Disney+ made quite the headlines when they announced that shows like Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and more from the Netflix era are making their way to the streaming service. While these projects have an older demographic, the service will include parental control. Mature content isn’t new to the service, as specific markets include it through the Star branding, but it seems that this move has gotten the attention of the Parents Television Council, who have slammed Disney for their decision. Its President Tim Winter had made the following statement:
For more than 98 years, the Walt Disney Company has been synonymous with the words Family Friendly, and I can think of no other corporation in American history that has been built more squarely on the backs – and on the wallets – of parents and families. The company’s eponymous platform Disney Plus logically marketed itself as a family-friendly streaming service, and parents have placed their trust in Disney to deliver just that
Tim Winter
He goes on to make false comparisons, such as Disney World “adding live striptease performances in Fantasyland” to make its point. Parental control is also mentioned, but they believe that the mere existence of R-rated content violates the trust of families. It’s curious considering that What If…? actively promoted episodes featuring zombies that are also killed throughout the episode.
There is no need for Disney Plus to compete with the explicit content on other streaming platforms. Disney is already at a competitive advantage with a streaming platform that is the safest one out there for families. Its foray into TV-MA-rated fare will forever tarnish its family-friendly crown
While many could argue that the addition of more mature content only benefits their growing market by also offering something for older parts of the family to enjoy the content. Who knows if they might add additional elements into allowing a more family-friendly setup for users of the streaming service, similar to Netflix’s Kids function. We’ll see how or even if Disney reacts to this statement at some point and how they might tackle the concerns.
Doesn’t it feel like they started filming the “Weird” Al Jankovich biopic just a few days ago? It has been some time but it still seems crazy how fast the Daniel Radcliffe-led project with the title Weird: The Al YankovicStory managed to wrap production. We first got some set photos almost two or three weeks ago featuring Radcliffe as the titular star. Eric Appel is in the director’s chair to explore the story of a young Jankovich parodying his way up to stardom.
It’s astonishing that they wrapped production in 18 days, and it’s great to see Yankovich‘s excitement for the project. We still don’t know just how much of his story this project will cover or how they might approach it. So far, we only saw Radcliffe rocking his original look when the comedian started making a name for himself, especially with his iconic afro and mustache.
Yankovich has been heavily involved with the project and it wouldn’t be too surprising if he will also appear in the film as himself, or break the fourth wall now and then. If they already wrapped production this fast, it seems likely that the film could find itself on Roku before the year ends.
There’s something rather fun about looking back at a film and how it may have changed throughout production. Spider-Man: No Way Home is no exception, as concept art finding its way online offering a glimpse at how they brought the designs from previous Spider-Man films to a new era. Yet, it seems that one of the members may have looked quite a bit different.
The Amazing Spider-Man‘s Lizard makes his return after RhysIfans played the character back in 2012. He had the same design in the threequel, but it seems that they’ve considered giving him a more comic-accurate design at some point. Ian Joyner shared some artwork offering a glimpse at a very different Lizard wearing his purple pants, lab coat, and a stronger reptilian face.
The design looks great but probably wouldn’t have fit with the character talking throughout the film. Plus, you do lose that charm of his original design as they changed quite a bit with Elektro. So, it would be a shame if both Andrew Garfield‘s villains got a complete redesign while Tobey Maguire‘s remained mostly the same. Hopefully, we do get to see a horror-themed film with Spidey as he takes down Lizard. He is about to enter college and meet a new Dr. Curt Conners and knowing what happens to him, it seems like Parker would be the one to accidentally push him to still end up the way he would throughout the multiverse.
We’ve long waited for any information or update on the next spinoff for The Boys. While the animated Diabolical anthology series has just recently found its way to Amazon Prime, there’s been surprisingly little on the college-focused series that would adapt the comics’ parody of the X-Men. Cast members Aimee Carrero and Shane Paul McGhie have left the project.
Carrero has now joined another dark comedy titled The Consultant, where she’ll star opposite Christoph Waltz and soon will be seen in the upcoming Paramount+ series on the making of The Godfather. It’s unclear what project McGhie may have signed on after leaving the project or if he has at all, but one of the reasons mentioned on their departure is the long-production process.
That is not all, as while the series had all its characters cast, there were seemingly major changes happening behind the scenes that may have led to McGhie leaving the project. For now, both roles will be recast moving forward and we’ll see when they might finally pick up production and find replacements for the roles.
It’s been curious how long the project has dragged out up to this point, but it’s not uncommon. With most of the focus being on the third season of The Boys, the creative team might still be trying to find its place in the overall timeline, especially with whatever the consequences might be from the upcoming third season.
After a long wait, we finally got the first trailer for the next Star Wars Disney+ series, Obi-Wan Kenobi. For quite some time, the project was described as a limited series but it seems that something may have changed at some point. Lucasfilm CEO Kathleen Kennedy has hinted in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that there have been talks for a potential Season 2 to further explore the character’s time before the events of A New Hope.
It’s certainly something we talk about… We’d have to really answer the question why?
Kathleen Kennedy
There’s still some time until the series releases on Disney+, but if there are already talks now we’ll see if the story keeps the door open once it wraps up its episode count. The introduction of the Inquisitors into live-action does open up a lot of different storylines, and we might get some connective tissue between Obi-Wan Kenobi and his eventual return in Rebels to face off against Darth Maul for one last time. As we still have to wait until the end of May, we’ll have to wait for an official confirmation.
Denis Villeneuve has been busy casting for his upcoming Dune sequel, as shortly after it was revealed that Florence Pugh has entered negotiations to join the project, they have now revealed that Elvis star Austin Butler is also in talks to take on the role of Feyd-Rautha. The film is eyeing a release on October 20th next year, and he doesn’t have much time until he needs to start production to continue the adaptation of Frank Herbert‘s iconic novel.
The role Butler is tackling is the younger nephew of Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, who is just as “cruel, treacherous, and cunning” as what you’d expect from a member of the royal Harkonnen bloodline. The actor made his career in Quentin Tarantino‘s Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood before nabbing the starring role in the Elvis Presley biopic.
Quite a few actors have vocally shown their interest in joining the Dune franchise, which is a given with how unique it is when it comes to what a modern-day blockbuster film is like. Yet, there has been a growing concern regarding the casting decisions for the Dune franchise, as most of the cast doesn’t reflect the cultural inspiration for most of the book’s characters and cultures. We’ll see what the future has in store as we might expect a lot more casting in the near future.
It’s still crazy to think that after its initial announcement back in 2017, we’re finally seeing development on the live-action adaptation of Eiichiro Oda‘s One Piece series. Co-showrunners Steve Maeda and Matt Owens alongside their team have taken the daunting task of bringing the popular series to Netflix, but with a lot of dedication and heart, the team has been proving they are all-in for this adventure across the East Blue and Grand Line. Naturally, that kind of excitement draws in fans from the series that have their expectations going in.
In a great move, one of the first accounts to keep everyone updated on what’s happening with the live-action adaptation, @OP_Netflix_Fan, kickstarted a survey to let fans share their excitement, hopes, and expectations for the series. As one of the leading voices with starting this survey, a very active Discord channel, and keeping everyone up-to-date on the project, it was a great initiative to let fans share their thoughts on the One Piece adaptation. 10,000 fans have taken their time to join the fun and offer the team a glimpse at what they hope to see. I had quite some fun throwing my own two cents into the survey. So, let’s take a look at some of the highlights. If you want to check out the full survey, you can read it by clicking here.
One Piece Live Action Survey Results!
Over the past week and half, we have accumulated an ASTOUNDING amount of results, as the survey was taken by more than 10,000 people. Super excited to see your reactions to it. Share them using #OPLAsurvey.
— ONE PIECE NETFLIX FAN (@OP_Netflix_Fan) March 10, 2022
What is quite interesting to see is that fans are split on how they’d want the series to be made available. Netflix is famous for its binge model, and it’s expected that all episodes will drop at the same time. Yet, Disney+, Amazon Prime, and more are embracing the weekly model to keep the discussions going on the next episode. When asked, 43% would prefer for all episodes to drop while 40% hope to see a weekly release. 17%, on the other hand, would like multiple episodes to drop over multiple weeks. The binge model is still slightly in the lead, but it’s interesting to see such a small margin between both release models.
As the first season is going to adapt the East Blue Saga, there are quite a few arcs that will get adapted as Luffy sets sail to gather his crew to tackle the Grand Line. Among them is the Arlong Park arc, which has been one of the most popular to this day. For some, it’s also the story that sold people on sticking to One Piece for the long ride. So, it being the arc that people are most excited about is also true with the live-action adaptation, as 80% of participants are excited about this arc. It is closely followed by Baratie (45%), Loguetown (37%), and Romance Dawn (27%.
There was an additional question on where fans hope to see the series end, as there are quite a few options with the East Blue. 10% would be open to the series ending with the famous “I’m dead” scene during Loguetown, as Buggy is about to take Luffy’s head. 30% would also like to see the barrel scene as the end, but the clear winner is Reverse mountain at 50%. I personally would love to see the first season end with the Straw Hats making it through Reverse Mountain only for the final moments to be them about to crash into Laboon. It would make for that perfect tease that the Grand Line is quite a bit more dangerous than anything they faced before.
It wouldn’t be One Piece without its fun cast of characters, and fans have been quite vocal on who they’re excited to see in live-action. Arlong takes the top spot with 68%, followed by Smoker at 59%, and Buggy’s 54%. Poor Morgan takes the last spot with 3%. When it comes to some supporting characters or cameos, 75% want to see Oda‘s tradition of hiding Pandaman in the background continue in its live-action series. I hope they do, and not just visual references but a guy in a full costume as Pandaman.
When it comes to the future of the series, 53% definitely hope to get some foreshadowing in the first season. Popular mentions are the appearance of characters like Doflamingo, Moria, and more during Gol D. Roger’s execution, or wanted posters from future characters being included in the background. It would add that extra layer of continuity as the series continues to expand with future seasons. 70% also want to see Haki get teased early on, which becomes quite important once they enter the New World on the Grand Line. 43% also hope to see some references to Sanji’s past with his family. A personal highlight is that 70% want our first tease of Bink’s Sake in the first season, which I hope to see become a motif throughout some of the series’ themes.
When it comes to adaptation, there is going to change with the translation to live-action. While 31% would be alright with some storylines getting merged at some point, 50% would prefer to see the arc’s not getting combined. Fans want to see iconic elements like the character’s unique laughs or the communication devices known as Den Den Mushi remaining even in this adaptation. 75% generally would only be okay with elements getting cut if it is necessary, but 63% would be open to seeing new scenes featuring the Straw Hats getting added to the material. If it comes to characters, most don’t want to see anyone getting cut but if anyone has to go it seems like it’s either the Nyaban Brothers or Pearl.
There’s a lot more to discuss, but I will end it with one of the biggest question marks regarding how the project will tackle the iconic cover stories. These side stories are disconnected mini-arcs for supporting characters, such as the aftermath of Luffy kicking Buggy to a different island. 65% hope to see them get adapted with 52% on board for Buggy’s little side story. Who wouldn’t want to watchJeff Ward only consisting of his head, feet, and hands running away from a giant bird?
There are a lot more fun questions, such as how fans feel about the addition of original characters, seeing the colorful hair make its way to live-action, the possibility of Jacob Romero Gibson getting Usopp’s iconic long nose, and a lot more. While the series has already entered production, it definitely is a restatement to the franchise’s fan reception and many are excited to see just how the creative team tackles the project. If you want to check out the other questions, such as if Luffy should fight using Arlong’s teeth, you can check them out here.
Marvel Studios’ Phase 4 is already known for dipping into mental health struggles, notably Wanda’s grief in WandaVision and Bucky’s PTSD in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The MCU is about to tackle mental illness directly with the upcoming Disney+ series Moon Knight.
In the comics, Marc Spector is a mercenary who is seemingly revived by the Egyptian moon god Khonshu and becomes the vigilante Moon Knight to serve as his avatar. While that duality alone is enough to create an interesting conversation about identity. Marc Spector, however, is much more complex than the average vigilante. He suffers from dissociative identity disorder (DID). While the series is likely to explore more personalities, we know that Moon Knight will feature Marc Spector’s alter Steven Grant, the Moon Knight himself, and the lesser-known Mr. Knight. Executive producer Grant Curtis discussed how the character’s DID impacts Moon Knight:
It’s a story about identity and finding one’s true self…The journey that Marc Spector is on during our whole show is: Who am I? And how do I reconcile portions of my past, present and potential future that I don’t necessarily agree with? Coming to terms with our baggage and learning to live with ourselves is what we all deal with on a day-to-day basis.
Grant Curtis
The character of Moon Knight has often been compared to Batman, a fellow caped crusader that roams the city at night and often uses similar gadgets. But Curtis makes it clear that viewers should not expect to see a Batman copy:
[Marc Spector is] someone longing for connection, and in a way, could be a counterpoint to the classic, tortured, dark vigilante guy we’ve seen a lot.Grant Curtis
Writer and executive producer Jeremy Slater agrees, and notes:
[Moon Knight’s DID] makes him much more than just sort of a palette-swapped Batman clone. A lot of superheroes are defined by their villains [but] Moon Knight is his own greatest enemy in a lot of ways.Jeremy Slater
It is yet to be seen how exactly Moon Knight tackles Spector’s DID, and how mental illness is portrayed in entertainment can be tricky. We also do not know if other personalities of Spector’s will be featured in the series–in particular, his alter Jake Lockley has been noticeably absent from promotional materials. In any event, Moon Knight looks to be a unique entry in the MCU and his inner struggles should distinguish him from other popular heroes and caped crusaders.
We’ve all wondered how exactly the upcoming Moon Knight adaptation will tackle the character’s identity disorder. The initial trailers offered a confirmation that they are all-in with the concept, and we might even get some horror elements sprinkled throughout. Luckily, future Steven Grant/Marc Spector/Moon Knight Oscar Isaac teased how the series teased its “experiential” for viewers and highlights its roots in psychological horror.
[Moon Knight] is quite true to the psychological horror of not knowing what’s happening and the slow revelations of the truth.Oscar Isaac
The brief sequence when Khonshu chased down Steven Grant down a hallway, and the tease of some otherworldly threats, the fact you might never know what is real and what isn’t sounds like an exciting way to tackle this iconic character. Plus, given the character’s long connection with his identity disorder, it makes him one of the most unique superheroes to get his own series. Here’s hoping we also have a bright future with the Fist of Khonshu moving forward.
The upcoming Marvel Studios’ release on Disney+ will finally introduce Moon Knight into live-action. Not just him but also the deity that is pushing him to the brink of insanity in the form of the Egyptian god Khonshu. The last teaser did give us a glimpse at his design, which is quite faithful to the comics and the laters featurette even shared some additional scenes. Luckily, in an article from USA Today, head writer Jeremy Slater also teased that the character voiced by F. Murray Abraham will be “imperious and sort of snotty and vengeful.” He goes on to describe him as:
He’s this incredibly powerful and immortal God (with) his own insecurities and throws temper tantrums sometimes.
Jeremy Slater
It sounds like a fun take that also makes sense given how Egyptian gods generally were put on a pedestal. So, a god that has been dormant for quite some time would have that kind of attitude if he finally can unleash his powers upon a new avatar, who just happens to be Marc Spector. The tease would hint that Khonshu will mostly be a horror element in Steven Grant’s life before he starts recovering his other personalities and we see Khonshu’s true personality. The juxtaposition would be quite a fun way to catch viewers off-guard once it releases.
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