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  • Amber Midthunder is Ready to Join the Marvel Cinematic Universe

    Amber Midthunder is Ready to Join the Marvel Cinematic Universe

    After starring in the Predator prequel this summer, actress Amber Midthunder is already looking ahead to her future. The actress was in attendance at the Newport Beach Film Fest and spoke briefly with the folks at Variety. Midthunder was asked if there was a franchise she would love to be a part of, or if there was something she’d dreamed of doing.

    She responded by expressing her enjoyment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, especially the Avengers films, as well as Fox’s X-Men films. Interestingly enough, though, Midthunder opted to play coy regarding which character she could potentially play.

    I’m definitely a big MCU fan. I’ve always loved the X-Men movies, all the Avengers movies. I’ve always been a big fan of the MCU. We’ll talk about [who I could play] later.

    Midthunder

    If Midthunder were to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it is of note that this wouldn’t be her first time starring in a Marvel project. Midthunder previously appeared in the FX series, Legion, as Kerry Loudermilk. Other credits to her name include the CW’s Roswell, New Mexico, Banshee and Longmire. Following her work on Hulu’s Prey, Midthunder is next set to appear in Netflix’s live action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

    Source: Variety.

  • Comcast Has Pulled the Plug on G4

    Comcast Has Pulled the Plug on G4

    Comcast has decided to pull the plug on G4. The news comes after the network sought to make a comeback last year. News of G4’s planned revival was first announced at 2020’s virtual San Diego Comic-Con. G4 managed to become a huge part of gaming culture in the 2000s but was ultimately shut down in 2014.

    Those employed at G4 were informed of Comcast’s decision in a memo sent out by Spectacor CEO Dave Scott. The CEO explained that, unfortunately, the network failed to gain the necessary traction to turn a profit on the revival thanks to low viewership. G4’s operations are to be discontinued effective immediately. Per Scott, those still employed with G4, would be able to reach out to human resources for support and other opportunities that “may be available.”

    While G4 was huge during the 2000s, the attempt to revive the network saw a much smaller version that was less focused on “traditional linear TV.” The revival did include new versions of its mainstay programs like Attack of the Show! and Xplay, but neither managed to gain enough viewership to keep viewers interested.

    The original G4 first began in 2002 while under co-owners NBCUniversal and Dish Network. It was developed as a successor to MTV, with its focus on youth culture. Unfortunately, it was canceled in 2014, with Esquire Network, taking its place for a short time.

    Source: Deadline.

  • Tatiana Maslany Says She-Hulk Isn’t Serious About Dating Daredevil

    Tatiana Maslany Says She-Hulk Isn’t Serious About Dating Daredevil

    In an interview with ExtraTV, She-Hulk star Tatiana Maslany dished on one of the show’s biggest talking points: Jennifer’s blossoming relationship with Matt Murdock. Upon watching the conclusion of the series where Jen introduces Matt to her family, a portion of the fandom wondered whether this romance would carry on to future installments. Maslany thinks that isn’t the case:

    Tatiana also shared her take on the relationship between Matt, aka Daredevil, and Jen, saying that their relationship isn’t serious “at all.” She added, “I think Jen is half, like, trolling Matt… I think also there’s something about the way Matt is with her, where it seems like he’s just cool with who she is.”

    Charlie Cox has expressed his desire for Maslany to appear in his upcoming Daredevil: Born Again series. While it certainly would be great to see the actor crossover to a darker show like Born Again, her larger-than-life presence might sully what fans are hoping to be a grounded, realistic vision of Matt Murdock’s story. The character has had his fill of romances in his Netflix show but this new one he has isn’t too bad either so we’ll let K.E.V.I.N. decide.

    Source: Extra TV

  • RUMOR: ‘Ironheart’ Adds Another Magic User and Ally of Doctor Strange

    RUMOR: ‘Ironheart’ Adds Another Magic User and Ally of Doctor Strange

    Marvel Studios upcoming Disney Plus streaming series Ironheart continues to shape up to be the MCU’s first really magic vs. tech battle. Kevin Feige announced Anthony Ramos as the series’ main antagonist, Parker Robbins, aka The Hood, at D23 and a recent rumor that Sacha Baron Cohen will appear as Mephisto continues to gain traction as more sources chime in on its legitimacy. With two major magic users in her way, it would stand to reason that Riri Williams might need some help understanding just what she’s up against and a new rumor might point in the direction of just that kind of ally.

    According to Geek Vibes Nation, actress Regan Aliyah, who joined the cast at the end of August, is set to play Zelma Stanton in Ironheart. Stanton is a relatively recent addition to the Marvel Comics’ universe, having been introduced in 2015 at the beginning of Jason Aaron’s run on Doctor Strange. Shortly after meeting Strange, Zelma agreed to work at the Sanctum Santorum as his librarian. More recently, Zelma has appeared in Strange Academy, a series in which Strange and some of the most powerful magicians in the Marvel Universe have opened a school for young magic users.

    https://twitter.com/GeekVibesNation/status/1581619861540986880?t=tR1vZCaIZRAdqr-l091W7Q&s=19

    At this point, we can only speculate as to what Zelma’s role in Ironheart might entail, but it does seem likely she will be assisting Riri as she learns about magic and takes on The Hood and the powerful demon Mephsito. As is often the case for characters adapted into the MCU from the comics, Zelma’s origin story might be changed a bit to allow for her to hop right into the action. Whatever the case, for a show featuring a tech genius, Ironheart is becoming very magic-heavy and very interesting.

  • REVIEW: ‘Prunella & The Cursed Skull Ring’ is a Solid Matthew Loux Story

    REVIEW: ‘Prunella & The Cursed Skull Ring’ is a Solid Matthew Loux Story

    Matthew Loux has developed a solid fanbase with his Time Museum and Salt Water Taffy series, and if you happen to enjoy those two series, then you will absolutely enjoy his newest story. Prunella and the Cursed Skull Ring tells the story of a young girl who has heard the rumors about her town being a breeding ground for monsters but just doesn’t really care to believe them. That is, of course, until she discovers a ring that turns her into a skeleton that proves to be similar to everything she’s heard. 

    While Prunella isn’t really ostracized from her community, there is a sense of general disdain that she both receives and reciprocates to those around her. This is probably more likely due to the village’s desire to keep monsters out (a play on communal trauma, perhaps), and they are willing to do whatever it takes to do so even if it means they’re effectively isolated from the outside world. This plays out painfully for Prunella when she puts the ring on and the village subsequently banishes her. While reading Prunella’s story, it’s hard not to compare it to our own world and politics, and it can be uncomfortable to read at times because it does feel like a terrifying depiction of our own reality.

    However, it is on her journey to break this curse that she discovers that the ones her village has tried to keep out are actually better than the people doing the banishing. This is where an already strong story really shines, as Prunella not only learns about friendship, but she learns about love and acceptance of herself, too. We see the effect that prejudice and not only has on individuals, but on entire communities, and the artwork supports even these really deep themes well. Loux has mastered the art of letting his, well, art, speak for him: indeed, there are parts of this short read where there are no words, and it is up to the reader to decipher what is going on. It is this kind of storytelling that really forces the reader to engage with this world and all the baggage it brings. It is a lot of “show, don’t tell,” and it works really well especially as Prunella has to answer the most important question: Does she even want to break the curse?

    This is an emotional story with incredible art, and an ending that is both earned and a little too hopeful. It is a beautiful story of a young girl who realizes that her community is not as great as it has pretended to be, and that it is in our drive to be inclusionary that we really build the village we want. Stories like these make us believe in change, and growth, and in that respect, it accomplishes what it set out to do. It also pushes us to look inward, but not just at ourselves: no, it asks us to look at who we keep around us and question whether that is how we want to spend the time we have.

  • ‘Werewolf By Night’s Michael Giacchino Rules Himself Out of ‘Blade’ Director Search

    ‘Werewolf By Night’s Michael Giacchino Rules Himself Out of ‘Blade’ Director Search

    Production on the highly anticipated Mahershala Ali-led Blade movie is currently shut down after losing director Bassim Tariq. After Tariq’s departure, it was revealed that Beau DeMayo had agreed to rewrite the script. With the hiring of DeMayo, it was expected that Marvel Studios would quickly fill the director position, but instead, the studio has slowed down to “deepen the search” for a new director, while also taking time to further strengthen the film.

    One name has received a lot of attention as a potential new director for Blade after the recent success and critical praise of Werewolf By Night. In fact, some think director and composer Michael Giacchino should be the architect of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s horror future.

    On Comicbook.com’s Phase Zero podcast, Giacchino addressed whether he could take the reins on Blade. Unfortunately for fans, it looks like the list of potential directors does not include the Werewolf By Night director. Giacchino expressed that Blade would conflict with some of his other projects in the works timing-wise:

    “I mean, look, I love Blade. I think that’s an amazing, amazing character. It’s one of my favorites. But I feel like that thing is already in motion in a way that is like, and I’m in motion on other things as well, and there’s just– It’s a whole… you know. It’s just, timing-wise, it’s a little crazy. So I feel like, you know… I want that to be a great movie. I want that to be an awesome movie, because that character deserves it in a huge way. But yeah, right now, I mean, no.”

    Michael Giacchino

    Fans will have to keep waiting for news on who will replace Tariq. Marvel Studios has given itself more time to get Blade in order, as it delayed its release date to September 6, 2024.

    Source: Phase Zero

  • REVIEW: ‘The Rings of Power’ Finale Plays Like Emotional 3D Chess

    REVIEW: ‘The Rings of Power’ Finale Plays Like Emotional 3D Chess

    Morfydd Clark stands solemnly by a gorgeous river, glaring at an open scroll. Her character, Galadriel, has just realized she’s made a horrible mistake. Always so surefooted, the Elven warrior exudes a guttural disbelief. It’s something so shocking that the audience feels it too, their insides twisting with hers as the literal face of evil steps from around the corner. There begins a sequence with enough impact, it may stand as one of the best scenes television has offered this year. In Alloyed, its season finale, The Rings of Power comes full circle and demands to be lauded. It’s a cerebral thrill ride from beginning to end, one designed for faithful fans of the franchise and newcomers alike.

    Alloyed plays like an emotional game of 3D chess. There are quite a few players on the board, and each one of them is wildly clever. Every time one thinks they might know what’s going to happen next, a different character unveils their hidden scheme and throws the rest of it out of whack. It makes for an insanely entertaining hour, especially for those watching without the aid of knowing extensive lore. Even if one does view the finale with years of J.R.R. Tolkien‘s works under their belt, however, they’ll likely be surprised and delighted by what the finale does with established moments in Lord of the Rings history. Alloyed takes a myriad of concepts and plotlines and spins them together until they’re fit for live-action storytelling. It’s impressively cinematic, and in the end, pretty gosh darn satisfying.

    The performances in the episode are what really bring it all to the next level. As mentioned, Clark has been a revelation all season. The nuance she brings to Galadriel has elevated the character far beyond what fans saw in Peter Jackson‘s film trilogy, and every ounce of energy she’s put into her role is on full display here. Lloyd Owen and Cynthia Addai-Robinson, too, put their best foot forward in a memorable scene as Elendil and the Queen Regent Míriel. Standing together in the belly of their ship, the two actors share a moment so genuine it threatens to become more powerful than all of Middle-earth’s mithril combined. Something similar could be said about Markella Kavenagh‘s little Harfoot, Nori, and Daniel Weyman‘s giant Stranger, who finally get some answers and set the show on a path toward its second season.

    Really, the finale’s greatest achievement is the way it’s able to move The Rings of Power forward. As wonderful of a season as it’s been, the many mysteries surrounding it’s characters and locations often left episodes running in circles and biding their time for eventual payoff. Alloyed is that payoff, and it’s executed beautifully. Now, with true allegiances revealed and a world beginning to take shape, there’s a clear map drawn for what comes next. With everything going on the past few weeks, pacing hasn’t been as much of an issue as it once was, but the seeming promise of Alloyed is that it’s all full steam ahead from this point on. Hopefully, that means the second season will be even more anticipated than the first. Either way, it has one heck of an episode to jump off from.

  • A Look at Marvel Studios’ 10-Year Page-to-Screen Rule

    A Look at Marvel Studios’ 10-Year Page-to-Screen Rule

    New York Comic Con hasn’t really been known to be the kind of event where fans should expect huge reveals from Marvel Studios. Traditionally, it’s been a place for Marvel TV and Marvel Comics to take center stage and NYCC ’22 was comic-heavy. Jonathan Hickman revealed some of Valerio Schiti’s artwork from their mysterious new comic series, the 2022-23 event slate was revealed, including the Fall of X and numerous non-event series were teased or introduced. All in all, a great weekend for Marvel Comics.

    However, during their Next Big Thing panel, Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski dropped an interesting nugget of information about the relationship between Marvel Comics and Marvel Studios, both of which are now overseen by Marvel’s One Above All, Kevin Feige. According to Cebulski, Marvel Comics works to stay about “10 years” ahead of Marvel Studios. In essence, that means comic arc that are being told wouldn’t make their way into the narrative fabric of the MCU until 2032. On the flipside, it could also mean that Marvel Studios currently announced slate of projects is looking to draw on comic arcs from 2012.

    Though it’s clear and expected that not every project in 2022 is based on stories from 2012, interestingly enough, some of that flipside lines up. The end of 2021 saw Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye, which was published in 2012, adapted into a Disney Plus streaming series. Incursions, which were introduced to the MCU in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, first appeared in issue #3 of Jonathan Hickman’s New Avengers in January of 2013. The idea of Wakanda at war with Atlantis, which is central to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s plot, came from the pages of the Avengers vs. X-Men event, which ran for most of 2012. Kamala Khan first hit the pages of a comic in 2013. Jason Aaron’s epic run on Thor, which introduced Gorr and Jane Foster as the Mighty Thor, characters seen in Thor: Love and Thunder, began in, you guessed it, 2012. It’s by no means a perfect predictor, but for the past year, there are enough hits to make one take the time to look at how the next (about) ten years of Marvel Studios projects could be shaped by the last (about) ten years of Marvel Comics.

    2023

    Riri Williams will make her debut in 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever before her solo series, Ironheart, streams on Disney Plus. The character first appeared in the comics in 2016, so this series is 7 years post. That’s not exactly 10, but it might prove informative later.

    2024

    Captain America: New World Order will hit theaters in 2024. Ten years earlier, Sam Wilson: Captain America hit newsstands. The Nick Spencer book could hold some clues as to what fans can expect in the film.

    A version of the Thunderbolts featuring Bucky Barnes appeared in the comics in 2016. Bucky and the Thunderbolts are headed for the big screen in 2024.

    Deadpool 3 hits theaters in 2024 and while nobody knows exactly what to make of the Ryan Reynolds/Hugh Jackman team-up, one theory is that it could adapt Marvel Comics Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe, which came out in 2012.

    Fantastic Four. Announced in 2019, it’s taken a while to get made and is going to take a while longer. Whenever fans see it, it is likely to be heavily influenced by Hickman’s run on the characters which started in 2010.

    2025 and 2026

    Marvel has plans for two Avengers films over these two years. If you’re wondering who might be on the team, Marvel Comics All-New, All-Different Avengers, first published in November 2015, might be a decent resource.

    Beginning with 2022’s Werewolf By Night, monsters are now historically part of the MCU and more are on the way. In 2015, Marvel Comics published The Howling Commandoes of S.H.I.E.L.D.

    A Nova project continues to be in the works and The Human Rocket is likely to land on one of the dates slated for D+ in 2025 or 2026. A Nova comic series, featuring Sam Alexander, launched in 2013.

    In July, a pair of trademarks were filed for what are believed to be MCU solo projects for Hercules: Rise of the Gods and Black Knight: Origins. in 2015, comic series featuring both of those characters brought them back into the spotlight after some time away. Black Knight dove into the cursed nature of the Ebony Blade while Hercules told the story of the Greek godling making his way through the modern world. Both of these ideas are adaptable in the MCU given where the characters were left in their introductions in Eternals and Thor: Love and Thunder, respectively.

    An Illuminati project has been reportedly in the works at Marvel Studios for a few years now. In 2015, Marvel Comics published The Illuminati, featuring Parker Robbins, who will make his debut in Ironheart, Titania, who debuted in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and the Enchantress, Sylvie Lushton, who seems to have a lot in common with Loki’s Sylvie.

    Avengers: Secret Wars was originally planned for 2025. While there have been multiple iterations of the story, it’s believed that with Michael Waldron writing it, it will be strongly influenced by Hickman’s version of the story.

    2026-2032

    Years back, Marvel Studios was looking for a pitch for a Secret Warriors project. While the first volume in the comics hit shelves in 2008, a second volume featuring Kamala Khan was released in 2017.

    Quite a bit of buzz continues to persist around Marvel Studios bringing the Midnight Sons to the MCU and a trademark was filed. In 2017, a Spirits of Vengeance mini-series was launched that featured many of the characters you’d associate with Midnight Sons in a war at the gates of hell.

    Marvel Studios trademarked Avengers: Eternity Wars. Marvel Comics published an Eternity War event in the pages of The Ultimates in 2017.

    With the X-Men not quite set to appear in the MCU for some time, the 2018 event Hunt for Wolverine might make a good adaptation at some point in the late 2020s, once the X-Men have become established.

    War of the Realms is one of the finer events Marvel Comics has produced in years. While it doesn’t seem like on the surface like a story that could be told in the MCU, remember the multiverse is in play and anything is possible, including giving Malekith a fair shake.

    Another property that could potentially take inspiration from Jonathan Hickman is an adaptation of Dawn of X. Hickman’s redefining take on mutants kicked off in 2019, meaning it could hit the low end of what Marvel considers about 10 years if an adaptation were to hit the MCU around 2026 or later, which actually seems about right.

    This is nowhere near comprehensive as there are so many unknowns about what projects are in development and nearing a green light, which are still slogging through and which have been shuffled to the back of the pile. However, it does give us a better idea of what about “10 years” means. It looks like characters and stories are fair game if they were about 7-12 years before the project is intended to release. Obviously, that window can expand either way and it is a lot more likely to expand on the side of more than 12 years than less than 7 years, but it provides a window through which we can potentially peer into Marvel Studios’ plans.

  • A Fun New Rumor Suggests a Much Talked About Character Will Debut in ‘Ironheart’

    A Fun New Rumor Suggests a Much Talked About Character Will Debut in ‘Ironheart’

    Marvel Studios Ironheart will introduce one of Marvel Comics’ most ruthless villains to the MCU: Parker Robbins, aka The Hood. Anthony Ramos will be playing Robbins and was introduced at D23 by Kevin Feige, though little was revealed about his origins or motivations. Footage from Ironheart did, however, show a very comic-accurate-looking cloak on The Hood and a new rumor indicates that its origins may be a bit less comic-accurate.

    According to My Time to Shine Hello, Robbins’ cloak, which is the source of many of the magical powers he wields in the comics, will be connected to the demon Mephisto. In the comics, the cloak originally belonged to Dormammu, who used it to possess Robbins at one point. With Mephisto filling the role, it’s likely that Ironheart will feature Mephisto, the Great Corrupter, sinking his claws into Robbins and making a deal for his soul, as he does.

    Fans have believed Mephisto was going to appear in every Marvel Studios’ project for the last several years and no doubt some of them will pound their chests to tell you that they were right; however, finally introducing the Master of Malice to the MCU opens up a wealth of new stories that can be told, including the long-gestating Ghost Rider project and a comic-accurate origin for the Silver Surfer!

    An additional rumor suggests that the actor bringing the Dread Persuader to life in the MCU will be Sacha Baron Cohen. While Cohen is most well-known as his wild antics Borat, Ali G. and others, he recently received praise for more serious work in Netflix’s The Spy and was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in The Trial of the Chicago 7, his third nomination as he was also nominated for the screenplay of both Borat films.

    https://twitter.com/MStudiosNews/status/1581268062497800193

    Cohen’s versatility as a performer makes him a fascinating choice for Mephisto, should the rumor prove to be true. A deal to play Mephisto would likely keep the Cohen busy for quite some time because, as comic fans know, Mephisto has found himself in just about everyones’ business at one time or another.

  • A New Rumor Points to Kingpin Running for Mayor of NYC in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’

    A New Rumor Points to Kingpin Running for Mayor of NYC in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’

    As Daredevil: Born Again begins casting ahead of a 2023 start of production, new information seems to corroborate an old rumor. According to insider Daniel RPK, casting has begun for a group of characters associated with Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk as he runs for Mayor.

    Mayor Fisk may sound far-fetched, but it’s pulled directly from a recent run of Daredevil comics. In 2017, Charles Soule crafted a storyline that saw, Fisk,  the longtime crime boss and thorn in Daredevil’s side, run for Mayor of New York City. Running on a platform that promised to take on the multitude of street-level vigilantes in the area, Fisk won with the help of some illegal handiwork.

    In an effort to make Fisk’s undertaking more difficult, Matt Murdock joined the Mayor’s staff as Deputy Mayor. Several rounds of comic book hijinks later, including a visit from The Hand, Murdock became the Mayor. After saving NYC from The Hand with the help of the very same vigilantes Fisk had hoped to eliminate, Murdock stepped down and Fisk continued to serve as Mayor until he was replaced by Luke Cage in 2022’s Devil’s Reign.

    Rumors have persisted for some time now that Soule’s run would serve as inspiration for Daredevil: Born Again. Soule’s run introduced some great new characters, including Blindspot, who served as a kind of Robin to Daredevil’s Batman, and the creepy villain Muse. Undoubtedly the biggest game changer from Soule’s run, however, was Matt Murdock taking a case before the Supreme Court over the right for costumed heroes to serve as witnesses to the crimes they often stop from happening. Soule’s run was heavy on lawyering because Soule is a lawyer. With Daredevil: Born Again set for an 18-episode run, it wouldn’t be surprising to see some more courtroom action, maybe even something as ambitious as taking on the Supreme Court.

    Fans have quite a wait ahead of them before figuring out exactly what they can expect from Daredevil: Born Again as the streaming series is currently slated to release in the Spring of 2024 on Disney Plus.