Karl Urban held a Q&A at Awesome Con in Washington, DC Saturday afternoon. The actor fielded several questions concerning ‘Star Trek Beyond,’ ‘Thor: Ragnarok,’ and Judge Dredd.
“The new Star Trek has the “most evolved and most dynamic” version of McCoy we’ve seen,” said Urban; who also mentioned that he is not currently contracted for more Star Trek movies after ‘Star Trek Beyond.’
At 43, Urban has plenty of Star Trek years left in him. DeForest Kelley last portrayed Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy at the age of 71 in ‘Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.’
Urban says he’d be “very interested” in doing another Dredd. “Maybe if it was something done on a limited basis. We are working on it,” said Urban.
It would be tough for Lionsgate to greenlight a ‘Dredd’ sequel. The film did well critically (78% Rotten Tomatoes),but only grossed the studio $35 million on a $50 million budget.
Someone asked him out of all the locations from his movies, which would he like to visit most. “I wouldn’t like to go to Mega City 1,” said Urban.
On the casting rumor front, Urban said there were still unannounced roles in ‘Thor: Ragnarok.’ But he can’t tell everyone.
“The Thor 3 script is amazing. If you’re fans of that world, you’re gonna love it,” said Urban.
‘Star Trek Beyond’ stars Idris Elba, Simon Pegg, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, John Cho and Anton Yelchin with direction from Justin Lin. The film opens July 22, 2016.
‘Thor: Ragnarok’ stars Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson, Karl Urban, and Sir Anthony Hopkins. The film will destroy the universe on November 3, 2017.
Muhammad Ali’s passing has the entire world reflecting on a man who not only had an impact on the world of boxing but the world in general. That impact extended into the world of professional wrestling. And today, Muhammad Ali’s impact on WWE can be found all over the place.
But before he made his presence felt in the squared circle, wrestling made an impact on him, and that influence would shape and define his career forever.
As Cassius Clay, he found inspiration in one of the most popular, and over-the-top wrestlers to ever step inside the ring.
It was Gorgeous George who helped turn Clay into the champion no one would ever forget.
“Soon after I turned pro,” Cassius mused, “I discovered that even though I won the Olympic title, I wasn’t making any money. I was the only champion that didn’t have no jack jangling in his jeans. So I studied Gorgeous George and began doing his act better than he did it.”
The rest was history.
His ability to sell a boxing match as the must-see event of the year and his ability to put on a show before, during, and after a match helped influence future wrestling performers and their ability to “cut a promo”.
On March 31st, 1985, Ali made history once again.
That day is more famously remembered as WrestleMania I.
From Mr. T to Cyndi Lauper and even The Rockettes, none of them had a presence in Madison Square Garden quite like Ali did. Chants of his name roared down on him as he made his way to the ring as special guest referee for the night’s main event.
And while he wasn’t alone in helping to shape WrestleMania into the spectacle it is today, his presence in the main event with iconic wrestling names like Hulk Hogan and Rowdy Roddy Piper certainly helped catapult WWE and WrestleMania into future worldwide success.
Muhammad Ali has yet to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and with Mr. T already in for his involvement in the main event at WrestleMania I, it would only be fitting that WWE honor a man who paid it forward years later after he himself took a page out of the theatrics of wrestling to make him the greatest of all time.
While the world mourns the loss of Muhammad Ali; a humanitarian, a cultural icon, and legendary boxing champion, it makes sense to look at some of those unforgettable moments where Ali made his impact on pop culture.
5. Ali’s appearance on Candid Camera
When he was away from the ring, Ali was always up for a good joke and especially if it involved kids. Check out this appearance that he made on the popular show Candid Camera.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUM8SQ_rSGk
4. Ali had his own animated series
In 1977, Muhammad Ali voiced his own animated series I Am The Greatest: The Adventures Of Muhammad Ali. Here’s a clip from the show.
The animated series only lasted one season.
3. Awards Shows, Variety Shows, and Game Shows; Ali Appeared On them All
No matter what type of show, if you invited Muhammad Ali, he would show up and more than likely steal the show. Check out his appearance on the Jackson variety show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ_vE2z0GRA
Here’s Ali surprising Sylvester Stallone at The Academy Awards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FyP4gs0p4Q
Here he is on the popular game show This Is Your Life
2. Ali was always game to go on any talk show
Whether it was in his younger years or towards the latter part of his life, Muhammad Ali was always up for an interview with whomever.Check out his appearance with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOPsunhjKZc
Here’s Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Ali on The Arsenio Hall Show talking about a variety of topics.
Then, of course, there was this appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-ZkpqvUbXE
1. Ali appeared on multiple TV shows and faced off against the Man Of Steel
While Muhammad Ali had many appearances on a multitude of TV Shows, the one that sticks out to this day is his appearance on the show Different Strokes. Check out this clip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xZdFM3TcQs
He also went toe to toe in a boxing ring with Superman.
Just seeing how far reaching Muhammad Ali’s effect was on pop culture puts into perspective why so many people are saddened by the loss of “The Greatest Of All Time.”
He was known as the Louisville Lip, The Champ, and The Greatest
Muhammad Ali, the man known as “The Champ”, has died at the age of 74.
The legendary boxer passed away Friday at a hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. According to a family spokesman, Ali had been suffering from a respiratory illness and complications of Parkinson’s disease.
Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Cassius Marcellus Clay rose to become an accomplished boxer at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, winning the gold medal. He earned his first world title in 1964 by beating famed contender Sonny Liston. Over a twenty-year career, Ali won 56 of his 61 fights and three world titles. Brash, confident and outspoken, he often declared himself to be “The Greatest”, which the media loved.
Will Smith starred as Muhammad Ali in the 2001 biopic “Ali”, directed by Michael Mann.
Apart from boxing, Ali was known for his work as a civil rights activist. Having joined the Nation of Islam, he changed his name of Cassius Clay to Cassius X and finally to Muhammad Ali. During the mid-1960s, he lobbied for the rights of African-Americans.
In 1967, Ali spoke out against the Vietnam War and refused to be drafted. He was charged with draft evasion, stripped of his world title and banned from boxing. Four years later, Ali returned to beat Joe Frazier on March 8, 1971 for the heavyweight title. This match came to be regarded as “The Fight of the Century.”
Boxing legend Muhammad Ali was one of a kind
Ali continued his career with several more bouts, including the October 30, 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” in Kinashe, Zaire. His third and final match against Frazier took place on October 1, 1975 in Manilla, Phillippines. The “Thrilla in Manilla” saw Ali win by technical knockout after fourteen rounds. He retired in 1981.
Following his retirement, Ali had been declared the “Sportsman of the Century” by “Sports Illustrated”. His career was dramatized in Michael Mann’s 2001 film “Ali”, which starred Will Smith.
Muhammad Ali, a man who proclaimed to the world that he was “The Greatest Of All Time”, a ferocious champion in the boxing ring, and someone who’s actions placed him in the center of mainstream pop culture; has passed away.Ali died Friday night in a Phoenix-area hospital due to respiratory complications.The family released this statement.
After a 32-year battle with Parkinson’s disease, Muhammad Ali has passed away at the age of 74. The three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer died this evening,” Bob Gunnell, a family spokesman
Funeral services will be held in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.
What’s your favorite memory of Ali ( in the ring or out of the ring)?
“The story so far: In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.”
― Douglas Adams, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Creating a universe used to take an act of God… or at the very least a big bang, but these days everyone seems to be doing it. First, we had the Marvel Cinematic Universe which has been highly successful and has now expanded to television. Then DC jumped in with Man of Steel and Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice. And now everyone seems to want a piece of that sweet universe creating action including Hasbro and even possibly Hanna-Barbera.
So far creating these universes has been anything but a bad move. It doesn’t mean there aren’t issues. Here are the top 3 Cinematic Universe problems.
THE EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED OR IT ISN’T PROBLEM:
Arrow, The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow all exist in the same universe on the same Earth at pretty much the same time. So when Damien Darhk was about to rain down nukes on the planet thus ending the world… it should have at least raised an eyebrow with Team Flash.
If these shows exist on a connected plane of existence then the problem is going to get a whole lot worse. Barry messed with the timeline and that should, at the very least, have some sort of ripple effect. If it isn’t addressed, then it destroys the universe concept.
Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, and Andrew Kreisberg have found a solution to this problem with their other show, Super Girl. They simply put her on a different Earth. What happens on her world has no direct impact on Barry Allen, Oliver Queen or Rip Hunter. And as we’ve seen, it doesn’t mean there can’t be cross-over episodes. Unfortunately, it’s probably too late to take change course on The Flash or Arrow.
THE STAKES ARE TOO HIGH PROBLEM:
What makes the Marvel Netflix shows work is the same thing that works against Agents of Shield: the stakes. On Daredevil and Jessica Jones the stakes were pretty low overall. We’re talking about a guy who wants to run a city (Kingpin) and a guy who is just bad but only to a small group of people (Kilgrave). Neither of these are problems that would cause the Avengers to come running.
Unfortunately for Agents of Shield they are dealing with a world-wide issue of super powered people (Inhumans) and government control. The stakes here are high, like end-of-the-world high, yet not an Avenger to be seen. Even Shield star Chloe Bennet has raised questions about why the high-stakes are being ignored.
“People who make movies for Marvel, why don’t you acknowledge what happens on our show?”– Chloe BennetMay 17, 2016
It’s a fair question, but if the stakes were lower on Shield, it wouldn’t need to be asked.
A UNIVERSE DIVIDED PROBLEM:
Both Marvel and DC operate in a universe divided.
For Marvel the issue is who owns what characters. We all know about the negotiations to bring Spider-Man into the MCU, but Marvel still doesn’t own the movie rights to X-men, Fantastic Four and who knows exactly who owns Namor.
For Marvel it means picking other, lesser-known properties like the Guardians of the Galaxy (which worked) and Inhumans (which we’ll have to wait and see). You know they’d way rather make an X-men movie or at the very least use Wolverine. Meantime, the other studios are making movies outside the MCU some of which are good, like Deadpool, and some that are the last Fantastic Four movie.
DC also has a division problem because its movies and tv shows are treated as separate universes. The movie side wants all the best characters, which is understandable, but is pretty limiting for the television side. Even this past week, it was reported that Arrow had big plans for Harley Quinn before being told to stop and now even Deadshot, a character the show had used for years, is off the table.
None of these problems seems insurmountable, but they are problems nonetheless. How do you solve them all? For that I lean on another Douglas Adams quote…
“I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I don’t know the answer” ― Douglas Adams
Namor, The Sub-Mariner was created by Marvel Comics (then known as Timely Comics) in 1939, one of Marvel’s earliest creations along with Captain America and Bucky during the second World War. The film rights have long been a subject of discussion between fans and the industry alike with Marvel Studios chief, Kevin Feige himself claiming the film rights were confusing. However in a recent interview Marvel’s Chief Creative Officer, Joe Quesada stated, Marvel has the rights.
Namor is a character with an incredibly rich history within the comics, as the half-human, half-atlantean ruler of the submerged and lost city of Atlantis he maintains strong connections to the Avengers, Fantastic 4 and the X-Men while serving as both ally and enemy to said teams. Throughout the years Namor has either been portrayed as a short-fused superhero, or a hostile invader who is protective of his under water home nation. Often cited as the very first anti-hero of comic books Namor could best serve initially as an antagonist to the Avengers only to later join forces with the likes of Iron Man and Captain America in order to fight a much greater threat.
With such a beloved and important character from the comics, Marvel Studios will have to find the right actor who can bring the arrogance and gravitas that Namor is best known for. Lets take a look at a couple of options.
Luke Evans
Possibly best known for his turn as Bard the Bowman in The Hobbit trilogy and slightly more recently as Dracula in Dracula Untold, Luke Evans has showed his ability to convincingly portray both conflicted hero and villain. This experience alone would serve any actor taking on the role of Namor in the MCU. Evans, definitely looks like a Hollywood leading man but has failed to find the right role so far in his career.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Irish actor, Jonathan Rhys Meyers has been known mainly as a supporting actor in film, with only a few lead roles to his name. His performance as King Henry VIII on the Showtime produced, The Tudors proves he has everything needed to play the arrogant and powerful ruler of Altantis in the MCU. Along with King Henry, Meyers has also played Dracula, Elvis Presley and will soon take on the role of Joe Strummer of The Clash. Meyers clearly knows how to take on a pre-conceived acting role.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Joseph Gordon-Levitt has long been touted to make the jump into becoming a major movie star, but he currently remains on the periphery of super stardom. An actor with serious acting ability that remains immensely popular with audiences, Joseph Gordon-Levitt most notably proved he can play a darker heroic character in Rian Johnson’s Looper. Well versed in both intensely dramatic and comedic roles that would serve him well in the MCU, he has also proved he can hold his own alongside other talented performers in ensemble films such as, Inception and The Dark Knight Rises.
Left over from my trip to the family cottage on the Victoria Day long weekend, I decided to review Manitoulin Brewing Co.’s Swing Bridge Blonde Ale this week. Manitoulin Island, the largest island in the world surrounded entirely by freshwater, is one of Ontario‘s crown jewels. The island is a great retreat for those looking to do some outdoor recreation (hiking, fishing, swimming, boating, cottaging). Manitoulin Island is also a home to an ever-expanding group of organic/biodynamic farmers and other hardy folk willing to brave the island’s bitter winter. Swing Bridge Blonde Ale gets its name from the single-lane swing bridge, located in Manitoulin Brewing Co.’s hometown of Little Current, that connects the island to the mainland. Manitoulin Brewing Co. is very new to the brewing scene, launching this tasty blonde ale as its flagship brew only last year.
Manitoulin Brewing Co.’s Swing Bridge Blonde Ale – First Sip
Swing Bridge pours well, leaving about an inch of head at the top of my pint glass. I smell a strong scent of grains as I take my first sip. Blonde is the best description for this ale, although straw yellow would also work. Like other blondes, Swing Bridge is very smooth, tasting almost like a light beer but weighing in at a respectable 5% ABV. Swing Bridge has a delicate grainy flavour and a mild aftertaste of lemon. This beer’s watery consistency is set off by its relatively high level of carbonation and aftertaste, giving it a crisp mouthfeel.
Manitoulin Brewing Co.’s Swing Bridge Blonde Ale – Last Sip
I challenge you to find a person who would take issue with this beer. Swing Bridge is on par with Moosehead in terms of chuggability. This is a beer that goes well with just about any food but is best enjoyed in the company of friends while barbecuing on a deck. Unfortunately for all of you who are dying to try some now that I’ve gone on about how great it is, although I was able to pick some up at the MindemoyaLCBO, I doubt other Ontarians would even be able to find this brew unless they were on or near the island. That being said, for a brewery only a year old Manitoulin Brewing Co’s flagship and only brew is served at a number of restaurants, so don’t forget to grab a pint if you find yourself in Sudbury, North Bay, or if you’re lucky, on Manitoulin Island.
Suicide Squad is a blockbuster Summer movie chock full of villains who are really more like antiheroes. So of course fans have pondered the question: Who are the villain’s villains? Recently Charles Roven (one of the films producers) sat down with Total Film Magazine to explain a bit about the film’s plot and who the true villains in the movie may actually be. When asked, Roven talks at length about a mysterious force of supernatural soldiers called The Eyes of Adversary:
“Let’s just say, when [the Squad is] called in to do this mission by Amanda, these soldiers are one of the things they encounter. They don’t know how they got here, but they’re weird and dangerous and yet they’re wearing military uniforms.”
The trailer shows only a glimpse of the bad guys our bad guys are fighting. If you look closely though you can see a military force in uniforms with eyes on them. Here’s a quick look.
We shall see soon as Suicide Squad hits theaters Aug 5, 2017. Check out the trailer below.
The inaugural season of DC’sLegends Of Tomorrow left Vandal Savage defeated, The Hawks departing along with the exits of Captain Cold (Wentworth Miller) and possibly Heat Wave (Dominic Purcell). While there is currently a casting call for two new characters, one from the 1940s and a descendant of a World War 2 hero, DC Comics has a wealth of characters not in movies or television that they can make great use of.
Lady Blackhawk
Lady Blackhawk photo: DC Comics
Making her first appearance in 1959, Lady Blackhawk is a part of the Blackhawk squadron. The Blackhawks, first appearing in Quality Comics in 1941 and then moving to DC Comics in the 1950s, were a group of pilots from Nazi occupied countries and the Allies who flew under their own flag. Lady Blackhawk became the first female member of the squadron, and would later go on to join the Birds Of Prey. Three women have had the mantle of ‘Lady Blackhawk’ and the characters varied history would fit well among the Waverider crew.
Bat Lash
Bat Lash photo: Warner Bros Animation
One of DC’s western heroes, Lash is a bit different as he usually isn’t looking for a fight. He’s a gambler, noted pacifist, and a bit of a womanizer, Bat has a certain charm that could fit well in an ensemble cast. Bat Lash did have an ongoing series in the 60s and a limited run in 2008. The character has made an appearance in animation before in season one of Justice League Unlimited alongside DC’s other western characters Jonah Hex, El Diablo, and Ohiyesha “Pow Wow” Smith.
Adam Strange
Adam Strange photo: Warner Bros Animation
Toward the end of this past season on Legends Of Tomorrow, it is discovered that while Vandal Savage did conquer the Earth in the distant future, he did also stave off a Thanagarian invasion. With that future now changed, it can set the stage for an introduction of one of Thanagar’s enemies, the planet Rann and hero Adam Strange. Strange is a human archaeologist who discovers a ‘Zeta Beam’ that teleports him to the planet Rann. He is taken in by a scientist and becomes an interplanetary hero and adventurer. Strange could work as either part of the main cast or a recurring character if the show gets to the Thanagarian invasion teased recently. Strange has appeared in Batman: Brave And The Bold and Young Justice in animated form.
Ravager
Ravager photo: DC Comics
As DC wants to keep its movies and television shows separate, that means Deathstroke is ‘out of bounds’ for any of the TV show right now. Just because Slade Wilson is off the table doesn’t mean his daughter is. Trained by her father, Nightwing, and more recently a member of the Teen Titans, Wilson could be a great foil for Sara Lance (Caity Lotz). Sara is a trained assassin trying to reconnect to the good parts of life, Rose just wants to fight most any chance she can get and can take out almost any adversary put in front of her.
Sportsmaster
Sportsmaster photo: WB Animation
A lesser known villain that came to prominence during the animated Young Justice series, Lawrence Crock is more villain than hero, but has landed in the anti-hero role once or twice. A skilled hand to hand fighter with an arsenal of sports themed weaponry, Crock could bring the nastiness that the departing Leonard Snart had, and that could be good for the team. Crock isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty, and that is a quality the crew aboard the Waverider will need at some point.
Good choices? Bad choices? Did we miss anyone?
Let us know in the comments, on Facebook, or on Twitter
