is not Gumbo (Mathurin’s graphic novel). As such, he is the one tasked with adapting his style to an already existing world, and he knocks it out of the park. Having to juggle so many different settings, stylistically, could have been a challenge for any other artist, but not here. The action itself, had it not been curated properly, could have looked awful on the page, but Mathurin displays both reverence for these characters and a desire to showcase them with his own style.

    If you loved the Netflix series, then you will absolutely love this and the other standalone novels that have been released. If you have been on the fence about giving Cowboy Bebop a shot, this is a quick read that could be a good springboard for you because it doesn’t require past knowledge of the characters. It, also, gives you everything the series gave you in a much more consumable medium, which may whet your appetite to try the series. Watters and Mathurin deserve so much credit for their great work here and for their love of this universe. 

  • ‘A Christmas Story Christmas’ Sees Ralphie Become the Head of the Parker Household

    ‘A Christmas Story Christmas’ Sees Ralphie Become the Head of the Parker Household

    1983’s A Christmas Story has stood the test of time as a quotable Christmas classic that finds itself on the yearly watchlists of many. The story of Ralphie Parker provides the right mix of laughter and holiday spirit that combine to make a beloved film. So why did it take nearly 40 years for a sequel, A Christmas Story Christmas, to be made?

    According to Peter Billingsley, who returns to the role of Ralphie in the upcoming HBO Max film, time just got away from everyone involved, but that might have been just what needed to happen to make A Christmas Story Christmas work.


    There was a lot of conversation about doing a sequel much closer to when the original film came out in 1983. And then, of course, in the early ‘90s… Eventually, it seemed like a distant memory, like we’d never be able to do it. But here we are, Ralphie is all grown up, he has his own family, and it’s an opportunity to really take what was so great from the first one and bring so much of that magic back but with a whole new perspective. You see what his dreams are, where his life is now, who his family is. In some ways, waiting this long makes it all the more special because there were so many new characters that we could bring in, and so many of the old fan favorites that we got to explore as well. Always in the back of my mind I’d hoped that this day would come.

    Peter Billingsley

    The sequel, which Billingsley produced and co-wrote, finds a grown-up Ralphie the head of the Parker household following the death of his father. His goal in the film is simple: provide a wonderful Christmas experience for his kids; however, the Parker family isn’t particularly well-known for things going smoothly. Part of the problem, according to writer and executive producer Nick Schenk, is that Ralphie is still, in a lot of ways, that little kid with the wild imagination that audiences met in A Christmas Story.

    Ralphie, though, is like a lot of people who are not ready to grow up. I think secretly, that’s the most scary thing a lot of people have to deal with, when you become fully adult. Ralphie’s faced with taking on the mantle, really, and he really isn’t prepared for that. In a lot of ways, like a lot of us, at heart he’s still a kid.

    Nick Schenk

    How will Ralphie handle the new role? What other characters, old and new, will be around to complicate things for him? Find out when A Christmas Story Christmas will debut on HBO Max on November 17th.

  • Live-Action ‘One Piece’ Series Adds a Key Arlong Park Character

    Live-Action ‘One Piece’ Series Adds a Key Arlong Park Character

    Those excited about the first live-action adaptation of Eiichiro Oda‘s One Piece have been facing quite a dry spell since production wrapped up some time ago. We still have no exact release date for the project or any hint on when we might expect the promotion to start. Tudum sadly didn’t offer any real updates and it seems we might have to wait until next year for any official update.

    Luckily, some actors have taken to their official CVs to update them with their newly acquired roles that have offered some minor castings during our wait. Now, another has been spotted by @OP_Netflix_Fan as Rory Acton Burnell has revealed he is taking on the role of Captain Nezumi. For those that might not know the character, he is a Marine that has a minor but relevant role in the events of the Arlong Park arc.

    There is some surprise to this casting, as there was the opportunity that they’d potentially merge characters for a more consistent storyline throughout the East Blue saga. Most of the storylines don’t directly connect, and it seemed like a great opportunity to have elements from others potentially tie into the events of others. We ourselves theorized that perhaps Nezumi might get skipped for Captain Morgen, but it seems we were off if they still have a role in the story. We still have to see if any official announcements may offer more insight into how they tackle the project.

    Source: ERMStars

  • Russo Brothers Tease When You Could Expect a Marvel Return

    Russo Brothers Tease When You Could Expect a Marvel Return

    Joe and Anthony Russo made quite their mark on the filming market by not only directing two great additions to the Captain America franchise but also directing two of Marvel Studios’ highest-grossing films Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers. Endgame. When rumors of what may be the next addition to the franchise might be, many threw their names back into the hat. They even teased how they would tackle an adaptation of Secret Wars throughout various interviews promoting films from their newly established AGBO production studio.

    While Shang-Chi director Daniel Destin Cretton took over the first of the Multiverse Saga’s Avengers entries, many thought there is still a chance for them to tackle the finale which is Avengers: Secret Wars. So far, Marvel Studios has yet to announce a director to tackle the project but it seems we should definitely not expect the Russo Brothers to tackle the project according to Joe Russo in an interview with Variety.

    We won’t be ready to do anything with Marvel until the end of the decade.

    Joe Russo

    It’s no surprise that they won’t have any time until later in the decade, especially with their many deals with Amazon and Netflix currently moving forward in full force. Marvel Studios ended up giving them the opportunity to establish their name in the industry and push forward on their own passion projects. Of course, there’s also always the question of finding the right project that would catch their interest, and perhaps something pops up throughout the coming years that pulls them in eventually.

    Source: Variety

  • REVIEW: ‘Andor’ Episode 9

    REVIEW: ‘Andor’ Episode 9

    Andor, a series built on mini-arcs, is in the midst of an arc that paints a bleak picture for the characters who have put themselves in the crosshairs of the Empire. Whether it’s Bix being tortured by the all-too-eager Doctor Gorst, Mon’s voice being ignored in the Senate or Cassian continuing along as a cog in the Imperial machine, Episode 9, “Nobody’s Listening” exists to show the extent of the Empire’s scope and power and contrast it against the Rebellion. Though Meero hasn’t caught the big fish she’s hoping to snag in her net, the fact that she and the Empire can do their work openly and without recourse, while the Rebellion has to strike from the shadows, serves to remind the audience that the galaxy is still a long way from openly embracing the Rebels. However, the events, which take place five years before the Battle of Yavin see in Star Wars: Episode IV-A New Hope, also work to show exactly why the Rebellion eventually grew into what audiences know it to be. In this way, Andor continues to be a prequel story worth telling and one that future generations of Star Wars fans will come to view as an essential piece of the overall story of the galaxy far, far away.

    The centerpiece of this arc, of course, is the very THX 1138-inspired prison where Cassian spends his days avoiding electrocution while serving as an Imperial laborer. While most of the prisoners seemed resigned to their fates, as best personified by Andy Serkis‘ Kino Loy, Cassian has recruited at least one fellow prisoner in an escape plan that, to put it nicely, is in its infancy. Despite his efforts to recruit Loy to assist in his efforts to escape, Cassian finds himself unable to break Loy free from the fear that the Empire is listening in on their conversations. Cassian’s tense conversation with Loy in their sleeping quarters is reminiscent of his conversation with Luthen Rael earlier in the series: the Empire isn’t listening because they don’t have to. They’ve come to believe themselves to be so omnipresent and omnipotent that they can simply rule through fear and intimidation. Meero is the face of that in Episode 9, though Cassian’s time in the prison only serves as an ironic display of the fact that the Empire has grown so large that they aren’t even aware that the person they’re searching for is already being held in one of their prisons. As Meero and the ISB scour the galaxy and leave behind a trail of dead and broken bodies, the man they’re attempting to catch is plotting his escape from them.

    With that in mind, it seems that the incident on Level 2 serves as the pivot point of the episode (and potentially the entire prison arc) as it is likely to ultimately lead to Meero and the ISB learning they already had Cassian in their grasp. The mass murder of the prisoners is sure to be a breaking point for Loy, but it also works as an example of exactly the type of behavior Rael hoped the Aldhani heist would provoke out of the Empire. The Empire’s dedication to swift and terrible retribution can’t be overlooked, even within the walls of a prison. Imagine the response if word were to get out…

    “Nobody’s Listening” stands as an incredibly strong episode because it allows the audience to feel the enormity of everything that has come before and what feels like is about to come next. Andor, both the character and the series, seems poised on a precipice that promises to lead to an exciting downhill ride over the next three episodes of the series. That’s built on season-long character development and intricate attention to detail in slowly tying together season-long plot threads. Once again, Andor proves that taking time to tell a story can be a brilliant choice as long as it’s a story worth telling.

  • ‘She-Hulk’ Concept Art Reveals Unused Daredevil Villain

    ‘She-Hulk’ Concept Art Reveals Unused Daredevil Villain

    If there was one thing She-Hulk: Attorney at Law had plenty of, it was low-tier foes for the titular hero to face. Almost weekly, fans were introduced to new, second-rate baddies from the Marvel universe, whether they be in the courtroom or making ill-advised decisions in the streets. In fact, there were so many ridiculous characters, it almost seemed like nothing the writers pitched ever hit the cutting room floor. Unfortunately, that is not true. It would seem that at least one minor villain actually failed to make the grade, and was removed from the show prior to filming.

    Concept artist Wesley Burt, who did a lot of the early design work on the series, took to Instagram to reveal a classic Daredevil villain was, at one point, supposed to make an appearance in She-Hulk. Carl Burbank, better known as Bushwacker, is a mercenary and longtime enemy of the Man Without Fear. Formerly a priest, he abandoned his vows after a string of deaths in his parish, and instead became a paid killer for the CIA. He was outfitted with weaponized, cybernetic arms, which he eventually used to get jobs from bigger baddies like Kingpin and The Hood.

    Burt claims that Bushwacker would have appeared in an early episode of She-Hulk, though it’s unclear where he would have fit in. Based in the show’s track record, it’s likely the character would have had a small, comedic role. Burt essentially confirms this when he says the mercenary would have struggled to change out and load his “robohands” during his time on screen. Either way, it would have been cool to see such a deep-cut Marvel villain in live-action. Perhaps Marvel Studios will find somewhere else to use Bushwacker soon.

    Source: Instagram

  • ‘Wakanda Forever’ Producer Reveals ‘Ironheart’s Place on the MCU Timeline

    ‘Wakanda Forever’ Producer Reveals ‘Ironheart’s Place on the MCU Timeline

    There have been many questions surrounding when exactly the upcoming Ironheart series takes place. Not only is Dominique Thorne going to be introduced in the upcoming Black Panther sequel, Wakanda Forever but set photos from the Disney+ spinoff hinted at some new armors she is working on. With no sighting of the one that was recently leaked through tie-in merchandise, it seemed odd that Riri Williams wouldn’t use it in her own series.

    Well, luckily producer Nate Moore who worked on Black Panther Wakanda Forever offered some insight into the series and its place on the ever-growing Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline. While we don’t yet know exactly when the sequel takes place, it looks like the Disney+ series is a direct continuation rather than a prequel.

    Riri is carrying the experience that she had in this movie back home to MIT & there’s some interesting repercussions to her adventures that will set her on a fun course.

    Nate Moore

    It’s definitely a curious direction and it does make sense that they’d want to continue her storyline. Plus, the experience of working with the Wakandans could become a helpful tool when she is faced with a new challenge in the form of magic. Many set photos and the confirmation of The Hood as an antagonist do give credence to her taking on a new kind of challenge. Perhaps the new suits we see are prototypes to take on this new threat. Of course, the power source required to run her finalized Ironheart armor may also need some rework which leads to her experimenting. Whatever the direction may be, it remains promising to see what the future of the MCU has in store.

    Source: YouTube via Twitter

  • ‘Ironheart’ Set Photo Seemingly Confirms ‘Doctor Strange’ Comics Character

    ‘Ironheart’ Set Photo Seemingly Confirms ‘Doctor Strange’ Comics Character


    A recent rumor hinted that actress Regan Aliyah is set to bring Zelma Stanton—a Doctor Strange ally and apprentice—to live action in Ironheart. A new set photo that has emerged from the series seems to support that Zelma will make an appearance.

    In the photo, a sign for a bookstore reads, “Stanton’s Sweets, Reads, & More.” In the comics, Zelma initially joined the sorcery world as Doctor Strange’s librarian, so the fact that the character is linked to a bookstore signals that the character may be introduced in her early stages as the Sorcerer Supreme’s ally.

    Zelma is a relatively new character to the comics anyway, first appearing in 2015 in Jason Aaron’s Doctor Strange run. After being helped by the sorcerer, Zelma becomes the librarian for the Sanctum Santorum. After several adventures in this capacity, she decides to practice magic as Strange’s apprentice. The series already features The Hood as the main antagonist, and Sacha Baron Cohen is heavily rumored to play Mephisto in the series, so having another magic-related character in Ironheart further fuels the technology versus magic theme or plot for the series.

    Check out the set photo below:

    Ironheart is set to stream on Disney Plus in the Fall of 2023.