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  • Nexstar Acquires 75% Stake of The CW

    Nexstar Acquires 75% Stake of The CW

    We’ve reported on it some time ago, but there were hints that The CW was potentially going to have a new owner. It looks like it has finally been confirmed as the Nexstar Media Group is currently set to acquire a 75% stake in the broadcast network moving forward.

    As such, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery will still retain a 12.5% stake ownership in the CW. It also means they will continue to produce scripted content for the network, but it’s unclear just how much that’ll be the case moving forward. It also seems that the leadership won’t change with Mark Pedowitz set to remain as CEO of the CW.

    There are no financial terms disclosed but it seems that a big part of this company acquisition is Nexstar taking over the CW’s debt rather than the usual “upfront considerations.” It’s a big move for the company, which includes quite a few local TV stations and even the cable network NewsNation. If you’re worried this might spell the end of the CW, it seems they intend to once again put the network on the ma

    Source: Deadline

  • New ‘Multiversus’ Image Reveals ‘Gremlins’ Stripe and Black Adam as Playable Characters

    New ‘Multiversus’ Image Reveals ‘Gremlins’ Stripe and Black Adam as Playable Characters

    It looks like a new leak may have revealed the next two additions to Warner Bros. Multiversus. The latest Super Smash Bros. clone uses the vast library of the WB license to have characters from Game of Thrones, Adventure Time, DC Comics, and many more iconic franchises face off against each other. Now, it seems two more additions have been revealed in a newly leaked banner for the game.

    It seems that the game is eyeing adding a character from Gremlins, Spike, as a playable character alongside DC Comic’s anti-hero Black Adam. The latter is definitely a perfectly timed addition with Dwayne Johnson‘s upcoming film hitting theaters in the coming months. It’s also great to see such a cult classic like the 1984 horror film getting some representation. You can see the banner as shared by @InTheShadeMV here:

    https://twitter.com/InTheShadeMV/status/1559037386243424256

    He has also uploaded a closer look at the two new additions in a new tweet that offers a better look at the details going into their designs:

    https://twitter.com/InTheShadeMV/status/1559166513717944322

    It’s interesting that Black Adam is closer to his comic design rather than what he’ll look like in his film. Of course, it likely wouldn’t be cheap to get Dwayne Johnson‘s likeness in the game. Though, they have recently added LeBron James as a playable character from the latest Space Jam film, which means that skin could be in the cards at some point. So, anything is possible with Multiversus right now.

    Source: Twitter

  • The Morning After Huddle: August 15, 2022

    The Morning After Huddle: August 15, 2022

    After a few days off, we’re back like we never left. Welcome to the Morning After Huddle! We’re not the only ones back: so is football (preseason that is).

    Here’s what you need to know:

    • To start, the entire state of New York is breathing a collective sigh of relief. During Saturday’s slate of preseason games, starting Jets QB Zach Wilson injured himself in what appears a non-contact play. Doctors are diagnosing Wilson with a bone bruise and a meniscus tear that requires surgery this week. The expected timeline for recovery is anywhere from 2-6 weeks, but doctors will know more once they perform surgery. It remains to be seen who will step in for Wilson.
    • Next, there are lots of storylines out of this weekend’s games, but one that adds to the chaos is Browns QB Deshaun Watson apologizing to the women impacted by his actions. For the first time, Watson acknowledges his role in his sexual misconduct allegation and offers these words: “I want to say that I’m truly sorry to all of the women that I have impacted in this situation.” After the game, Watson did not add anything to his words. The timing of this is peculiar given that the suspension for Watson is still pending.
    • Finally, your Key Signings Roundup is chalked full of action. Rosters got down to 85 players yesterday.

    Catch up with us tomorrow! The Morning After is back with more news you definitely want to know.

  • Warner Bros. to Distribute MGM Films Internationally Except for the Next ‘James Bond’

    Warner Bros. to Distribute MGM Films Internationally Except for the Next ‘James Bond’

    It looks like MGM has found a new distribution partner in Warner Bros. Discover for its international releases. There is, however, one massive surprise in the form that James Bond‘s next film is not part of that very deal. This deal is a move away from their usual partnership with Universal, who was behind the releases of House of Gucci, Licorice Pizza, and the previous James Bond installment, No Time to Die.

    As of this deal, the upcoming releases of Bones and All as well as Creed III will be distributed through Warner Bros. International. Universal isn’t out of the deal completely, as they are still set to distribute MGM and Orion’s upcoming release of Till, as well as 2023’s Woman Talking. They also have the rights to distribute the next James Bond film,w which was part of their original agreement.

    This multi-year deal not only includes theatrical distribution of non-US countries (which will also include China) but also means they will collaborate on marketing, publicity, and exhibitor relations. It does open up the question of what it might also mean for their US distribution, especially with Amazon purchasing MGM for $8.5 billion earlier this year.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • First ‘The Boys’ Season 4 Set Video Leaks as Production Seemingly Starts

    First ‘The Boys’ Season 4 Set Video Leaks as Production Seemingly Starts

    Not too long ago, the official The Boys‘ official Twitter account shared that some of the cast were already heading to Toronto to start filming on the fourth season. The Amazon Prime Video series saw a spike in popularity with its recent third season, excitement has been quite high for what the next entry might have to offer.

    While we still have to wait a bit longer for any official information, it does seem like they may have started work already on the production. Twitter user @Justin3ric has taken to Twitter to share what seems like it is part of the set at a restaurant. On the side we can clearly see posters for A-train and potentially other heroes.

    https://twitter.com/Justin3ric/status/1558856146596904961

    It should be noted that there’s a chance this set is also used for the upcoming spinoff Gen-V. There’s no cast on location which makes it difficult to say for sure, but the timing does hint at it potentially being part of the fourth season, especially with the upcoming spinoff taking place mostly in a college setting.

    There’s a lot of hope for many characters to return and see how it potentially builds upon the previous season. Jensen Ackles became a season favorite with his performance as Soldier Boy and it’ll be interesting to see how they continue to add elements that pull from the genre it’s also technically mocking. We’ll have to see but it’s great to know they wasted no time tackling the next season.

    Source: Twitter (The Boys Account), Twitter

  • Giancarlo Esposito Reveals He Turned Down a ‘Loki’ Role

    Giancarlo Esposito Reveals He Turned Down a ‘Loki’ Role

    Giancarlo Esposito has been on the top of many people’s lists for joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. To be fair, he has been gunning for a role for quite some time as well. Not too long ago, he revealed he’s had talks with the production company and even pointed out he’d been interested in taking on the role of Professor X. Now, in a new interview at the Fan Expo he has revealed a role he declined.

    According to a tweet from ComicBook.com’s Liam Crowley, he has revealed that he turned down a role for Marvel’s upcoming TV ventures, where he highlighted that he believes it was going to be a part of Loki. Of course, he doesn’t disclose any details on what precisely that role could’ve been or in what capacity, it does raise quite a few curious questions. He highlights that he held out on the role to get one on the movie side of the MCU.

    The first thought maybe that he could’ve had the role of the upcoming central villain, Kang the Conqueror. He briefly appears as He Who Remains, played by the talented Jonathan Majors. He was set to appear in the upcoming Ant-Man and the Wasp sequel, Quantumania, which would deter that this wasn’t sold as a movie role.

    So, he may have had another role that would eventually grow, as Marvel Studios wouldn’t just use Esposito on a singular role with how committed he is to joining the franchise. Perhaps he was going to be Mobius or even a Loki Variant at one point. Still, it’s great to see how excited he is to join and hopefully they find the right role soon.

    Source: Twitter

  • Report Reveals Emilia Clarke’s ‘Secret Invasion’ Role

    Report Reveals Emilia Clarke’s ‘Secret Invasion’ Role

    Some of the earliest set photos from Marvel Studios Disney Plus streaming series Secret Invasion showed star Emilia Clarke sharing scenes with Cobie Smulders‘ Maria Hill and an unknown character played by Kingsley Ben-Adir. The photos spurred speculation about who Clarke might be playing in the spy thriller with names like Abigail Brand and Jessica Drew thrown around online. Now it seems Clarke’s role has been uncovered and it’s not one that people seemed to be expecting.

    According to insider Daniel RPK, Clarke is playing a Skrull named G’iah, first introduced in Marvel Comics in the 2019 limited series Meet the Skrulls. Interestingly enough, nearly a year ago, G’iah’s husband, Klrr, was included in a speculative piece about who some of the series’ villainous Skrulls might be. In the comics, Klrr and G’iah, along with their 3 children, served the Skrulls as spies within Stark Industries and worked to sow the seeds of a second Skrull invasion of Earth.

    It would not be surprising to see Meet the Skrulls serve as inspiration for at least part of Secret Invasion, especially given who Clarke’s character was seen interacting with on set. Should she truly be G’iah, it would appear from the set photos, where she seemed to be very friendly with Maria Hill, that she’s been on Earth for a while and developed some solid relationships with powerful and influential people. That’s assuming Hill was actually Hill and not a Skrull herself. After all, who do you trust?

  • ‘Kraven the Hunter’ Star Turned Down a Role in ‘Deadpool 2’

    ‘Kraven the Hunter’ Star Turned Down a Role in ‘Deadpool 2’

    Aaron Taylor-Johnson has his fingerprints all over the comic book movie genre. The actor had his breakthrough playing the lead in 2010’s Kick-Ass, an adaptation of Mark Millar’s popular Image comic series, and it’s 2013 sequel, before quickly moving on to portray the speedster Pietro Maximoff in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. While Taylor-Johnson has yet to reprise that role, he is set to bring the title character to life in next year’s Kraven the Hunter, marking his fourth overall foray into the genre and putting him on a possible collision course with Spider-Man himself. If all that wasn’t enough, the actor recently revealed that he also had an opportunity to join Fox’s now-defunct X-Men universe in 2018.

    Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter in support of his new film Bullet Train, Taylor-Johnson admitted he landed his new role partly because he was already familiar with director David Leitch. The filmmaker had previously helmed Deadpool 2, and supposedly, had once reached out to Taylor-Johnson in hopes he’d join the cast. THR got the surprising scoop while the action star was explaining why he wanted to work on Bullet Train:

    Well, I don’t think it’s autopilot by any means, so I do believe in a bit of fate and luck. I feel fortunate and lucky that we were able to make this movie during a pandemic. I’ve always wanted to work with Brad Pitt. I’ve always wanted to make a movie on a Los Angeles soundstage. This was yet another movie I fought for. This was one of those hot scripts around town, and David Leitch actually asked me to be in ‘Deadpool 2’ ages ago.

    While he never gave any indication of which character he might have been up for, he did state that it was ultimately his decision not to do the acclaimed sequel. Comically, Taylor-Johnson also adds that the meeting with Leitch wasn’t enough to book his Bullet Train role, but it did get him a spot in the line to audition. He explained:

    So I met him, but I didn’t do that. So when this came around, I was like, “Hey, do you remember me?” And he was like, “Of course. I like you as an actor.” So I was like, “Cool, what about this character?” And he was like, “Get in line, buddy. There’s like ten other actors who want this job and they’ve got a bigger name than you do.” (Laughs.) So I don’t expect these roles to be handed out, and I’m willing to fight for them, which is what I had to do for this. So I think I’m in the driver’s seat because I’m working hard. I also try to manifest what I feel, and sometimes, the universe brings it back my way. But you still have to actively go out and get it.

    Taylor-Johnson’s celebrity is on the rise, so expect to see a lot more of the former Godzilla star in the years to come. Bullet Train is now in theaters, while Kraven the Hunter is scheduled to release on January 13, 2023.

    Source: THR

  • RUMOR: ‘Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War’ May Be Heading to Disney+

    RUMOR: ‘Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War’ May Be Heading to Disney+

    Disney has been quite busy trying to continue building its streaming platform. They invested quite a bit when they purchased all of 20th Century Fox to make use of its library, building upon it as one of the biggest competitors to join the market and producing original productions for Marvel, Star Wars, and more. Now, they have started embracing their international audiences with original Korean dramas and even trying to venture into anime, such as Star Wars Visions. If a new rumor is anything to believe, they may have seen the opportunity in building their anime offerings.

    Known leaker @SugoiLITE has taken to Twitter to share that the upcoming continuation of the Bleach anime might be getting a new home. Supposedly, Disney has acquired the streaming license for Disney+ as the show is about to get its revival to tell the final saga from the manga, Thousand-Year Blood War. We have to keep in mind that there is no official confirmation and we’ll have to take it with a grain of salt.

    https://twitter.com/SugoiLITE/status/1558106191146143745

    There is still something interesting if this does turn out to be true. Disney+ has been trying to become a strong competitor with Netflix. Disney’s three streaming service totaled even managed to surpass Netflix’s subscriber count and while the numbers are slowing down, as to be expected with more competitors entering the market, it’s still seeing growth. Disney has recently upped the price with a new ad-supported model added in, which is likely to shake up things moving forward but we’re entering the cost-covering era for these streaming ventures. We’ll see if this potentially pays off for the streaming service.

    Source: Twitter

  • Aaron Taylor-Johnson Calls ‘Kraven the Hunter’ a Personal Story

    Aaron Taylor-Johnson Calls ‘Kraven the Hunter’ a Personal Story

    Aaron Taylor-Johnson can currently be seen in Sony’s Bullet Train, which is set to top the box office once again in its second weekend, but he can next be seen as the Spider-Man villain, Kraven the Hunter. Production on the Spider-Man offshoot recently wrapped production and for the former Quicksilver actor, it’s exciting because it filmed entirely on location.

    In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Taylor-Johnson discussed the differences in filming both Bullet Train and Kraven the Hunter. The former, of course, was filmed almost entirely on a soundstage, while Kraven was filmed on location which the actor believes will make a huge difference in the way the story is told. “Kraven being shot entirely on location is going to make all the difference. It’s going to add something really beautiful to our personal story,” Taylor-Johnson said. “It also sets Kraven apart from that Marvel stage look. It’s important for this character to be in the real world. It’s important for the authenticity of the story.”

    As the actor notes, it’s important that for a character who is mainly running barefoot on the streets, it’s important to use the elements in the storytelling. It’s a far cry from the actor’s work on Avengers: Age of Ultron, where most of his work as Quicksilver was done on a soundstage, but it remains to be seen whether or not filming on location gives Kraven the Hunter a much-needed push. After all, Sony’s most recent Spider-Man offshoot, Morbius, was both a critical and box office failure.

    Kraven the Hunter will hit theaters on Jan. 13, 2023. It’s directed by J. C. Chandor and stars Taylor-Johnson as the titular character, alongside Russell Crowe, Ariana DeBose, Christopher Abbott, Levi Miller, and Alessandro Nivola. The screenplay was written by Richard Wenk, Art Marcum and Matt Holloway.

    Source: THR.