Channing Tatum doesn’t to appear to have the same luck as his title character, Gambit the X-Men film by Fox is looking for a new director as Gore Verbinski has left the project two months before filming was supposed to begin in New Orleans, according to a report by The Hollywood Reporter.
Gore Verbinski who directed The Lone Ranger joins Rupert Wyatt and Doug Liman as former directors of the film. Fox has yet to make an announcement on the future of Gambit.
Josh Zetumer wrote the script a long time ago. As far as casting the last update was Lea Seydoux had landed the role of Belladonna Boudreaux back in 2015.
Verbinski’s departure is a breaking news story, check back for more details on the status of Gambit.
UPDATE: Gambit has been moved from its February 14, 2019 release date to June 7, 2019.
Do you think the Gambit film will ever see the big screen? Comment below.
“At some point in their lives, all young people believe their parents are evil … but what if they really are?” That’s the big idea behind Marvel’s comic book series Runaways. The comic book series, created by Brian K Vaughan and Adrian Alphona, is fantastic. Runaways follows the journey of six kids who flee from their super villain parents. Unfortunately, that aspect seems to have vanished from Hulu’s television adaptation. The parents, also known as The Pride, are far from villainous. In fact, this iteration of The Pride isn’t all that scary.
The parents are overly sympathetic in the Hulu series. The group have been almost entirely de-clawed. The comic version of The Pride was organization of shadowy criminals, almost like The Illuminati. The TV show Pride, however, is a group of somewhat antagonistic geniuses. They aren’t nearly as frightening or nasty as their comic counterparts. The idea behind Runaways is that the kids need to escape their evil parents. But aside from two murders, which the parents don’t even want to commit, the parents aren’t very sinister.
Copyright Patrick Wymore / Hulu
Even the abusive Victor Stein gets a sympathetic cancer arc. In the comics, Victor was a complete jerk. While all the parents in the comics were evil, Victor was likely the worst. However, in the TV show, Victor’s evil for maybe two episodes total. The other parents talk about how he’s an abusive jerk, but we see very little of that. Instead, we see a man who tries to win his son back with building robot gloves. The super jerk the show talks about is barely present. The Victor Stein we see in Marvel’sRunaways is a borderline tragic figure.
The parents are very fleshed-out characters in the series, which is nice. There are some interesting developments, such as the various infidelities between the couples of The Pride. That said, adding dimension to the parents shouldn’t take away their villainous side. There’s a way to make deep characters without sacrificing edge. While the parents are interesting in Marvel’s Runaways, there’s a disappointing absence of the group’s fear factor.
The defining difference between the comics and series is motivation. The Pride of the comics were more than willing to sacrifice others for immortality. While they were trying to do right by their children, they had no problem committing murder. The Pride in the comics is similar to Walter White in Breaking Bad. However, the TV show Pride doesn’t have this dark, intriguing motivation. Mostly, they seem to be acting in fear of Jonah, their benefactor. The Pride is supposed to be the motivation for why the Runaways run away. But in the television show, there isn’t satisfying motivation for either party’s actions.
Copyright Greg Lewis / Hulu
Instead, all the villainy is placed upon the shoulders of one man. Jonah, the “mastermind” behind The Pride, is the only character who mirrors The Pride of the comics. He somewhat resembles The Gibborim, the gods in the comics (which has become the name of Jonah’s cult/church). However, the difference between Jonah and the Gibborim gods is how much agency The Pride has beyond them. Jonah is the only reason the dark deeds pushing Runaways forward happens. Jonah makes The Pride non-important. All The Pride does in the show is give birth to theRunawaysin the literal sense.
It’s possible these issues are a result of the show’s slow pace. Marvel’s Runaways takes a while to build the rift between the kids and their parents. The show is going to get a second season, so maybe the parents will become true villains. However, the first season felt weak because of how toothless The Pride was. For the show to have high stakes, The Pride needs to be darker and scarier. The audience needs to see the parents are as evil as the young people fear they are.
The director of Columbia Pictures’ Venom Ruben Fleischer and the star of the film, Tom Hardy spoke at a panel at the Brazil Comic Con via satellite.
Check out the footage below.
We are #VENOM
The film is directed by Ruben Fleischer from a script by Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg, and stars, Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, Woody Harrelson, and Riz Ahmed.
According to the director, the plot of the film will involve storylines from Venom: Lethal Protector written by David Michelinie and drawn by Mark Bagley, and the Planet of the Symbiotes written by Michelinie as well. Venom is shooting in San Francisco which was the setting for Lethal Protector.
Venom hits theaters on October 5, 2018.
The artist team for Planet of the Symbiotes:
Penciller
Ralph Cabrera (#1)
Joe St. Pierre (#2)
Kyle Hotz(#3)
Darick Robertson (#4)
Steve Lightle (#5)
Inker
Dave Hoover (#1)
Greg Adams (#2)
Armando Gil (#3)
Arne Starr (#4)
Steve Lightle (#5)
In 2011, the acting/directing/writing trio of Charlize Theron, Jason Reitman, and Diablo Cody teamed up for Young Adult, an overlooked but quite ingenious slice-of-life story about a petty woman who wants to break up the marriage of her high school sweetheart. Tully, the team’s new film, looks to be something of a quasi-sequel/spiritual sequel to that movie.
Theron is back, this time as Marlo not Mavis, and while she might be saddled with a stable of kids this time it seems she isn’t handling it all that well either. Then, help arrives in the form of the movie’s title character. Check it out:
TULLY tells the story of Marlo (Theron), a mother of three including a newborn, who is gifted a night nanny by her brother (Duplass). Hesitant to the extravagance at first, Marlo comes to form a unique bond with the thoughtful, surprising, and sometimes challenging young nanny named Tully (Davis).
Young Adult flew too far under the radar to get the sort of recognition it deserves. And, while Theron has continued to flourish and evolve as an actress, Jason Reitman is looking to return to form after the one-two whiffs of Labor Day (remember that weird ass movie?) and Men, Women & Children. This definitely has the look of a film that could snap Reitman’s brief losing streak.
The initiative involves a science contest to have your project sent out to the International Space Station (ISS) to be conducted, which is divided into two separate research opportunities, Team Rocket and Team Groot. Students are encouraged to develop proposals in flight, using ‘STEM’ methods, based on attributes of the two superheroes. Flight concepts in both innovation and engineering are to be submitted for Rocket, while Groot requires that for biological and regenerative science concepts.
Team Groot
Powers: He has the power of regeneration, allowing him to regrow limbs, even his entire form.
Method: Now is your opportunity to take the physical principles of Groot and turn them into your very own ISS research experiment! Groot is the embodiment of plant biology research, a common area of research on the space station. Below are some examples of how researchers have used the microgravity environment onboard the ISS for plant biology experiments.
Team Rocket
Powers: He is an accomplished starship pilot, military tactician and technological genius.
Method: Now is your opportunity to take the physical principles of Rocket and turn them into your very own ISS research experiment! Rocket brings great value to spaceflight with his ability to improvise and think creatively to enhance technologies, fix gadgets, and put his partners in the best position to save the galaxy. Leverage Rocket’s keen characteristics and develop your own spaceflight experiment focused on technology development or materials innovation. Below are some examples of how researchers are using the space station for technology development and material science experiments.
After the conclusion of the contest, two student(s)-submitted flight concepts will see their vision turned into reality and become an official ISS National Lab investigation.
The student(s) who submit flight concepts through the challenge will be required to explain their flight experiment proposals, including – ultimately – how microgravity has the potential to enhance findings that otherwise can be explored on Earth-based laboratory settings. Additionally, students will be asked to consider the size of their proposal experiments, because winning concepts will be housed in already-compliant containers actively being shipped to the ISS.
“[This] is a great way to bridge the comic book community with the space community to advance science, technology, engineering and math education,” Kenneth Shields, CASIS Director of Operations and Educational Opportunities said. “Rocket and Groot have characteristics that are researched onboard the ISS daily, and to allow students to propose experiments based on their favorite superheroes will be an exciting way to engage our nation’s youth about ‘STEM’ principles and the space station.”
Marvel and CASIS first teamed up in 2016 when the official Rocket and Groot mission patch was developed, which was drawn by artist Juan Doe. The logo represented all of the science payloads launching to the U.S. National Laboratory on board the orbiting outpost that year.
Are you, or do you know someone that might be, interested in developing a science project to send to the ISS? Submissions are due by January 31, 2018. More information HERE.
Click HERE for the official CASIS/Marvel partnership press release and read more about the initiatives in bridging comics and science via Collect Space.
Sony’s Spider-Man Universe spinoff Venom released the first official look of Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock Thursday morning.
Check out the image below via Columbia Pictures. Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) in Columbia Pictures’ VEMON.
The film is directed by Ruben Fleischer from a script by Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg, and stars, Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, Woody Harrelson, and Riz Ahmed.
According to the director, the plot of the film will involve storylines from Venom: Lethal Protector written by David Michelinie and drawn by Mark Bagley, and the Planet of the Symbiotes written by Michelinie as well. Venom is shooting in San Francisco which was the setting for Lethal Protector.
Venom hits theaters on October 5, 2018.
There isn’t much to go on, but what do you think of Hardy’s look? Comment below.
The artist team for Planet of the Symbiotes:
Penciller
Ralph Cabrera (#1)
Joe St. Pierre (#2)
Kyle Hotz(#3)
Darick Robertson (#4)
Steve Lightle (#5)
Inker
Dave Hoover (#1)
Greg Adams (#2)
Armando Gil (#3)
Arne Starr (#4)
Steve Lightle (#5)
The Miami Jewish Film Festival is set to unleash a torrent of movies over the next few weeks and Shelter is one that might keep audiences on the edge of their seat. The Israeli spy thriller is one of 62 films showing over the next few weeks. Opening with a Khalil Gibran quote (from Mirrors of the Soul), the film sets its mood quickly. The tension is expected for a film in this genre, but does it hold on as it needs to for 90 minutes?
Shelter revolves around Naomi (Neta Riskin from Norman), a Mossad (think Israeli CIA) agent is sent on a mission to protect an informer. The informer is Mona, played by Golshifteh Farahani (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) who is recovering from plastic surgery that is meant to permanently protect her identity. The assignment is an easy one, meant to be a way for Riskin to return to duty after time off to recover from a tragedy.
Much of Shelter takes place in a safe room with Naomi and Mona. But a labyrinth of intrigue unfolds before them. Writer and director Eran Riklis lays out the path of Shelter calmly, cooly, letting the intrigue build as we learn a little bit more about everyone. For instance, Naomi briefly left Mossad after the death of her husband. An agent too, Naomi’s hubby took a bullet for her and left the woman a heaping bag of guilt. Naomi, as played by Riskin, is a highlight of the film, an intriguing and layered character.
Shelter is competent, cohesive, and capable.
As a director, Riklis’ earlier work is clear indication that he’s clever and has a wonderful sense for filmmaking. Shelter is more evidence of that. It is shot beautifully, from wide vistas to close-ups; lingering quiet to let moments become internal struggles. However, here Riklis seems to be torn between which movie to make. Do you go with crawling-with-tension spy thriller or character study supported by the two female leads? Either choice, if focused on, would be a good one. And those two things, expertly put together would make for a formidable film. But Shelter doesn’t focus either way enough.
There’s a great, paranoid sequence one minute, then a quiet, tender moment the next. There’s a borderline seductive romance, but only for a little while. The transitions are not jarring, but the shift is unreliable and often overrides what came before it. Just moments after paranoia, Mona is drawing me in with a story about her past. Separately, both sequences are great. Together, they have little effect on the other.
Shelter is competent, cohesive, and capable. At just over 90 minutes, the movie doesn’t pad itself with unnecessary scenes and moves along at a swift pace without feeling rushed. Shelter’s major problem is that it neither goes too far or tries to push the envelope farther. It’s mostly safe and by the numbers, which, on one hand, makes it an entertaining watch. On the other hand, Shelter doesn’t linger long after the credits in the mind. Like the characters in the story, the film is trapped by choices that have both helped and hurt. But the choices have left them riding along in the middle, a grey area, and Shelter lingers too long in that space too.
After years of pleading and rumors, fans finally have some hope. A “Black Widow” solo film is in the works, according to Hollywood Reporter.
Screenwriter Jac Schaeffer has been tapped to write the script. There are few details beyond this on the project, though Scarlett Johansson is assumed to return.
Schaeffer is relative unknown to the industry, though she has two projects, Nasty Women and The Shower, both starring Anne Hathaway, on the horizon. Most recently she wrote the screenplay for Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, the Disney short that preceded Coco.
Zeus is dead. Grail had been hunting down the children of Zeus to give her father, Darkseid, energy to become a god once more. These attacks lead Wonder Woman to her long-lost twin brother, Jason. Before the two were sacrificed to Darkseid, Zeus stepped in and took on the god from Apokolips. The battle resulted in Darkseid getting his full power from the dying Zeus. When the dust settled, only Diana and her brother were left. The two siblings have finally found one another, with an unsure future ahead. What’s next for the children of Zeus and Hippolyta?
**Spoilers Below**
Story:
This issue’s story is split into two halves. The first half takes place in the past and is centered around a girl named Vanessa Kapatelis. After getting caught in a battle between Wonder Woman and the villain Major Disaster, Vanessa finds herself crippled from the waist down. With Diana coming to visit near daily with her mother, Vanessa begins her rehabilitation. She goes under a special operation that helps fix her nerves and months later she can walk. Unfortunately, in that time she loses her mother and Diana stops visiting. This leads Vanessa to plot vengeance on the woman who abandoned her.
When it comes to the origin story of this arc’s villain, it’s nothing we haven’t heard before. However, the uniqueness about this origin is that it is a part of the Wonder Woman mythos we don’t see. In many story arcs, we watch Wonder Woman go out of her way to take care of those stricken by tragedy. This issue was no different at first, but we soon see someone who ends up with tragedy and Wonder Woman isn’t there. Vanessa feels betrayed and truth be told, I’m sure many would feel the same.
The second half involves Wonder Woman and Jason, specifically about them living together. While Wonder Woman is off saving the day, Jason parties in his sister’s home. When she returns, they have a serious talk about Jason’s future. This is a great next step in the character’s development. His entire life, Jason was left hidden away from the world, allowing him to do generally whatever he wanted. Now that he lives with Diana, a superhero and member of the greatest superhero team on the planet, he must decide what kind of life wants. This promises an interesting character development over the course of the coming arc.
Art:
The art of this issue, to put it in a single word, is a wonder to behold. Emanuela Lupacchino’s pencil work is fantastic, especially with the designs of Diana and Vanessa’s evil alter ego, Silver Swan. Swan’s look is menacing in comparison to her looks of yesteryear, yet still maintains enough of the original to be recognized. The colors of Romulo Fajardo Jr. helps the designs stand out as well. Together the art team has created a beautiful first chapter in this arc.
Conclusion:
While we didn’t get an epilogue of the last arc, we did get a beautiful start to a new one. We have an interesting introduction to a villain rebirthed for the modern era, as well as the promise of character development for our newest brother to the Wonder Woman mythos. Needless to say, I’m excited about this arc. Go pick up this issue and see why.
Diehard fans remember being introduced to R2-D2 in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, thinking there would never be a more beloved android in the series. Little did we know that, with the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, a big round funball droid would roll into our lives to supersede R2’s almost 40-year reign, named BB-8. Now, that said, the two do make a great team. I mean, after all, they did combine for completing a map to find Luke Skywalker.
BB-8 actually didn’t have its name until late in production. The folks at LucasFilm, namely Neal Scanlan, recently revealed in an interview with Endor Express the process that went into giving that cute droid its name.
“We work absolutely during the production process with codes for secrecy,” Scanlan said. “We then often have a retrospective phone call and we have a bit of fun playing with ideas and that’s when we get to hear what their real names are.”
He went on to reveal what BB-8 was called during shooting, which was ‘Snow Girl’ or ‘Snow Globe’. He also said it was a very good idea to give it a legit name since it is such an important character. It will be hard for the creators to top a droid in likeability that BB-8 has garnered, but someone will no doubt try, especially with this recent trilogy coming to an end. The Star Wars Universe could be headed in a totally different direction with No. 10 and beyond.
Make sure you go see Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which is in theaters now, and check out this exclusive interview with Scanlan about the creatures of Star Wars at Endor Express.
