Justice League: Ray Fisher Talks Cyborg Origins

Fans of the DC Extended Universe have been excited about the production of a Justice League movie for some time now, with little hints about what viewers can expect trickling through recent releases such as Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad. Directed by Zack Snyder and written by Chris Terrio, the Justice League movie pulls together an all-star cast of talent to play an incredible roster of superheroes; some of which haven’t yet had the chance to shine on the big screen.

One of those in particular is Cyborg; played by Ray Fisher. Those who went to see Batman V Superman in theaters will have been introduced to the hero and Fisher’s portrayal, but only in a short scene that seemed rather fleeting. Now Fisher is offering up more information on how he’ll be playing Cyborg and his history with the character.

Speaking during Rhode Island Comic Con (via ComicBook) about his role, alongside Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot, Fisher also explained how his perception of the character has changed.

“I actually grew up watching a lot of these cartoons – a lot of the animated series. Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League, all the stuff that would come onto Cartoon Network. My first encounter with Cyborg was through the Teen Titans cartoon.”

“You know, I was in the middle of high school [when Teen Titans debuted], and I was like, ‘This show speaks to me’ because there were all of these characters going through these real teen issues while also saving the world. The extent of my knowledge was just about that.”

“Once I was cast, though, they send you a whole library of stuff about the character so I ended up being able to fall in love with the comic book version which can be very different. I feel like I know him like the back of my hand, but there’s always somebody who knows a little more than me about things.”


Fisher’s comments would suggest that we’re going to see a version of Cyborg that sticks closely to the ones fans have been reading in comic books since 1980. His dedication to the role has certainly been proven, with the actor hinting he’s been doing a lot of research into exactly how his character should be played.

This should be music to the ears of purists and mega fans of the DC franchise. Seeing a character brought to life on the big screen that rarely gets any attention is always an exciting prospect, and Cyborg has always been a hero that many have wanted to see in some form of live action again since his time in Smallville.

With all that being said, Fisher is going to have to do an incredible job of bringing Cyborg to life if he’s to win fans over completely. Everybody’s a critic nowadays, and all it takes is one bad scene or piece of dialogue to throw your entire work behind a performance away. It would be a shame to see DC take such a big risk with a relatively unknown hero for the general public and casual fans, just for it to fall flat.

KEY RELEASE DATES
Wonder Woman release date: Jun 2, 2017
Justice League release date: Nov 17, 2017
The Flash Movie release date: Mar 16, 2018
Aquaman release date: Jul 27, 2018
Shazam! release date: Apr 5, 2019
Cyborg release date: Apr 3, 2020
Green Lantern Corps. release date: Jul 24, 2020

Doctor Strange Has Already Passed Ant-Man at Worldwide Box Office

Containing mind-bending visuals and magical concepts heretofore unexplored in a Marvel Studios’ film, Doctor Strange could theoretically have turned off some of the core MCU audience. That obviously didn’t happen, as the origin story of the future Sorcerer Supreme has become only the latest in the MCU franchise’s string of huge hits. A critical and commercial darling, Strange reinforces the notion that Marvel Studios’ can turn seemingly any property into a hit.

Strange’s immense success began right out of the starting gate, with a $85 million domestic opening instantly surpassing The Incredible Hulk, Ant-Man , Captain America: The First Avenger, and Thor. It also came extremely close to topping Thor: The Dark World’s $85.7 million domestic kickoff. As of weekend two, the good doctor had surpassed Hulk’s total domestic take, and was rapidly gaining on First Avenger’s, while internationally it had already topped both of those, along with Thor.

ComicBook.com reports that the good news for Doctor Strange is continuing. The film has earned a robust $181.5 million domestically and $390 million from international markets, leading to a current total worldwide gross of $571.5 million. This handily vaults over Ant-Man’s $519.3 million global haul, moving Strange up to 10th overall on the worldwide MCU box office chart.


Back on the strictly domestic MCU leaderboard, Strange’s latest total has now floated the former surgeon up above First Avenger, Ant-Man, and Thor’s total stateside tallies. The next domestic benchmark to clear would be Thor: The Dark World’s $206.3 million number, which is certainly possible before Strange ends its theatrical run, but far from certain. How well Strange holds up in its fourth weekend against newcomer Moana and current weekend champion Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them should give an indication as to whether the film has the staying power to pass the Asgardian sequel. After that is Captain America: The Winter Soldier’s, whose $259.7 million domestic total would be a much bigger mountain to climb.

As for Doctor Strange’s continued trajectory up the MCU’s worldwide standings, it’s hard to imagine Strange not jumping over Iron Man’s $585.2 million global earnings within the next week. Iron Man 2’s $623.9 million global haul is also definitely within striking distance for Strange. Where things get a bit harder to forecast is Thor: The Dark World’s $644.6 million total. Either way, Strange is far from done kicking the financial butt of some of its fellow MCU entries.

We'll keep you posted on Doctor Strange‘s climb up the box office ladder.

KEY RELEASE DATES
Doctor Strange release date: Nov 4, 2016
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 release date: May 5, 2017
Spider-Man: Homecoming release date: Jul 7, 2017
Thor: Ragnarok release date: Nov 3, 2017
Black Panther release date: Feb 16, 2018
The Avengers: Infinity War release date: May 4, 2018
Ant-Man & The Wasp release date: Jul 6, 2018
Captain Marvel release date: Mar 8, 2019
The Avengers 4 / Untitled Avengers Movie release date: May 3, 2019

Fantastic Beasts Attracts Mostly Adult Fans in Opening Weekend



The arrival of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them has finally brought the wizarding world of J.K. Rowling back to theaters. After it’s first weekend in cinemas, the Eddie Redmayne-led prequel to the Harry Potter series has taken in more than enough to keep it at the top of the box office – though its $75 million opening is at the bottom end of Warner Bros.’ initial predictions. Nonetheless, fan and critical reactions to the film have been overall positive.

Because of its initial stature as a highly successful series of children’s novels, the Harry Potter franchise has long been viewed by many as having a core demographic made up of children. And rightly so – by the time Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets hit theaters back in 2002, 60 percent of the audience was under the age of 15. But as the children who grew up with the books and films aged, Harry Potter’s appeal expanded to teens and adults alike.

Now some 15 years on from the first Harry Potter film, Forbes is reporting that the arrival of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them has not only laid claim to the lowest opening take of any Potter film, but that the bulk of its audience is adults over the age of 35. While the later films in the Potter series drew in a solid fanbase throughout the 18-35 demographic, Fantastic Beasts is so far on track to be an older fan event. According to Forbes, “The film played 18% under-18 and 45% over the age of 35, a number that implies that it is playing as an older fan affair as opposed to enticing the next generation of would-be Potter nerds.”

The fact that Fantastic Beasts is appealing primarily to adults right now shouldn’t really come as a surprise. As Rowling’s Harry Potter novels grew up, so too did her readers. The increasingly hefty page count, dark tone, and nuanced characterizations of the books helped the kids who enjoyed the first story come back well past puberty. Bloomsbury even began publishing so-called adult editions of the novels, which sold very well in their own right. Because Fantastic Beasts is a spin-off with only one actual J.K. Rowling book to its credit (which itself is a fictional textbook), it may take time to build a fanbase comparable to the original series.

Putting aside the question of whether or not the Fantastic Beasts franchise could ever even come close to the success of Harry Potter, it’s worth noting the shifts the franchise saw in its demographic over time. Fantastic Beasts may also continue to expand and grow with each successive installment. By the time Fantastic Beasts 2 comes around in 2018, that “over 35″ demographic just might be bringing their children along, thereby building up a future audience of proverbial “Potter nerds”.

KEY RELEASE DATES
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them release date: Nov 18, 2016
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2 release date: Nov 16, 2018

Fantastic Beasts Producer Explains Johnny Depp Casting

[Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them]

Nearing the end of its first weekend, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is already lighting up the box office, but not to the extent that its predecessors in the Harry Potter series managed. This could be due to a number of factors – an adjusted focus to adult protagonists, a time shift to the 1920s, or simply a lack of obvious connective tissue to the original series’ narrative. That last disconnect may not be as big of a problem when the sequel rolls around, since Dumbledore’s legendary opponent, Gellert Grindelwald has been revealed as the likely big bad of the prequel series.

Warner Brothers didn’t go cheap on casting what is sure to be a recurring appearance by one of the most dangerous Dark Wizards of the Potterverse. The previously rumored, now confirmed, Johnny Depp appears in the role at the end of Fantastic Beasts, promising to be a continued menace moving forward.

Recently Collider talked to Fantastic Beasts producer David Heyman to discuss the casting choice. Heyman’s extensive response illustrated that there was no small amount of thought put into the process.

“It was the end of last year. We filmed it early this year because of availability. What we wanted was an iconic actor to play Grindelwald, because Grindelwald is an iconic character who has a significant place in this story. His ability to persuade the hearts and minds, to persuade people to follow him is essential to this story.

“He is dangerous in that way. We were looking for someone who was seductive and could be charming and could be original, who was iconic, who was a great actor; and that’s what Johnny Depp is. He can be irresistible. He’s powerful. He’s created some iconic characters, and not made the obvious choices when doing so. The unpredictability of the choices he makes is part of what makes him so extraordinary and that was very exciting for us. He was the perfect choice for Grindelwald.”

Johnny Depp was a controversial pick for Grindelwald among fans for a number of reasons, but one of them is due to the baggage of fame he brings to his roles in the wake of his extensive career. For some, it’s gotten harder to see Depp as anyone but “the guy who plays the odd roles in all the Tim Burton movies.” Heyman seems to feel that Depp’s fame will be more of an asset moving forward than a hindrance to Grindelwald’s film legacy. At this point, it’s hard to have an opinion, since Depp’s appearance in Fantastic Beasts is incredibly slim.

KEY RELEASE DATES
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them release date: Nov 18, 2016
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2 release date: Nov 16, 2018

Gal Gadot Describes Wearing Wonder Woman Costume For First Time

Being cast one of the most well-known superheroes of all time is a feat all its own, but oftentimes the point isn’t driven home until an actor suits up for the first time. Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman all received costume upgrades ahead of their debut in the new shared DCEU. Fan reception varies wildly as new super suits are revealed based on whether or not they are lifted directly from the pages of comics or have been given upgrades based on context or new technology.

Regardless of the amount of work that is put into making functioning costumes, it is up to the actors to make everything look believable. After WB released the latest trailer for Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot wears the suit like a second skin. Her motions are fluid in the battle sequences and her confidence in that suit vs how awkward she is in “civilian clothes” shows how a great superhero suit can make a world of difference.

While some actors have awe-inspiring moments when they suit up for the first time, like Ezra Miller’s first time in The Flash suit, others are very practical in their reactions. Which tends to happen when the outfit is incredibly over-the-top or when it just isn’t comfortable. At Rhode Island Comic Con, Comic Book Movie notes that Gal Gadot’s first test in Wonder Woman’s garb was definitely one of the latter. She described a mix of discomfort and excitement, saying:

“The very-very first time I tried the costume on was three days after I got cast. They flew me to Michigan, and I got into this huge hangar… With tons of white walls covered with posters of me as Wonder Woman. I got into the room and I couldn’t stop looking at the posters. And then, when they wanted me to try on the costume — because I was so excited that they cast me for the role — I couldn’t say anything. I couldn’t breathe, but I was like, ‘That’s okay. That’s fine.'”

Despite being one of the better reviewed characters from Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, there was a lot of blow-back at Gadot’s initial casting as the iconic Amazon princess. Many critics and fans alike jumped straight to body-shaming Gadot, claiming her build was too think to play Wonder Woman. However, her ability to outshine both Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck in the massive battle sequence at the end of BvS really put a lot of fears to rest.

Costume designer, Michael Wilkinson, mentioned that the biggest challenge of Wonder Woman’s new look was pulling together elements of Greek and Roman armor while also giving Gadot a flexible, breathable suit she could fight in. Ahead of production, Wilkinson said that director Zack Snyder wanted her to look “gritty, battle-scarred, and immortal.” Comfortable was notably absent from the list of wants, but Gadot says they eventually got that part right too, adding:

“[At first], it was really, really tight, and we adjusted it. And I love the costume. I think, it complements Wonder Woman very much so, as being the greatest warrior out there. And now it’s much more comfortable.”

KEY RELEASE DATES
Wonder Woman release date: Jun 2, 2017
Justice League release date: Nov 17, 2017
The Flash Movie release date: Mar 16, 2018
Aquaman release date: Jul 27, 2018
Shazam! release date: Apr 5, 2019
Cyborg release date: Apr 3, 2020
Green Lantern Corps. release date: Jul 24, 2020

Weekend Box Office Wrap-up: November 20, 2016

Thanks to another trip to a certain Wizarding World, the November box office continued to impress in another fruitful weekend.

Opening in first is Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (read our review). The Harry Potter spinoff earned $75 million in its first three days, which is a strong start. It received mostly positive reviews, and the prospect of returning to this magical universe was enough to get audiences hooked. Fantastic Beasts‘ debut is actually the lowest in the overall franchise, but since it did not have a built-in following like its predecessors (all based on bestselling books), that isn’t cause to be alarmed. So far, the global total is already $218 million, meaning the project has made back its entire $180 million production budget.

Still, Warner Bros. could feel slight concern from this performance. During the week, some projections had estimated about $90 million in the first three days domestically, meaning that Fantastic Beasts met the low end of expectations. Though the professional reviews were generally positive, not everyone was as enthusiastic about the film, feeling it was more concerned with setup for its forthcoming sequels than standing on its own. It will be interesting to see how the movie holds up over time, especially with Disney’s Moana right around the corner. Word-of-mouth is there, but Fantastic Beasts hasn’t seized the zeitgeist in the way the earlier works did.

In second is Doctor Strange with $17.6 million. With the arrival of Fantastic Beasts, the demand for Marvel’s latest was bound to go down. Still, the mind-bending superhero origin continues to demonstrate strong legs, given that it is a must-see experience on the big screen due to its visual style. To date, Doctor Strange has made $181.5 million Stateside.

The #3 film this week is Trolls, which brought in $17.5 million. DreamWorks Animation’s new hit raised its domestic total to $116.2 million.


Coming in fourth is Arrival. The sci-fi drama made $11.8 million in its second weekend, a 51 percent drop from its opening weekend. Denis Villeneuve’s awards contender is now up to $43.3 million domestically.

Rounding out the top five is Almost Christmas. The ensemble family comedy brought in $7 million to raise its U.S. total to $25.4 million.

In sixth is Hacksaw Ridge with $6.7 million. Mel Gibson’s well-received World War II drama has now grossed $42.8 million domestically.

Debuting as #7 is the new teen comedy The Edge of Seventeen (read our review) with $4.8 million. Though the film earned near-universal acclaim, it could not compete with the more high-profile newcomers and holdovers. Additionally, its target demographic of teenagers probably opted for Fantastic Beasts or Doctor Strange – two projects with widespread appeal. The good news for distributor STX is that Edge of Seventeen cost only $9 million to make, but it has an uphill climb to turn a profit. With interest this low at the start, it’s unlikely to turn things around and surge up the charts in the coming weeks.


Opening in eighth is Bleed for This, a new boxing drama starring Miles Teller and Aaron Ekhart. The film managed just $2.3 million in its first three days, unable to emerge as a viable counter-programming option after receiving decent reviews. Like Edge of Seventeen, this smaller work will most likely fall off shortly, as there are bigger films on the horizon.

The Accountant comes in ninth with $2.1 million. The Ben Affleck-led crime drama is now up to $81.2 million domestically, which is by far a career high for director Gavin O’Connor.

Capping off the top ten is Shut In. The thriller made $1.6 million in its second weekend to raise its domestic total to $6 million.

Outside the Top 10: Ang Lee’s Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (read our review) went wide on Friday and was a massive flop. The war drama could only muster a lowly $930,000 over the weekend, which is a disaster for Sony. The film was subject to mixed reviews, but few could have e

Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them Scores $75 Million Debut



Audiences around the world have now been given the chance to once again immerse themselves into the Wizarding World, but instead of following Harry Potter through a ninth movie installment, this time around a mainly new cast of characters were put front and center. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them took this universe back to the 1920’s as Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) travels to the United States to further his study of magical creatures. Instead of an easy trip, Newt’s briefcase containing the beasts is opened, unleashing the creatures across New York.

Even though the prequel to the Harry Potter films has subtle connections to the larger mythos of the universe, it is a brand new franchise in its own right. The lack of familiarity to the brand itself produced a wide ranging expected opening with the film being projected for an opening between $75-$90 million. With the weekend almost over, it appears that Fantastic Beasts will open on the low end of those projections.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them has reportedly opened to $75 million in the states according to Exhibitor Relations. This is the lowest opening ever for any film in the Harry Potter franchise. While that does not sound great, it was the clear winner at the box office this weekend and remains one of the biggest openings of the year.

Warner Bros. is sure to be happy with this opening, but it is surprising Fantastic Beasts did not do bigger numbers to start. Just a few weeks ago, the other magical adventure of the year, Doctor Strange, exceeded expectations. The success of Doctor Strange would have seemed to help Fantastic Beasts since audiences would get the chance to see another magic filled movie shortly after.

This may have been the low end of expectations, but $75 million in a weekend is nothing but a success from a box office perspective. It also shows that there is interest in this new franchise, which is good news for the studio with four sequels already in the works. Something that they will certainly be keeping an eye on is how well it performs in the weeks to come and overseas.

With it looking like Fantastic Beasts has surplanted Doctor Strange as the young adult and adult crowd favorite, it now sits in the way of Moana and the family audience that movie is targeting. Moana may not seem like a film that would have the same target audience, but Disney’s recent animated films have performed very well at the box office and could diminish the returns of Fantastic Beasts in its second week. Outside of Moana and Doctor Strange, Fantastic Beasts should have a few weeks to stay near the top of the box office reports before Rogue One: A Star Wars Story comes to cinemas.

KEY RELEASE DATES
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them release date: Nov 18, 2016
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2 release date: Nov 16, 2018

Star Wars: Rogue One World Premiere Set For December 10

With the theatrical release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story just under a month away, Lucasfilm has done about all they can do in terms of promoting their latest tentpole. Multiple trailers have excited many, TV spots have teased a hard-hitting war drama, and even new novels are getting fans ready for the first standalone anthology film in the beloved franchise. Anticipation levels are already through the roof, and the only real question that remains unanswered is whether or not the movie is of high quality.

Viewers still have to wait a little bit before the professional reviews start rolling in, but they’ll be able to get an idea of how Rogue One plays to a crowd very soon. Lucasfilm has now set up the world premiere for the movie, and just like last year’s The Force Awakens, it comes a few days before the general public will have a chance to see it.

Twitter user @RandolphCarter1 (hat tip Star Wars News Net) shared an image of the invitation he received from Lucasfilm on social media. Obviously, the key information of the screening’s location is blurred out, but it does say that the premiere will take place the evening of Saturday, December 10. While the host city is unknown, it’s likely the event will be held in Los Angeles, just like the Episode VII premiere.

Fans may recall that Lucasfilm did not lift the review embargo for The Force Awakens until just before it hit the multiplex, but those who attended the premiere were allowed to share their thoughts immediately afterwards on social media. It’s plausible, then, that the strategy will be the same this time around. It would be smart if the studio allowed bite-sized reactions on Twitter following the premiere, since that would be an easy and efficient way to start building buzz and word-of-mouth ahead of its opening to the general public. Rogue One, of course, is not part of the main Skywalker saga, so an enthusiastic response about a week before the theatrical release could sell casual viewers, which would only increase the box office receipts.

While time will tell if Rogue One is a worthwhile trip to the galaxy far, far away, things are shaping up nicely for the film. Lucasfilm is obviously very confident in the project’s ability to strike a chord with viewers, or else they wouldn’t be so inclined to put together a major celebration like this. For all the talk about the movie’s reshoots, most of the marketing materials have sold fans on the idea of the spinoff, and many are in agreement that it has the potential to be a great installment in the series. Rogue One seems to have all the set pieces and emotional character moments audiences expect out of this franchise, and in the near future they’ll be able to see if it lives up to the hype.

KEY RELEASE DATES
Star Wars: Rogue One / Rogue One: A Star Wars Story release date: Dec 16, 2016
Star Wars 8 / Star Wars: Episode VIII release date: Dec 15, 2017
Untitled Han Solo Star Wars Anthology Film release date: May 25, 2018

Walking Dead Showrunner: The Whisperers May Arrive Early

[Warning: This post contains SPOILERS for The Walking Dead comic.]

The Walking Dead has had a relatively divisive seventh season so far, with Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s portrayal of comic fan favorite Negan drawing just as much praise as derision. Still, showrunner Scott Gimple has doubled down on his commitment to the show, even teasing an eventual film adaptation someday. With that in mind, it’s reasonable to assume that fans will continue to see stories from the beloved comic brought to the screen (admittedly with a vast amount of changes involved). If that is the case, then Negan should be around for the long haul, in spite of the lukewarm response to him so far.

As much as The Walking Dead has followed the comic lately, however, the show’s history reveals that it’s not afraid to make large changes on occasion – like killing Andrea way back in season 3, despite her still being alive in the comic – when the story calls for it. Now, fans may have a little more insight into the next change that Gimple has planned for the ratings goliath.

According to a recent interview with Comic Book, Gimple has revealed that villains the Whisperers may make an appearance in the show a little earlier than they did in the comic. Gimple was asked if the mysterious brand new society being introduced in episode six, “Swear,” was, in fact, the Whisperers and though he denied that was the case, he didn’t rule out the possibility of them showing up relatively soon. Gimple’s entire answer on the subject is available below:

If we’ve gotten this far without saying anything about them, I’d like the audience to discover this group when it’s on screen. I will say … I mean, it’s not the Whisperers. I will also say, though, that it’s not impossible that the Whisperers could come along or aspects of them could come along earlier than the timeline of the book, but certainly not this early.


Though this is certainly only a rumor at this point and there’s no real evidence to suggest when exactly they’ll show up, the possibility of the Whisperers showing up even remotely early is an interesting prospect. Maybe Gimple and his team of writers believe bringing in Alpha and her crew of zombie skin-wearing survivors earlier will help shift the focus away from Morgan’s contentious Negan. Or maybe they’ll simply appear in a small cameo only to return after Rick and Negan’s eventual all-out war.

Some fans may be a little disappointed by this development, as there’s a rather important comic story arc between Negan and Rick’s war and the Whisperers that involves a time jump and the successful implementation of a trade system between communities. Still, there’s no reason to assume The Walking Dead won’t eventually weave that in, as it has most of the other comic stories at this point. There may be differences, but the story beats will hopefully remain close to the same.

The Walking Dead continues with ‘Go Getters’ this Sunday at 9pm on AMC.

Game of Thrones Season 7 Rumors: Family Conflicts & New Allies

[Potential SPOILERS ahead for Game of Thrones season 7.]

Game of Thrones is well underway with filming for season 7, and in this age of constant, fast-spreading information, leaks about the plot arising from the production were going to be nearly impossible to stop. With big sets being built and large groups of actors being spotted in current filming locations like Las Breñas, Argentina, details about the season’s coming battles both large and small continue to trickle out.

One of the most anticipated plot developments of Game of Thrones season 7 is the impending reunion between Sansa (Sophie Turner), Arya (Maisie Williams), and Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright). While it will be a most momentous occasion when the Stark siblings finally see each other again after several seasons apart, it reportedly won’t stay positive forever. Other developments based on actors spotted at certain locations have led new reports to connect the dots based on serious conflicts facing particular characters; namely Ser Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen).

Sources have told Watchers on the Wall plot details surrounding not only Ser Jorah but the Stark family reunion, among other significant developments to come in season 7. The report confirms that a reunion between Sansa, Arya, and Bran will take place at Winterfell, but will take a negative turn after some “initial euphoria.” Family conflict will particularly escalate between Sansa and Arya, who have each grown and changed over the course of the several seasons and many dark episodes the two have endured. The report also indicates that Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen) will recognize this and deliberately attempt to drive the wedge even further between them.

The report also confirms that Jorah will follow the orders of Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) from season six and travel to Oldtown in an effort to cure himself of his growing greyscale infection before he becomes a stoneman. It is there where he will meet Maester-in-training Samwell Tarly (John Bradley-West), who will confide in Jorah after learning that he is the son of former Lord Commander Jeor Mormont. Watchers on the Wall connects the dots between previous reports of Jorah filming new scenes with Daenerys and determines that Samwell is successful in curing him.

Other connections are being made between the Lannister and Tyrell armies, who apparently form an alliance before apparently being ambushed by Daenerys’ army at Highgarden, as well as a new set being built near Belfast, Northern Ireland that will reportedly call for 300 extras to perform as Wights. In any event, Game of Thrones appears to be preparing for a season filled with intense battles, whether they are the expected large-scale fights or the somewhat unexpected quarrels to arise within the Stark family. The new alliance between Jorah and Samwell is also just one of several exciting new meet-ups to come.

The reunion between Sansa and Jon Snow in season six was handled well, as it was not too over-the-top or drawn out. It’s important to handle such highly anticipated moments delicately and to strike a balance between being heavy-handed and understated to avoid feeling clunky or anticlimactic. The Stark sibling reunion will be one such occasion, and the idea that it will not go so smoothly suggests that its depiction will not be too idealistic. It will also be interesting to see how Game of Thrones handles the continued intertwining of complex wartime alliances and enemies.

Game of Thrones season 7 premieres on HBO in summer 2017.

Supergirl Producer Teases ‘Surprising Reactions’ to Guardian’s Identity

After airing its first season on CBS, Supergirl‘s sophomore run on The CW is in full swing. The change in network has worked well, and the series appears to be hitting its stride with a variety of compelling storylines and fresh plot developments. One of the interesting new developments this season has been the changing role of Jimmy Olsen (played by Mehcad Brooks), who has evolved from boyfriend-to-be to masked vigilante. Fans may recall that Olsen’s initial character arc in season 1 was that of Kara Danver’s (played by Melissa Benoist) love interest – a role that was seemingly cemented in last year’s finale.

Perhaps due to the change in network, the second season immediately backtracked on Jimmy Olsen’s role, with Kara determining that the two were better off as friends. This revelation left little for Olsen to do, resulting in the character receiving diminished screen time for several episodes. Love it or hate it, Olsen’s character was recently given a jump start in the form of pursuing the life of a vigilante. We finally saw Olsen as Guardian, the mantle traditionally held by James Harper, in Supergirl‘s most recent episode, ‘Changing‘. Thanks to Winn, Olsen not only has a highly effective suit, but can keep his identity secret from Kara with lead coating.

This leaves open the question: when will Kara, and some of Supergirl‘s other characters, find out about Olsen’s new extracurricular role? EW was recently asked in its Spoiler Room specifically “When will Kara find out about James being Guardian on Supergirl?” Well, EW is reporting that according to producer Andrew Kreisberg:

“It’s a little bit like when Chandler and Monica started dating [on Friends], every episode somebody else found out and they had a surprising reaction…Not everybody is going to find out at once. Some people are going to be supportive; who’s supportive is going to be surprising. Some people are going to be incredibly unsupportive thinking James and Winn have lost their minds; their identities will be interesting.”

While it certainly is refreshing to see Jimmy Olsen in a role outside of romantic interest or “damsel in distress,” there has been some fan backlash over the decision to have him become Guardian – though, throughout the character’s DC comic book history, Jimmy has had his fair share of weird superhero identities. However, with Guardian traditionally connected to Cadmus, it does make sense that Supergirl would introduce the character in a season where the organization plays a large role.

As for how the characters will react to finding out Olsen is operating as a vigilante, it is not surprising that there will be some mixed reactions. It is not unlikely that Kara will be largely against Olsen fighting crime without any superpowers. What is more intriguing is: who will think it is a good idea? The conflict between those different ideologies could make for some compelling television going forward.

Based on previous reports, it sounds like Alex, and not Kara, will be the first person to discover that Olsen is Guardian. Supergirl actor, Jeremy Jordan, who plays Winn, recently opened up to EW in a separate interview, stating that Winn is going to have to confront Alex in the next episode, when Maggie starts calling for Guardian’s arrest. Specifically, Jordan states that Winn will explain to Alex:

“‘Hey, you gotta tell your friend Maggie to stop spreading all of this crap about Guardian. That’s not him. He’s a good person. I know he is.’ And, she’s like, ‘How do you know?’ Winn isn’t the best at keeping secrets, as we will find out very shortly in the next episode, so it’s fun to watch how he handles other people sort of discovering the secret of Guardian.

Whether Kara and J’onn eventually accept Guardian’s help to form a Team Supergirl (a la Team Arrow and Flash) is yet to be seen. However, given the route the other Arrowverse shows have taken, it would not be surprising. Then, of course, there is also Mon-El and whether he decides to take on a more heroic role going forward.

Supergirl continues Monday November 21 with ‘The Darkest Place’ at 8pm on The CW.

The Defenders Set Photos: Luke & Claire Have an Intimate Reunion

[SPOILERS for Luke Cage season 1 ahead.]

Not too long ago, Marvel and Netflix rolled out their third joint series, Luke Cage, that brought Mike Colter back as Power Man after first appearing in Jessica Jones. Despite Luke’s connection with Jessica (Krysten Ritter) and their romantic ties in the comics, he continued to “have coffee” throughout his solo series. While it started with Misty Knight (Simone Missick), Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson) was the one who he ultimately fell for.

Unfortunately for Luke and Claire, just as things began to calm down for them, Luke was taken back to prison. For viewers who ship this relationship, it appeared as though they would have to wait some time before seeing the couple back together. However, new set photos from The Defenders mini-series appear to reveal their romantic reunion.

Netflixdefenders, a Tumblr fan account, have posted four new photos from the set. The photos offer up the first chance to see Dawson on the set, and shows that Luke and Claire are not wasting anytime picking up the relationship from where it left off. The pair can be seen kissing in every photo – which should indicate that of the three women he has had romantic relations with, it will be Claire who is by Luke’s side throughout the mini-series.

These photos arrives shortly after Colter’s first appearance on the Defenders set, in photos where he appears alongside Misty instead. If there is anything else to take away from these new photos outside of the romantic relationship between the characters, this could be the scene where Luke is released from prison. He was taken back because he escaped years ago when he got his powers – though Bobby Fish (Ron Cephas Jones) was shown finding the file that will clear Luke’s name, at the end of Luke Cage season 1. If these photos are from when Luke has just been released, it would explain why he and Claire are so happy to see one another.

If Claire is going to be Luke’s main love interest throughout The Defenders, it could make for some interesting moments between Claire, Misty, and Jessica, should they ever be in the same room with one other. Claire and Misty were pretty friendly with one another in Luke Cage season 1, even knowing of the other’s past with Luke. However, the addition of Jessica to that equation could make for some comedic moments and/or introduce additional dramatic tension.

Daredevil seasons 1 and 2, Jessica Jones season 1, and Luke Cage season 1 are now available on Netflix. Iron Fist will premiere on March 17, 2017, with The Defenders and The Punisher arriving later that year. Premiere dates for the next seasons of Jessica Jones season 2 and Daredevil season 3 have not yet been announced.

Star Wars: Rogue One Alien is Based on Winston Churchill

Though he only appeared as a supporting character in the second half of Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of The Jedi, Admiral Ackbar became an iconic figure both in pop culture and for fans with his unique fish-like appearance and signature line-reading of “It’s a trap!” Re-emerging in a cameo for The Force Awakens, Admiral Ackbar remained the most prominent known character of the Mon Calamari alien species.

Now, meet a new fish-eyed tactician who’ll be aiding the cause in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, as a military leader designed to resemble a famous real-world statesman.

Debuting in a preview from Entertainment Weekly, Admiral Raddus is a Mon Calamari military advisor who is involved with the Rebellion’s plans to raid the original Death Star and steal the plans that will eventually be passed from Princess Leia to R2d2 and then to Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. While decidedly non-human looking, Raddus bears a subtle resemblance to World War II-era British Prime Minister Winston Churchill – and according to creature effects supervisor Neal Scanlan, that was entirely intentional:

“We always tried to find a real world example of who these creatures may be, and in this case we used Churchill. Admiral Raddus is a very strong figure. We would use [Churchill] not only as visual reference for his physical features, but also when it came to performing him and expressing him through the actor. It helps to have someone to reference in the real world. It grounds our creatures and ideas. We use these references to pull these creatures back and make them feel like they belong here in our world.”


Known for his gruff demeanor and blunt, to-the-point style, Winston Churchill served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. Widely credited with the statesmanship and strategic thinking that helped rally the Allies to victory during World War II, he is regarded as one of the most respected political figures of the 20th Century. Though, of course, his two administrations were not without their critics and controversies.

The precise nature of Admiral Raddus’ role in Rogue One is not known, though the first images of the character depict him sharing at least one scene with Diego Luna’s prominently-featured Captain Cassian Andor. Thus far, Mon Calamari characters in Star Wars have mainly been featured in positions of leadership but not directly involved in combat sequences. Still, it remains to be seen how Admiral Raddus will factor into Rogue One.

KEY RELEASE DATES
Star Wars: Rogue One / Rogue One: A Star Wars Story release date: Dec 16, 2016
Star Wars 8 / Star Wars: Episode VIII release date: Dec 15, 2017
Untitled Han Solo Star Wars Anthology Film release date: May 25, 2018

Is John Cleese Joining a DC Extended Universe Film?


DC’s extended universe may not have started off with a bang when it comes to critical reception, but so far the casting decisions have been among the strongest aspects of the relatively young and growing comic book-inspired universe. From Ben Affleck’s mostly well received turn as the Dark Knight in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice to Margot Robbie as the fan favorite villain Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad, DC has at least been mostly knocking it out of the park when it comes to its choice of actors.

With the recent announcement of Joe Manganiello being cast as Deathstroke in the upcoming Batman solo film, it was only a matter of time before DC announced another addition. Thanks to social media, fans may have a small clue as to who that new addition may be.

Brought to fans’ attention by Twitter user Dennis Lamb (via Comic Book), it seems that Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’s official UK account as well as photographer Clay Enos (who’s been involved in both Suicide Squad and Dawn of Justice) have both started following John Cleese. Similar events preceded the announcement of Manganiello in the Deathstroke role, making it all the more possible that Cleese is the next addition to DCEU.

Obviously, at this point, this rumor has little to no evidence to suggest it as fact, and there’s even less evidence than there was for Manganiello before he was eventually cast. However, the way that DC has gone all in for the aforementioned Affleck (who a lot of fans were skeptical about at first, somewhat paralleling Heath Ledger’s casting in The Dark Knight) and relative newcomer Gal Gadot as the beloved Wonder Woman, it wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine Cleese finding a place in DC. The possibilities of who he could end up playing are vast, and many fans have already speculated a plethora of characters who would fit the actor’s persona, including those ranging from Dr. Fate to G. Gordon Godfrey.

Granted, who DC casts in the future may pale in comparison to how they’ll course correct their current product in the eyes of critics. The filmmakers could cast the best actors in the world, but if the product isn’t resonating with fans and reviewers, then who is in the film is ultimately meaningless. Though, that may all change with the upcoming 2017 release of Gadot’s Wonder Woman, which Warner Bros. has expressed confidence in after a screening for executives.

Regardless, the DC extended universe has a dedicated fan base who have seemingly enjoyed their string of films thus far (both Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad performed well at the box office) and the potential addition of Cleese could be a proverbial icing on the cake for the DC films.

We’ll keep you updated on all DC extended universe news as it develops.

KEY RELEASE DATES
Wonder Woman release date: Jun 2, 2017
Justice League release date: Nov 17, 2017
The Flash Movie release date: Mar 16, 2018
Aquaman release date: Jul 27, 2018
Shazam! release date: Apr 5, 2019
Cyborg release date: Apr 3, 2020
Green Lantern Corps. release date: Jul 24, 2020

Is John Cleese Joining a DC Extended Universe Film?


DC’s extended universe may not have started off with a bang when it comes to critical reception, but so far the casting decisions have been among the strongest aspects of the relatively young and growing comic book-inspired universe. From Ben Affleck’s mostly well received turn as the Dark Knight in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice to Margot Robbie as the fan favorite villain Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad, DC has at least been mostly knocking it out of the park when it comes to its choice of actors.

With the recent announcement of Joe Manganiello being cast as Deathstroke in the upcoming Batman solo film, it was only a matter of time before DC announced another addition. Thanks to social media, fans may have a small clue as to who that new addition may be.

Brought to fans’ attention by Twitter user Dennis Lamb (via Comic Book), it seems that Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’s official UK account as well as photographer Clay Enos (who’s been involved in both Suicide Squad and Dawn of Justice) have both started following John Cleese. Similar events preceded the announcement of Manganiello in the Deathstroke role, making it all the more possible that Cleese is the next addition to DCEU.

Obviously, at this point, this rumor has little to no evidence to suggest it as fact, and there’s even less evidence than there was for Manganiello before he was eventually cast. However, the way that DC has gone all in for the aforementioned Affleck (who a lot of fans were skeptical about at first, somewhat paralleling Heath Ledger’s casting in The Dark Knight) and relative newcomer Gal Gadot as the beloved Wonder Woman, it wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine Cleese finding a place in DC. The possibilities of who he could end up playing are vast, and many fans have already speculated a plethora of characters who would fit the actor’s persona, including those ranging from Dr. Fate to G. Gordon Godfrey.

Granted, who DC casts in the future may pale in comparison to how they’ll course correct their current product in the eyes of critics. The filmmakers could cast the best actors in the world, but if the product isn’t resonating with fans and reviewers, then who is in the film is ultimately meaningless. Though, that may all change with the upcoming 2017 release of Gadot’s Wonder Woman, which Warner Bros. has expressed confidence in after a screening for executives.

Regardless, the DC extended universe has a dedicated fan base who have seemingly enjoyed their string of films thus far (both Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad performed well at the box office) and the potential addition of Cleese could be a proverbial icing on the cake for the DC films.

We’ll keep you updated on all DC extended universe news as it develops.

KEY RELEASE DATES
Wonder Woman release date: Jun 2, 2017
Justice League release date: Nov 17, 2017
The Flash Movie release date: Mar 16, 2018
Aquaman release date: Jul 27, 2018
Shazam! release date: Apr 5, 2019
Cyborg release date: Apr 3, 2020
Green Lantern Corps. release date: Jul 24, 2020

Power Rangers Cosplay Video Shoot Ends in Marriage Proposal

Popular culture has always influenced broad social customs in unexpected ways, and few places is this more apparent than in the proliferation of weddings and marriage proposals “themed” after various fictional properties. The last decade alone has seen an explosion in weddings themed after everything from Star Wars to superheroes to the Harry Potter franchise, and that’s just the most prominent examples.

Now, check out a heartwarming new viral clip in which a Power Rangers cosplayer uses a photo shoot to pop the question to his partner.

Posted to Facebook by cosplayer James Reese, the video clip takes the form of a photo shoot featuring the pair costumed as members of “Dino Super Charge” (aka Season 12) Power Rangers. During a back-to-back pose, Reese’s partner Anthony Grillo (as the White Ranger) produces a ring and gestures for the cameraman to capture the reaction of Reese (as the Aqua Ranger) when he turns around to find his partner having taken a traditional knee.

“You guys know that Anthony and I never do anything mediocre, we always have to be over-the-top! So, with that said, he had to make sure that the next step in our lives was more than special, it had to more Morphinominal! Anthony got down on one knee, in his ranger suit to ask me to be his forever ranger! Today, we are announcement [sic] our engagement! I said yes! Rangers Together, Love Forever! #Love #RangersForever #LoveForever thank you to our good friend Kevin Christopher Bianchi for filming and being a part of this very special moment in our life!”

Now in it’s 23rd season (with a 24th, “Power Rangers Ninja Steel,” already in production for 2017), Power Rangers remains one of the most popular entertainment brands on the planet. Derived by combining footage from the similarly long-running Japanese Super Sentai action series with new scenes featuring English-speaking actors, the series has entertained generations of fans and is particularly popular on the cosplay circuit thanks to a wide array of costume variations afforded to each new team of heroes.

A new feature film, said to be a dramatic reimagining of the original 1990s “Mighty Morphin” incarnation of the franchise, is now in production and is set to release in 2017. Saban Entertainment (which created the original series and recently re-acquired the rights from Disney) is producing the new film along with Lionsgate, and has signaled that the television side of the property will continue into further seasons as well.

KEY RELEASE DATES
Power Rangers release date: Mar 24, 2017

 Star Wars Land Concept Art; Star Tours Gets Episode 8-Based Missio



Ever since they acquired Lucasfilm and claimed the rights to Star Wars way back in 2012, Disney has begun a wildly successful revival of the iconic franchise. Their first movie, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens shattered several box office records, going on to become the biggest film of all time in the U.S. and U.K. Riding high on the success of that first trilogy installment, Disney currently has at least three Star Wars spin-offs on the way, including next month’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and 2018’s Han Solo prequel.

These new films are just the start to Disney’s worldwide Star Wars revival, though, as the company has been rolling out all kinds of merch, both new and nostalgic, and is even developing plans to realize the world of Star Wars here on planet Earth. Back in February, Harrison Ford announced the company’s plans to build a Star Wars Land at both Disney World in Orlando and Disneyland in Anaheim. Though an extensive “first look” at the parks’ plans accompanied the announcement, the company and its Imagineers pretty much went radio silent on the project after this spring. Now, though, the company has finally announced new details about both Star Wars Lands and released some new concept art, to boot.

The official Disney Parks website unveiled new concept art for Star Wars Land at Disney World and discussed the upcoming attractions highlighted in said plans, particularly “one of the signature attractions that lets you take the controls of the Millennium Falcon.” The company also announced changes to the Star Tours ride at Disneyland, teasing that “Walt Disney Imagineering and Lucasfilm teams are currently in production to add an exciting new mission to the attraction based on elements from Star Wars Episode 8.” You can check out the high-res concept art, below.


Though the actual article doesn’t reveal too much about the new attraction, this high-res art gives enough of an up-close look at the park to drive some fun speculation. It looks as though Imagineers have opted for a desert planet atmosphere, which makes sense, given previous promises to include a cantina setting in the park. A number of colorful awnings also point to the markets proposed in the initial Star Wars Land announcement, though we’re curious to know how they will utilize that open, plaza-like space off to the right. Also, we hope that soaring X-wing isn’t just artistic embellishment – maybe it signals a new ride? After all, if Disneyland is getting some exclusive updates to Star Tours, it makes sense that some new thrills would make their way to Disney World as well.

All in all, this new information doesn’t actually tell us much concretely about the upcoming parks that we didn’t already know. It does give us hope, though, that the planned attractions will include some real entertainment, and amount to more than just a glorified Star Wars-style outdoor mall. That model did admittedly work well for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios, where the park is based around shopping district Hogsmeade and originally only included three rides, one of which was just a rebranding of an old coaster. It’s possible that Disney will make up a Star Wars world so immersive that merely visiting it will be fun enough.

With an ongoing inundation of Rogue One and Han Solo news, it’s cool to see an update on Disney’s real-world prospects for Star Wars fans. Now all the company has to do is meet their out-of-this-world expectations.

KEY RELEASE DATES
Star Wars: Rogue One / Rogue One: A Star Wars Story release date: Dec 16, 2016
Star Wars 8 / Star Wars: Episode VIII release date: Dec 15, 2017
Untitled Han Solo Star Wars Anthology Film release date: May 25, 2018

 Ben Affleck’s The Batman May Not Feature Catwoman

The next film to be released in the DC Extended Universe is this coming year’s Wonder Woman, starring Gal Gadot as the Amazonian princess. Following Wonder Woman will be the highly anticipated team-up Justice League, starring Ben Affleck as Batman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Ezra Miller as The Flash, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, and Jason Momoa as Aquaman. Once Justice League hits theaters in November 2017, all eyes will turn to the next batch of solo films – though the most anticipated of those may be Ben Affleck’s The Batman.

Despite mixed reactions to Batman V Superman, Ben Affleck’s first film as Batman, the actor received mostly praise for his turn as the Dark Knight. This has left fans optimistic that future films featuring The Bat will be more than worth the price of admission. Of course, The Batman is not only receiving buzz due to Affleck’s portrayal of Bruce Wayne. Rather, it is the Academy Award-winning director’s position behind the camera that really has people excited. And with Ben Affleck and Geoff Johns hard at work creating the perfect script, fans are beginning to wonder: what classic Batman characters will be making an appearance?

Along those lines, one question that remains up in the air, is Bruce Wayne’s love interest. We know Talia Al Ghul will not be appearing, but how about Selina Kyle aka Catwoman? Fandango editor Erik Davis is reporting that he recently spoke with Ben Affleck’s Live By Night co-star, Sienna Miller, who expressed her interest in the Catwoman role, before confirming that Selina Kyle is not slated to appear in The Batman. Specifically, the actress stated, “She’s not in the script but I wanna write her in!”

Any mention of Ben Affleck’s The Batman is certain to generate news, so Davis did clarify this morning that Sienna Miller is not involved with the film’s writing process, so fans should not “take her word as bond.”

As for who will actually be in The Batman, we know that Slade Wilson aka Deathstroke will be played by Joe Manganiello, while Jeremy Irons will be reprising his role as Alfred from Batman V Superman, and J.K. Simmons will be expanding on his Commissioner Gordon role, which will be first seen in Justice League.

There are few characters in comics whose history is more intertwined than Batman and Catwoman. The frequent Bruce Wayne love interest has been played in previous films by Michell Pfeiffer (Batman Returns) and Anne Hathaway (The Dark Knight Rises). It is, therefore, likely that Kyle will eventually make her DCEU debut, but maybe not as soon as The Batman. After all, it does sound like Affleck and Johns are trying to deliver a fresh take on Batman, as evident by their inclusion of Deathstroke, a character yet to appear in a live-action Batman movie. Whether Sienna Miller is as in the know as she suggests, is a different question altogether.

KEY RELEASE DATES
Wonder Woman release date: Jun 2, 2017
Justice League release date: Nov 17, 2017
The Flash Movie release date: Mar 16, 2018
Aquaman release date: Jul 27, 2018
Shazam! release date: Apr 5, 2019
Cyborg release date: Apr 3, 2020
Green Lantern Corps. release date: Jul 24, 2020

Doctor Strange Concept Art Reveals Baron Mordo’s Alternate Costume

[SPOILERS for those who haven’t seen Doctor Strange ahead.]

Although Doctor Strange was predominantly an origin story, telling how Benedict Cumberbatch’s Stephen Strange went from arrogant surgeon to the selfless saviour of all reality, it wasn’t completely devoid of set-up for future Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. For example, the Sanctum Sanctorums are full of Marvel comic book easter eggs; big villain Dormammu was kept alive after being locked in a time-travel stalemate, and a mid-credits scene hinted at Strange’s presence in Thor: Ragnarok.

Perhaps the biggest bit of set-up, however, was in how the film doubled as a villain origin story for Strange’s fellow sorcerer, Baron Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor). In the comics, Mordo is one of Strange’s biggest nemeses – and while his big screen counterpart spent most of his time on the side of the Ancient One, a last minute turn saw he and Strange part ways over ideological differences. Then, in the post-credits scene, Modo steals the magic from paraplegic Jonathan Pangborn, declaring he believes there to be “too many sorcerers.” With so much legwork, you can imagine a lot of time was spent making sure the character was presented just right, and some new concept art highlights just that in regards to his costume.

Marvel concept artist Karla Ortiz has shared some preliminary designs for Mordo’s outfit on her Facebook page that show the development of his green and black robes. The traditional green, black and gold colour scheme is consistent throughout, but the actual makeup varies quite a bit, giving a sense of how the character developed over time. The first piece of concept art shows some really extravagant, folded robes similar to what we saw Tilda Swinton’s Ancient One wear, while the second features a costume design closer to the look of Stephen Strange’s getup in the film.


In the end, Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson and his collaborators went for something even more stripped back, possibly so Ejiofor was able to move easier in his character’s multiple action scenes – and also to distinguish his design from the other sorcerers. That’s a fair practical decision, but something a bit more flowing would have certainly been more striking, especially as the finished version has some significant differences from the original comic design.

Given his turn to the dark side at the end of Doctor Strange, Mordo will likely have switched up his outfit to represent his more ruthless outlook, by the next time that he appears in the MCU. As his role in the first movie was so different to how he’s presented in the comic books – supporting hero rather than villain – perhaps it’s here where the design will start lifting more from his classic comic costume – one that mirrors Strange with a thin collar and flowing cape.

KEY RELEASE DATES
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 release date: May 5, 2017
Spider-Man: Homecoming release date: Jul 7, 2017
Thor: Ragnarok release date: Nov 3, 2017
Black Panther release date: Feb 16, 2018
The Avengers: Infinity War release date: May 4, 2018
Ant-Man & The Wasp release date: Jul 6, 2018
Captain Marvel release date: Mar 8, 2019
The Avengers 4 / Untitled Avengers Movie release date: May 3, 2019

Fantastic Beasts Grosses $30 Million in Friday Opening

 

With the majority of this week’s social media buzz being focused on Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, there can be little surprise over the news that it is expected to top the box office this weekend… and then some. The return to J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World has been highly anticipated by Harry Potter fans; but while it might be an exciting prospect to re-enter the magical realm, Fantastic Beasts is also a completely new branch of Rowling’s work, and nobody could have been quite sure of just how well the film would do. However, positive early reviews, plus a slew of publicity in recent weeks, have helped make Fantastic Beasts soar way ahead of its nearest box office rivals.

It’s now being reported that Fantastic Beasts made an impressive $29.7 million on Friday, its first day of release in U.S. theaters. The film is expected to make $76 million stateside by the end of the weekend, which is the time most families with school-age children will go to see it. These figures will soar even further when the interntional takings are factored in. To put those takings in perspective with other movies currently showing; Trolls is enjoying an impressive run and its Friday takings are projected to be around $3.9 million, while the still-popular Marvel offering, Doctor Strange, earned around $3.1 million.

When looking at the other new releases alongside Fantastic Beasts, you have to feel a little sorry for those distributors who chose this weekend to release their movies. Variety is reporting that fellow new release The Edge of Seventeen, starring Hailee Steinfeld, is predicted a $5-6 million opening weekend, with its Friday take in the region of $1.7 million. Meanwhile, Bleed For This (starring Miles Teller) is set to pull in around $3 million over the weekend in the U.S., after taking $895,000 on Friday.

Though Fantastic Beasts won’t hit the massive $100 million plus openings of the final few Harry Potter movies, it’s still an impressive opening for a film that is a prequel of sorts and yet also one that begins a whole new franchise of its own. Though the Harry Potter fandom still remains strong, the simple fact is that it’s been five years since any of Rowling’s work was on the big screen – and so, there was an element of risk with Fantastic Beasts, especially when Rowling later announced that it would form the first in a five movie franchise.

Fantastic Beasts stars Eddie Redmayne as Magizoologist Newt Scamander, who unwittingly unleashes havoc when his case full of magical creatures escape onto the streets of New York in 1926. However, the film has a much darker (and stronger) subplot, and the movie deals with the themes of persecution, injustice, and war. Reviews for the movie (including our own) have been good, and though there are criticisms, Fantastic Beasts is currently standing at 76% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with an 87% audience score. It is perhaps this last figure that is the most important. After all, it’s the public who are paying for tickets, contributing to those box office numbers and ultimately, it’s the public audience that Warner Bros. will be hoping will return for future Fantastic Beasts installments.

KEY RELEASE DATES
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them release date: Nov 18, 2016
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2 release date: Nov 16, 2018

Westworld Season 2: Ed Harris Confirmed to Return


HBO has been particularly successful in recent years with high-concept dramas, especially the fantasy adventure series Game of Thrones, as well as the critically acclaimed first season of True Detective. Earlier this fall, the network debuted science fiction series Westworld — based on the 1973 Michael Crichton film of the same name. Created by Jonathan Nolan (Interstellar) and Lisa Joy (Pushing Daisies), Westworld follows a futuristic theme park populated by lifelike android hosts and visited by human guests.

The series has so far weaved a number of mysteries throughout season 1, including the motivations and goal of park creator Dr. Robert Ford (Anthony Hopkins), whether certain characters are android or human, and what exactly the Man in Black (Ed Harris) is searching for within the maze. Now, although we know the Westworld season 1 finale won’t end in a cliffhanger, it seems it won’t completely wrap up every characters’ storylines either.

HBO renewed Westworld for season 2 earlier this week, with new episodes expected to arrive in 2018, but it was unclear which characters would return for more adventure. However, during an interview with BBC Radio 4 [h/t /Film], Harris spoke about season 2 and confirmed his character’s return:

“Yeah, you know, as a matter of fact, I was just talking to Jonah Nolan last night, who’s a creator of this thing with his wife Lisa Joy, and yeah, they’re doing another season. They’re going to do 10 more episodes, and I will be involved.”


With only three episodes left in season 1, Westworld will wrap up its mysteries in just a few weeks, perhaps revealing the maze the Man in Black is seeking — as well as what he’ll find at its center. However, another aspect of the Man in Black’s character that fans hope will be revealed is his true identity. One popular fan theory posits that the Man in Black is an older version of William (Jimmi Simpson), and that Westworld follows two or more different timelines in the park’s history.

Of course, the multiple timeline theory is just one of many thought up by fans — though it is perhaps the most popular and compelling considering how the characters started off the season seeming to be opposites. Still, since Simpson himself has said the season 1 finale will “tie up everything you wanted to know,” it seems likely viewers will get a definitive answer of whether William and the Man in Black are one in the same.

That said, it remains to be seen what new mysteries Westworld will pursue in season 2. Perhaps the Man in Black finds something even more puzzling once he discovers the maze — if he does at all. Plus, with the possibilities of other theme parks that were included in the original 1973 film making an appearance in season 2, Westworld has plenty of directions in which the show can go once season 1 wraps up.

Westworld continues next Sunday with ‘Trace Decay’ @9pm on HBO.

The Walking Dead Showrunner: A Movie Will Happen ‘One Day’


[Warning: This post contains spoilers for those not caught up on The Walking Dead]

One of the most popular shows on network television for the last few years has been The Walking Dead. With the heroes trapped in a zombie apocalypse, dealing with constant power struggles within the group, and antagonists, the show has continued to evolve and remain a beloved program. The seventh season has only just begun, finally showing that Glenn and Abraham were on the receiving end of Negan’s mighty swings. As the show moves forward, there will surely be more deaths and new characters that are introduced and if the quality remains the same, then there is no end in sight for the success of the series.

As a matter of fact, The Walking Dead has already been renewed for an eighth season, but even then, it is believed to continue well past that point. When the series does eventually come to an end, is it possible that the story could be retold on the big screen? It appears so according to the showrunner.

Scott Gimple has been the showrunner for The Walking Dead since 2011 and helped craft the story that has so far been played out. Even though there is no shortage of viewers right now, Gimple told ComicBook that he believes theater goers could one day see The Walking Dead as a movie. He said:

That question comes up every now and again. I’m sure one way or another, one day, it’ll happen. I think it would be cool.


The idea of The Walking Dead making a big screen appearance would absolutely draw a crowd, but fans of the show may not see the same cast return. In Gimple’s proposed reboot, he joked, William Shatner and Edward James Olmos would be two of the leads:

William Shatner as Rick. We’ll get Edward James Olmos as Daryl. Hit all the big shows! Matthew Fox as the Governor!

It will be interesting to see at some point down the road if The Walking Dead gets a big screen adaptation, but for right now it has a great home on AMC. The show has generated a passionate and loyal fanbase for which to please, and having people other than Andrew Lincoln or Norman Reedus as Rick and Daryl could turn some people away from the idea.

However, it is interesting that Gimple’s immediate reaction was to discuss a reboot of the series. If The Walking Dead continues to draw in between 10-15 million viewers each episode, putting the finale on the big screen would make all parties involved a ton of money. Both Game of Thrones and Sherlock have put episodes in theaters before, and Marvel just announced that The Inhumans series will debut in IMAX as well. There is a precedent for series having special episodes shown in theaters, and given the popularity that The Walking Dead has, it would not be too surprising if something of this nature did happen.

The Walking Dead continues Sunday November 20th @9pm on AMC.

Stranger Things Season 2 Casts Brett Gelman as a Conspiracy Theorist



Now that the tremendous initial buzz caused by the arrival of the first season of Netflix’s Stranger Things has settled somewhat, fans have begun the countdown for the second season. Having only recently entered into production, season 2 of Stranger Things has a lot of territory to cover. So many questions remain unanswered and fans are certainly going to have high expectations for the future of the series, as it now ranks as one of Netflix’s most popular programs.

So far it’s been clearly established that the Duffer Brothers intend to keep the plot of season 2 entirely under wraps. Although the majority of Stranger Things fans aren’t looking to have the season spoiled, a little bit of teasing now and then is always fun – especially if that teasing only makes our understanding of the plot all the more mysterious. As a result of the low-key stance on plot details, fans that want more insight into the new series will have to rely on casting decisions.

Sean Astin, Linnea Berthelsen and Paul Reiser will be among the new additions to the show in Stranger Things season 2. Variety is reporting that they will be joined by Brett Gelman, whose work includes comedic roles on a host of different networks – and who is perhaps most recognizable for his recent roles on Amazon’s hit series Fleabag and HBO’s stoner comedy High Maintenance.

All that is known about Gelman’s role in season 2 of Stranger Things is that he’ll play a once disgraced journalist who has arrived in Hawkins as a conspiracy theorist in pursuit of a story. Of course, all that Hawkins needs in order to really stir things up at this point is a hack journalist in search of conspiracies. The addition of Gelman should prove an interesting shift for the series, as previous word on the hidden peculiarities involving the Upside Down have not been reported by any form of media whatsoever. It’s doubtful that the inhabitants of Hawkins will take anything Gelman discovers seriously; which makes the prospect of his character all the more interesting. There’s a lot of potential for a character like Gelman’s in a series as intricate and fantastical as Stranger Things’.

Fans of Fleabag will have already seen Gelman’s excellent portrayal of Martin, a character who regularly displays questionable ethics and a very smarmy demeanor. If Gelman’s Stranger Things character ends up being even half as entertaining as this, the series will indeed have found a character that will stop at nothing to get a story or take things in a direction that will have repercussions for all. It’s hard to imagine that the Duffer Brothers have taken the time to create a conspiracy theorist/journalist character if he isn’t going to dig up trouble regarding the events taking currently taking place in Hawkins.

Stranger Things season 2 will arrive on Netflix in 2017.