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Tag: TV News

  • ‘The Last of Us’ Showrunner Wants to Adapt ‘Part II’

    ‘The Last of Us’ Showrunner Wants to Adapt ‘Part II’

    HBO’s The Last of Us is still a week away, but showrunner Craig Mazin already has his sights set on the future. The live-action show is set to adapt the events of 2013’s iconic video game, and based on marketing, it looks like the entirety of Naughty Dog’s groundbreaking story will find its way into the network’s 9-episode series.

    Luckily for Mazin and the fans, there is an equally acclaimed sequel ripe for adapting should HBO want more seasons. The Last of Us Part II was released in 2020 and takes place several years after its predecessor. The game is notably longer, and features more characters than the first installment, meaning Mazin and franchise creator Neil Druckmann could likely get multiple seasons out of it.

    In an exclusive interview with Comic Book, Mazin revealed he’s fully on board to adapt Part II:

    Personally, I don’t have a great desire to go beyond what’s there currently but I know that the story of the second game is way bigger and far more complicated than the story of the first game which means there’s more story to adapt.

    Craig Mazin

    He did go on to clarify, however, that he would not take the story past the end point of the games. The Last of Us Part III has been rumored to be in development for some time, but as of now, has not been officially announced. As such, it could be a while before fans see any live-action The Last of Us past two or three initial seasons.

    So, if folks show up and watch this season of The Last of Us, everybody on our side and on HBO is excited to keep going and tell that story but, again, I’m a believer in endings. I don’t want to feel like we’re suddenly just treading water. I think every episode of television, if you’re going to make a television show, it’s kind of a crazy, arrogant thing to do, to expect people to watch your show. Every episode has to deliver. Every single one.

    Craig Mazin

    The Last of Us lands on HBO on January 15th.

    Source: Comic Book

  • HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’ Devised a Brand New Way for the Virus to Spread

    HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’ Devised a Brand New Way for the Virus to Spread

    When HBO first announced their high-profile adaptation of Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us, it was made clear that not everything from the games would carry over into live-action. Neil Druckmann, creator of the franchise and one of the series’ leading producers, stated changes would have to be made to the story in the process of adapting it. Now, fans are getting their first idea as to what will be different when Joel and Ellie make their iconic trip across the country on television.

    In an exclusive interview with Comic Book, series showrunner Craig Mazin revealed HBO’s take on The Last of Us will not include the infamous spores that helped spread the Cordyceps infection so quickly in the acclaimed video games:

    Obviously, there are some big things that we know we’re keeping, of course, but then there are challenges from the game to the show that had to be considered. For instance, little things like the spores. In the game, there are these where you encounter spores and you need to put a gas mask on. In the world that we’re creating, if we put spores in the air, it would be pretty clear that they would spread around everywhere and everybody would have to wear a mask all the time and probably everybody would be completely infected by that point.

    Craig Mazin

    As Mazin mentions, both The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part II feature sections of gameplay where the players encounter Cordyceps spores floating in the air. The spores make it difficult to see clearly and are usually accompanied by loads of monsters. They also force the protagonists to use protective masks and flashlights to traverse infected areas. Mazin‘s reasoning for altering this aspect of the game’s aesthetic makes sense, and the creative went on to assure fans that he and Druckmann have come up with some sort of fitting alternative instead:

    So, we challenged ourselves to come up with an interesting new way for the fungus to spread but mostly I think we just connected with the soul and spirit of the game. He, as the creator of the game, and me, as a fan of the game, we were caretakers on behalf of all the fans but also on behalf of all the people who haven’t played the game who need a television experience that is holistic and connected to itself and doesn’t feel like you ned to play a game to understand.

    Craig Mazin

    The Last of Us premieres on HBO on January 15th. It stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey as Joel and Ellie, with Gabriel Luna, Anna Torv, and Merle Dandridge rounding out the recurring cast.

    Source: Comic Book

  • Netflix Has Renewed ‘Wednesday’ for Season 2

    Netflix Has Renewed ‘Wednesday’ for Season 2

    While rumors suggested Wednesday was heading to Prime Video for a second season, it was announced on Friday that Netflix has renewed the series for Season 2. The news was unveiled in a special renewal announcement video from Netflix.

    The video, which can be seen below, recaps the events of the first season. It opens to the gates of Nevermore Academy and follows Wednesday in a car as she recounts being hunted, haunted, and mimicked on the internet – with a clip showcasing the now iconic dance from Season 1. It moves to Jenna Ortega‘s Wednesday with a grin and a voiceover saying, “It’s been pure torture. Thank you.” There’s a promise of more misery being on the way followed by clips from Season 1.

    Wednesday, which hit Netflix in November, quickly went on to become one of the streamer’s biggest titles and a global phenomenon. Not only did it ignite a dance craze on the internet, but the series also ranks at No. 2 on the most popular (English) TV list with 1.237 billion hours viewed within its first 28 days. More impressively, Wednesday is now only the third series on Netflix to ever cross 1 billion hours viewed, following Dahmer and Stranger Things.

    Season 1 of the hit series is now streaming. A release date for Season 2 has not yet been revealed.

    Source: Deadline.

  • ‘Loki’ Concept Artist Reveals Inspiration for Jonathan Major’s He Who Remains

    ‘Loki’ Concept Artist Reveals Inspiration for Jonathan Major’s He Who Remains

    Not too long ago, we got our first tease for the upcoming second season of Loki. The story will pick up where we last left off, as Sylvie killed He Who Remains, a Variant of Kang the Conqueror, who was keeping the multiverse from branching out. It was our first meeting with Jonathan Majors‘s impressive take on the character that already left a lasting impression before we meet another Variant in Ant-Man and the Wasp. Quantumania.

    We still have to wait a bit before we find out when to expect the release of the second season, but concept artist Wesley Burt took to his personal Instagram account to share a look at the finalized concept art for He Who Remains. He also pointed out that he was inspired by “a lounging Miles Davis at the end of time.” Of course, he also highlights the inclusion of He Who Remains and Immortus as inspiration from the comics.

    It seems this work will be included in the upcoming Art of Loki book, which has traditionally been released alongside the various shows a few years later. So, it’s great that this tradition continues, and given how visually unique the Disney+ series was in comparison to the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’ll be great to get a look behind-the-scenes at how they brought this unique vision to life. Now, we’re left with the question if Majors will return in the second season, as his Conqueror Variant was teased at the end of the series.

    Source: Instagram

  • ‘Gen V:’ Michele Fazekas to Run Season 2 as Writers Room Opens

    ‘Gen V:’ Michele Fazekas to Run Season 2 as Writers Room Opens

    The Boys spinoff, Gen V, has yet to premiere its first season, but that isn’t stopping Prime Video from looking ahead to Season 2. Deadline reports that, while an official season two has not been ordered, a writers’ room is being set up for a second season. The outlet has also reported that Michele Fazekas (Agent Carter) will lead the room and serve as the sole showrunner for Season 2.

    Fazekas served as a co-showrunner alongside frequent collaborator, Tara Butters (Agent Carter), however, Butters will not be returning for Season 2. The decision not to return seems to be on Butters’ end, as the producer has some personal matters to tend to. Deadline reports that Butters is hoping to return to writing and producing down the line.

    Gen V, a spinoff from The Boys, will focus on America’s only college exclusively for young adult superheroes that just so happens to be run by Vought International. The project stars Jaz Sinclair, Chance Perdomo, Lizze Broadway, Shelley Conn, Maddie Phillips, London Thor, Derek Luh, Asa Germann, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sean Patrick Thomas, and Marco Pigossi.

    Gen V, of course, had a bumpy production during its first season. The series saw numerous recastings and changes in showrunners. However, it seems Prime Video is high on the series, which will finally debut sometime this year.

    Source: Deadline.

  • REPORT: Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni Developing Another New ‘Star Wars’ Series

    REPORT: Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni Developing Another New ‘Star Wars’ Series

    Lucasfilm is seemingly all-in on Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni. According to a new report from Bespin Bulletin, the creative duo behind smash hits The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett are working on developing another, unnamed series for the studio. The information originates from a listing on Production Weekly, which has been advertising an “untitled Star Wars project” entering production for some time. Now, however, the listing has been updated to include a working title, as well as Favreau and Filoni as active producers. It appears the series is under development as “Ghost Track 17,” and is reportedly set to be part of the “MandoVerse” franchise created by its producers within the greater Star Wars universe.

    Bespin Bulletin speculates the working title could relate the series to revolving around a Queen, or some sort of royalty. As they explain, a “Ghost Track” typically refers to a song hidden on an album, and one of the most famous Ghost Tracks appears on the album Abbey Road. That Ghost Track ends up being the seventeenth track on the album, and is titled “Her Majesty,” meaning the working title likely refers a monarch of some sort. Who that could be is still unknown, considering most known royals in the Star Wars universe predate the MandoVerse timeline, which is set between the events of Episode VI – Return of the Jedi and Episode VII – The Force Awakens. The series will join several other upcoming Favreau and Filoni projects, such as Ashoka and Skeleton Crew.

    Source: Bespin Bulletin

  • Stephen Amell Making Green Arrow Return In ‘The Flash’ Final Season

    Stephen Amell Making Green Arrow Return In ‘The Flash’ Final Season

    It seems like it’s pretty hard to keep Oliver Queen buried. Stephen Amell, cousin of True Jackson, VP star Robbie Amell and the actor responsible for bringing Green Arrow to life on television since 2012, has taken to his social media to confirm his return as the famed archer for The Flash‘s ninth and final season. He joins a slew of surprising comeback players in what’s looking like the end of an era for The CW’s slate of live-action DC properties. Javicia Leslie, whose Batwoman series was unexpectedly canceled after three seasons, will also reprise her role as Ryan Wilder in the last episodes of The Flash.

    Amell teased the news on his Twitter account, posting a GIF of his character and Grant Gustin‘s Barry Allen from an earlier season with the caption “Of course I’m coming back.” He followed this with an Instagram image of himself on The Flash set with Gustin, saying, “When Barry calls…Oliver answers…”

    https://twitter.com/StephenAmell/status/1610707493734477824?s=20&t=owmoLe9_Yh5OuqMqv8SZKA
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CnA90n2JGjj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    The last time fans saw Amell as Queen was in the Arrow series finale, where the hero perished for – what viewers thought – was the last time. It’s not currently known what kind of role Queen will play in the last Flash season, but his return does not necessarily mean he’s playing the same Oliver that died in 2020’s Fadeout. The CW shows are notorious for their exploration of alternate worlds and timelines, and Amell has already played multiple versions of his protagonist across several series. A 2022 tie-in comic revealed there was a living variant of Queen on Earth-Prime, so perhaps that’s who Amell will end up appearing as.

    A statement from The Flash executive producer Eric Wallace gives the final word on why the decision was made to bring Amell back for one last ride:

    As soon as our final season was announced, we knew we wanted Stephen to come back and reprise his iconic role as Oliver Queen. After all, it was Oliver who originally launched Barry Allen on his heroic path.

    Eric Wallace

    Source(s): CBR, Twitter, Instagram

  • Bella Ramsey Hesitated to Play Ellie in HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’

    Bella Ramsey Hesitated to Play Ellie in HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’

    The Last of Us is almost here, as HBO brings the iconic gaming franchise to life. While they originally planned for it to be a film adaptation, Chernobyl‘s Craig Mazin ended up becoming an important part of pushing it toward a full-on HBO series. Now, we’re about to see Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey bring the iconic roles of Joel and Ellie to life. Surprisingly though, it seems that actress Ramsey was hesitant to take on the role.

    I seriously considered that maybe I don’t want to be famous so I’m not going to do this show because it’s going to propel me to a place I don’t want to go to in terms of being seen and being known. I like to blend in and hide.

    Bella Ramsey

    Yet, it seems that Neil Druckmann, the creator of the original game series, instantly saw Ellie in her, which led to her getting the role for the HBO adaptation within a short period of time.

    Bella felt so real. It was like Ellie realized in live action. It didn’t feel like watching an actor.

    Neil Druckmann

    We still have a little time before we get to see what Druckmann saw, but the teasers and trailers have been promising. She has the same energy that the character had in the original game, but she also has proven to have the range that may lead to an adaptation of the second season as well.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘The Bad Batch’ Producer Discusses Potential of Omega and Boba Fett Meeting

    ‘The Bad Batch’ Producer Discusses Potential of Omega and Boba Fett Meeting

    As Season 2 of Star Wars: The Bad Batch finally premieres, fans of the franchise eagerly look toward how the events of the show will play into the larger tapestry of Star Wars. One major pathway would likely come in the form of Omega, a rare unique clone that deviated from the specific genetics of Jango Fett. The only other in the same universe is the popular character of Boba Fett. Naturally, this has led to some desire from the audience to see the two characters interact at some point in the animated series.

    However, fans shouldn’t expect to see an interaction between the two happen any time soon. In an interview with the Direct, Bad Batch producer and season two premiere writer Jennifer Corbett spoke about this possibility and why they won’t be capitalizing on it in their show.

    I think a lot of people want that because they are brother and sister but it’s important for her, at this point in her life, and where her journey is – she’s at a very different place than where Boba is right now. So we just really wanted to focus on her growth and her interactions with her found family versus the trajectory that Boba’s currently on. But, you know, never say never.

    Jennifer Corbett

    This is a logical reason to hold off on any interaction between Omega and Boba Fett. It’s important for both Omega and Star Wars: The Bad Batch to find their own identity without being ensconced into specific lore of the franchise, something that Star Wars has sometimes struggled with in the past. Allowing Omega to grow solely through her relationships with Clone Force 99 will only make her that much of a strong character in the universe. And at that point, the creative forces for the show should only then consider a meeting of the de facto siblings (which is likely too tantalizing to turn down at some point in the timeline).

    The first two episodes of the second season of Star Wars: The Bad Batch are now currently available to watch on Disney+.

    Source: The Direct

  • Debra Jo Rupp Joins ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’

    Debra Jo Rupp Joins ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’

    Debra Jo Rupp (That ’70s Show) who had a small role in 2021’s WandaVision has been reported to have joined the cast of Agatha: Coven of Chaos.

    Rupp appeared in several episodes of WandaVision as Mrs. Hart, within the Hex, and citizen Sharon Davis when it was lifted. It’s presumed she will reprise her role as a citizen of Westview in Agatha: Coven of Chaos, which will focus on Kathryn Hahn’s wicked witch. Rupp is the second actress who played a citizen of Westview in WandaVision to join the cast of Coven of Chaos, joining Emma Caulfield.

    Originally slated for a late 2023/early 2024 release, Coven of Chaos was not featured on a recent update to 2023 projects, leading to the belief it has been pushed to at least 2024.

    Source: Deadline