The only thing that has been confirmed by 20th Century Fox is that Wolverine 3 will be Hugh Jackman’s final time playing the iconic title character. Next to nothing is known about the plot of the third Wolverine film, but one rumor that won’t seem to go away is this movie will be at least partially be based on the popular comic book entitled Old Man Logan. Production got underway almost a month ago, and recent photos seem to be validating this rumor as being fact. Check out this first photo.
The Daily Mail recently snapped this photo of Hugh Jackman in New York City shortly after production started on Wolverine 3. What immediately stands out is that it’s not only a departure from Wolverine’s trademark mutton chops, but he’s sporting a beard speckled with gray in it. Doesn’t that look familiar? Check out this Instagram post as well.
A post shared by Hugh Jackman (@thehughjackman) on
Here is even a better shot of Hugh Jackman working out and sporting that same beard speckled with gray in it.Even the website, justjared.com has posted photos of Hugh Jackman on the set of Wolverine 3 yesterday sporting that similar look.
What do you guys think? IsWolverine 3 going to be based on the Old Man Logan storyline or is this just a new image for Wolverine?
Friday the 13th is getting another reboot, following that reboot in 2009 that was a soulless cash grab that didn’t grab much cash. It’s been bandied about for several months, as far back as December where Prisoners scribe Aaron Guzikowski came on board to write the screenplay.
In an interview with The Reel Word, producer Brad Fuller spoke about the new direction of this Friday the 13th. While Jason’s mother will still be there, and the origin will still be somewhat recognizable, Fuller says it will still be something new:
“Aaron’s story has great characters…You kind of have to understand Jason Voorhees, so we go back and we kind of started over and work our way forward… [The story is] Origin-ish, but it’s an origin that no one has seen before. Obviously Pamela’s there, but it’s a little bit different from what you’ve seen before.”
Here is a video of Fuller explaining in some detail what the plan is for this new Friday the 13th:
Tweaking Jason’s origin story shouldn’t be too much of a foul for fanboys. It shouldn’t be, but who knows anymore. Hopefully this time around the reboot will work. Either way, we’ll get a new Vorhees picture January 2017.
Independence Day was the most hotly anticipated summer film in 1996. And it wasn’t even close. Fifteen-year old me, along with the rest of the teenage world in the mid 90s, salivated as the previews showed the White House exploding. It was a groundbreaking and awe-inspiring moment in cinema at the time, and despite any other previews that may have come out leading up to the film’s release, that shot of the White House exploding was all we needed to be there opening day.
Seeing it now, fifteen years on the other side of 9/11, Independence Day has aged more rapidly than Robin Williams in Jack. The destruction is antiquated and characterizations hokey and broad. When the aliens eventually attack and wipe out landmarks everywhere, what’s left is a fairly standard military action film where all the stars (and the dog, gotta save the dog) live and heroes prevail, but it’s adventurous and light. The entire thing is airy and, because of that, a welcome change from all these types of films which mimicked this plot in the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks.
Embrace the seemingly ancient existence of Independence Day, because we won’t ever have this sort of guiltless world destruction film ever again. Even Independence Day: Resurgence will bring with it the weight of global unrest and the new millennium desires for self-serious narratives. Everything has to be a dour and morose allegory these days, even a fantastical tale of aliens invading our planet.
At the time, the effects of destruction were groundbreaking. Sure, they’ve aged a little, but not as much as the overarching tone of the whole movie. We have reached a point in CGI where these sort of world destruction pictures have become weightless because not only are the alien ships and explosions built on a computer screen, the entire thing is a glossy CGI rendering of cityscapes or monuments. Here, the fireballs and UFOs are superimposed on actual cities. That White House is a model. It works, because it gives the destruction weight and consequence. There’s texture to the action. Say what you will about the advancements of CGI technology, Independence Day has something in it we won’t ever see again.
Despite the massive destruction, Independence Day brings a light adventurous spirit. One liners dominate the screenplay, and effervescent characters – from Will Smith to pre-insane Randy Quaid – allow the film to bounce from one narrative to the next without losing any steam.
Though Jeff Goldblum is back for Resurgence, the absence of Will Smith will be felt. Captain Hiller was a brash 90s archetype and having the character killed off (because, I don’t know, Will Smith had a ton of other things to do? I know there’s Suicide Squad, but the guy used to dominate the box office) in between films feels cheap. At least President Whoitmore – played heroically by Bill Pullman – is back. And bearded and a little crazy, and he probably dies early on. But he’s back.
Independence Day broke major ground in 1996, and like anything else from 1996 it has aged considerably. And Roland Emmerich’s insane destruction porn career has weakened in the last two decades. But think about the music you were listening to in 1996, the clothes you were wearing. You don’t still like it all (those backpack purses aren’t hot items anymore), but you do have fond memories of some of it. Beck’s Odelay is antiquated too, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t still fun to listen to in 2016.
DC’s Rebirth has officially begun, as the hope, optimism and legacy that once defined their universe returns. Although its thrilling one-shot set the stage for what was to come, along with saying a tearful farewell to Geoff Johns, the first wave of Rebirth titles hit the shelves in earnest this week. As we enter a new era of for the DCU, how do the World’s Finest; Batman and Superman fare?
Batman: Rebirth
Tom King and Mikel Janin; the creative team that brought you the spy-fi adventures of Grayson join forces with legendary Batman writer; Scott Synder to bring you the adventures of a newly revitalised Batman as he faces off against Calender Man. Legacy is truly at the thematic forefront of this issue. Duke Thomas; a character present throughout Synder’s run and who played a key-role in We are Robin returns to take Bruce up on the offer made to him back in Batman #50. Yet here we begin to see a change in Bruce, a willingness to try something new, to strive for something different. For years, the idea of a Robin has acted as an anchor for Batman, yet all of his sidekicks have to varying extents gone on to form distinct legacies of their own. In this light, the decision not to have Duke become a Robin is an incredibly compelling way of both recognising the evolving nature of this world and its characters, while simultaneously expanding the mythos. The costume that Duke receives may have some questionable design-choices, but I am interested to see where this goes and what distinctive element this young crime-fighter will carve for himself. The issue’s central antagonist; Calendar Man is given a twisted horror movie origin and power-set that feeds into the larger theme of the death and rebirth.The transformation that Julian Day undergoes throughout the issue is beautifully rendered in all it’s horrific glory by Janin with a physicality that often is absent from the meidum. The Dark Knight’s new costume is also superbly rendered, highlighting the elements, particularly around the cowl, where it takes inspiration of the design featured in Morrison’s run on JLA back in the 90s. This reverence for the past can also be seen in a delightful moment of fan-service that showcases the evolution of the Batmobile through the ages. The one issue that Janin’s character designs highlight is that he has trouble in distinguishing faces. Indeed, his Bruce Wayne is overly similar to how he portrayed Dick Grayson. One could argue that this symbolises their father-son relationship and how to two men have grown in tandem, but I think may be too forgiving a reading. Fans may be disappointed that the Joker mystery teased in at the end of Justice League #50 takes a back-seat to, but this issues firms establishes the Caped Crusader’s new status quo and dynamic duo. The idea of multiple Jokers plays into Batman’s story as one of self-improvement. He may have ups and downs, but each time he returns as a better version of himself. More meta-textual commentary on the nature of the franchise as a whole? Probably, but as we will see below and as last week’s Rebirth #1 that isn’t a bad thing where it enhances the story rather than replaces it.
Superman: Rebirth
The Man of Steel doesn’t come off as well as his Gotham counterpart. Perhaps we have been spoiled by the sublime American Alien, but somethings about this take on Clark Kent seems forced and overly complex. Complexity is good when it allows for deep character introspection and examination, but is less useful when you hope to garner new readers. At times, it feels like the comic is trying to guilt us into liking a version of Superman that was widely criticised by the fandom by having the old Superman point out elements where he surpasses his predecessor. This section reads like a bit of post-facto rationalisation for some the creative choices taken with the character by having them be approved by the “real” Superman. This approach is best summarised by one scene where the older Clark Kent remarks on this Superman erecting statutes to both his Krypton and Earth parents whereas the classic Fortress of Solicitude only had statues of the former. DC have cleverly woven in a way for them to respond to fan criticism, yet in doing so, they vindicate those critics by essentially acquiescing to the point of killing the modern version so that the classic “real” incarnation can once rule the roost. There is surely a level of cognitive dissonance at play here. Furthermore, there is an attempt to examine the much-maligned notion of comic book deaths and the seemingly revolving door of the afterlife. Indeed, the book is at its most interesting when it presents a subversion of that trope, when it forces Clark to address what might happen if this Superman doesn’t return and the legacy he might have to adopt. This leads to the odd ouroboros-inspired notion of the old Superman being inspired by the new Superman’s death so as to reclaim the mantle that he had uncharacteristically abandoned. The Superman family of books are taking a strange path between the re-introduction of the pre-New 52 Superman as the main Superman, Luthor attempts to usurp the title in Action Comics or thecreation of the Chinese hero Kenan Kong in New Super-Man. If this sounds confusing, it’s only because it is and even the characters themselves comment on it. The Superman titles appear to be focusing on a battle for that legacy and the prestige it brings, but it’s unclear if the survivors of Krypton have the funds or capacity to franchise the House of El and establish Superman Inc.
Final Thoughts
The first week of the Rebirth initiative holds much promise. It’s clear that DC has become interesting in examining the cultural impact of its heroes within their own titles. Between the Watchmen reveal and the discussion found in today’s books, the writers are hoping to take a leaf out of the book of Morrison in starting a meta-textual conversation about these characters. Such endeavours are worthy of respect and help to elevate the medium, but they shouldn’t be all-consuming as it risks alienating casual or new readers. Geoff Johns may have said this is a return to basic first principles for DC, but I would argue that what Rebirth offers readers is a thesis on why those basics worked. Rather than merely replicate what came before it places those stories in context and demonstrates how those ideals can inspire us today. Everything old is new again.
Review copies were kindly provided by the publisher.
With Star Wars: Episode VIII currently in the process of filming and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story about to start re-shoots it’s not surprising that more Star Wars news continues to come forward. In an interview on Atlantic Business Chronicle Lawrence Kasdan did an interview that talks a lot about the young Han Solo movie and the future of the Star Wars series.
When asked if fans should be excited about the young Han Solo movie Kasdan said “Oh, I think so! You know, Chris Miller and Phil Lord are going to direct it. They’re great, funny and imaginative and we’ve had a great time together. My son [Jon] and I wrote the script and Chris and Phil are working on it and they’re about to move to London to start shooting in January. And it should be fun.” He also goes on to confirm a 2018 release date and that the movie will be out before Episode IX.
The interview was done when Kasdan won the AJFF Icon Award which “honors exemplary artists who have upheld the tradition of artistic excellence in film, informed directly or indirectly by a Jewish subject or sensibility, and who inspire preeminence in filmmaking worldwide.” He talks about working on the screenplay with his son Jon and his involvement with the rest of the Star Wars series. It’s a great interview.
I’m still not sure if a Han Solo movie is the best direction to take the anthology Star Wars movies but from a business perspective it makes sense.
Earlier today it was reported by multiple sources that Disney was not happy with the early test screenings of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. New details are emerging that say that this might not be so true. Thus far the only people who have seen it are Disney’s top bosses, there haven’t been any other test screenings, and while they think it could be better they aren’t worried about it being a disaster, according to Deadline.
Writers for Variety and The Hollywood Reporter are also making comments on twitter about the rumors.
Sources say reshoots are expected on ROGUE 1; nothing to worry about, most of the shoot will involve the cameo of a very important character
Alden Ehrenreich was recently cast as young Han Solo so perhaps the rumors that he is going to make an appearance in the movie is the reason for the re-shoots. Or perhaps they are just normal re-shoots since everything seems to have re-shoots these days.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is directed by Gareth Edwards and opens December 16th.
Horror has been stuck with zombies and the paranormal for years now. MTV’s ‘Scream‘ series is changing that by bringing back the slasher genre.
The second season started on May 30th as we are thrusted into the horrors of Lakewood. Last season, the small town was turned upside-down with murders. The six teens that were all involved have been dealing with it in different ways since.
In the middle of the chaos is Emma Duval, who last season’s killer was targeting. She’s a doe-eyed final girl with some major PTSD. She’s been attacked & tormented by a masked killer with a deep connection to her. Now, she’s trying to ease back into a “normal” life. If only it could be that simple for her and the “Delinquent Six”…
Thankfully, it seems like punk badass Audrey Jensen is having some spotlight this season. Her character was involved in a major cliffhanger in the first season finale so it looks like we will dive deeper into that. Will her secret come out due to her best friend Noah Foster digging deeper into the Lakewood Ghostface killings?
There’s also an influx of new characters like new sheriff Miguel Acosta and his super creepy son Gustavo. Also, there is Zoe Vaughn. Sure she’s beautiful but I don’t trust her. This show & the franchise as a whole has taught me to not trust anyone.
What this show does well is stay deeply rooted in horror culture like the Scream film franchise but also stay relevant to this era. ‘Scream 4‘ was a good attempt but the television format allows for the show to remain fresh. Horror has always been a reflection of society in the moment so with banter about podcasts or YouTube prank videos, ‘Scream‘ TV can change as our culture changes.
The story is also intricate. The first season brought a lot of questions but very little answers. As season two starts, some questions are answered while more are posed. This layered plot is weaved together with beautiful visuals and enough horror references to make even Wes Craven proud.
Sure the acting can be a bit much at times but what teen scream doesn’t have that? For me, if ‘Scream‘ can up the blood and guts just a little bit more…this could be a true renaissance for the horror genre.
Recent rumors have arisen that a sequel to the hit DC fighting game, Injustice: Gods Among Us, is now in development. The game was originally a follow up to Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, made by the same developer.
Set in an alternate universe where Superman has become the world’s greatest threat after that world’s Joker tricked him into killing his wife, Lois Lane, and their unborn child. The story followed Injustice’s Batman calling upon the mainstream Justice League to help stop the fallen heroes from further terrorizing the people they are supposed to protect.
The game itself was highly praised for its use of the DC character, the story and for the fighting mechanics. However, the franchise has remained within the public eye in no small part to the ongoing comic book series of the same name. The series covered the years and events preceding the video game and has itself been praised for fleshing out characters in ways that the game did not.
Though the internet has gone into a calm fury over the news, it is important to note that this information has not been confirmed as of yet, and should be taken with a huge grain of salt. Or some other food preservative if you want to keep your sodium intake at a minimum.
So what do you think of the rumors so far? Are you eager for a sequel, do you think that one is enough? Let us know in the comments below.
What happens when the first issue of a series doesn’t really wow you? Some may just give up and not touch the book ever again. Sometimes though there is a chance for the second issue to correct the mistakes of the first and finish reeling in the reader by finishing the initial story line. This is what happens in Satellite Falling #2 as the team of Steven Horton and Stephen Thompson are able to get the readers in hook, line, and sinker with where they are taking their new series.
After finishing up the job from previous issue, Lilly is presented with a mystery which really hits home and makes you want to know what she is going to do next. Thought it is a bit convenient with Lilly knowing the little slave girl she rescues but it helps to show just how small the satellite is and how easy it is for someone close to anyone living on it to be affected by the black marker working in the shadows around them.
The art by Stephen Thompson is still on point. The different effects he employs in the comic really make it visual eye candy. Between Lilly’s holograms and the art from the chase scene, Thompson has shown just how much talent he is bringing to the table with this piece.
Satellite Falling is starting to shape up to be a series readers will want to look out for. With two issues it already has a great setup and a mystery which will keep the readers eager with anticipation for the next one.
Artix Entertainment released the AdventureQuest 3D “Guardian” teaser during their panel at MegaCon in Orlando Saturday.
AdventureQuest 3D is a cross-platform online multiplayer fantasy RPG where you can play with your friends from your phone, tablet, and PC.
AdventureQuest was Artix Entertainment’s first project released in October 2002. It was meant to be called “Land Of Rising Evil” (Lore). Now it is also referred to as AdventureQuest Classic and The Original AdventureQuest. The game is also called Battleon sometimes because of its domain name. The game is set in the fictional world of “Lore”, a tongue-in-cheek reference to the original game name, Lands of Rising Evil. While it is free to play, players may upgrade their characters to become AdventureQuest Guardians in order to receive exclusive in-game benefits.
Artix Entertainment LLC, is a privately held, game development and publishing studio that specializes in creating online, browser-based, anime-style, role-playing Flash games with a distinctive visual style and high-quality game play. Artix has developed a range of games with storylines that are based in the fantasy, sci-fi, and adventure genre. Content within the games is updated on a weekly basis creating a compelling experience which keeps users coming back frequently for new content and story lines. Artix core offerings are three online RPG games: AdventureQuest, DragonFable, and MechQuest, three MMORPGs: AdventureQuest Worlds, EpicDuel, and HeroSmash, and the puzzle-based game Pony vs Pony.
