Tag: TV News

REPORT: Killian Scott Will Play A Skrull From X-Men Comics in ‘SECRET INVASION’

With all the hype surrounding Marvel Studios’ massive theatrical projects and immediately inbound Disney+ series, it’s been easy to forget about the upcoming adaptation of Brian Michael Bendis‘ Secret Invasion. Now, however, we have an exciting new update on one of the series’ major players. According to a report from The Direct, actor Killian Scott will be portraying a Skrull who had strong connections to the X-Men in Marvel’s comic book lore. The information lines up with a previous report from Murphy’s Multiverse, which indicated Scott would be playing a Skrull character.

The word from The Direct is that the Irish actor will be playing a Skrull named Fiz in the limited series. In the comics, this character was a Mutant Skrull who possessed the ability to alter his size on top of his race’s usual shape-shifting trait. Much like the humans of Earth, the other Skrulls banished Fiz out of fear of his mutant power. The Skrullian warrior ended up settling with the X-Men and being trained by Charles Xavier himself, though it is unknown if this connection will come to fruition in the MCU.

Scott joined the production of Secret Invasion in April. He is in good company, performing alongside the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, Emilia Clarke, Olivia Colman, and Kingsley Ben-Adir. Fan-favorite Ben Mendelsohn will also reprise his role as the Skrull general Talos. The Disney+ production will be helmed by writer Kyle Bradstreet, will consist of six episodes, and is expected to premiere sometime next year.

Source: The Direct

October 26, 2021
Tom Hiddleston Talks Season 2 of ‘Loki’

The God of Mischief joined Loki co-stars Sophie DiMartino and Jonathan Majors in London this past weekend at MCM Comic Con and gave just enough information about the second season of the series to make it interesting.

While summarizing the events of Season 1 of the Disney Plus streaming series, Hiddleston indicated that Season 2 would “start from there”, after referencing the frantic final moments of the first season that saw Loki rush to explain things to Mobius and B-15 only to find they had no memories of any of the recent events that should have taken down the TVA.

Okay so look, we can’t say anything unfortunately, but at the end of episode six, season one, Loki comes back to TVA. He’s quite traumatised, he’s quite emotional, and he tries to explain what happens to Mobius, and Mobius doesn’t recognise him. And then he turns to look at the statue of the timekeepers, but it’s not a statue of the timekeepers, it’s a statue of someone else… And I guess we’ll start from there. I’m so sorry to disappoint you!

The cliffhanger left fans with a sense of urgency and frustration and with The-One-Above-All, Kevin Feige, indicating production on the second season isn’t beginning anytime soon as they continue to search for a replacement for director Kate Herron, fans are going to have to wait for quite some time before we find out what’s next for Loki and Mobius.

Source: Screen Rant

October 25, 2021
‘Hawkeye’ Artist On Marvel Studios Poster Homage: “Start paying”

One of the more unfortunate realities surrounding the billion-dollar franchise that is the MCU is the startling truth that a lot of the people who create the comics that serve as the MCU’s foundation rarely receive worthwhile compensation from the powers that adapt their work.

Famed Hawkeye artist David Aja is joining a growing list of creators who have expressed frustration over this issue that seemingly continues to be unrectified behind the scenes. Last night, a brand new poster for the Hawkeye series was revealed, paying homage to one of the iconic posters Aja drew for his seminal Hawkeye run with Matt Fraction. Aja had this to say about Marvel Studios’ recreation of his work:

David Aja‘s artwork on his run with Matt Fraction is arguably the most important selling point of that run. From his distinct minimalist covers to the inventive visual storytelling methods he brought to the table, there’s no doubt that the book wouldn’t be the classic it is without his touch.

Winter Soldier creator Ed Brubaker recently made waves over complaints he made regarding the issue in light of Marvel Studios building a very lucrative franchise based on his work. The check Marvel Studios allegedly gave Brubaker for adapting the Winter Soldier story was a lot lower than the royalties he received for his 1-second cameo in the movie. Howver, according to Brubaker, Marvel has since reached out to him, likely due to the high publicity of his comments, with the hopes of amending the issue.

The issue is a highly complicated one, given how all the work-for-hire contracts that a lot of these creators signed were drafted at a time when comic adaptations weren’t the world’s hottest commodity. Still, in an era where the studios are making billions off these people’s work, reasonable compensation should not be an issue. We hope Aja and more creators get compensated for their contributions to the MCU.

October 25, 2021
Mysterious ‘What If…?’ Supreme Leader Funko Pop Turns Out to Be Transformed Doctor Strange

We’ve had quite some fun trying to decipher who exactly was the Funko Pop titled “Supreme Leader.” At first, we believed it was What If..?‘s Ultron given his new status and ownership of the Infinity Stones. Yet, it turned out he was simply given the name “Infinity Ultron” before getting released. So, we’ve been wondering who the mysterious and unannounced New York Comic Con Funko might end up being. Finally, the wait is over, as we got our first look at the character and it is actually Doctor Strange Supreme, but the version possessed by the different beasts and demons he’s absorbed.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVbP3GgJL5z/?utm_medium=copy_link

It’s a great addition to the quite diverse line-up of Funko’s for the Disney+ series. What If…?‘s anthology approach did open up the doors for some creative releases. Of course, the most popular and available Funko Pops involved the zombie episode. There’s something fun about the fact that Marvel Studios added these horror staples into the mostly family-friendly franchise.

We recently saw the zombified version of Captain America appear in Avengers Campus. It makes you wonder if they’ll go all out and include the transformed Doctor Strange at some point. It would make for an imposing addition during Halloween to see Strange mid-transformation, as he tries to find someone at the park to help him return back to normal. It makes you wish you were at the campus during the season of horror to see what they’ll try out.

Source: Instagram

October 24, 2021
Upcoming Marvel Studios Animation Projects to Explore 2D Art Styles

Ever since we’ve heard that Marvel Studios might expand its animation department, it opened up the floodgates of how they might tackle future projects. What If…? was our gateway into that very mission with its 3D style that brought iconic actors from previous projects to life. Of course, as they expand it opened up the question of how Marvel Studios may approach future animation projects. Would they stick to the one established in the Disney+ series, or might they take a unique take with each project? Well, a new job listing might give us a better hint at an upcoming project.

Disney and Marvel Studios are actively seeking a 2D/3D FX Designer. What makes this listing interesting is that there’s a strong emphasis on 2D FX work throughout, such as asking to showcase hand-drawn 2D FX abilities, general design work, and general familiarity with 2D animation principles as well as high-end anime 2DFX style. It’s great to see that Marvel Studios isn’t being restrictive to a specific type of animation. It’s one of the advantages of this new venture, as every artist can add their own distinctive style. So far, the only other animation style we heard of was for the upcoming I Am Groot Disney+ series, which supposedly is going for a photo-real 3D style.

Of course, the implication of familiarity with anime animation is noteworthy but doesn’t mean we’ll get a One Piece or Naruto-styled series. Series like the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles utilized specific animation queues popularized in Japan to bring its action to life. It’s also generally become a trend to make use of its stylized approach to animation in the West. Some classic examples would be Teen Titans, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Samurai Jack, and even Marvel’s own Ultimate Spider-Man. So, it’s not uncommon for the popular genre to be part of 2D artists portfolio in the West nowadays.

This isn’t comparable to Star Wars: Visions, which included actual Japanese anime studios to develop its episodes. Yet, there’s always a chance that kind of cooperation is in the cards eventually for other Disney projects. They most likely simply are trying to find talented artists in the industry that have intimate knowledge of the different genres of 2D animation that are currently popular.

Source: Disney Careers

October 23, 2021
Hayden Christensen to Reprise Role as Darth Vader in ‘Ahsoka’

We’ve been long waiting for an official casting for the upcoming The Mandalorian focused on Ahsoka Tano. Luckily, one has arrived and it’s quite the big announcement. The Hollywood Reporter has just announced that Hayden Christensen is returning as Anakin Skywalker, or rather as Darth Vader, in the upcoming Disney+ series. It’s his second return in the role, as he’ll also star in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series.

Dave Filoni is writing the series with Jon Favreau acting as a producer. Plot details remain under lock and key, but Christensen’s inclusion is a curious addition. The series supposedly takes place after Ahsoka meets with Din Djarin in The Mandalorian. Why is this relevant? Well, that was after the fall of the Empire and Darth Vader’s death as the New Republic started to form. There’s a chance he might make an appearance as a Force Ghost or even in flashbacks.

It’s great seeing the actor returning in the role beyond just Obi-Wan Kenobi. There’s a good chance that the welcoming experience might’ve convinced him to give the franchise another chance as it continues to expand on Disney+. There’s still a lot of potential on resisting Darth Vader’s story, especially if they take inspiration from 2020’s comic run on the character. We’ll see if there’s more Star Wars in his future.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

October 22, 2021
‘Squid Game’ Funko Pops Revealed by Funko

Every once in a while a series comes around on Netflix that takes the world by storm. Just a few years ago, that series was Stranger Things, becoming a pop culture phenomenon and now going into its fourth season. Netflix seems to have done it again, with Squid Game taking the world by storm, quickly becoming one of Netflix’s most-watched series of all time.

Like every popular show or movie, Funko soon follows behind with a slew of collectibles to memorialize your favorite characters and moments. Revealed exclusively by Entertainment Weekly is the first wave of Funko Pop! collectible figures from Squid Game. The first series will include Gi-Hun, Sae-Byeok, Sang-Woo, Ali, Il-Nam and one of the Red Workers.

Along with the main wave of common release characters comes a few exclusive figures to the line. The series will feature two variants of the Red worker with one Square mask exclusive to Walmart, and the triangle mask exclusive to the Funko Shop.

All of the Squid Game Funko Pops are currently set to release early next year in 2022, no specific release date has been issued. However, you can pre-order all the figures aside from the Funko Shop worker on Amazon and Walmart.

The first season of Squid Game is currently streaming on Netflix. There is currently no word as to if the series will continue for a second season at Netflix. However, with its massive popularity, it seems like a safe bet that the series will continue.

SOURCE: Entertainment Weekly

October 22, 2021
‘Halloween Kills’ Jamie Lee Curtis Would Love to Play Dr. Kureha in Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ Series

We’re still anticipating the casting for Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of One Piece. The upcoming adaptation of Cowboy Bebop will be our first window into its potential, but the recent short has proven they can capture a live-action anime quite well. Still, the casting will play a vital role in the series’ potential. So far, we have no diea who’ll take on the iconic roles from the popular manga series. The only rumor was taht they were eyeing Ludi Lin for the role of Roronoa Zoro. Well, it seems one well-known actress has her eyes set on a specific role.

Halloween Kills‘ Jamie Lee Curtis is well-known for her love of the series. In the past, she has openly discussed her wish to play Robin. Of course, the age difference won’t make that a reality, but she does seem to have a Plan B that matches some fan castings. In an interview with the One Piece Podcast, Curtis‘ daughter Ruby Guest joined the podcast’s hosts talking about the show. She ended up also getting a question on the fans wanting her to play Chopper’s teacher, Dr. Kureha.

My mom loves Kureha. I would be 100% for it and I honestly, since Netflix is doing the live-action adaptation, I would highly recommend her to pull some strings to see if she can. […] I know my mom is 100% for it.
Ruby Guest

In the interview, Guest also reveals that her mother loves Chopper. So, it almost seems like a destined casting. Of course, if they end up casting her it won’t be until the series gets a second season renewal, as Kureha doesn’t appear until the Drum Island arc. It was a pitstop on tehir way to Alabasta as Nami fell ill from their time on Little Garden. The island was famous for its doctors until the selfish King Wapol tried to monopolize their services. She was one of the few doctors that roamed the island alongside the quack Dr. Hiriluk. Here’s hoping that we’ll get to explore the Grand Line after the first season’s time on the East Blue.

Source: One Piece Podcast via Twitter

October 21, 2021
UPDATE: ‘The Story of Marvel Studios’ Author Elaborated on Why ‘Agents of SHIELD’ Wasn’t Included

UPDATE: Author Tara Bennett, who wrote the new book exploring the history of Marvel Studios has shared a new statement regarding her earlier tweet and its coverage.

Go enjoy your day! pic.twitter.com/x36s3uAVWF
— Tara Bennett (@TaraDBennett) October 21, 2021

There are some amazing little details in the new book The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It revealed that New Girl‘s Zooey Deschanel could’ve been the Wasp in 2012’s Avengers. We got the first confirmation that Agent Carter is technically canon. But the lack of information also says more than what you’d think. There’s a noticeable absence of the ABC show that started Marvel TV’s venture, Agents of SHIELD. Author Tara Bennett took to Twitter and clarified that the book does not explicitly state that the series is part of the MCU.

https://twitter.com/TaraDBennett/status/1450906836396240898

This statement will certainly open the floodgates, as there’s been quite a heated debate on the series’ canonicity. Technically, it has built up cases that some actions by the team of SHIELD agents informed the films. Samuel L. Jackson‘s Nick Fury even made an appearance and was just one of many cameos from the films. The absence in the book might also be purely due to production reasonings, but it not having a bigger part in exploring its connectivity to Marvel Studios’ MCU is a curious case.

In June, Loki‘s Michael Waldron even questioned its canon, especially as it expanded into the multiverse at the tail end of the series. Technically, it could exist somewhere in the multiverse and still utilize elements from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The potential return of Charlie Cox as Daredevil also raises the question of the Netflix shows working within the canon, or how they might approach it. Here’s hoping we get a clearer picture in the near future.

Source: Twitter

October 21, 2021
New Marvel Studios Book Confirms ABC’s ‘Agent Carter’ is Canon in the MCU

There’s been a curious discussion surrounding ABC’s TV series Agent Carter. Just like with Agents of SHIELD, there’s a debate if these Marvel TV shows are canon within the MCU. Back in July, director James Gunn declared that WandaVision was the first MCU show ever produced, which naturally raised some eyebrows. SHIELD was a direct spinoff out of 2012’s Avengers while Agent Carter introduced us to James D’Arcy‘s Edwin Jarvis, who would eventually make his film debut in Avengers: Endgame. So, there were connections there, but a lack of official confirmation. Well, that was until now.

In the book The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there’s a mention of the ABC series featuring Hayley Atwell. Not only that but it’s highlighted as “canon storytelling” that would eventually lead back into future films. Sadly, it was canceled after only two seasons and the character didn’t make her return until the post-credit sequence of Endgame. The paragraph reads as follows:

Launched on January 6, the series debuted on the ABC midseason slate. Notably, Agent Carter marked the first time an MCU-originated character would transition from the big screen to the small screen, with canon storytelling that would eventually dovetail back into future films.

The book also reveals that some character rights were not fully under Marvel Studios’ supervision. So, it seems that the Netflix series and other projects by Marvel TV were done completely out of Kevin Feige‘s hands. It also highlights the internal struggle and politics holding the franchise back in its early days. No wonder then that Marvel Studios merged with the TV department as they ventured into Disney+. There is, however, no word on the other series which still leaves their canonicity a question mark.

Source: The Story of Marvel Studios via The Direct

October 21, 2021