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  • How ‘WandaVision’ Proves Matt Shakman is a Great Choice for ‘Fantastic Four’

    How ‘WandaVision’ Proves Matt Shakman is a Great Choice for ‘Fantastic Four’

    With the looming approach of D23 and the slew of major news that is likely to come from the event, many are anticipating an announcement on who will be directing Marvel Studios’ upcoming Fantastic Four film. Since Jon Watts stepped away from the project this past April, the question of who would helm this project has been ever-present in the cultural zeitgeist. This especially has risen again with the official announcement at San Diego Comic-Con of Fantastic Four kicking off Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a November 8, 2024 release date.

    Though it seems there may be an answer to this question with rumors gradually circulating that Matt Shakman will be overseeing Marvel’s first family. With this rumor coming to light, the response for the most part has been met with general optimism for what Shakman can bring to the table. Though the case can be taken one step further in that Matt Shakman would be a most fantastic (pun intended) choice to direct this film based alone on his previous experience with WandaVision.

    When looking at why Matt Shakman is aptly qualified to helm the Fantastic Four remake for the MCU, the most obvious place to start is the director’s previous experience with Marvel Studios. For starters, bringing in the director of one of their most critically-received Disney+ projects is bound to turn heads in anticipation. On top of it all, Shakman’s work on WandaVision has showcased his ability to cultivate strong family dynamics in a limited time. Themes pertaining to “family” are arguably the most important component when developing a Fantastic Four project, and he’s definitely proven to have a talent for it.

    Another notable component of WandaVision is the stylistic vintage pastiche it has to offer. The concept of visually recreating the aesthetics of classic sitcoms from the middle of the 20th century appealed greatly to make the series stand out during its run on Disney+. Considering there has been a contingent of fans that have long desired for Fantastic Four to be a period piece set in the 1960s to pair with the comic origins of the characters, it’s the perfect match.

    Whether or not Marvel Studios would move forward with that creative direction is one thing, but it’s possible that Shakman’s directorial vision from the previous Disney+ series could help influence some type of 1960s vibe to help make Fantastic Four standout within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    The other element that WandaVision also uses is its cosmic undertones, which the series maintained with the character arc of Monica Rambeau. One of the more surprising parts coming out of the series was how it leaned slightly more towards the concepts of science fiction in relation to Wanda’s supernatural abilities. Between the introduction of SWORD and the inclusion of Skrulls, WandaVision also has played an arguably equal part in setting up the cosmic side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with that of the mystical and multiversal.

    With that in mind, it’s not a reach to think that Marvel Studios would at least consider Matt Shakman thanks to his experience with this corner of the universe. Given the X-Files-esque mystery elements of figuring out the science fiction phenomenon of the Hex, it would not be surprising if this type of intrigue is what Kevin Feige and his team would want from the cosmic exploration that is synonymous with the comic versions of the Fantastic Four. Even the way Monica gains her abilities stood out in a way that could inspire the way the Fantastic Four become Marvel’s first family.

    Ultimately if these rumors end up becoming true, fans of the Fantastic Four should be excited about the prospects of Matt Shakman as director. If his merits from WandaVision were strong enough to land him a position directing the next theatrical Star Trek film, then he is certainly qualified to step up and oversee one of Marvel Studios’ most important properties of the future.

  • Neil Gaiman Purposefully Leaked ‘The Sandman’ Script to Ensure it Wouldn’t Be Filmed

    Neil Gaiman Purposefully Leaked ‘The Sandman’ Script to Ensure it Wouldn’t Be Filmed

    Neil Gaiman is living the life as he’s had one successful adaptation after the other. Netflix has just recently released the live-action adaptation of The Sandman, something many believed was unadaptable. It’s been quite a success for the streamer and Gaiman has been busy promoting the release. Yet, in a recent interview, the writer revealed that he purposefully leaked the script of an earlier Hollywood adaptation to ensure that it wouldn’t be adapted. According to Gaiman, he believed “it was the worst script” he’s ever read.

    It was the worst script that I’ve ever read by anybody. A guy in Jon Peters’ office phoned me up and he said, ‘So Neil, have you had a chance to read the script we sent you?’ And I said, ‘Well, yes. Yes, I did. I haven’t read all of it, but I’ve read enough.’ He says, ‘So, pretty good. Huh?’ And I said, ‘Well, no. It really isn’t.’ He said, ‘Oh, come on. There must have been stuff in there you loved.’ I said, ‘There was nothing in there I loved. There was nothing in there I liked. It was the worst script that I’ve ever read by anybody. It’s not just the worst Sandman script. That was the worst script I’ve ever been sent.

    Neil Gaiman

    There’s a hilarious trend in the one he mentions, as it was by infamous Wild Wild West producer Jon Peters, who almost tried to force a giant spider into an earlier draft of a Superman pitch by Kevin Smith before a mechanical spider made its debut in the Will Smith film. It seems that it had its origins in The Sandman adaptation that Gaiman sent to Ain’t It Cool New.

    It had giant mechanical spiders in it… Lucifer, Morpheus and the Corinthian were identical triplets. They were a family of identical brothers, and it was all a race to see who could get the ruby, the helm and the bag of sand before midnight on 1999, before the new millennium started, because whoever got it would be the winner. That was the plot.

    Neil Gaiman

    It’s not every day that you see someone takes matters into their own hands to avoid an obvious trainwreck but Gaiman wasn’t going to let his franchise be dismantled this way. There’s also something hilarious about Peters‘ obsession with a giant mechanized spider being in one of his films. Luckily, his action did end up avoiding it getting made.

    Source: Variety

  • First Look at ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’s Steelbook; Four Deleted Scenes Revealed

    First Look at ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’s Steelbook; Four Deleted Scenes Revealed

    Thor: Love and Thunder‘s Disney+ release has been recently confirmed for September to celebrate Disney+ Day. For those that like to collect these projects physically, the wait for that release is luckily not too long after. The digital release is set for September 9th with the physical one planned for September 27th. It’ll be made available with on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD.

    ScreenRant has also shared a first look at the movie’s cover art for the Steelbook available at Best Buy. It’ll feature the poster designs featuring Jane Foster and Thor in their iconic pose from the comics. The interior even includes the yelling goats pulling the chariot in a clever design replicating the boat we see in the Marvel Studios film.

    The Blu-ray will include a gag reel and audio commentary from Taika Waititi. There are also three featurettes included by the titles of Hammer-Worthy: Thor and The Mighty Thor, Shaping a Villain, and Another Classic Taika Adventure. There are also four deleted scenes included, such as the team looking for Zeus, two scenes spending more time with Star-Lord and Mantis, as well as a potential alternative sequence of Zeus passing on his weapon to Thor.

    It’ll be interesting to see if we get a different side of Zeus in these deleted scenes, but it’s curious they left out some of the confirmed scenes of Gorr’s bloody path of killing all gods. It seems like they aren’t including them so it’s not an option for people considering it as canon given the gruesome fate of some Thor veteran characters.

    Source: ScreenRant

  • Episode Count for ‘Stranger Things’ Final Season Revealed

    Episode Count for ‘Stranger Things’ Final Season Revealed

    After a successful fourth season on Netflix, it’s bizarre to think that work is only just really getting going on the final season of Stranger Things. Shortly after its release, the official writers’ account on Twitter revealed that they started work on the fifth and (sadly) final season of the Netflix cult hit.

    Now, they have shared a new update as it seems like they are now grinding out the upcoming final season of Stranger Things. Of course, they aren’t teasing any plot lines or even characters but it definitely looks like they are only steps away from starting work on the episodes. What is surprising though is that this may have confirmed that the final season will consist of eight episodes.

    Of course, things might change as they prepare the episodes and various plotlines but it does seem safe to say that eight episodes is what they are currently going for with the release. The series creators, the Duffer brothers, have hinted that they are avoiding another nine-episode season and trying to keep it smaller in the last season. While we’ll have to wait quite a bit until we get more details on what exactly the season has to offer, it looks like things are finally moving along for the final confrontation between Vecna and Eleven.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Hunger Games’ Director Francis Lawrence to Direct ‘BioShock’

    ‘Hunger Games’ Director Francis Lawrence to Direct ‘BioShock’

    The Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence has lined up his next project. Lawrence is set to direct the adaptation of the renowned video game franchise, BioShock. The news comes courtesy of Deadline, with the outlet reporting that Netflix has been looking at A-list directors and writers for the job since it was announced earlier this year, recognizing the large scope of the property. Lawrence has been on their radar since Spring given what he has done with the Hunger Games franchise. The studio has also brought on Michael Green, who penned Logan, to write the script.

    With Lawrence in production on the Hunger Games prequel, Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the plan is to have Green write the script while Lawrence is hard at work on that project. This will make it so that Lawrence can easily move on to BioShock once The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is completed. Lawrence, of course, took over the Hunger Games franchise after Gary Ross left ahead of the sequel, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. He went on to complete the franchise with the two-part Mockingjay before returning for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

    BioShock is set across multiple dystopian and visionary landscapes gone wrong with the games featuring a unique blend of horror and science-fiction. The first game was released in 2007 and has since sold more than 39 million copies worldwide. The franchise consists of BioShock, BioShock 2 and BioShock Infinite.

    The movie will be produced by Roy Lee through his Vertigo Entertainment along with Lawrence for his about:blank banner. As of now, BioShock does not have a release date on Netflix.

    Source: Deadline.

  • ‘One Piece’ Director Promises “Great Fights” Alongside “Tears and Laughter”

    ‘One Piece’ Director Promises “Great Fights” Alongside “Tears and Laughter”

    While it’s unclear just how long the wait might be until the series finally releases on Netflix, One Piece director Marc Jobst has taken to his Twitter account to hype up what the show has to offer Many long-time One Piece fans will know that while the action is a big part of the franchise, the love that many have for the project comes down to the emotional moments. Jobst made sure to highlight that we’ll definitely get all three in the upcoming series.

    It certainly sounds promising if they can truly bring these elements together the way they intend. A while ago, now-showrunner Matt Owens joined the online One Piece community to highlight that these elements are definite when adapting Eiichiro Oda‘s original work that’s been running for 25 years.

    The Netflix series has been slowly wrapping up production, as most of the main cast have seemingly already made their way home. Just earlier today, Sanji actor Taz Skylar shared a heartfelt post on Instagram thanking everyone he had a chance to work with on the production, highlighting just how close the team has grown throughout the production of Netflix’s One Piece.

    There’s no definite release date or even window for the series; which Netflix commonly only confirms just a few months before it is set to release. Though they started promoting it even before they showed anything from their other big IP adaptation, Avatar: The Last Airbender. With a cast and crew that came together like a family echoing how Oda approaches his stories, it seems it is in good hands.

    Source: Instagram, Twitter

  • ‘She-Hulk’s Mark Ruffalo Teases Hulk’s Future in the MCU

    ‘She-Hulk’s Mark Ruffalo Teases Hulk’s Future in the MCU

    Mark Ruffalo makes his return in She-Hulk, Attorney at Law, which further explores his time as Smart Hulk and living with the consequences of his own actions. We get the perfect juxtaposition with Tatiana Maslany‘s Jennifer Walters just trying to live a normal life as much as possible. Still, her life is flipped upside down when a Sakaaran ship appears out of nowhere.

    While it’s the main catalyst for her transformation into She-Hulk, the second episode of the Disney+ series also revealed that there might be some unfinished business for our favorite former Gladiator. Many have their theories, especially with rumors of a World War Hulks project in development, but Variety got the chance to ask Ruffalo directly, who shared his thoughts on returning to Sakaar.

    I don’t know. It certainly does suggest that. There has been some conversations about what happened in the two years where Hulk abandoned Banner and the Avengers [on Sakaar], and the emergence of Smart Hulk, which hasn’t ever fully been answered. I think maybe we’ve given four sentences to that time period since then. It’s really an interesting, exciting part of the Hulk story and Banner story.

    Mark Ruffalo

    he also highlights that he could imagine exploring the idea of Planet Hulk or World War Hulk at one point in the storyline, and the ship sighting may be setting that very future up.

    I do think that the trip to Sakaar is a good place to start and what that means to the idea of what the fans have been asking for — this idea of Planet Hulk or World War Hulk or just the journey that Banner and Hulk have to make to come to peace with each other. That’s really interesting to me, and I do feel like there is some interest in exploring that down the line.

    Mark Ruffalo

    Whatever the future may have in store for Hulk, it definitely looks like he’s here to stay. Alongside Thor and Hawkeye, they make up the rest of the original Avengers, and with two films confirmed in the future, we’ll see if they might be the ones to unite the team against its newest threat.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Drawn Together’ Writers to Adapt IDW’s Upcoming Comic ‘Family Time’

    ‘Drawn Together’ Writers to Adapt IDW’s Upcoming Comic ‘Family Time’

    It looks like the writing duo Matt Silverstein and Dave Jeser, known for their work on Drawn Together, Accidental Love, and Solar Opposites, are going to adapt the IDW comic Family Time. The writer James Asmus (Quantum and Woody) is also attached alongside artist Edison Neo (Snake Claws). The sci-fi comedy will be a co-development deal as they’re working on a television series and original comic book property, as the series is set to get released next summer. IDW publisher Nachie Marsham has the following to say on the project:

    At IDW, we are perfectly poised to develop properties that live in the same universe, across various platforms. We’re thrilled that our first Entertainment and Publishing co-development project is with Matt and Dave; their comedic talent is off-the-charts. We know their vast background, combined with IDW’s robust expertise, will produce great content, both in print and on-screen.

    Nachie Marsham

    Executive Vice President of IDW Entertainment, Paul Davison, also had the following to say on the project:

    Working in tandem with our colleagues at every level within our Entertainment and Publishing divisions brings a wealth of opportunities for writers, producers, and other creatives to develop projects across various verticals simultaneously. It’s an ideal landscape for a creator’s vision to be realized.

    Paul Davison

    It sounds like an exciting project and it’ll be interesting to see how it comes together, especially how they’ll have the tie-in comic play into how they adapt this project.

    Source: Deadline

  • Warner Bros. Discovery is Reportedly Low on Funds for the Year

    Warner Bros. Discovery is Reportedly Low on Funds for the Year

    With David Zaslav and his team overseeing the new Warner Bros. after the merger with Discovery, massive turnover and changes have been made for the film studio. In recent weeks, we’ve seen Batgirl get shelved, as well as the sequel to Scoob!, despite both of those films being well within the post-production process. Batgirl, Scoob!, and the countless content removed from HBO Max are the casualties of Warner Bros. Discovery trying to save money through tax write-offs. And now, following news that the studio was shuffling around more release dates, it appears Warner Bros. Discovery needs all the financial help it can get at the moment.

    The latest bit of news coming from Warner Bros are the delays of both Shazam: Fury of the Gods and Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom, with Fury of the Gods moving to March 2023 and Aquaman moving to December 2023 respectively. This has been in line with the consistent delays of DC superhero films that have plagued the studio since the beginning of the pandemic. However, these moves have further indicated a large amount of financial turmoil for the studio according to Borys Kit of The Hollywood Reporter.

    The revelation of Warner Bros. Discovery only having the financial capital to release two films for the remaining near-half year of 2022 is certainly damning. It indicates a massive rocky road that Zaslav will have to try and navigate without, in theory, “rocking the boat” too much more. If that isn’t possible, the company could be forced to face even more upheaval despite being within this dire state for a considerable time. The financial sacrifices they’ve made thus far have caused some level of alienation with the creative base of Hollywood, and Warner Bros Discovery will have to tread carefully to remain in the upper echelon of the American film hierarchy.

    If there is any solace, Don’t Worry Darling and Black Adam both hold the potential to be relatively successful breadwinners for Warner Bros. Discovery. After all, Don’t Worry Darling has held a decently strong marketing campaign highlighting the intrigue of Olivia Wilde’s sophomore directorial feature. In addition, the all-star cast led by the likes of Florence Pugh and Harry Styles could drive audiences to theaters. Meanwhile, Warner Bros is certainly hoping that Black Adam can serve as a much-needed kickstart for a direction that the studio can take with its DC Extended Universe. It remains to be seen if Dwyane Johnson’s portrayal of the titular character alongside the Justice Society of America can change the narrative of the struggling franchise.

    Source: Twitter.

  • Adam Wingard to Direct ‘Godzilla vs Kong’ Sequel, Production Underway

    Adam Wingard to Direct ‘Godzilla vs Kong’ Sequel, Production Underway

    We’ve long wondered what exactly the sequel for Godzilla vs. Kong would look like. Adam Wingard is back to direct and we finally have an update on what to expect from the latest entry in the Monsterverse. While it was rumored to be an adaptation of Son of Kong, it looks like it’ll reunite Godzilla and Kong to unite against a new foe.

    While there are many options to choose from the Monsterverse’s potential new threats, it only teases that it’ll challenge the two Titans in new ways while further exploring their history on Earth. So, it seems like we’ll once again expand the Monsterverse’s mythology.

    That is not all, as they’ve also confirmed that the sequel’s cast will consist of Rebecca Hall, Bryan Tyree Henry and Kylee Hottle, who will reprise their roles. They will be joined by Dan Stevens, Fala Chan, Alex Ferns and Rachel House. Unfortunately, it seems Millie Bobby Brown won’t reprise her role in the sequel.

    The sequel to Godzilla vs. Kong is slated to hit theaters on March 15th, 2024.