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Tag: TV News

  • Adult Swim Severs Ties with ‘Rick and Morty’ Co-Creator Justin Roiland

    Adult Swim Severs Ties with ‘Rick and Morty’ Co-Creator Justin Roiland

    Rick and Morty will be looking for a new Rick and Morty. Co-Creator and the voice behind the show’s two main characters– and all their variants–Justin Roiland has been cut loose by Adult Swim. The series will continue without Roiland, who was recently charged with felony domestic abuse.

    Rick and Morty was created by Roiland alongside Dan Harmon. It become so popular that Adult Swim made an ambitious 70-episode order back in 2018. At this point, that deal hasn’t even hit its halfway mark and the controversy surrounding Roiland had many wondering how exactly they’ll move forward.

    It seems that the series order is not going to get dropped anytime soon and rather they’ll simply recast the voices of the maniac genius Rick and his grandson Morty. There’s no statement if they already started the process of finding the successor, but they’ll likely try to move forward as fast as possible.

    We also don’t know if they’ll keep some existing recordings from Roiland or completely replace any work he may have done for the next season of the series. The last episode of Season 6 released in December and we’ll have to see how far along the next season already is.

    Of course, Rick and Morty isn’t the only project that Roiland is involved with, such as his work on a variety of characters in High on Life. There’s also his other spinoff series Solar Opposites, where he voices Korvo and the recently released Koala Man. For now, we’ll have to wait for more information to arrive on the other projects.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Warrior Nun’ Showrunner Reveals Netflix Wide Mandate for 8 Episode Seasons

    ‘Warrior Nun’ Showrunner Reveals Netflix Wide Mandate for 8 Episode Seasons

    Netflix is no stranger to shorter season episode counts, as they reshaped the way drama and comedy series would be structured. The once 22-episode runs from broadcasts started to go down to the famous 13-episode era that kicked off when Daredevil was released. Yet, we’ve seen that episode count continue to decline with more ten-episode seasons and as of late, a focus on eight episodes.

    As it turns out though, this isn’t something that a group of creatives indirectly decided together but rather a new mandate set by Netflix. Warrior Nun showrunner Simon Barry revealed it in an interview with Be More Super Podcast that around the time they were writing their second season, that mandate was introduced and allowed them to adapt their scripts.

    We knew it was going to be eight in the writing room because the Netflix mandate wasn’t a budget thing. It was Netflix shifting all their shows to eight-episode seasons, their studio shows I should say, not the shows they acquire and broadbust but the ones they make inhouse as a studio. So, we knew that Netflix decided to make this shift across the board but it wasn’t something Warrior Nun was being punished for anything, we existed long enough to see it go from 10 to 8 for everyone.

    Simon Barry

    The first season of Warrior Nun was still part of the ten-episode era and many worried that perhaps the episode reduction was due to some criticism of that first entry. Yet, it seems they merely swiftly adjusted before entering production and had to rewrite the entire show; even if that sadly didn’t help them from getting canceled after the second season was released back in November.

    Given the timing, this news also matches with our exclusive a year ago that the live-action One Piece series has also reduced its episode count to eight. It was initially announced with ten episodes all the way back in 2020 but the timing would match with the new mandate. The Witcher also was quite a success with that same episode count back in 2019 and may have inspired the new standard.

    Source: YouTube

  • ‘The Sandman’ Season 2 Eyeing Summer Production Start

    ‘The Sandman’ Season 2 Eyeing Summer Production Start

    Netflix hasn’t been doing its best at keeping enthusiasm alive for the streaming service. After canceling quite a few shows, it almost feels like a rarity when one does eventually make its return. Luckily, the ambitious and beautiful The Sandman was able to get that rare Season 2 renewal and is already preparing to start production on its second season according to Mason Alexander Park, who recently offered some insight into what’s heading our way during the Fan Expo in San Francisco.

    Park plays Desire in the DC series, who has a big role going into the next part of the series. During the panel, they highlight though that there’s a reason this won’t be called “Season 2” as it traditionally would. So, we’ll have to see what they’ll title this continuation but they do highlight that production is set to start this summer.

    There is more Sandman coming in a really cool way and it can take many forms, so we’re starting shooting in the summer and we’re gonna tackle the next huge chunk of stories in however long that might take. And I’m really excited to share the format of what that might be with everybody eventually.

    Mason Alexander Park

    The highlight of the format of this continuation does sound interesting and perhaps they will split the seasons up according to various story elements to keep the tale of Morpheus coming out in multiple steps. We had the additional episodes that expanded the original series and there’s also the fact that Netflix experiments with establishing two distinct parts for some of their biggest releases. So, we might see this trend continue.

    Source: Fan Expo via Winter is Coming

  • REPORT: ‘Daredevil’s Disney+ Series Adds ‘Arrowverse’ Writers and Former Lawyers

    REPORT: ‘Daredevil’s Disney+ Series Adds ‘Arrowverse’ Writers and Former Lawyers

    It looks like Marvel Studios is pushing forward quickly, as they are ramping up on one of their most ambitious Disney+ series yet. Daredevil: Born Again will be the longest Disney+ series with 18 episodes and their first attempt at living in the shadow of a previous adaptation with returning actors. Now, we may have a better idea of what they may have planned for the series with som newly revealed writers.

    Daredevil‘s Disney+ series may have added some former lawyers to its cast with David Feige, who was a public defender in New York City but also went on to work on series like Raising the Bar or The Firm. Former attorney Thomas Wong also joins after working on Bull and Michael Weatherly. Queens prosecutor Zachary Reiter has also joined, who worked with Feige on The Firm as well as on Law & Order: Organized Crime

    She-Hulk, Attorney at Law also relied on former lawyer Charles Soule to offer some insight into how to bring the legal comedy to life. That isn’t all, as the report also points to former Arrowverse writers having joined the production with Jill Blankenship and Grainne Godfree. Blankenship was a showrunner on Naomi but also worked on a variety of Arrow episodes while Godfree was involved with The Flash, Arrow, and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.

    The addition of Arrow writers is definitely interesting, as this extensive writers’ room may hint at a very grounded and legal-heavy drama. It would match why the show has up to 18 episodes. They join showrunners Matt Corman and Chris Ord, who have the challenging task of bringing back the iconic franchise while adding their own spin to it.

    Source: Cosmic Circus via The Direct

  • ‘Superman and Lois’ Adds ‘The Walking Dead’ Star as Lex Luthor

    ‘Superman and Lois’ Adds ‘The Walking Dead’ Star as Lex Luthor

    At this point, we may have more versions of Lex Luthor in the DC Extended Universe than almost any other character. Superman & Lois has still been going strong with its third season set to premiere later in March. Yet, it seems the first major casting news has finally arrived with the CW series having added Michael Cudlitz in the role of the iconic DC villain bent on taking down his superpowered archrival.

    The character description has hinted that Cudlitz‘s take on the iconic character will explore the duality of the character. By day, he’s a “visionary billionaire behind LexCorp” but the criminal underworld knows that he’s actually a “brutal psychopath.” It seems this version of the character has not been in the public for some time and has set his eyes on revenge towards Tyler Hoechlin‘s Superman and Elizabeth Tulloch‘s Lois Lane.

    Even the nice family life of the Clarks won’t be safe from his new take on Luthor, which seems to be leaning more into a darker place for the character. We’ve just recently got a new version of the character played by Titus Welliver in the fourth season of Titans back in November. The Arrowverse had Jon Cryer in the role, who gave his unique take in the role.

    Source: Entertainment Weekly

  • HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’ Originally Gave Tess An Origin Story

    HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’ Originally Gave Tess An Origin Story

    HBO’s serialized take on the acclaimed video game The Last of Us has thus far been a hit with fans. The show has been praised for its ability to recreate key moments from the original game while also offering expansive new information about the origins of the fungal pandemic and its leading characters. This week, the series debuted its second installment, which featured a heavy focus on Anna Torv‘s Tess, the smuggling partner of Pedro Pascal‘s Joel and co-caretaker of Bella Ramsey‘s Ellie. While the episode mostly sticks to the same character arc Tess has had since 2013, showrunner Craig Mazin was quick to reveal this wasn’t always the case.

    In the latest edition of HBO’s The Last of Us Podcast, an official weekly companion series in which Mazin and franchise creator Neil Druckmann discuss adapting the game to live-action, the former explained that the second episode nearly gave Tess a full-blown backstory. After being asked by podcast host Troy Baker about the character’s vulnerability and willingness to feel hope, Mazin stated they had actually written an origin for her that would have expanded upon the complex emotions she displays throughout the episode:

    There is something we had talked about, and we wrote it. We never shot it. It was a little bit of a backstory for Tess, and the fact that Tess had a kid. She had a husband and she had a son, and they were infected and she had to kill them. She killed her husband, but she could not kill the son. She couldn’t do it. She locked him in the basement, where theoretically, he’s still a Clicker.

    Craig Mazin

    Druckmann then elaborated further, chiming in to give more details on how the backstory would have been told and why it didn’t make the episode’s final cut:

    We had a cold open where we just like, the camera pushed on this door and you just hear this pounding coming from this basement and then we cut out. Then later, Tess would tell the story of how she couldn’t kill her son…it didn’t fit, but it was fun to think about.

    Neil Druckmann

    Whether or not fans choose to take this as the canon origin story for Tess is up to them. It hasn’t actually been included in any official in-world content, so it could be altered in the future if the creatives decide on something else. Or, as is often the case with The Last of Us, Tess’ history before Joel could remain a mystery forever. Either way, like Druckmann said, it’s still fun to think about.

    Source: HBO’s The Last of Us Podcast

  • Alden Ehrenreich Teases a “Very Personal” ‘Ironheart’

    Alden Ehrenreich Teases a “Very Personal” ‘Ironheart’

    Marvel Studios is still hard at work on its upcoming Disney+ projects that are set to release in 2023. While they revealed their plans back during San Diego Comic-Con, a lot has changed since, and who knows when we can truly expect any of the series to drop. While we continue to wait on an update for Secret Invasion, which would be the next in line to release, it seems we’ll have a little update on Ironheart to tie us over.

    In a brief interview with Solo star Alden Ehrenreich, the actor got a chance to tease what it was like working on the Disney+ series. He doesn’t give away any details, as per usual, but he does hint that this story is “big” but still feels “very personal.

    Ironheart is big but also feels very personal. I really appreciate that about it. And it was fun, it was nice to go back and do a big one like that.

    Alden Ehrenreich

    From set leaks and rumors, we know that the series will tackle a very different kind of storyline, as the tech-based hero will face some rather magical enemies. So, there definitely might be a big-scale action if we’ll see young Riri Williams fly around in her latest suit of armor to take on enemies that have some dangerous abilities at their fingertips.

    There’s also the question of who exactly Ehrenreich might be playing and if he might be on the technological or magical side of this Disney+ series’ story. We might have to wait a little bit longer to find out, but perhaps he has a bigger role beyond just this series as well.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Doom Patrol’ Season 5 Renewal in Doubt After New Post by DC Series Star

    ‘Doom Patrol’ Season 5 Renewal in Doubt After New Post by DC Series Star

    DC Studios is the new future of all projects under the DC Comics banner for Warner Bros. Discovery. We knew that there will be a selection of what projects currently in development remain canon to the ambitious goal of establishing a new DC Cinematic Universe under new leadership. Yet, this exciting new direction won’t come without some sad losses along the way. It was just unclear how much would remain and what won’t, but a recent Instagram story shared by actress Diane Guerrero may have shed a dark light on the future of Doom Patrol.

    The series followed a group of unlikely characters that would end up working together to solve whatever chaotic mess was heading their way. They weren’t really superheroes in the classic sense, but they definitely were a family worth following. There was hope that the series may still get a fifth season to wrap up any potential plotlines or get one last hurrah even as the DC universe is being reshuffled.

    Sadly, Guerrero posted an image in her Instagram stories with an image from Doom Patrol featuring her character Jane. While that isn’t unusual, the inclusion of the words “Goodbye my beloved” raises some concerns that they have already canceled the show and informed those involved with the production.

    There was some expectation that the current HBO Max shows would get canned, especially the live-action ones like Titans and Doom Patrol, but given their popularity could at least still get a final additional season. This post doesn’t confirm that the show is truly over, but it does seed some thoughts of concern about the series making an eventual return. Here’s hoping that an eventual positive update follows.

    Source: Instagram via The Direct

  • James Gunn Opens Up on Potential Recasting ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Actors for DC

    James Gunn Opens Up on Potential Recasting ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Actors for DC

    James Gunn is now the new co-CEO of DC Studios. After the franchise was coming apart at the seams with various dramas happening behind the scenes, there was hope that this would finally push the project forward. The long-established actor has also built up a network of actors he tends to work with on various projects, which has led to some concern that he’ll primarily rely on familiar characters.

    Luckily, Gunn has been no stranger to openly reacting to statements on Twitter to offer some insight into how he is approaching this daunting task. When people shared their concern about simply recasting Guardians of the Galaxy actors, Gunn pointed out that his true focus is to ensure that “the actor fits the role and they’re easy to work with” when he’ll cast someone new or familiar in the DC Studios project.

    It’s not surprising that a director would also want to bring on actors he has a past with to join a franchise he’s supervising. He’s worked with a variety of actors throughout his career and very likely has an idea of who might be perfect for a specific role. Plus, it’s not like he hasn’t already brought in new actors like with John Cena taking on the role of Peacemaker.

    There’s also the aspect that once they find directors to tackle the various projects they are working on. Once more creatives join the franchise, they’ll have more opinions exploring how their take on a classic DC character may require a different type of talent. So, once things truly take shape, we’ll get a better picture of what the future has in store.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘The Mandalorian’ Season 3 Trailer Overtakes ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ As Most Viewed Star Wars Disney+ Trailer

    ‘The Mandalorian’ Season 3 Trailer Overtakes ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ As Most Viewed Star Wars Disney+ Trailer

    The Mandalorian is about to make its grand return. The series that not only started Disney+ but also Star Wars‘ first venture into live-action is almost upon us. Now, it’s about to enter its third season with a grand scale being teased in the trailer with a long-awaited return to Mandalore. Within 24 hours, the trailer has pulled in 83.5M views, which makes it the most-watched Star Wars Disney+ series.

    It has now overtaken Obi-Wan Kenobi, whose trailer was viewed 58M times. That series had the nostalgia of seeing Ewan McGregor back in the role but there’s still something special about seeing Din Djarin reunite with Grogu once again in the upcoming Disney+ series. We haven’t seen them since the finale of The Book of Boba Fett back in January.

    It’ll be interesting to see how long-time viewers will jump into the series’ return, especially with one of the main plot points from the last season having been resolved in a spinoff series. Grogu left to become a Jedi with Djarin taking off his helmet to say farewell to his adoptive child. Yet, now their already reunited going into the third season.

    Still, there’s something exciting about seeing what the future has in store for Star Wars. The Mandalorian had that perfect mix of nostalgia with enough new to make it stand out. It also feels like a callback to the original trilogy with how it uses similar shot techniques. It’ll be interesting to see what we’ll see in the third season and what it’ll be like with more Mandalorians running around.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter