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  • Joss Whedon Breaks Silence on ‘Justice League’ Controversy

    Joss Whedon Breaks Silence on ‘Justice League’ Controversy

    The release of the initial cut of Justice League was not met with a lot of fanfare, and would only go on to sour as more details from behind-the-scenes found their way online. Director Joss Whedon‘s behavior was put into the spotlight with Ray Fisher would call him out on being “abusive and unprofessional” on set, as well as racist intentions. Gal Gadot would eventually back up his claims, as actors from other projects came forward with their own history on his toxic behavior. Up until now, Whedon remained silent on the accusations but seemingly has opened up in a recent interview with NY Magazine, where he started blaming the film’s cast for the troubled production.

    In the interview, Whedon was very vocal about working with Fisher, as he claims the test screenings deemed his character “the worst of all the characters in the film.” In his description, he recalls spending hours finding ways to adapt the character, with these conversions not having any malice behind them, but goes on to call out the actor and his talents. He proclaims that the character’s story “logically made no sense” and wasn’t impressed by Fisher‘s acting. He goes on to state in regards to the allegations:

    We’re talking about a malevolent force. We’re talking about a bad actor in both sense.

    Joss Whedon

    He also makes a point to call out Gal Gadot in the article, as he claims she stated that he “didn’t understand how superhero movies worked.” Whedon goes as far as to deny the accusations by Gadot that he threatened her with the statement that: “English is not her first language, and I tend to be annoyingly flowery in my speech.” He proclaimed that the threat was a statement in regard to himself and not her, but she clapped back in an e-mail for the New York stating she “understood perfectly.”

    It would eventually lead to a loud outcry on set by the director, as he proclaimed that never in his career has he worked with “a ruder group of people.” The interview also touched on Zack Snyder completing his vision of the film and the fan’s reactions to when Whedon initially joined the project, as well as when the controversy made the rounds. While he doesn’t directly blame him for the events that transpired, he goes on to say “I just know in whose name it was done.”

    Source: NY Magazine via Twitter

  • RUMOR: ‘Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom’ Recasting The Brine King

    RUMOR: ‘Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom’ Recasting The Brine King

    In 2018, Aquaman introduced some interesting new characters and creatures to the DC Extended Universe. The film saw Arthur Curry overthrow his step-brother, Orm, and unite the Seven Kingdoms of the Atlantis. One such character was the Brine King, the leader of the one kingdom that would not bend the knee to Orm as he sought out their allegiance to become the Ocean Master. A new tidbit of information suggests the Brine King will be back for the upcoming sequel, though he might sound a little different.

    Actor Antony Gabriel’s Many profile indicates that he will be voicing the character in Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom. The capacity and details of the role are currently unknown as nothing has been officially confirmed. Actor John Rhys-Davies, best known for his work in the Lord of The Rings trilogy as Gimli, originally provided the voice for the Brine king.

    The news is currently just a rumor as nothing has been officially confirmed in the film. It’s entirely possible that the role is just so small that there wasn’t a need to bring back Davies as the character so they just had Gabriel provide the voice as he’s currently rumored to voicing Mister Mind in Shazam: Fury of The Gods.

    Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom is currently set to hit theaters later this year on December 16th.

    SOURCE: Mandy

  • UPDATED: David F. Sandberg Denies ‘Shazam: Fury of The Gods’ Mister Mind Rumor

    UPDATED: David F. Sandberg Denies ‘Shazam: Fury of The Gods’ Mister Mind Rumor

    UPDATE: Director David Sandberg has responded to the listing of Antony Gabriel as Mister Mind, confirming that while the actor did work with them on set, he is not the voice of Mister Mind of any other character in the film. Of course, he doesn’t give away what role exactly he had and it’s curious that he’d include the name in his own listing, but we’ll have to wait and see if Mr. Mind might still appear in the film.

    Source: Twitter

    Towards the end of 2019’s Shazam!, Doctor Thaddeus Sivana is locked away after being defeated by the Shazamily. As the film closes, he is visited in his cell, which is covered in magical markings, by Mister Mind, a telepathic Caterpillar who was shown to have escaped the Rock of Eternity earlier in the film. Mister Mind seems to have taken an interest in Sivanna and looks to work with him in order to conquer the Seven Realms and have his revenge on Shazam.

    It was believed that both Mister Mind and Doctor Sivanna would not be present in the upcoming sequel, Shazam: Fury of The Gods, as the three evil sisters would be the main antagonists of the film. However, a new casting listing hints that Mister Mind could indeed be back, and voiced by a new actor as the Mandy profile of actor Antony Gabriels lists him as the voice for Mister Mind in the upcoming film.

    There’s been no official word on Mister Mind’s return or word of Gabriel’s casting so it could indeed be a small surprise meant for the film. It’s possible that Mind could return to recruit more villains for whatever he has planned for his conquest of the Seven Realms and could very well be setting up the Monster Society of Evil, a culminated group of the Marvel Family’s biggest foes.

    Shazam: Fury of The Gods is set to hit theaters on June 2nd, 2023 with Zachary Levi back in the spandex and David Sandberg returning as director.

    SOURCE: Mandy

  • REVIEW: “Fearbook Club” is a Story of Growing Up Told Through a Spooky Tale

    REVIEW: “Fearbook Club” is a Story of Growing Up Told Through a Spooky Tale

    When I first stumbled upon Fearbook Club on NetGalley, I was immediately pulled in by the cover. Then I read the description and was easily sold by its premise. A group of middle school students who are deemed the weirdos and forced to join Yearbook Club, only to discover there are ghosts of missing students lingering around campus. It’s a pretty fun concept, and while it isn’t always cohesive, it’s a rather easy read that celebrates the outcasts.

    Fearbook Club, which hails from AfterShock Comics, was created by writer Richard Hamilton, artist Marco Matrone and letterer Dave Sharpe tells the story of four middle school outcasts that are forced to work together in a Yearbook Club. The lead character, Whit, is a shy 6th grader who loves photography and spends most of his free time taking photographs that he develops in his makeshift darkroom at home. It’s when he develops his film after he takes of a fellow student near a condemned building on school that his world becomes entwined in chaos. In the photo, Whit discovers other students in the picture — other students that were only visible through the photograph.

    When Whit and the others try to unravel the mystery, they soon discover their school has a long track record of missing students that are seemingly forgotten. What unravels is a story of overcoming fear and doing what is right in the long run. Unfortunately, this is also where the story falls apart. Things become rushed that the last twenty pages become hard to follow. The mystery of who and what is behind the missing students is fascinating, but it’s not executed in the best way to truly benefit the story.

    As for the artwork, it’s pretty great, honestly. It’s the artwork that carries the story. From the design of the “monster,” to the way the emotions are conveyed in scenes, the artwork tells the story wonderfully.

    Overall, Fearbook Club isn’t a book everyone is going to love and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. While it does have its issues, Fearbook Club is a book I would highly recommend to young readers because it tackles important topics such as overcoming fear, handling grief and finding yourself. Even better? It does so in a way to keep them invested in the story — it brings in a spooky element, all while still managing to stay reality-based.

  • ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Passes $900M Internationally, Highest-Grossing Film in Mexico

    ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Passes $900M Internationally, Highest-Grossing Film in Mexico

    Sony’s latest Marvel film, Spider-Man: No Way Home, continues to blow expectations out of the water, as the film will pass Black Panther‘s domestic box office in just a short time. At this point, it has garnered the spot of fourth highest-grossing film in the United States. It’s no small accomplishment if you consider that the Omicron discussion is still worrying some about an eventual closure of cinemas once again. Still, the film has been a juggernaut, as only this weekend’s release of Scream managed to surpass it this weekend.

    It’s been a great weekend as the latest horror entry beat expectations, and No Way Home managed to garner a few interesting new milestones. As @ErikDavis shared, the film is now the highest-grossing film of Mexico, may even add Central America and Brazil to that list. It’s passed $900M internationally, opening up a potential $1 billion if it can still keep up some momentum.

    It’s definitely no small accomplishment with everything stacked against it due to the rising numbers worldwide. The fact the film managed to pass the $1.6B mark is quite impressive and everyone is still curious just how close it might get to potentially join the $2B club. It still seems unlikely currently, but the film has proven to have some great legs in cinemas. Plus, there’s also the possibility it might still hit China for that last boost it needs.

    Source: Twitter

  • Murphy’s Team-Up, Volume 14: Reviewing ‘Peacemaker’

    Murphy’s Team-Up, Volume 14: Reviewing ‘Peacemaker’

    Anthony Canton III

    The first three episodes of Peacemaker are an energetic whirlwind of wild. James Gunn’s fingerprints are all over this in the best way possible. From the opening scene to the can’t skip opening credits, it’s a tour de force of fun. John Cena was born to play this role, and Danielle Brooks is a revelation as Adebayo. Having the intricate knowledge of The Suicide Squad makes this show already feel lived in, but you can totally watch it fresh. I’m anticipating episode 4 already to see what’s next from this wonderful cast and crew. P and V!

    Charles Murphy

    Peacemaker Trailer Reveals First Look at Judomaster

    Peacemaker’s first 3 episodes were a ride! This is the role John Cena was born to play. While he’s otherwise never really stood out to me in any of his other projects, Cena’s work as Peacemaker has been fantastic. And while’s he’s still pretty much just an asshole who works well as the punchline of pretty much every joke, if you’re paying attention you’re seeing something more from Cena in these episodes. James Gunn’s strengths as a writer and director are magnified here with more time to spend on the interpersonal dynamics that he always manages so magnificently and the members of the core team are all doing great work both fitting in and getting their chances to shine. Gunn’s also done a great job taking characters that nobody has given a shit about for decades and making them fun. Vigilante has been hilarious to date and Judomaster’s fight scene was a riot. Robert Patrick has caused a lot of feelings in his limited time as Peacemaker’s piece of shit father and it’s clear he’s got a bigger role to play yet. To be fully honest, I don’t even care to learn more about Project Butterfly or who is behind it. I’d be fine just watching these people go through their day.

    Mary Maerz

    Peacemaker delivers on its promise to be a parody-like take on the more traditional superhero genre. It’s funny, it’s raunchy, and it confuses the boundaries of hero and anti-hero more than most takes on anti-heroes. John Cena really is perfect as Peacemaker–without that, Peacemaker might have been a non-starter–and the casting overall is phenomenal. Freddie Stroma’s Vigilante is the best part of the whole series, though. I thought the first three episodes had some pacing issues and didn’t quite capitalize on its strongest elements, so to me they felt a bit more flat than I would have liked. But they consistently improved as they went along, and I am pretty confident the series is going to keep getting stronger.

    Joao Pinto

    The Unexpected Relationship That DC Fans Are Loving In Peacemaker

    Even though Peacemaker debuted to mostly wonderful reviews across the board it didn’t quite grab me in the same way. Even so, I absolutely understand how it being R-rated helps to take such a show to a new level, making it feel, at times, a bit more real and not as squeaky clean, to a fault, as many others. Especially because that angle fits so very well with the bonkers worldbuilding set up in The Suicide Squad by James Gunn. The episodic format does allow us to spend more time in said world, and it’s perhaps the repetitiveness and the double downing on many jokes that comes with that extra runtime, making them the norm and not the exception, that makes them feel a bit odd. As such, the humor has been sort of hit-and-miss but I don’t hold that against the series as its best moments still seem to overshadow its lowest. With just three episodes out so far it’s expected that the best is still yet to come as the script matures alongside the characters in it.
    The highlights have been, without a doubt, John Cena and Danielle Brooks’ performances. While Cena seems to have been born to play this role and shines in every chance he gets, Brooks exudes such humanity in every single line spoken that you can’t help but root for her every step of the way.
    Above all, it’s palpable how everybody involved had a great time making this show. Even if it might turn out not to be my favorite thing ever, there isn’t much more one can ask for from such a talented cast and crew.

    Joseph Aberl

    Peacemaker is peak James Gunn, as you see him truly embrace the wackiness of a post-The Suicide Squad world. Not only do we get some good comedy to ease us into understanding these characters quite easily, but they also build up a rather intriguing mystery surrounding its main antagonists. We’re put into Peacemaker’s shoes as we try to find out what exactly he is going up against, as it slowly unravels throughout the episodes. What sells the show are the performances by Freddie Stroma and John Cena, whose attitude completely counteracts the more serious nature of what they are going up against. Cena is also all-in with the wackiness and quite a raunchy continuation of his character, which fits perfectly into the R-rated and brutal world we were introduced to.

    Hunter Radesi

    Peacemaker Show Footage Reveals First Look At Vigilante

    Peacemaker is a wonderful, mixed bag. The show simultaneously feels like something born out of the early 2000s and something that could never have existed before now. It is a glorious celebration of the weirdness of comic books while also tearing their self-righteousness apart at the seams. It’s not a show for everyone, but it was never advertised that way. John Cena is a surprisingly capable leading man, the action is great, and when the humor lands, it really lands. It’s James Gunn tapping into his Super days, with a much larger budget. It may not be the most nuanced comic adaptation we’ve ever gotten, but if you’re looking for a good, raunchy time, it doesn’t get much better. I dig it.

    John Sabato

    Peacemaker has been everything I’ve wanted it to be and more. John Cena shines brighter than his helmet in this series. He’s really acting his ass off here and is becoming such a phenomenal actor. His supporting cast is just as good with Harcourt, Economos, Murn, Vigilante, and Adebayo each bringing something special to the show and just working so well with each other. Of course this wouldn’t be a thing without the maestro himself, James Gunn, who continues to create of the best comic book media in the genre. The way he’s able to bring such emotional weight to the silliest and most outlandish ideas is something to behold. Gunn just knows what he is doing here; he’s a giant nerd in the best way possible and makes some really deep cuts and provides some fantastic world building in the series. There’s some seriously great character work here with Christopher Smith, peeling back those layers yet still letting him be the douchebag we all got to know in The Suicide Squad. I truly hope Gunn continues to build on his corner of the DCEU because this stuff is GOLD.

  • Jason Blum Offers Update on ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s Film

    Jason Blum Offers Update on ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s Film

    Five Nights at Freddy’s has been quite the pop-cultural phenomenon when the first game was released by indie developer Scott Cawthon. The simple premise of you being a nightguard stuck in a Chuck E. Cheese-inspired pizza parlor as the animatronics come to life to kill you built quite the connection with players. There was a lot of excitement when Chris Columbus signed on to direct the project. Well, that was until he left the project in October making many wonders if the project is still happening.

    Luckily, the founder of the production company, Jason Blum, had a QnA session on Twitter, where he answered a few questions regarding the project. While he didn’t offer any updates, it was the first time we’ve heard anything about it since Columbus left the project. In one of his tweets, he pointed out that the project is still in development and hasn’t been passed on.

    He also answer a question regarding if a new director has been attached to the project, which they are seemingly still actively looking to find. The original director signed on all the way back in 2018, but due to Cawthon not signing off on any scripts – which there have supposedly been quite a few – and delaying the project further.

    It’s a bit disheartening how long the project has taken, as even if the series may have overstayed its welcome for many, there’s something about the base concept that works incredibly well for a horror franchise. Five Nights at Freddy’s has also seen a resurgence with its latest game release Security Breach, which had a mixed reception. Here’s hoping we get some news on the project moving forward in the near future.

    Source: Twitter, Twitter

  • Official Japanese Marvel Site May Offer First Glimpse at Marvel Studios’ 2022 Disney+ Schedule

    Official Japanese Marvel Site May Offer First Glimpse at Marvel Studios’ 2022 Disney+ Schedule

    We’ve been trying to wrap our heads around what the schedule might look like for Marvel Studios’ release plans on Disney+ in 2022. We even made a conceptual timeline, which you can check out here. The latest reveal that we’ll get a Moon Knight trailer on Monday at least confirmed what we can expect early on, but we still know very little about the rest of the year. Luckily, the Japanese Marvel site may have offered our potential first glimpse at the 2022 release schedule.

    What stands out is that Moon Knight is included ahead of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which is then followed by She-Hulk. That schedule makes sense given the six-episode structure, but what is a bit confusing is that between its release and that of Thor: Love and Thunder in July, we would get not one but three Disney+ series. In addition to She-Hulk, I Am Groot and the second season of What If…? are included. Of course, it may overlap given when the shows might release, but Ms. Marvel seemingly won’t release until the fourth Thor film hits theaters in July.

    It seems a bit unrealistic we’d get three shows in the course of a few months, as 2021 was quite spread out. Plus, there are also quite a few Star Wars series that is aiming a release next year Also, if this is a potential “release schedule” it does make you wonder why Secret Invasion is set ahead of November’s release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, but is the only one listed without a release date. Plus, it would make sense for that series to release around The Marvels and it might be quite a lot if they release six series over the course of a year.

    It actually makes you wonder just how big a project I Am Groot might be, as it could be closer to Disney+’s classic shorts. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s more an Olaf Presents-type series that consists of a few smaller segments. So, that would make its release more fitting but What If…? and She-Hulk within around two months seems like a lot. Perhaps they are trying out a new strategy this year, but we won’t know until we get a clearer release date.

    Source: Marvel

  • REVIEW: Usopp Gets His Time to Shine in ‘One Piece’s Chapter 1036

    REVIEW: Usopp Gets His Time to Shine in ‘One Piece’s Chapter 1036

    So, I know I am very late to this chapter and the next one is pretty much already out, but I still wanted to take some time to catch up on One Piece Chapter 1036 after the holidays. This chapter uses its time to give us an epilogue on Zoro’s fight, catch up with everyone throughout the raid as well as set up the return to Luffy and Kaido’s showdown. There’s a lot happening in this entry and just highlights how well Eiichiro Oda manages to juggle every single moving piece throughout the arc.

    Zoro’s takedown is quite brutal, as the man literally lost a piece of his wing as a result. Though, the true loss is highlighted in the flashback to King’s time with a more enthusiastic Kaido. We once again get a reference to Joy Boy, as Oda sets up a curious parallel between these two combatants. Two men who swore to never lose a fight are at the breaking point to define which one would succeed. The declaration of Zorro’s to be “The King of Hell” is a powerful moment and is highlighted by the visuals.

    Though, I love Oda can still keep a powerful moment and add something a bit goofy, such as Zoro being so powerful a swing of his swords can push him right back to the floating island. It’s the same when we return to Yamato, who is still desperately trying to find a way to the armory to ensure that when the island drops it doesn’t blow up Wano. Her new ally Fuga crashing into Rokki is worthy of a new nominee for best One Piece faces.

    There are a few more vignettes that give us quick updates on what is happening, such as Big Mom’s continued onslaught, the battle between Raizo and Fukurokuju, and Orochi enjoying the company of Komurasaki. I’m a little disappointed that Drake was taken down off-screen by CP-0 and hope the set-up from his revelation still gets some build-up at one point, but it seems unlikely for now. Yet, I also thought the same with Apoo and he just keeps getting back up. So, you never know.

    Out of everyone in this chapter – and there are some great character moments – Usopp truly gets to shine in my opinion. It’s such a great moment as he fights a ton of Breast Pirates to protect Kiku and Kinemon. His speech calling out their “leave us behind” mentality is just an incredible showcase of how much character growth he went through. His survivor mentality is also a perfect contrast to the samurai’s honor code, and it truly gives him a moment to stand out with everything happening in the raid. Izo’s appearance is also such a poignant moment, as he unveils the mark that has always remained on his back.

    We’ve finally at the final part of the chapter and it’s finally time to see just how the one-on-one is going between Luffy and Kaido. They say very little once we return to the top of Onigashima, as they are just wailing at each other with all their moves. It’s obvious they are hitting their limit, but the smiles on both faces just highlight the words from King earlier in the chapter. We’ve finally returned to the fight that’ll shake the world as we know it and what a way to lead into it.

  • Danny Trejo Shares a BTS Image From ‘The Book of Boba Fett’

    Danny Trejo Shares a BTS Image From ‘The Book of Boba Fett’

    The latest The Book of Boba Fett episode continued to explore its titular character’s hold over Tatooine. Temuera Morrison gets a lot of chances to humanize a character that previously didn’t get much character development. The highlight of the episode is when he is given a young Rancor as a gift, which includes a cameo by Danny Trejo as its trainer. It’s a heartfelt moment and the addition of the Machete actor’s performance made it a standout in the episode. To celebrate his appearance in the series, he shared a new image from behind-the-scenes.

    It’s great to see how they continue to use practical effects to bring elements from this universe to life. The fact we even get to learn more about the beast’s nature, which also plays in nicely into the parallels with the same happening to Fett. Also, the fact Trejo makes a reference to Machete Kills Again… In Space! is such a great callback. We don’t know how big of a role he has in the season, but hopefully, we’ll get a lot more as we further explore what it takes to raise and eventually ride a Rancor.

    Source: Twitter