What Should The DCEU Do With Batman After Ben Affleck Leaves?

By

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November 21, 2017

So we now live in a world wherein a Justice League movie exists. The problem? The film — directed by Zack Snyder and an uncredited Joss Whedon — didn’t exactly set the box office on fire. While a $96 million opening weekend would ordinarily be strong for a Hollywood tentpole, it pales in comparison to both the $166 million debut of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and (forgive the Marvel comparison, but it’s inevitable) the $207 million earned by The Avengers in 2012. This leaves the DC Extended Universe at a crossroads, one that has already been complicated by what appears to be the impending departure of one of its leading men.

In a recent USA Today interview, Ben Affleck expresses what can only be described as doubts about his future as Batman, claiming that The Batman is a project he’s “contemplating.” At one point, Affleck was set to direct the in-development solo film for the DCEU’s version of the Caped Crusader, though he ultimately surrendered the director’s chair to Matt Reeves. Now he says he wants to “find a graceful a cool way to segue out of it.” Reports are pouring in that Reeves is meeting with actors about the role — most notably Jake Gyllenhaal — in the event that Affleck makes his exit. However, there are a number of ways that Warner Bros. and DC Films can handle the Dark Knight going forward, assuming they’re not interested in giving DC’s most bankable and beloved hero (well, until recently) a break from the big screen. Let’s discuss some options.

Simply recast for upcoming films

If the rumors regarding The Batman are true, the film won’t serve as a reboot of the character, falling into the same continuity shared by all the previous DCEU films to date. In that case, Warner Bros. could easily just push forward with a new actor in the role, whether that’s Gyllenhaal or another star. Hollywood is littered with actors who have gone up for and missed their chances at playing Batman onscreen, and the role is essentially the superhero James Bond, having been played by numerous actors over the years. What WB and DC need is a team player who is in it for the long haul, much like Marvel Studios traded Edward Norton — and his reported “difficulty” to work with — for the more laid-back Mark Ruffalo. It’s the easiest way to trudge ahead with the DCEU but it’s also the least imaginative.

**Take the Year One/prequel option**

Once upon a time (i.e. pre-Batman Begins), WB was developing a big-screen adaptation of Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One with Darren Aronofsky (mother!) directing. Of course, that fell apart, and Christopher Nolan got the chance to create his own take on Batman’s origin story. But if Affleck drops out, perhaps a future DCEU film could jump backward in time and detail Batfleck’s first few months on the job, with a younger actor in the role. By the time we meet him in Batman v Superman, he’s become a cynical, perverted version of himself. Paying a visit to Batman’s crimefighting past could be worthwhile, and if the studio and filmmakers want to remain unfettered by the current timeline, the film could just act a standalone entry without any ties to Affleck’s portrayal. Hey, if they’re developing a disconnected Joker origin film, why not?

**Give us Batman Beyond (with Keaton!)**

Here’s another Batman project that was lined up pre-Nolan. Based on the popular animated series, the Batman Beyond film would have followed an elderly Bruce Wayne into a future where he mentors young Terry McGinnis as the new Batman. Such a story would have the luxury of not needing to reference any other DCEU films, and best of all, the time might finally be right for Michael Keaton to reprise the role of the Dark Knight. After all, 25 years have passed since Keaton donned the cowl in Batman Returns. His performance in the two Tim Burton films still carries the nostalgia that would help draw in audiences unfamiliar with the animated Batman Beyond. Moreover, at 66, Keaton is just the right age to pass the baton to another Batman. If it fails, then WB can go back to the drawing board. But if it works, boom: there’s another Batman franchise that can run concurrently with other DCEU films, fully embracing the multiverse of the comics.

A return to The Dark Knight universe

Before Affleck was cast as Batman, many fans put all their hope into the idea that Christian Bale might return to the franchise, effectively bringing Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy into the DCEU. That didn’t happen, but there’s little reason why those films couldn’t still be in play. Nolan himself probably wouldn’t want to come back, likely meaning that Bale will pass as well. But The Dark Knight Rises already set up Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s John Blake as the successor to the Batcave, hinting at more adventures to come. Get Jonathan Nolan — who co-wrote both The Dark Knight and Rises with his brother — involved, and WB could easily get the blessing of fans. Sure, such a film might ultimately have a similar feel as the Nightwing project currently in development, but a new Dark Knight offers the weight of a built-in audience and much higher chances of crossing the much-desired $1 billion worldwide box office threshold.

**Commit to Flashpoint for a while**

One thing that most fans and critics seem to agree on regarding Justice League is Ezra Miller’s version of The Flash, whose own film has already been revealed to be Flashpoint. For those unfamiliar with the comics (or the 2013 animated adaptation Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox), the story follows The Flash into an alternate timeline where Thomas Wayne (and not his son Bruce) is actually the Batman. The Walking Dead actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan has certainly expressed interest in reprising the role of Thomas Wayne from Batman v Superman, and he has the right presence and established fanbase to be the perfect fit for the anti-hero that is Flashpoint Batman (see: Watchmen). To offer a bit more surprise for DC Comics fans, the Flashpoint film could, if need be, conclude with The Flash returning to his original timeline to find that Thomas Wayne is still Batman, despite his efforts to restore everything the way it was. Fans of The CW’s The Flash know that every bit of time-travel meddling Barry does has consequences, and keeping Morgan around for a bit could help ease the inevitable transition to a new actor as Bruce Wayne.

What would you like to see Warner Bros. and DC Films do with Batman once Ben Affleck vacates the cowl? Sound off in the comments section below with your suggestions!

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HARLEY QUINN Going Solo in Animated Series Ordered for DC Digital

By

Jen Schiller

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November 21, 2017

Harley Quinn might finally be getting the spotlight according to a report from Deadline.

Harley Quinn and Friends

Harley’s popularity spiked following her appearance in last year’s Suicide Squad. Now the character will feature in her own spin-off film and an animated action-comedy series for an adult audience. Harley first appeared in animated format in the 90s’ Batman: The Animated Series. She also has her own comic series, as well as appearing in the popular Harley and Ivy books.

The new Harley Quinn will reportedly include other DC Universe characters with one glaring exception—no mention of the Joker yet. In fact his only appearance so far is the fact that Harley has moved on. This version of Harley has finally “…broken things off with the Joker once and for all and attempts to make it on her own as the criminal Queenpin of Gotham City.”

Notable, of course, is in inclusion of Poison Ivy (Harleys canonical on-again off-again girlfriend) in early art. Does this mean we will see some Harley and Ivy scraps included in the show? If the Joker stays out of the way, maybe Harley and Ivy can find happiness in each other’s arms instead.

The Talent

Deadline reports that Margot Robbie, who brought the character to life in Suicide Squad, is “…at the top of Warner Bros.’ wish list for actresses to voice the title character in the animated series, and she is expected to be approached for the gig.” This the Joker’s absence even more prominent, as Jared Leto is expected to join Robbie in Harley’s spin-off film.

DC’s digital platform has already ordered 26 half hour episodes of Harlequin from executive producers Justin help earn, Patrick Schumacher, Jennifer Coyle, and Dean Laurie. Quayle previously produced DC superhero girls: hero of the year.

Warner Brothers animation will produce Harley Quinn for DC Digital Services. The show is currently in development. No release date has yet been announced.

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Et Cultura – St. Petersburg Florida’s Best Kept Secret

By

Matthew Sardo

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November 21, 2017

Et Cultura is the Lollapalooza of St. Petersburg Florida with music, film, and art. The five-day event took over several venues in St. Pete with a wide spectrum of music. What makes Et Cultura special, is the intimate venues and after shows.

Here is just a small sample of the music from the festival.

Ought

Ought is a post-punk band from Montreal, Canada.
Members: Tim Darcy; Matt May; Ben Stidworthy; Tim Keen

Cloud Nothings

Cloud Nothings is an American indie rock band from Cleveland, Ohio, founded by singer-songwriter Dylan Baldi. It currently consists of lead singer and guitarist Baldi, drummer Jayson Gerycz, bassist TJ Duke, and guitarist Chris Brown.

The Budos Band

The Budos Band is a 70’s psychedelic instrumental band, consiting of nine members.
Jared Tankel – baritone saxophone
Thomas Brenneck – electric guitar
John Carbonella Jr. – congas, drums
Mike Deller – organ
Daniel Foder – bass guitar
Andrew Greene – trumpet
Rob Lombardo – bongos, congas
Brian Profilio – drums
Dame Rodriguez – percussion

Slowdive

Slowdive are an English rock band known for their shoegazing tones. The band was togther from 1989–1995 and went on a 19-year hiatous and has been touring for the past 3 years.

Talib Kweli

Talib Kweli Greene is an American hip hop recording artist, entrepreneur, and social activist. Kweli earned recognition early on through his collaboration with fellow Brooklyn rapper Mos Def, when they formed the group Black Star.

NIKO IS preformed in the clip below with Kweli.

If there was one drawback to Et Cultura, the crwod size was not great on Friday night. As someone who enjoyed the festival and would like to see it grow and continue, Et Cultura is going to need to increase attendance next year.

Did you attend Et Cultura 2017? Tell me about your experience in the comment section below.

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LADY BIRD Review: A Soaring Tale That Doesn’t Disappoint

By

Dewey Singleton - Film Critic

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Sensational performances, a deftly crafted narrative, and fantastic direction are just some reasons why ‘Lady Bird’ is one of the best films of 2017.

Summary

The film centers around Lady Bird (Saoirse Ronan) and her final year of high school. She’s being steered by her mother (played by Laurie Metcalf) to attend a local college in Sacramento, but she wants to go to an east coast school. Her dad (Tracy Letts) and mom (Laurie Metcalf) work extremely hard to send her to private school, but Ronan’s character seems to want more than this education has to offer. The more she pulls away from her mother, the more their relationship strains.

What Worked

Ronan is the perfect person to step in for Greta Gerwig, who handles the direction wonderfully. She brings such effortless depth and complexity to the film (much like she did in Brooklyn). While Lady Bird wants more out of life, Ronan’s character doesn’t get along with her mother. It’s almost as if she speaks a different language than her – something that certainly feels true in mother/daughter relationships. Ronan projects this angst not so much in what’s said but in her body language. A slumped shoulder, a dismissive glance, and exasperation add a level of authenticity. Ronan is able to project real pain on the screen. As much her character doesn’t want to listen to her mother, she desperately wants approval. This is proven during one of the film’s final moments when Lady Bird is willing to forgo her choice of school.

Metcalf gives an award-worthy performance as Lady Bird’s mother. As the matriarch of the family, she has to balance taking care of the kids, working long hours at the hospital, and providing support to a husband who appears to have lost his way. Her relationship with Ronan’s character is at the center of the film. While Metcalf’s character struggles to understand Ronan’s character, she is conflicted. Mrs. Macpherson wants her relationship with Lady Bird to be so much more than it is. There were six different instances in the film where she tries to reach out and touch Lady Bird on the shoulder to show compassion/understanding only to pull back immediately. It’s these nuances that make her performance special.

Is there Greta Gerwing can’t do? She constructed a wonderfully balanced narrative that was partially a love letter to her roots in California and an all too real look at the pressures of growing up. Her words are heartful and will resonate with audiences. As a director, Gerwig manages to get the very best of out of her entire cast. More importantly, she has a keen understanding of pacing and allows this narrative to build slowly.

Sam Levy’s cinematography manages to capture the beauty of Sacremento while not missing a beat during the films fiery moments.

Loved how the film depicts the complexities of parenting as well. If anything, this movie teaches us that nothing is clearcut.

Overall

There’s a reason why Lady Bird is currently sitting at 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s one of the best releases of 2017. Ronan and Metcalf’s performances are a joy to witness, and Gerwig’s narrative is just perfect. Lady Bird will undoubtedly be on everyone’s mind during award season and should be your first choice the next time you go to the movies.

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ORIENT EXPRESS Sequel, DEATH ON THE NILE, is On The Way

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

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November 21, 2017

The hefty box-office success and average critical reception to Kenneth Branagh’s Murder on The Orient Express has prompted the green lighting of a new Hercule Poirot adventure, Death on The Nile.

Like Murder on The Orient Express, Death on The Nile is a remake of the Agatha Christie movie adaptation. Orient Express was a Sidney Lumet film, Nile was a 1978 John Guillerman film with Peter Ustinov replacing Albert Finney as Hercule Poirot. This time around, however, Branagh will reprise his role as the super sleuth with the super mustache.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the sequel from the Hollywood Reporter article:

Death on the Nile, first published in 1937, saw the detective on a vacation in Egypt and becoming involved in a love triangle gone murderously bad. The novel once again featured socialites, social climbers and high society’s help in the cast.

It makes sense to have another go round with Branagh’s Poirot universe, as Murder on The Orient Express should cross $200 million before it leaves theaters. That’s not bad on a $55 million budget.

Aside from Branagh returning, screenwriter Michael Green will return to pen this adaptation as well. Obviously there’s no information regarding the potential cast, which should be a fun mixture of stars once again.

Stay tuned for updates.

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Home Video Review: Mystery Science Theater 3000 Vol. XXXIX

By

Erik Amaya

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November 21, 2017

Shout! Factory refers to the thirteen-ninth volume of Mystery Science Theater 3000 as the “almost certainly, probably definitely, maybe unquestionably” last release of classic episodes. Whether or that turns out to be true remains to be seen; the company makes some miraculous film rights clearances. But Vol. XXXIX will be the last release for some time. And so, this likely final collection presents the three remaining episodes available to Shout! and a special collection of host segments. Does it measure up? Let’s take a look.

Girls Town

Girls Town is the winner of the set. Starring Mamie Van Doren, Mel Tormé, Elinor Donohue, Ray Anthony and Paul Anka, it is certainly the most star-studded. But the film, a quasi-exploitation flick about a girls’ reformatory, is nearly competent in its own right. It offers Mike and the Bots plenty of riffing. From Mel Tormé’s tendency to scat-sing to Van Doren’s figure and to Anka’s milquetoast performance, the gang finds a lot of material based on those extra-cinematic concerns.

They also engage with the story and find plenty of jokes within it. A runner about another Girls Town girl and her fixation on Anka and Van Doren is a guaranteed laugh every time. As is a private detective’s uncanny resemblance to Cary Grant. But the film’s relative quality also makes it the breeziest film in the set by far.

The Amazing Transparent Man

The Amazing Transparent Man is the dullest of the set despite the classic host segment in which TV’s Frank (Frank Conniff) discovers he missed his screening of Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale. In fact, the segment is the most memorable thing here. The movie is a low-budget take on The Invisible Man that plays perilously close to copyright infringement. But it’s doubtful that anyone would sue as the film is mainly composed of actors talking to one another in extended two-shots.

These sorts of films were a specialty in the show’s early days, but by season six – when this episode aired – it looked out of place for the rhythm of the Mike Nelson era. In fact, its similarities to Joel-era classics like The Killer Shrews and The Amazing Colossal Man make it hard to distinguish. But Mike and the Bots keep the riffs coming until a hilarious climax in which the Transparent Man becomes opaque during a bank robbery.

Diabolik

Like the Squanto sketch overshadowing The Amazing Transparent Man, Diabolik, the film, is overshadowed by the host segments surrounding it. The episode is the last Mystery Science Theater 3000 produced during its original 1989-1999 run. As the Satellite of Love prepares to land on Earth, Pearl Forrester (Mary Jo Pehl) forces Mike and the Bots to watch one last cheesy movie: a French spy thriller based on a comic book and directed by trash auteur Mario Bava.

The results are colorful, but not as special as, say Operation Kid Brother or other spy movies the show tackled earlier in its run. The riffing never relaxes, though, and you never get the sense that the MST3K crew are running out the clock. They still have plenty of jokes about Diabolik’s silly leather costume and the Spirograph-inspired opening credits. Nonetheless, the sketches are the thing. In each, Mike and the Bots get ready to come to Earth and the conclusion is just the most appropriate way to send off ten years of Mystery Science.

Satellite Dishes

The last disc in the set is Satellite Dishes, a collection of the host segments from the twelve episodes Shout! were unable to release due to rights issues with the films. Some episodes are more frustrating to watch in this truncated form than others; usually tied to the episodes the viewer has never seen in full. In this reviewer’s case, Episode #906: The Space Children was particularly difficult. But it’s easy to imagine a fan who has never seen Episode #418: The Eye Creatures feeling completely clueless as most of the sketches involve scenes from the movie. Although, one sketch, “Earl Holimania” makes about the same amount of sense in and out of context.

Extras

The extras are, as always, fun and informative. The highlight is Behind the Scream: Daniel Griffith on Ballyhoo. As it says on the tin, Ballyhoo Motions pictures Principal Daniel Griffith discusses his time making documentaries for the Mystery Science Theater 3000 sets. He recalls how he became involved with Shout! and how he chose to tailor the style of the docs to the movie being covered.

It will inspire you to look back at his featurettes on Santa Claus Conquers the Martians and The Beast of Yucca Flats. But Ballyhoo’s documentary about The Amazing Transparent Man is almost as dry as the film itself. It examines the reason why the movie was made in the first place (tax shelter) and notes some of the filmmakers involved. But details about the production itself failed to make an impression.

The Diabolik disc features two documentaries about the final days of the original MST3K. The first, Showdown in Eden Prairie, is a Ballyhoo talking head piece with executive producer Jim Mallon and other members of the crew. Mallon reveals another network was interested in picking up the show, but suggests others made the final decision to end the series. The second documentary, The Last Dance, is a look at the last day filming the Diabolik episode. It features the most extensive behind-the-scenes look at making the show ever released. While informative about the process, it is tough to sit through. The fly-on-the-wall style makes for very long shots of the performers getting ready for a scene. Nonetheless, it’s still worth a look.

Other special features include theatrical trailers for all three films and Chuck Love and the Anatomy of a Theme. In the short interview, original theme song composer Charlie Erickson recalls working with creator Joel Hodgson on the original 1988 theme song.

Conclusion

As always, a new Mystery Science Theater 3000 set is a must for the diehard fan. But this is particularly true this time around as it will likely be the last. For more casual viewers, Girls Town and the special features definitely make it a worthwhile purchase. Of course, they may also find The Amazing Transparent Man and Diabolik more engaging than this reviewer. Nevertheless, buying Mystery Science Theater 3000 Vol. XXIX comes with a certain sadness as we say goodbye to the classic series.

But at least there is a new season box set to come.

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The Progression of Aquaman in the DCEU

By

Michael Stagno

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November 20, 2017

Arthur Curry grew up on land, after being cast out from Atlantis as an infant. Once matured, he returned to claim the throne as The King of the Seven Seas. He’s committed to protecting the world from a surface world that is destroying the oceans and Atlanteans that seek to conform and revolt. He can breathe underwater, swim at incredible speeds and possesses the ability to telepathically communicate with all ocean life. That’s just in the water. On land, he has superhuman strength, peaked senses and untraversable skin. He struggles with continual conflict in trying to protect both of his homes, the sea and land, which makes him feel like an outcast no matter where he is.

You hear all of that and think to yourself, that character is awesome, right? We agree. However, he’s been at the forefront of a running joke for almost 76 years. Tabbed as the ‘Superhero that could just talk to fish’, he has been singled out in the Justice League, the equivalent to what Meg is to Family Guy, and included in various sketches on Saturday Night Live, Robot Chicken (VIDEO) and in various YouTube spoofs. His early costume choices and runs on both the Aquaman animated series (1960s) and ‘Superfriends’ (1970s) also negated the character to further irrelevancy.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNQTw4HdzxQ[/embedyt]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2eLGBmGbcc[/embedyt]

Calling all fellow Entourage enthusiasts: We all remember when Vincent Chase (aka Adrian Grenier) took on the role of Aquaman on the show, which was directed by James Cameron, and it became the highest-grossing movie of all time! The outfit that was pitched though, just awful.

He made his first appearance in a comic called, ‘More Fun Comics #73’, back in 1941. He has come a long way. When DC Comics launched its New 52 in 2011, Aquaman was a much different character. He was spending more time in helping humans, he wasn’t in it for the glory, rather he did what he had to and split, his powers were more well defined, and the creators embraced the ongoing jokes about the character to improve his stock, which was genius. Geoff Johns took the character to new heights. Ivan Reis and Joe Prado provided the art for that series, while Johns also wrote the Justice League title over that span with art by both Jim Lee and Scott Williams. Either way, Johns scribbled the character into both relevance and prominence and helped set the stage for the character to make its way to the silver screen.

Whether you have seen the ‘Justice League’ film yet, there is no denying that Jason Momoa is a bad dude. He rules everything he does. He jumped onto the scene as Jason Ioane in Baywatch and has since taken on such awesome characters like, Ronon Dex (Stargate: Atlantis), Conan the Barbarian, Khal Drogo (Game of Thrones), is currently Declan Harp in Frontier on Netflix and is set to be Eric Draven in The Crow Reborn. He’s the man. He has propelled Aquaman as a superhero to be taken seriously and we look forward to his solo movie, directed by James Wan, which is set for a 2018-19 release.

Want even more Aquaman? Check out the history of the character via the Variant Comics YouTube channel video below.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HS3PQf1jW3c[/embedyt]

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The NBA is Ahead of the Curve by Investing in eSports

By

Michael Stagno

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November 20, 2017

The National Basketball Association (NBA), having already accounted as the first American traditional sports league to have launched its own eSports league, in conjunction with Take-Two Interactive (2K), now has its sights set on the world of League of Legends (LOL).

Back in May, the NBA announced that 17 of its 30 teams would compete in a worldwide NBA 2K eSports League, the first of its kind, which will debut in May of 2018.

“This is the first step in what promises to be an extraordinary league,” NBA 2K eSports League Managing Director Brendan Donohue proclaimed. “We are looking forward to forming something truly unique for basketball and gaming fans around the globe.”

The NBA is the first American sports league to declare that it ‘has a place in eSports’. The marketing opportunities for not only the league, but for the game itself, are endless. The league will have a traditional sports-type draft to select from a massive pool to narrow it to 85-total players from around the world. It is also presumed that the league players will be formally scanned into the game, custom courts will be designed to be used for branding and advertising and developers will pride themselves on producing an optimal gameplay experience (MORE).

With that, as the NBA continues to be the driving force in traditional sports to continue to invest in the platform of eSports, several of its teams are now shifting focus to the newly developed League of Legends North America Championship Series. The NA LCS will also debut in 2018 and, of the 10-team field, five are owned by the powers that be of NBA teams. The ‘Golden Guardians’ are owned by the Golden State Warriors, ‘Flyquest’ is owned by the Milwaukee Bucks, ‘Clutch City Gaming’ is that of the Houston Rockets, ‘100 Thieves’ belongs to the Cleveland Cavaliers and ‘Counter Logic Gaming’ is supported by the Madison Square Garden group, owners of the New York Knicks. Team ‘Echo Fox’ also has ties to the NBA as it is owned by former player Rick Fox.

It will be an important and presumably successful 2018 for Take-Two, LOL developer, Riot Games, and Blizzard Entertainment, which has its Overwatch League launching.

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New Species Introduced in STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI – Vulptices

By

Michael Stagno

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November 20, 2017

With just under a month till the release of ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’, Entertainment Weekly has introduced yet another fuzzy buddy to the film’s ever-growing lineup of creatures, one that, along with the ‘porg’, will market well and continue to fill Disney’s exorbitant bank account. It’s called a ‘vulptex’ and it closely resembles that of a fox made of crystal. Standing still, it looks like a statue that you’d see on your grandmother’s shelf.

We all know the porg, how could we forget, right? Since the announcement that they’d be in the film back in August, these little avians have stolen all the thunder. As a recap, these are a species of sea bird native to the planet Ahch-To, which houses that of Luke Skywalker (and now also Rey, Chewbacca and R2-D2 as well).

These ‘vulptices’ can be found on Crait, a planet that used to serve as a Rebel hideout from the original trilogy, but one that is also extremely rich in minerals. Neal Scanlan, who spearheads the Star Wars Creature Shop, shed a little light on these creatures. They burrow into crevasses and abandoned structures, while navigating the salt flats on the planet. “The idea is that these wonderful sort-of-feral creatures had lived on this planet and had consumed the planet’s surface, and as such, had become crystalline,” said Scanlan. He went on to credit the design inspiration thanks in part to crystal glass chandeliers, which offer, “the sort of luminosity and elements of refraction (they create).”

The creatures themselves were designed by Aaron McBride, who derived the name from a Pablo Hidalgo story for LucasFilm, in which he galacticized ‘vulpes’, which is the Latin word for ‘fox’.

Our estimate is that Disney and LucasFilm will aim to introduce a lot of new species, as well as bring back some old ones, in the new sequel, which was one of the few cons about ‘The Force Awakens’.

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Anthony Gonzalez Would Like To See ‘COCO’ Crossover With ‘Toy Story’

By

Matthew Sardo

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November 20, 2017

‘COCO’ hits theaters this Wednesday, just in time for the holidays. ‘COCO’ is Pixar’s 19th animated feature, and Monkeys Fighting Robots spoke with the star of the film Anthony Gonzalez during the Miami Press Day.

Gonzalez could not contain his excitement and passion for music and acting. Watch the interview below and or read the full transcript.

MFR: Anthony, thank you for taking the time to talk with us.

Anthony Gonzalez: Thank you.

MFR: Working on a Pixar film is a big deal, can you talk about that moment when you found out you got the part of Miguel?

Anthony Gonzalez: Oh my gosh, it was just like one of the best moments ever. Well, I got the part when I was 11-years-old and I went to Pixar in Oakland to do a scratch voice for Miguel and I’ve been doing that since 10. It was like a routine going to Pixar and doing scratches for Miguel. And finally when I was 11, it was near Christmas and the director, Lee Unkrich told me that they had a Christmas present for me and I couldn’t wait to see what it was. I was just so excited. And the producer, Darla Anderson brought the present and I opened this wonderful, big box and it was this big poster with colors and papel picado and it said you got the part. And I just couldn’t believe it. I was just so shocked and all I could do there was just thank God because I couldn’t believe I was going to be part of the Disney Pixar movie.

MFR: What is a scratch voice?

Anthony Gonzalez: Oh, a scratch voice is where they get my voice and they put it in Miguel so like they put in the character it’s like a test.

MFR: Voice acting isn’t as easy as it looks, what was the hardest part to bringing Miguel to life?

Anthony Gonzalez: Well, in my opinion, it wasn’t really hard because me and Miguel are very similar but the challenges that people face with voice acting is that you can’t use your facial expressions and you can’t use your arms and you can’t use your legs. Even though it was just my voice that was being used even in the booth I was still using my arms and my body and my facial expressions. What’s so cool is that they (Pixar) told me that they actually used some of my movements in the character Miguel which was so cool. And I was just so happy.

MFR: What I love about ‘COCO’ is the vibrant colors, it’s so different compared to other animated films. What do you love about ‘COCO?’

Anthony Gonzalez: Oh my gosh. I love, first of all, the music, it is amazing. I’ve been singing and acting since I was four years old and I knew since then that I wanted to sing and act for the rest of my life and to be in a movie where I can do both of these things is just incredible and I’m just blessed to be in this wonderful movie. And I also love that it celebrates this wonderful celebration, the Day of the Dead. It’s specifically Mexican culture but this celebration can be universal because who doesn’t have ancestors that have passed away, and in the Day of the Dead you can be with them and connect with them once again.

MFR: Anthony, you are a singer and an actor. Where does this creative passion come from?

Anthony Gonzalez: Well, actually it comes from my siblings. So my siblings, my brother, and my two older sisters would start singing in La Placita Olvera. They would do street performance. And I just looked up to them and I was like, ‘Oh wow, they’re having so much fun.’ And I just thought like if they’re having fun I will have fun too if I try singing. And I started singing and from the moment I stepped on the stage I knew that I wanted to sing for the rest of my life. So the singing passion comes from my siblings. My acting passion, a director discovered me when I went to a show on Univision. And well, ever since I went to my first audition, I knew that I wanted to act because it was just so much fun.

MFR: If ‘COCO’ could crossover with another Pixar film, which one would it be and why?

Anthony Gonzalez: I grew up with ‘Toy Story.’ I grew up watching all three movies and it would really be cool to see Miguel react with toys. I think it would be so cool and fun.

MFR: Anthony, thank you for your time and best of luck with ‘COCO.’

Anthony Gonzalez: Thank you so much.

What did you think of Gonzalez comments? What Pixar film do you want to see crossover? Sound of in the comment section below.

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