Rob Letterman (Shark Tale, Goosebumps, Monsters vs. Aliens) has signed on to direct the live action Detective Pikachu film, according the The Hollywood Reporter.
The film is being written by Nicole Perlman, who previously penned Guardians of the Galaxy, and Alex Hirsch, creator of the Disney XD hit Gravity Falls.
Detective Pikachu will be distibuted by Toho in Japan and Universal Pictures in other countries.
Are you excited about this project? Let us know in the comments section down below!
The Holidays aren’t complete without the cheers and beers of the season. This week, let’s take a look at the Holiday Beers, what makes them different, and one you surely need to try.
Holiday beers. These aren’t just your normal run of the mill, everyday brews. These are something special. Most are made with more ABV (alcohol by volume) for starters. The beers go anywhere from 7 to 12% ABV.
“With higher ABV, these beers are meant to be savored, not quaffed, and thus consumed over a longer period of time,” said Chris Barry, CEO of Coolaz.
Savor these treasures, especially because they only come around for a few months, once a year.
Popular holiday flavors include peppermint, nutmeg, and cinnamon, flavors we don’t necessarily get other times of the year. So, when making the best holiday beer, you still want to taste the actual beer, so go light.
Why are these beers only out for certain months of the year? Flavors and seasons. Craft beers share our seasons. Each one having something special about the season we are in. Also, Pumpkin beer is big in the fall seasons and does trail through to Christmas.
Holiday beers shouldn’t be served ice cold.
“While 45°F is warm enough to release the distinctive aromas and flavors of a hearty holiday beer, he says, someone living in more temperate southern climates might enjoy the beer a bit cooler, especially since it will warm up in the glass with each satisfying sip” according to Gary Glancy of Craftbeer.com
More and more brewers are coming out with holiday styles, so we have dozens of flavors and types to choose from.
Try my favorite, Santa’s Private Reserve by Rogue Ales. Red ale which has the weird yet crisp taste of a Christmas Tree.
Monkeys Fighting Robots own Matt Sarbo is a fan of the Winter Lager by Sam Adams.
Finally, If you’re into the dark and rich, go for Sleigh’r by Ninkasi. Super malty, and helps you ring in the Christmas spirit at 7.2%
All the websites I have linked, tell you the information about the beer, as well as when you can get it. Most are through December or January, so get to drinking!
It’s director’s Ridley Scott’s birthday today (happy 79th Ridley!) and in celebration, it seems 20th Century Fox has Tweeted a new image from the set of Alien: Covenant.
The picture shows Scott striking a very director-like pose in front of the what looks like the infamous “Space Jokey” chair seen in Alien and Prometheus (both films were directed by Scott). This is the second promotional image released for the film in a week, as last week saw the teaser poster unveiled. You can see new the image below.
The crew of the colony ship Covenant discover what they think is an uncharted paradise, but it is actually a dark, dangerous world, whose sole inhabitant is the synthetic David, survivor of the doomed Prometheus expedition.
Directed by Ridley Scott and written by Michael Green, John Logan and Jack Paglen, Alien:Covenant is the film that will bridge 2012’s Prometheus to the rest of the Alien franchise. Michael Fassbender is returning as the android David, alongside Katherine Waterson, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Noomi Rapace, and Guy Pearce. The film is now set to be released on May 19, 2017.
While promoting Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, Ezra Miller was again questioned about his role as The Flash in Zack Snyder’s Justice League. This time the actor was asked how his interpretation of Barry Allen will use the speed force, and what the speed force means to his version of the character.
For those unaware, in the comics, the Speed Force is a living energy that gifts certain people, like Barry Allen with speed. It’s a force that has been explored endlessly in the comics and touched upon in the popular CW series. The DC Extended Universe will obviously try to introduce the Speed Force in a new and interesting way, and Miller seems more than excited to jump into the mythology of his character and the force that gives Barry his incredible power.
The Speed Force can be portrayed in various different ways, but from what Miller says in the interview below, it seems like we’re definitely going down an interesting route.
“Martha Graham, one of my greatest inspirations, said in a series…in a quote that ‘there is a vitality, a life force, a quickening’, and for me, the idea of a quickening, the idea that the whole universe as we know it is essentially this composition of things at different speeds, is an interesting idea.
So the Speed Force being like The Force [from Star Wars] in the sense that it’s a dimensional reality that’s manipulating others, almost like a gravitational wave that manipulates space-time; that is what’s interesting for my Barry Allen, and for me what becomes interesting is the human being who is suddenly coming into contact and rapidly starting to merge with the force, and what that is for a human being.”
The interview was posted on #Mills YouTube Channel and is available to watch below.
Ezra Miller will star in Justice League alongside Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa and Ray Fisher. The film is scheduled for release on November 17, 2017.
Jughead Jones, Riverdale’s resident asexual teen, is actually on a date. But not with just any girl, he’s stumbled himself into a dinner with the new girl in town, Sabrina, who unbeknownst to her new classmates and friends, is an actual teenage witch! So what can ensue when a food obsessed teenage boy and a girl with magic on her side clash?Hilarity, high jinx, spell-casting, demon fighting, and of course hamburgers! Oh and Reggie Mantel is also there (and he is still a self-centered jerk, no amount of magic or demon could EVER change that!)
Jughead #11 Written by Ryan North Art by Derek Charm Published by Archie Comics 2016
Writing
Jughead continues to be my favorite title from the Archie relaunch. Although all the titles have been fun, this one in particular has a certain irreverence and meta-awareness that I think was always lurking beneath the character’s surface. Ryan North is of course an expert at this, having previously brought the same quality to Squirrel Girl over at Marvel. This issue especially has some of the best jokes, my favorite being the dream sequences Sabrina has that are clearly the classic Archie “reality.” Also, pairing Jughead and Reggie is perfect, as it brings out the best (and worst) in each of them for maximum comedy potential. North’s bottom of the page reader addresses also continue to be hilarious and push the title further into meta-commentary. It’s just plain great. But there is also a level of seriousness, as Jughead’s asexuality is addressed in the middle of the story. It’s a poignant scene that sheds light on a very under expressed sexual identity in today’s hyper-sexualized culture. We also get an origin of sorts for Sabrina, and it’s both funny and character building, which pretty much sums this book up.
ART
Derek Charm was made to draw these characters. He modernizes them but retains enough of their original look to make them identifiable. He also finds ways to experiment with the visuals to flow well with the narrative comedy. There is even one splash page that clearly invokes Steve Ditko and Marvel silver age stuff. But it’s not distracting and serves the purpose of telling the story. The Sabrina origin segment, in particular, is great, as it has very inventive panel use and visual transitions. It stands apart from the rest of the book, making it it’s own little thing; a part of a greater whole. The art as a whole pops and moves with energy, which is something I crave in Archie books. It hits the spot nicely.
Conclusion
Do yourself a favor and pick up Jughead #11. If you have been curious about the new Archie universe, it’s a great place to start. It’s also a great book for people just getting into comics. It’s funny, modern, and accessible. Grab a hamburger and sit down to read it.
While Tommy and Jason face off against Black Dragon on the Moon, the rest of the Rangers seek a means to jump-start their powers and save their Zords from his influence! With Billy’s life on the line, will the Rangers overcome their greatest challenge or find defeat in the claws of this familiar foe?
Writing
The description for this comic seems to be an issue behind. The battle on the moon and the struggle to find a way to jump-start their powers happened in issue eight. Utilizing Tommy’s coin as a way to redirect power, the team returns to the field in new green attire. From there, things really get intense as a fierce battle between the Zords and the Black Dragon erupts. The issue also features a new revelation about the Black Dragon and twist ending which just results in more questions being asked. What more could fans hope for?
Writer Kyle Higgins has done what few have achieved before by creating a Power Rangers comic which is mandatory to read. It does make one wonder a few things though. Where does he plan to end this arc? So far this first storyline has been a great ride but how much longer is it going to keep going? With the new reveal in this episode, the answer is another issue at the very least.
Artwork
As always, impressive detail work on the comic overall, but the battle damage the Dragonzord receives is awe-inspiring and shocking all at the same time. Artist Hendry Prasetya’s blend of the artwork between the monsters, the humans, and the robots is in perfect balance with no one aspect falling short of the others. Nothing more can be said, except to hope the art continues to stay at such a fine level of excellence.
Conclusion
Power Rangers fans have run out of excuses. Previous comic book series featuring these characters did nothing more than copy the formula of the TV series without trying to expand on the franchise as a whole. This series does all this and more. You’re out of excuses guys. Go out and pick up this series.
While Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is just weeks from release, the film has only just completed post-production. It’s very common for big films such as Rogue One to work on post up until the release of the movie, due to the special effects. In some cases, movies have been known to work on post just days before the release of a film.
Todd Vaziri of Industrial Light and Magic celebrated the completion of Rogue One with a twitter meme.
In other Rogue One news, five new images have found their way online, giving fans a new look at Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso, Diego Luna as Cassian Andor, Forest Whitaker’s Saw Gerrera, and finally Alan Tudyk as K-2SO. Get a look at the images in the gallery below.
Following the foundation of the Galactic Empire, a wayward band of Rebel fighters come together to carry out a desperate mission: to steal the plans for the Death Star before it can be used to enforce the Emperor’s rule.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story stars Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Riz Ahmed, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, and Jonathan Aris. The film will land in theaters on December 16.
The One Piece film, titled One Piece Film Gold, recently got a trailer; now, Fandango is selling tickets for the North American theatrical run taking place January 10-17.
Funimation is releasing the movie in theaters, with the screenings being “presented in English dub”.
“Set in Gran Tesoro, an independent country chartered by the World Government, home of the world’s greatest entertainment city where well-known pirates, Marines, and millionaires throughout the world gather in an “absolute sanctuary” that even the World Government can’t touch.
There, the Straw Hat Pirates meet the ruler of the country, the golden emperor, Gild Tesoro, who easily wins pirates, the Marines, and even the World Government over to his side with money. He is about to take action to satisfy his bottomless ambition which may result in major changes in power relationships in the New World…”
One Piece Film Gold opened in Japan in July and was a moderate success. We’ll see if the upcoming theatrical release will help its overall earnings.
Tom Hardy is coming to FX with Taboo, what looks to be a wild period drama about James Keziah Delaney (Hardy), a man who avenges his father’s death and builds a shipping empire in the down time from his vengeance.
FX has released four promo videos ahead of Taboo‘s January release, and they’re all awesome and seem appropriately edgy given the fact that Hardy himself, along with his dad Chips Hardy, created it.
Here are the promos, in case you needed more motivation for some reason:
Anyone else salivating?
Set in 1814, Taboo follows James Keziah Delaney, a man who has been to the ends of the earth and come back irrevocably changed. Believed to be long dead, he returns home to London from Africa in 1814 to inherit what is left of his father’s shipping empire and rebuild a life for himself. But when his father’s legacy is revealed to be a poisoned chalice and enemies lurk in every dark corner, James must navigate increasingly complex territories to avoid his own death sentence. Encircled by conspiracy, murder, and betrayal – a dark family mystery unfolds in an explosively colourful tale of love and treachery.
Aside from Tom Hardy and his dad being involved, Peaky Blinders creator and Locke director Steven Knight is on board in the creative department. Plus, it’s being produced by Ridley Scott. If you need more convincing, well, maybe this just isn’t your thing.
The eight-part mini-series will kick off January 10 on FX.
2016 has been another outstanding year for Image Comics. In addition to the continuing success of bestsellers like Paper Girls, Saga, and The Walking Dead, the publishing house has also cranked out a slew of new series. Today, we’re taking a look at ten of those series that hooked us with issue one and refused to let us go.
Honorable Mentions:
Cannibal
Eclipse
Demonic
Lake of Fire
Glitterbomb
Moonshine
Do you like 1920s ganger tales? Pick up Moonshine. Do you like werewolf tales? Pick up Moonshine. New York City gangster Lou Pirlo goes to the backwoods of West Virginia to cut a deal with a moonshiner, but quickly gets in over his head after discovering the family secret. From the team that brought you 100 Bullets.
Snotgirl
Lottie Person is a fashion blogger and a social media celebrity. But while she may seem perfect on Instagram, Lottie has horrendous allergies that render her a mess. The new series from Bryan Lee O’Malley and Leslie Hung starts out as a study of internet culture, but quickly evolves into a story of paranoia and delusion where nothing is as it appears.
A.D. After Death
This is what Image Comics is all about: experimentation. A.D. is a mix of illustrated prose and traditional comics storytelling, making it probably the most unique and most daring title on this list. Jeff Lemire’s raw artwork shines behind Scott Snyder’s poignant words in this story about a world that’s cured death. Their protagonist is Jonah Cooke, a thief with a big secret and mysterious plans. At about 70 pages, A.D. delivers a beautiful and captivating tale about life (and death).
Violent Love
It’s Bonnie and Clyde, meets Romeo and Juliet, meets Natural Born Killers. Frank J. Barbiere and Victor Santos’ crime/romance is more of a tragedy at its core, promising to break its readers hearts from the outset. It looks to be a fun ride, but through all the violence, deep down this is going to be a story about loss and what people are capable of when they have nothing left to lose. Read our full review of Violent Love #1 here.
Seven To Eternity
The God of Whispers rules the kingdom of Zhal. He can offer you whatever your heart desires, but in hearing that offer, you surrender your freedom. Seven To Eternity is the story of Adam Osidis, whose father refused the God of Whispers long ago and forced his family into exile. Now Adam is faced with the same decision: should he hear the God’s offer, or should he fight to free the kingdom? Magic and sci-fi are seamlessly interwoven in this series from Rick Remender and Jerome Opeña.
Hadrian’s Wall
Hadrian’s Wall is a classic murder mystery set aboard a space station. When an astronaut is found dead, a pill addict detective is sent to “rubber stamp” the investigation. But he quickly realizes that there’s more to the scene than meets the eye, and begins to unravel a plot greater than he ever imagined. Everybody’s a suspect in this gripping miniseries from Kyle Higgins, Alec Siegel, and Rod Reis.
Reborn
Where do we go when we die? Mark Millar and Greg Capullo’s epic fantasy is about the world after death, a world where we are reborn as our younger selves and thrust into a battle between good and evil. It’s one of those rare series that perfectly balances action with captivating emotional drama. And Capullo’s artwork is out-of-this-world (literally and figuratively). Read our full review of Reborn #1 here.
The Fix
The team behind The Superior Foes of Spider-Man deliver another brilliant crime comedy in The Fix. Roy and Mac are corrupt Los Angeles cops looking to make some quick cash. Their misfortunes make for a hilarious read, but then an actual mystery reveals itself, and makes the series that much more compelling. If you’re looking for nonstop jokes coupled with intrigue, look no further.
Renato Jones: The One%
Here is maybe the most cathartic series of 2016. Renato is a billionaire by day, but by night be becomes The Freelancer, the one percent’s worst nightmare. The Freelancer takes out fat cats whose sole purpose is to expand their own wealth, regardless of who they step on in the process. This series is the definition of over-the-top, gratuitous violence, and it’s absolutely amazing. It’s all the fun of a mindless action movie, with valuable social commentary wrapped inside.
Kill Or Be Killed
A new Image Comics noir from Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips? Of course Kill Or Be Killed makes our list; it’s everything fans have come to expect from this dream team and more. Protagonist Dylan has to kill others to stay alive (read it to find out why), so he turns his sights on “bad” people. But as his “night job” picks up steam, his day-to-day life begins to fall apart. Kill Or Be Killed is gritty, exhilarating, and it’s a fascinating look at vigilantism and the value of life.
What were your favorite new Image Comics from 2016? Tell us in the comments, or tweet us @monkeys_robots (and tweet me @The_Great_Ace)!
