Actor and writer Sam Shepard has died at 73, according to reports.
Shepard passed away last Thursday at his Kentucky home. The cause of death is said to be amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease.
A native of Illinois, Shepard began his career in Off-Broadway during the 1960s. His stage repertoire includes roles in Icarus’ Mother, La Turista, Red Cross and A Number.
Over time, he would branch out into playwriting, and later he would venture into directing. His most famous play is Buried Child, which won a Pulitzer Prize in 1979. Two other productions, Fool for Love and True West, would also earn Pulitzer nominations. He also wrote A Lie of the Mind and Curse of the Starving Class.
Apart from theatre, Shepard would have an extensive movie career. He got his big break with Terrence Malick’s 1978 film Days of Heaven, co-starring with Richard Gere. The role was of a dying landowner. Other prominent movies include Steel Magnolias, Crimes of the Heart, Black Hawk Down, and The Notebook.
However, Shepard’s most famous film role is that of pilot Chuck Yeager in The Right Stuff. The critics would praise his performance, and he earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Later, Shepard would have prominent roles in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and August: Osage County.
In 2015, he would appear on the Netflix show Bloodline as the family patriarch Robert Rayburn.This marks the final acting role of his career.
Shepard is survived by three children. He will be missed.
If you thought the marketing for Deadpool was great, wait ’till you see what Ryan Reynolds is doing for the sequel. In a new Twitter post, Reynolds has hilariously revealed the first look at Zazie Beetz (Atlanta) as Domino in Deadpool 2.
The image (below) perfectly recreates the banner from the first movie, in which Deadpool was shown resting on a very expensive bear-skin rug. This time around, Beetz is in the same position, but instead of a bear, she’s lying atop everyone’s favourite Merc.
Mister Miracle #1 by Tom King and Mitch Gerads hits the local comic book shops on August 9, and to celebrate the new series DC Comics and Monkeys Fighting Robots have teamed up for a NEW GODS Contest.
Vote for your Favorite New God
[totalpoll id=”86058″]
The writers of the Monkeys Fighting Robots comic book staff will try to persuade you to vote for their favorite NEW GOD below.
Prizes
DC Comics has sent us three NEW GODS related omnibus as prizes (Orion Omnibus, The Jack Kirby Omnibus Vol. 1: Starring Green Arrow, Kamandi, the Last Boy on Earth Omnibus Vol. 1). To qualify, you need to vote for your favorite NEW GOD in the above poll. 2 random winners will be picked on August 9 at 11 a.m. EST. The writer with the most votes will receive an omnibus as well. Thank you for voting and good luck! (Email matt@popaxiom.com with questions)
Darkseid
With his rocky visage, red eyes, imposing bulk and a literal mathematical equation for ‘Anti-Life’, Jack Kirby creation and Fourth World antagonist Darkseid is not only the New Gods’ best character but also the DCU’s greatest villain. He’s fought and defeated everyone from Superman, to the Justice League (multiple times) and even the Legion of Superheroes. He also rules his own planet, Apokolips, with a stone fist.
He’s also responsible for me really becoming a DCU fan. In the summer of 2002, I was going through a hard time with my father’s sickness. And although comics have always been an escape for me, during that time one particular story really resonated and carried me through. On a whim, I picked up a trade-paperback collection of Grant Morrison’s and Howard Porter’s JLA. I started reading the story arc Rock of Ages. If you haven’t read the story, it’s an excellent piece of comic book storytelling. Filled with cliffhangers, twists, time travel, reality altering and cosmic level threats. But the one thing that really shook me was how imposing and threatening Darkseid is in the story. He doesn’t even really have a huge amount of ‘screen time’ but his presence and dread are felt throughout the entire arc. His really big arrival scene is still one of my favorite splash images of all time.
And that’s really why that character works. He can be felt, alluded to, and not seen but still strike fear. He can drive a story without even really being in it. Plus he has also literally thrown Batman back through time and has also been voiced by ‘Weird Al’ Yanchovich. And as far as I know, no other DCU character has that on their resume. Who is the best you ask? “Darkseid Is!”
Death is the one constant across all forms of existence. It comes for us all in the end and it has many forms. Speedsters strive to outrun the Black Flash, but the New Gods know too well the folly of trying to escape the Black Racer. While he may not seem intimidating with a design more suited to a cross-country skier than the avatar of death, the Black Racer knows he doesn’t need to be. It is not his appearance that the New Gods fear, but rather what he represented: the inevitable. There came a time when the Old Gods died and the Black Racer is a reminder that one day the reign of the New Gods shall end. There is something inherently Jack Kirby about that idea of constant destruction and renewal, a cycle that has repeated itself across the millennia. He is, in many ways, the personification of what the story of the Fourth World was all about. The Black Racer is also quintessential Kirby in his design invoking the King’s past work on the Silver Surfer, another cosmic entity with distinctly non-cosmic features. His skis, like the Herald of Galactus’ surfboard, represented the joy of riding the waves or slopes of the universe. The clincher and what truly makes the Black Racer deserving of the title of our favorite New God is his role in the Grant Morrison’s JLA: Rock of Ages storyline that featured a horrific dystopian future where “Darkseid is”. In a brief, but memorable appearance the Black Racer is called upon the unmake all of creation as the power of the Genesis Box is unleashed, resetting the universe. The result is the most poetic page of a comic that I have ever read. In the end, Death is the only winner of this game.
What is it about Granny Goodness that makes her such a memorable New God? Perhaps it’s the juxtaposition of a sadist in the guise of a sweet grandmother. There’s something hilariously brilliant about the image of a sweet old woman that’s clad in body armor, clenching a whip and laughing maniacally. Jack Kirby knew how to tap into certain emotions with his characters, and Granny Goodness represents children’s fear of old people. There’s a complexity to her imagery that evokes anxiety, humor, and even a sense of dread. She can be funny to laugh at, but we feel terror when we realize what she can do and what she has done. Terrorizing, and controlling her squad of Female Furies, torturing Mister Miracle when he was a child, and even killing her own dog for Darkseid’s amusement. Darkseid might be the terror of Apokolips, but Granny Goodness is the perfect balance in salty and sweet that makes us shake in our sheets. Also, she was voiced by the great Ed Asner in Superman the Animated Series and Justice League. That alone should make her terrifying.
My favorite of the New Gods would have to be Metron. The God Of Knowledge has the greatest job of all-time, and one that every person in the internet age thinks they have. Traveling space and time in order to gather every bit of knowledge, all from the comfy confines of the Mobius Chair.
This guy literally sits in a chair, without getting fat, and quenches his never ending thirst for knowledge. It’s the exact position that every person using Wikipedia on their phone to win a Facebook argument thinks they’re in.
Unfortunately for Metron, the only thing he didn’t do enough homework on was Batman. During ‘Darkseid War’ he found himself out of the chair, with Batman assuming the role of Knowledge God. Right before ‘Rebirth’ started, Metron seemingly met his demise at the hands of the mysterious Watchmen character pulling the universal strings.
I imagine that means the Mobius Chair is just roaming around looking for another God like a Lantern-less power ring. If that’s the case, I’d like to nominate myself to fill the vacant position. I’ve always sympathized with villains who pursue the conquest of knowledge. There really is no stronger weapon, no greater advantage, than ultimate knowledge.
Knowing might be half the battle, but ultimate knowledge is winning without your opponent even becoming aware they’re a threat. Clearly what I’m getting at is stay in school.
Brandon J. Griffin For Mobius Chair 2018.
“I KNOW It’s The Right Choice”
Mister Miracle
Mister Miracle has one of the coolest designs of all the New Gods, and he also has maybe the most interesting backstory (being traded to Darkseid as a child and escaping the fire pits of Apokolips). Tom King describes him as the son of God who was raised by the Devil. If that concept doesn’t hook you, you’re dead inside. And he has the best name that a writer could ever give an escape artist – Scott Free. Everything about his character screams cleverness and originality.
Scott’s willpower and his ability to smile in the face of danger makes him an inspiration to readers of all ages. Just the fact that he’s able to smile after all he’s been through is a testament to his character. He’s the kind of superhero that you want your kids to read about; the kind that shows that you can literally walk through the fires of hell and come out stronger for it.
Plus, I myself am in love with a strong, independent woman who doesn’t take shit from anyone, so I relate to Scott’s relationship with Barda. It gives him yet another layer of depth. Scott has humility, and he’s never resorted to pettiness or sexism even though he was created at a time when the male ego still ran unchecked. He’ll fight for Barda, but he knows (and loves) that she can fight her own battles. He unashamedly respects that his wife can kick his ass. Mister Miracle’s marriage has always been a representation of equality and teamwork, unlike so many of history’s superhero relationships.
He also has one of the best Justice League Unlimited episodes of all time. Seriously, if you’re still unsure who the best New God is, take 20 minutes, head to Netflix, and watch “The Ties That Bind”.
The phrase about “Sins of the Father visited upon their children” never was more perfect than for Orion. The son of Darkseid does everything he can to oppose his father and his followers whenever he can. Orion knows he is one of the few individuals in the entire universe who can stand against Darkseid. Despite having immortality and the ability to tap into the Astro Force, Orion is hindered by the intense rage he received on a genetic level from his father. His skills have been of value to not only the New Gods but also the Justice League.
Orion has many accomplishments under his belt through his run in comics. He procured the Anti-Life Equation, the power Darkseid was looking for the majority of his life and once he had it, he met with him face to face. Showcasing just how an intense fighter Orion is, he was able to kill Darkseid (for a short time at least). Unfortunately, his Darkseid would return and would find a way to defeat his son thanks to a highly advanced technological bullet. As he was dying from the injury, Orion, in an effort to showcase just intense he is, simply says “Fight” before passing away. Luckily, it was hard to keep a New God down and Orion was able to return and offer Wonder Woman support at the start of her New 52 run of comics. Hence why Orion is one of the best characters to come out of the New Gods.
From the team behind THE SHERIFF OF BABYLON and the Hugo Award-nominated writer of Vision comes a unique new take on one of Jack Kirby’s most beloved New Gods.
Scott Free is the greatest escape artist that ever lived. So great that he escaped Granny Goodness’ gruesome orphanage and the dangers of Apokolips to travel across galaxies and set up a new life on Earth with his wife, the former female fury known as Big Barda. Using the stage alter ego of Mister Miracle, he has made a career for himself showing off his acrobatic escape techniques. He even caught the attention of the Justice League, which counted him among its ranks.
You might say Scott Free has everything…so why isn’t it enough? Mister Miracle has mastered every illusion, achieved every stunt, pulled off every trick—except one. He has never escaped death. Is it even possible? Our hero is going to have to kill himself if he wants to find out.
Written by Tom King (BATMAN) and illustrated by Mitch Gerads (The Punisher), this is a MISTER MIRACLE unlike any you’ve read before.
“There are master magicians performing here. Their names are Tom King and Mitch Gerads. And like the best magic trick, with MISTER MIRACLE, you’ll never see it coming.”
—Brad Meltzer (IDENTITY CRISIS, The Tenth Justice)
“MISTER MIRACLE by King and Gerards will stun you so hard it will knock you to the floor. Then tell you to stand.”
—Declan Shalvey (ALL STAR BATMAN, Injection)
“King and Gerads draw upon the magical lunacy of the Fourth World, while delivering a modern opener that feels like fireworks in the brain.”
—Gail Simone (CLEAN ROOM, BIRDS OF PREY)
“I always light up when I see stellar talent play in the Fourth World playground, so it’s a major thrill to see Tom King and Mitch Gerads tackle and strap a strait jacket to one of the key icons, MISTER MIRACLE.”
—Michael Allred (iZOMBIE, BUG!: THE ADVENTURES OF FORAGER)
With just over two months until the release of Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049, Vanity Fair has revealed that Hans Zimmer will write additional music for the sci-fi sequel. Zimmer is possibly the most famous composer in the industry, having worked with some of the greatest directors including Christopher Nolan.
Denis Villeneuve initially enlisted the help of his usual composer Jóhann Jóhannsson for the highly-anticipated Blade Runner sequel. Jóhannsson worked on the director’s previous movies Arrival, Prisoners, and Sicario, all of which were highly praised. While Zimmer is now scoring the project, it seems Jóhannsson is still involved. The report claims that instead of replacing Jóhannsson, Zimmer is simply adding “additional music” to the film.
While it’s not unheard of, it is unusual for composers to change this close to the release date. Until the film is in theatres, we won’t truly know how much of the score will be influenced by Hans Zimmer.
Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling), unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos. K’s discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years.
From executive producer Ridley Scott and director Denis Villeneuve, Blade Runner 2049 stars Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana De Armas, MacKenzie Davis, Sylvia Hoeks, Lennie James, Carla Juri, Robin Wright, Dave Bautista and Jared Leto.
Are you excited to hear Zimmer’s work on Blade Runner 2049? Let us know in the comments section below!
It looks like everyone’s favorite Eugenics War superhuman psychopath might be getting a TV series all his own. Nicholas Meyer, writer of Star Trek II, IV, and VI, is reportedly developing a new project based around Khan Noonien Singh, or simply, “KHAAAAN!”
Details for the series are scarce thus far. The limited series would take place between the Star Trek original series episode Space Seed and The Wrath of Khan. Khan and his fellow “genetically superior” warriors struggle to survive for years on the planet Ceti Alpha V, where Kirk and the Enterprise crew leave them until the crew of the U.S.S. Reliant finds them years later.
More recently, Meyer has been involved as a writer on Star Trek: Discovery. However, he quickly moved on from the series to work on his own super secret Trek project. Many assumed it would be a fourth installment in the rebooted film franchise, but that does not seem to be the case anymore.
Khan was originally played by Ricardo Montalban in the original series episode “Space Seed” and in The Wrath of Khan, and by Benedict Cumberbatch in the J.J. Abrams-helmed Star Trek Into Darkness.
Are you excited to see a Khan-centric Trek series? Who should be cast as Khan? Let’s discuss in the comments!
The first two episodes of Game of Thrones’ latest season moved at a wonderful pace. However, “The Queen’s Justice” doesn’t quite match up. The episode contains more repetitive dialogue than action or plot advancement. The interesting and exciting elements took too long to get to. Too many characters in “The Queen’s Justice” have monologues, stating the feelings the audience already knows they have. This wasn’t a bad episode of Game of Thrones – but it did seem to go on forever.
The meeting of Daenerys and Jon met expectations – but nothing more. Certainly, seeing two of the show’s protagonists interact is exciting. Their meeting heralds in an exciting conclusion for Game of Thrones. The problem is that they spent too much time on overly long speeches. Jon and Dany simply rehashed their general characteristics, providing nothing new. Tyrion’s manipulation of the two was fun, to be sure. However, the episode felt a bit bland, restating what we already knew, without providing anything new. Other than a prophesy that Varys may die, that is.
Cersei Lannister got the biggest piece of this episode. The convenient rise of Euron Greyjoy has given Cersei a newfound leg up on Daenerys’ forces. Seeing Cersei kill the final Sand Snake certainly gives her vengeance and closure on her daughter’s death. However, Game of Thrones gives Cersei an overly long monologue about the matter. Following that, it focuses on Cersei talking to the Iron Bank for longer than needed. Cersei’s more vindictive actions were diluted with unnecessary chatter.
The death of Lady Olenna Tyrell was also dragged out for too long. Olenna definitely deserved a big death scene, and this mostly delivers. The way she drops Joffrey’s death on Jaime is intensely powerful. However, the scene is bogged down by death tropes. A lot of Olenna’s speech feels cliche, and too on the nose for the situation. The Joffrey dig was the only moment of true ferocity we see. Olenna’s big death scene is well-deserved, but it could’ve been better.
Sansa and Bran’s reunion was profoundly odd. Bran meeting his sister to discuss her awful marriage seems like a huge misstep. It makes sense that Bran would lose some of his social graces once becoming the Three-Eyed Raven. However, if he can see everything, he knows that Sansa’s marriage to Ramsay was hardly wonderful. The callback seems uncharacteristic, and only serves to bring Sansa back down a peg. It’s very strange that Game of Thrones would want fans to remember a scene almost no one liked.
Game of Thrones has never shied away from speeches or dialogue. Often times, it’s just a treat to see our favorite characters outwit each other. However, it doesn’t work in “The Queen’s Justice” because it’s noticeably slower. With so much action packed into earlier episodes this season, we know what we’re missing. Many moments in “The Queen’s Justice” could have been expedited, leaving room for more. An otherwise great episode is oversaturated with speeches.
Rickmancing the Stone Thrusts Rick And Morty Fans Back Into The Mayhem
Returning to the world of Rick and Morty is a daunting task. The show has more inside jokes and references than the entirety of 30 Rock. This type of humor & storytelling can hit or miss as it’s hard for fans to fall into such a serialized cartoon. What the newest episode “Rickmancing the Stone” does so well is work well on its own, but still progresses the insane narrative. Unlike the season premiere that was a continuation of last season, this episode isn’t bogged down by that. It follows the story set-up in the premiere but can be accessed by casual and die-hard fans alike.
When it comes to homaging popular culture, Rick and Morty creator Dan Harmon does it so well. “Rickmancing the Stone” is another example of the brilliance. Not only is the title of the episode from a classic 80’s film, but it draws inspiration from the action-adventure genre. Most of the parodying focus being on the Mad Max franchise. This aesthetic works well for the show’s Rolodex of references. The episode touches on Fury Road and Thunderdome. It even finds a way to mock Game of Thrones of the same night it airs.
“One Man Enters, One Man Comes Out in 9 Months”
Following the departure of her father Jerry, Summer is desperate to leave. Rick, Morty, and Summer rush to a post-apocalyptic world, and it doesn’t go well. Rick finds another random McGuffin that he needs, so he gets every into more trouble than needed. Things get bad when he steals the green rock, but it isn’t made any better with a new callous Summer. She’s having a character makeover from a simple “valley girl” to giving Rick a run for his money. Is it because of the divorce of her parents or is there something more happening?
Same goes for Morty who is cracking under pressure more than usual. He’s taking his anger out on anyone who crosses him, and it is deeper than his father drama. There is no way Morty can keep it up much longer without doing something he will regret. It will make for great television but could spell the doom for Rick.
Final Thoughts:
No one can knock the ability Rick and Morty has to tell continuously one-up itself and still exist in an expansive universe. Each episode seems wilder than the previous, and that rings true for “Rickmancing the Stone.”
Walking away from “Rickmancing the Stone,” one of the biggest developments is Summer’s place within the Rick and Morty’s relationship. She’s a great addition but doesn’t take away from what makes the show great. There is something that seems off and could unfold in later episodes. Does it have something to do with Tammy and Phoenix Person?
Also, next Sunday is the debut of Pickle Rick so, away we go!
You can find Rick and Morty on AdultSwim.com. Check your local listing for air dates/times on Cartoon Network.
Let’s Rock! While life goes on in Twin Peaks, the twelfth episode of the series offered one of the most substantial answers to the missing pieces yet presented. Of course, to accept that answer, one must overlook a certain inconsistency with a certain established fact.
The Case
Angela is sweet on Clark. But Clark is known to get very chummy with other women at the Roadhouse. As her friends know, this could get ugly if she finds out about Clark. She’s off her meds now, and it could be very bad as she even dreams about Clark.
Oh, and Trick survived a near-collision with someone on the highway.
Yeah, we’re going to the last scene of the episode because for all its inanity, it feels important. It illustrates the ABC primetime soap opera people remember Twin Peaks being is still happening. It’s still out there with its dull intrigues and mundane dramas. And even though a drama like Shelly’s relationship with Red feels elevated, it’s still part of a show the revived program doggedly avoids.
In fact, the whole episode decided to avoid the case for the most part. But then again, the Buckhorn case is sort of meaningless now. And Dougie’s problems seem solved. So what are we left with? Hutch managed to kill the warden. So that’s the first part of his task squared away. We also know that Bad Cooper’s business in Las Vegas is still unknown to the Blue Rose Task force — but more on that in a moment.
In the meantime, let’s stew on the fact that Ben is more than ready to believe that Richard killed that little boy and has no problem paying for it. Also, any story from his youth is heartbreaking.
The Updates
Audrey Horne is awake! Left with the notion that she might still be in a coma from the bank explosion all those years ago, it was an amazing thrill to see her upright. Hilariously, the camera knew we’d be thrilled and quickly moved off of her and onto her lawfully wedded husband Charlie. Much like the mundane drama of Angela and Clark, Audrey also seems to still live in the primetime soap. So her major concern is for her lover Billy.
Unbeknownst to her, Billy got caught in Richard’s crosshairs. I think at this point we have to assume he’s her son. Which would seem important except for all the plot we’re given on the Audrey spinoff no one has been watching all this time. The scene seems to assume we’re familiar with Charlie, Billie, Tina and why Audrey is in this situation. It’s also sad. Audrey always seemed a little bit smarter than the sad soap opera world around her. But gravity comes for us all and turns us into mundane players in a one-season series.
Meanwhile, something happened to Sarah Palmer. Something significant. Something that made her blind to picking up a couple of bottles of Popov to supplement her purchase of Smirnoff and Mr. and Mrs. T’s Bloody Mary Mix. But beyond her consumer habits, the freak-out seemed to suggest Sarah has a passenger in her addled mind. I can’t help but think about David Lynch’s weird interview with all the Palmers in the series Blu-ray set and wonder if maybe Leland and Laura are truly present at all times.
Then, when you notice the fan was on when Hawk stopped by, you almost have to wonder if BOB is in the house as well.
The Questions
How the heck does Charlie have a working rotary phone? Can I buy one?
Why is Carl such a kindly old cuss now? While he wasn’t an angry man in Fire Walk with Me, he is distinctly more helpful now. I suppose twenty-odd years can change a man, but that much?
What did Jerry find in the woods? Did he find the Fire Hawk and Frank will face?
Did Bobby ever make it up to Big Ed’s Gas Farm?
Possibly connected to previous question, but why is the Golden Shovel working for Nadine?
What sort of man was Ben Horne’s father? He seemed so distant before, but the bicycle story suggests something different.
Are “the men” Sarah warned the clerk about our old friends the Woodsmen? Things seem to be headed in that direction.
Not about Judy
At last, I know this about Philip Jeffries: he was selected by Gordon to head the Blue Rose task force. I also know it was organized as an unofficial successor to Project Blue Book. And on top of that, I now know Jeffries selected Albert, Chet Desmond and Cooper to be part of the Task Force.
Which makes it all the stranger that Jeffries and Coop didn’t recognize one another when Jeffries made his crazy appearance in 1988. In Fire Walk with Me, it’s clear that Coop has never met Jeffries, but Jeffries has some idea who Coop might be. At the same time, this new information underlines Desmond’s disappearance and puts a special mark around Albert as the only person on the team not to have a close encounter with the forces in the outer beyond.
Tammy might want to reconsider accepting the assignment.
But I also have to wonder if the Blue Rose task force was aware of Major Briggs’ special presidential assignment. According to The Secret History of Twin Peaks, Briggs was also selected to head an unofficial successor to Project Blue Book. That was how he built his monitoring station near Twin Peaks.
Also, I just had another thought: Windom Earle was not officially part of Blue Rose.
The Blue Rose
For as seemingly inconsequential as this segment felt — especially after the forcefulness of last week — finally knowing what the Blue Rose is feels huge. Well, at least for those following this story through the Jeffries angle like I am. While it still doesn’t put to rest the biggest dangling mystery of Fire Walk with Me, it does confirm what a blue rose means and why it even has that name. That, strangely, is good enough for me.
But also, seeing Audrey once again felt a little bit like going home. I have to give Sherilyn Fenn a lot of credit for giving Audrey her voice back. In interviews, the actor sounds nothing like the character; right down to her register. But to hear her pitch and delivery again made it seem as though no time had passed … even if ten seasons of the Audrey show have definitely missed us by.
Oh, also, special shout-out to Jonathan Bruce for covering Part 11 last week. Comic-Con and the usual ConCrud flu knocked me off my usual schedule, so his help was invaluable. But baring anymore unforeseen illness, I will be here every Sunday until Twin Peaks runs its course and we all meet again in Valhalla.
FX’s American Crime Story: Katrina appears to have stalled somewhere along the road to its predicted 2018 air date.
The anthology series, which was yet another FX hit for creator Ryan Murphy, had a widely acclaimed first season focusing on trial of O.J. Simpson. The sophomore season promised an even stronger lineup of actors than its predecessor, including Matthew Broderick playing FEMA director Michael D. Brown, Annette Bening as Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco, and, most notably, Dennis Quaid as President George W. Bush.
Yet according to The Hollywood Reporter, series director Anthony Hemingway admitted “That just kind of got stalled. We’re all standing by waiting to find out what’s happening. Nothing has really been done. We haven’t started prep on it at all.” When asked if the second season would be happening at all, Hemingway, who directed half of the episodes of the previous season’s American Crime Story: The People V. O.J. Simpson, shrugged. “Who knows? It’s all up to Ryan Murphy.”
Part of the problem likely has to do with the fact that in June, FX announced another installment of American Crime Story, Versace, before Katrina had even begun production. This series would star Penelope Cruz, Darren Criss, Edgar Ramirez, and Ricky Martin. THR also ran another exclusive about yet another installment, this one focusing on the Monica Lewinsky presidential scandal.
It would seem that there are too many ideas for Murphy to juggle at the moment, and that he may be dabbling with each of them rather than focusing solely on Katrina or any other individual American Crime Story installment. This lack of focus is extremely unfortunate, and rather than Murphy being able to debut multiple installments in the same year (2018), he may end up with nothing. Although in this case, “nothing” should perhaps be amended to “one of his many other projects, such as Feud or American Horror Story.”
Spoiler Warning For Season One And Two of Voltron: Legendary Defender
Fans have been waiting in anticipation for months for the third season of Voltron: Legendary Defender. Why wouldn’t they? The second season of the series left the audience on a cliffhanger of immense proportions. After the intense battle with Zarkon, the team discovered Shiro was gone, and Hagar orders the summoning of Prince Lotor, Zarkon’s son from the original series who has yet to show up in this new reboot. There are a lot of questions out there and only a new season would provide the answers necessary.
Luckily, a preview in the form of the first two episodes was given to this website to give you, our readers, a preview of what to expect in this new season. The spoilers will be kept to a minimum, but a few details need to be mentioned for the sake of reviewing the episodes. Keep this in mind before continuing.
Changing of the Guard
These episodes mostly serve to showcase what the universe has been up to in the wake of Zarkon’s defeat. Keith is desperately searching for Shiro, Lance and Hunk are working with the Blade of Mamora to take down remaining Galra forces, and Pidge is still searching for her brother. These are interesting enough elements, but then Lotor makes his introduction later and steals the entire episode. He comes off even more manipulative, cunning, and dangerous than his previous incarnations. Lotor will definitely be welcomed addition to the show.
The Red Paladin
As Lotor works to flush out the Voltron Paladins, he sends his elite forces to set a trap. It appears his team is made up of all half blooded aliens, showcasing Lotor’s weakness for others who weren’t born a pure blooded alien. Afterward, the process to see who gets to pilot the Black Lion begins. If you have seen the original show, you know what happens and the predictable nature is the only real downside of the episode. There is as interesting bit as Allura reveals her connection to the previous Red Paladin and why she is desperate to try and pilot it herself.
Overall, not a bad start to the new season at all. Stay tuned to Monkeys Fighting Robots for a full review of season three of ‘Voltron: Legendary Defender.’.
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Are you looking forward to the new season of ‘Voltron: Legendary Defender?’ Leave a comment below and let us know.
