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  • Disney+ Unveils New ‘STAR WARS VINTAGE’ Branding for Classic Series and Films

    Disney+ Unveils New ‘STAR WARS VINTAGE’ Branding for Classic Series and Films

    Some time ago, Disney+ announced that Disney+ would be adding the original Star Wars: Clone Wars animated series alongside several Ewok properties. The time has finally come as the streaming service has now gone live with the collection. The curious thing is that they added an entirely new branding to make these stand out from the other films and series. It has now been titled the Star Wars Vintage Collection. It looks like they are trying to distinguish between canon and non-canon features easier within the service while still offering both to viewers. They even added some unique visuals to make these series stand out in the service:

     

     

    We can now access several long-out-of-print or previously unavailable movies and series such as Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure, Ewoks: The Battle for Endor, Story of the Faithful Wookiee, Ewoks, and Clone Wars 2D Micro-Series (both volumes). The Star Wars: Droids animated series, although absent from the service at the moment, is set to become available later this year.

     

     

    Disney continues to add this sort of legacy content to their streaming service as their previously signed contracts reach their end. They are getting one step closer to unifying the content under their streaming service, which offers a wide variety of properties that seemed long-forgotten. It will be interesting to see if they also start trying to add content that got scattered due to various deals. Here’s hoping we could see The Incredible Hulk or the Spider-Man series and films find their way home one day.

  • New Look at Henry Cavill Released as ‘The Witcher’ Season 2 Wraps Up Production

    New Look at Henry Cavill Released as ‘The Witcher’ Season 2 Wraps Up Production

    Netflix has been continuing to expand its repertoire with various franchises. One of its stand-outs was The Witcher, which saw Henry Cavill take on Gerald of Rivia. The franchise is an adaptation of the Polish novels by Andrzej Sapowksi. Of course, there is also CD Projekt Red’s very popular gaming franchise. The Netflix series takes inspiration from both properties but tries to maintain a unique identity to stand out. They are celebrating the production end for the second season. As such, the official Twitter channel released a new image with a closer look at the White Wolf.

     

    Now, Netflix went out of its way to also celebrate the production’s ending with a new video that showcases how large the production was and how they stayed safe.

     

     

    In the video, showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich confirms that they are adapting the storyline of The Blood of Elves in the upcoming season. They also went all out with this production. They confirm 15 locations with a whopping 89 cast members. The production team shot 184 days, which is significant if you consider that they also faced delays due to the ongoing pandemic. It couldn’t have been easy to keep everything safe with such a large ensemble cast while making sure no one gets infected. The details on the upcoming season are still kept under wraps.

    Source: Twitter, YouTube

  • Tom Holland’s ‘UNCHARTED’ Film Delayed Slightly

    Tom Holland’s ‘UNCHARTED’ Film Delayed Slightly

    According to a trade report, the upcoming Uncharted movie adaptation, starring Tom Holland, has seen its premiere date delayed by a week. The film is eyeing a February 18, 2022 release. After going through 2020, when every other week there was news of studios postponing their most relevant IPs for several months, this feels somewhat like a best-case scenario.

    The project, which is adapting one of the highest-regarded videogame franchises of the XXI century to the big screen, has had its fair share of delays, going back to its original release date of June 10, 2016. Since then, several directors have attempted to adapt the iconic gaming franchise. They also went through several actors for the Nathan Drake role. It was not until May 2017 that Holland officially signed on director Ruben Fleischer (Venom), who only got confirmed in late 2020. Mark Wahlberg, Antonio Banderas, and Sophia Taylor Ali joined the project at different stages, with Wahlberg playing Victor Sullivan, Nathan Drake’s friend, and mentor.

     

     

    Considering Holland and Wahlberg’s age, the movie will present us with a younger Nathan Drake than the one we found in the games, probably taking a few hints from the flashback sequences in both Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. We will witness the beginnings of their friendship. It could even end up being their first shared adventure. In the games, their relationship was already well established from the start, and after their first meeting in a flashback sequence in Uncharted 3, there is quite a gap in their story just waiting to get filled.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Powerpuff Girls’ Adds Nicholas Podany as Mojo Jojo’s Son

    ‘Powerpuff Girls’ Adds Nicholas Podany as Mojo Jojo’s Son

    Here’s an interesting surprise. We’ve all been wondering how the upcoming live-action adaptation of the Powerpuff Girls would tackle some of its more colorful villains. CW doesn’t have a massive budget. So, it would be expensive to bring characters like Mojo Jojo, HIM, and many others. Well, it looks like one classic villain is going to return unexpectedly. The Wrap has unveiled that Nicholas Podany will play Joseph Mondel Jr., the son of Mojo Jojo. He will play a “nerdy, power-hungry, insecure Jojo Jr.”, who is obsessed with the three superhero girls. He ends up struggling to balance his father’s rage and his kindness.

    Interestingly, they are adding a son character for the iconic villain. They might be exploring the dynamic between a parent and their children, which would allow Mojo Jojo’s story to parallel Plutoniums. Technically, the villainous monkey was there when the superhero trio was born. So, they might play around with that aspect as well in the angsty adaptation of a children’s cartoon.

    Now, the big question also remains if we will see Mojo Jojo appear in the series. The casting of his son may point to something tragic happening to him. Yet, The Wrap doesn’t state that he has faced any tragedy. At this point, anything is possible with the show’s direction. Hopefully, we might find out if other classic villains are joining the pilot, which will kickstart the now-titled Powerpuff series.

    Source: The Wrap

  • Warner Bros. No Longer Developing Ava Duvernay’s ‘New Gods’

    Warner Bros. No Longer Developing Ava Duvernay’s ‘New Gods’

    Back in 2017, it was announced that development had begun on a film centered around the New Gods, a popular comic created by Jack Kirby, it’s now been confirmed via the Hollywood Reporter that the film is indeed not moving forward at this time. This move also includes the shelving of James Wan‘s Aquaman spin-off, The Trench. It seems that DC wants to refocus their Warner Bros had this to say about the recent decisions:

    As part of our DC slate, some legacy development titles including New Gods and The Trench will not be moving forward. We thank our partners Ava DuVernay, Tom King, James Wan, and Peter Safran for their time and collaboration during this process and look forward to our continued partnership with them on other DC stories. The projects will remain in their skillful hands if they were to move forward in the future.

    There had been little to no word on either project for quite some time. We’d heard that Tom King joined Duvernay on the project. He was co-writing it, but it went silent shortly after. The article states that Warner Bros couldn’t find a place to put the film on its release slate. It seems that Darkseid’s recent appearance in Zack Snyder’s Justice League is also one of the reasons for this decision, as the studio wanted space between the two projects. It’s a shame they aren’t moving forward and hopefully, it could see the light of day in the near future once their figure out their future DC slate.

    Source: THR

  • James Wan’s ‘Aquaman’ Spin-Off ‘The Trench’ Not Moving Forward

    James Wan’s ‘Aquaman’ Spin-Off ‘The Trench’ Not Moving Forward

    No, it isn’t an April Fools joke. The Hollywood Reporter has just revealed that two large adaptations are sadly not moving forward with the studio. One of them being the Aquaman spin-off focused on the newly introduced Trench. It would’ve been the first DC film to jump into a more horror-focused story, as it would explore the world of the deadly amphibious creatures that we saw in the Jason Momoa-led film. Director James Wan had been producing the film together with Peter Safran. It would’ve been based on a script by Noah Gardner and Aidan Fitzgerald. The statement offered by Warner Bros. seems to hint that it is shelved for now but could be brought back to life at a later date. It isn’t the end for Wan’s time with DC, as he is still hard at work on the Aquaman sequel.

    It seems that DC has decided to take a new direction with loosely interconnected pieces, which is why Ava Duvernay‘s New Gods got canceled. It seems that at one point they considered moving it to HBO Max, just like James Gunn‘s Peacemaker series, but decided against it. It seems that his work on the Aquaman sequel was considered enough and they want to potentially return to the idea at a later date. They want to focus more on the Atlanteans. So, we could see a different spin-off for Aqualad or whatever characters they introduce in the sequel. It’s going to be interesting how this affects their future slate and what we may expect from DC moving forward.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ Leaked Marvel Legends Offer Closer Look at Mandarin’s Ten Rings

    ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ Leaked Marvel Legends Offer Closer Look at Mandarin’s Ten Rings

    We’ve all been anxious about the future of Marvel Studios films. Black Widow was postponed and took over the July spot, but that meant that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was pushed back once again. We still haven’t seen a single trailer for the film. So far, we can only make guesses on what to expect based on leaked toys. Our first real look at Shang-Chi’s costume came from a Lego leak some time ago. It now looks like we’ll finally get a closer look at the various characters through Twitter user @SpideyParker24.

    Of course, we have a good look at Simu Lu‘s Shang-Chi, who seems to come with a staff of some kind. Meng’er Zhang‘s Xialing comes equipped with a rope, which could be a Kyoketsu-shoge. It is a double-edged knife that is attached to the end of a rope. Death Dealer seems to come equipped with Kunai, which is the classic weapon of Japanese ninja. Now, the big reveal here is connected to the character of Wenwu, the real Mandarin.

    Wenwu comes equipped with a weapon that many Mortal Kombat fans will recognize. However, the big surprise is what you may notice on his arms. It looks like he has exactly ten rings wrapped around both. Now, the Legend of the Ten Rings will be a major focus of the film, as the title implies. It looks like they are taking a unique approach by adapting the rings in a way that would make them interesting in combat. It reminds me of the film Kung Fu Hustle, where a man strengthened his strikes through the usage of rings around his arms. I like the approach of connecting them to the Chinese heritage, which will surely have a major role in the film. Here’s hoping we get a trailer soon that finally reveals Simu Liu and the cast in action.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘The Falcon and The Winter Soldier’ Episode 3 Primer

    ‘The Falcon and The Winter Soldier’ Episode 3 Primer

    We all really liked the latest episode of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. Sam and Bucky obviously are hurting after seeing John Walker become the new Captain America; they definitely don’t like the fact that he is taking over Steve’s job. Things get crazy when Sam and Bucky follow the Flag-Smashers and have an awesome fight scene! Sooner rather than later, Captain America and Battlestar show up and we realize that the government is tracking Sam through Redwing. Later on, Bucky takes Sam to meet Isaiah. This makes things a whole lot more interesting because it seems like the Flag-Smashers might only exist as a result of running tests on Isaiah whilst he was in jail. On another note, Sam and Bucky refuse to work with Walker building tension between them. As the episode ends, we learn Bucky and Sam are on their way to talk with Zemo to figure out if Hydra has anything to do with the serum getting out.

    Them going to see Zemo is VERY dangerous because Zemo is the one who brainwashed Bucky and reactivated The Winter Soldier. Bucky’s mind is supposedly better and with the trigger words from Captain America: Civil War being cleared from his mind, Zemo shouldn’t seem like a threat. However, if the comics are any indication of what could happen in the show, there is one word that could cause some real commotion: Sputnik. Zemo is ALWAYS full of surprises. Additionally, Walker obviously got his butt kicked by the Flag-Smashers, could he possibly try to even out the playing field by trying to get his hands on the serum?

    Arlyn’s Assumptions

    We have no idea how Zemo gets out of jail and goes to Madripoor with Bucky and Sam or why they go to Madripoor. They have to run into somebody there and my best guess would be Sharon Carter. Look at the facts, she hasn’t been in the show yet but has been in most of the marketing for it. She has to come on the show at some point in time. In the comics, Madripoor is a CRAZY place. My guess would be that Hydra is secretly alive and well in Madripoor.

    The next episode of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier streams tomorrow!

  • Steven Caple Jr.’s ‘Transformers’ Film Eyeing Anthony Ramos

    Steven Caple Jr.’s ‘Transformers’ Film Eyeing Anthony Ramos

    It looks like Paramount is already keeping an eye out for its future Transformers‘ star. The Steven Caple Jr.-helmed project is actively looking for their lead and Collider revealed that the studio is currently eyeing Anthony Ramos. The actor’s latest project, In the Heights, will release this summer and has garnered him a lot of attention in the industry. It seems he will portray a flawed and vulnerable hero who is trying to redeem himself by aiding Optimus Prime in his quest. They couldn’t offer any further details, and Paramount did not comment on the casting.

    Ramos has recently booked a lead role alongside Aladdin‘s Naomi Scott in the sci-fi film, Distant. He has appeared in various films, such as A Star Is Born, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and Monsters and Men. After the release of his latest film, he certailny will become a hot commodity for major franchises. So, Paramount is making a smart move by trying to recruit him now for their next entry.

    Paramount has been refocusing its efforts with the Transformers franchise. As Collider points out, it is one of their most successful properties. It’s been strangely absent since the release of Bumblebee in 2018 as the studio tried to refocus. The original films by Michael Bay were massive Box Office successes but weren’t the most critically loved films out there. So, they might be trying to find a perfect balance to build upon the franchise’s previous success while adding some new flair to keep its longevity.

    Source: Collider

  • Theory Thursday: How ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ May Set-Up the Captain Britain Corps

    Theory Thursday: How ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ May Set-Up the Captain Britain Corps

    The many corners of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are expanding. As such, Marvel Studios has shifted its focus on exploring beyond the boundaries of the main timeline. With the upcoming expansion into the Multiverse and subsequent exploration of it, I want to talk about a specific organization. Their sole purpose in the comics was to guard that very Multiverse and why, moving forward, Marvel Studios should introduce an iconic organization from the comics and, more importantly, the hero connected to it.

     

    A Brief Comic History Lesson

     

    We all know the name Merlin. The sorcerer from the Tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. He helps the king in battle and aids him with his magic. Did you know that he has a very prominent role in Marvel Comics? He is the one who ends up coining the term “Multiverse” and established the Captain Britain Corps. The reason is that Great Britain serves as the nexus of all dimensions. As such, he once protected the veil between realities as the Sorcerer Supreme before the Ancient One took the title. To ensure the Multiverse’s safety, he ensured that each universe had a man holding the Captain Britain title.

     

    The MCU Connection

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will arrive in 2022, and it’ll give Marvel Studios the perfect opportunity to sneak in a reference or two to the multiversal organization. Of course, it would be a waste not to talk about its founder, whose history as the Sorcerer Supreme makes him a perfect candidate for an appearance. Luckily, the ever-expanding universe has also added another brief mention that connects to the multiversal protection corp. It may not be a coincidence that Britain is not only a Nexus point but also the filming location for the sequel may not be a coincidence.

     

     

    Do you remember the final commercial in the seventh episode of WandaVision? Almost every single commercial in the show was a direct reference to something in Wanda Maximoff’s grief. Yet, the only commercial that many of us didn’t recognize was the Nexus pills. In a way, it could imply an event that has yet to occur. I suspect that it references “The Nexus of All Realities,” which first got referenced in the MCU by Dr. Erik Selvig during Thor: The Dark World. At the time, it connected to the Nine Realms, but it looks like that was just the beginning.

     

    Just the Beginning

    The Captain Britain Corps Has Been Reborn in Marvel's Universe

     

    As such, I believe that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will explore Sorcerer Supremes of the past. It’ll also lead to the introduction of the Captain Britain Corps. The Scarlet Witch’s involvement with the film and her connection as a “nexus being” may also cause a crack in the Multiverse in Great Britain. Once Strange escaped the horrors of the Multiverse, the Nexus may remain unguarded. Someone will take on that role, which will allow Marvel Studios to introduce Captain Britain into the MCU.