“Hey Arnold! You’re a bold kid, and a true hero.”
Fans who attended Nickelodeon’s Hey Arnold! panel at San Diego Comic Con today received a special treat when the network unveiled the first footage from the show’s highly anticipated revival: Hey Arnold! The Jungle Movie.
Super nerd Chris Harwick moderated AMC’s The Walking Dead panel at San Diego Comic Con today, and the cast and crew of the hit zombie drama showed up ready to impress!
Fans that had been waiting for days to crowd into Hall H for a glimpse of their favorite survivors of the apocalypse were rewarded for their persistence with the first, brand new trailer for season eight of the popular show, which ended up bringing the house down! Check out the epic footage for yourself below!
OPED – Ben Affleck Is Not Leaving The DC Cinematic Universe
Fans were disappointed when Ben Affleck stepped down from directing the upcoming solo film for his Caped Crusader – tentatively titled The Batman – but were reassured when Affleck himself insisted he would be staying on to reprise the role. He wasn’t the only one insisting he’d be returning to play Bruce Wayne again, as both Warner Bros. Films’ studio chief, Toby Emmerich, and Matt Reeves – who’s taken over directing duties from Affleck – have also been adamant that Ben Affleck will return to reprise the role of the Dark Knight. However, it now looks like the A-List actor will be stepping away from the DCEU for good.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, “a source with knowledge of the situation says that the studio is working on plans to usher out Affleck’s Batman — gracefully, addressing the change in some shape or form in one of the upcoming DC films.”
How exactly they’ll do this remains to be seen. It’s possible they may just recast Bruce Wayne and make a referential joke about how different he looks in the solo film. It’s also possible that Warner Bros. releases The Flash solo film (which has been mired in production troubles for a while now) beforehand and do a story inspired by Flashpoint, which would not only serve as the perfect excuse to recast Ben Affleck’s Batman, but also to give the other members of the Justice League more comic accurate, brighter costumes and retcon the mostly-panned look of Jared Leto’s iconic Joker. The third option is, of course, to have Bruce Wayne retire or die within in the DCEU, and put another character – such as Dick Grayson or Terry McGinnis – in the cape and cowl. (Though I find it hard to believe that, with the DC Films’ Universe just getting started, they’d want anyone else but Bruce Wayne in the costume so early on.) Then there is a fourth option – keep Ben Affleck for team-up films going forward (which would be one every few years), and have Matt Reeves do a prequel trilogy with a younger Batman who is in his prime who would eventually grow into Affleck’s Batman.
However Warner Bros. explains a new actor stepping into Batman’s boots within the film continuity, fans will no doubt be disappointed about Affleck’s departure from the role. Despite the critical and commercial reception Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice received upon its release, most people agreed that Ben Affleck’s portrayal of Bruce Wayne/Batman was one of the highlights (along with Gal Gadot’s performance as Wonder Woman).
Digging a little deeper into the situation, however, it seems almost inevitable that Ben Affleck would want to step away from the role. He’s spent years getting people to take him seriously as a serious actor and director, and was shaken up by how badly received Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad were. And though Warner Bros. seems to be on the right track in course correcting their fledgling universe, given the reception Wonder Woman has received, most people are still extremely dubious about November’s upcoming Justice League, given the fact that Snyder directed it. Plus, as was reported a few weeks ago, Matt Reeves said he has ideas for an entire Batman trilogy, which will probably take about ten years to complete. Given Affleck’s busy career – and age! – one has to wonder whether he’d really want to dedicate himself to three films, cameos in other DCEU movies, and most likely a sequel to Justice League for the next decade.
To those wary about recasting Bruce Wayne this early in the DCEU, I’d point out that recasting has worked out well for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Most people prefer Mark Ruffalo’s version of Bruce Banner/the Hulk to Edward Norton’s and Don Cheadle’s James Rhodes/War Machine to Terrence Howard’s. Plus, in my mind, it’s better to recast the character now rather than midway through Reeves’ trilogy.
Of course, none of this is official yet, but as THR notes, “it would be wise to bet against Affleck starring in The Batman.” I wouldn’t expect official confirmation to come until after Justice League is released in November, to avoid a PR nightmare and rumors that the film is so bad that it forced Affleck to quit. But in the meantime, it should be fun to speculate who might possibly step into the iconic role of the World’s Greatest Detective. For me, given the fact that the Batman in the DCEU is supposed to be older, I’m pulling hard for Jon Hamm.
You can see Ben Affleck’s version of Batman at least one last time when Justice League hits theaters on November 17th.
What do you think of this news? Are you upset Affleck may not continue his stint as Batman in the DCEU? If he doesn’t, who are you hoping will take over the role? Let me know in the comments below!
In ‘Justice League’, fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes—Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash—it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.
Justice League is directed by Zack Snyder, from a screenplay by Chris Terrio, and features an ensemble cast that includes Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Ciarán Hinds, Amy Adams, Diane Lane, Jeremy Irons and Jesse Eisenberg. It hits theaters November 17th.
Do you remember that Gambit movie that was supposed to hit theaters in November of 2016, starring Channing Tatum? Well, apparently it’s back from the dead and still being worked on.
ComicBook.com asked Tatum, at San Diego Comic-Con, if the movie was still happening. Here’s his response:
“Yeah, of course. We’re working on it right now.”
While it’s surprising, it probably shouldn’t be. Although the film didn’t make its release date and hasn’t even started production, 20th Century Fox still wants Gambit in their cinematic universe.
When do you think we’ll hear about the seemingly cursed Gambit movie? Sound off in the comments below.
Being a geek is a wonderful thing. The world has so many things you can geek over about – games, TV shows, movies cartoons and so on. Knowing there are other people as excited about things as you makes it even better.
If you have a passion for all things geek, you really want to get out and explore the world with other geeks. The good news is that conventions around the world offer you plenty to see and do. Here are the eight biggest geek culture conventions in the world you must visit at least once in your lifetime.
1. Gamescom, Cologne, Germany
When it comes to games, E3 might get a lot of print space in the media. But for fans, gamescom in Germany is definitely the place to be. The convention is the largest gaming event in the whole world. Each year, you can explore games and gaming related things from over 700 exhibitors. All the biggest names in the industry are there, but there is plenty of small indie companies to get to know as well.
2. PAX West, Seattle, the US
PAX is one of the best-known geek conventions in the world. It’s the perfect spot for those looking to learn more about games – computer and board games alike. The event’s popularity is perhaps the most obvious when you hear that the tickets are sold out within 30 minutes every year.
You can geek about the new games or get a blast from the past with the retro gaming booths available at the event. Participate in discussions, play the games or just hang out with like-minded people. It’s the perfect way to spend your day.
3. Comiket, Tokyo, Japan
If you are a fan of comics and specifically manage, you will probably love attending Comiket. The event is actually so popular that it’s organised twice a year in Tokyo – unlike almost any other convention on the list.
The Comiket event is a huge vendor fair for manga. You’ll be able to buy all sorts of comics at the event – indeed, some of the items you find might end up fetching a high valuation later on in the future. The convention gathers lines days before the event so be sure to turn up in time.
4. Comic Con International, San Diego, the US
If you are a big fan of Marvel and DC comics and movies, San Diego’s Comic Con International might be just the right convention for you. The event is one of the longest running conventions and it has become the go-to place for big stars.
You won’t just be able to explore comics, workshops and games, you’ll also get to listen to the major celebrities geek over your favourite comics and movies. Not to mention, this is a great convention for lovers of cosplay.
5. Otakon, Baltimore, the US
Anime lovers should head down to Baltimore for the Otakon convention. The convention is one of the biggest anime convention held outside of Asia. You will be able to talk to developers and writers alike. Each year, Otakon also treats fans to a special celebrity guest.
6. MCM London Comic Con, London, the UK
Another convention held twice a year is the MCM London Comic Con. At the event, you can explore everything from video games to manga. It will have the biggest retailers, vendors and other companies from countries like the US and Japan.
7. Japan Expo, Paris, France
Another great convention for fans of Japanese geek culture is the Japan Expo in France. That might sound a little weird, but the five-day event has been gathering big crowds in Paris ever since it started.
You can find all sorts of Japanese thing at the expo. For fans of food, the convention centre is full of tasty treats and vendors providing you with traditional and modern Japanese cuisine. You’ll also get to explore games, comics and animations from different artists and companies.
8. Lucca Comics & Games, Lucca, Italy
If you find yourself in the sunny hills of Tuscany, you should visit the Lucca Comics & Games convention. The event is another large comic book and gaming convention – it’s been running since 1966 and has a popular and friendly following!
The whole city is transformed by the event and because it takes place in the medieval city, you don’t get that traditional feel of attending a convention. You’ll get to explore local cafes while geeking over comics – what a unique experience!
Being a geek can be expensive. You want to shop all the figurines, magazines, movies and games you can. If you then plan to visit conventions on top of it, you’re budget might start screaming for mercy. Plan for your convention visits carefully and ensure to shop around for prices. When it comes to all things geek and travel, VoucherBin has offers available with different retailers and travel portals. It can be a good part of your convention planning and a site that guarantees you don’t have to spend all of your life’s savings.
So, when it comes to being a super geek, you want to visit these eight conventions during your lifetime.
Previously On “The Mist” – everyone was horrible to each other. A child got eaten. Kevin can’t kill and Alex lied. Nature loving Nathalie made a friend and upset a priest. There you go – fully caught up.
After watching the show for four weeks I’ve decided to give these recaps a slight change of format. I’ve been giving blow-by-blow accounts of the episode each week and while they’ve been fun to write, I’ve come to realize that they’re not necessary. As we reach the half way point of the show I think it’s time to give the recaps a slight change. So going forward there won’t overly descriptive accounts anymore but rather a review of the episode with a break down of the questions each episode has left me with.
After five episode, has the show improved any? In short – yes! Episode five “Waiting Room” picks up from the shooting of Brian last week. Kevin and co are the sole focus of the episode with the foursome going from being trapped in a garage to being trapped in a hospital. For an ensemble show, it was a clever decision to dedicate a whole episode to a singular group of the characters. Between flashbacks to the early days of Eve and Kevin’s relationship and attention to Adrian, Mia and Bryan’s characters this is a really strong episode.
Kevin has often been a dull character through the first four episodes but this week saw a huge change in him. Contrasting the new, hardened Kevin with the at first optimistic and loving Kevin of the flashbacks was a good way to show how the last four weeks have changed him. He is no longer the soft touch that first set out to find his daughter and wife.
It was a clever idea to use the flashbacks to show that Eve has never been fully content in the relationship. Although Kevin has loved her from the get go, Eve hasn’t always been as happy. This add’s depth to both their characters, especially after Eve’s confession that she is glad he’s not there in last week’s episode.
I called this weeks ago, but after watching Mia and Bryan’s relationship blossom, it’s revealed that Bryan isn’t actually Bryan. After a touching moment between the two at the start of the episode where the two actually address the sexual tension between them. Mia makes the unfortunate discovery that Bryan Hunt is already in the hospital. He’s just not the Bryan Hunt that she has been growing feelings for.
The real Bryan Hunt got beaten up at Arrowhead by a man named Jonah Dixon. Who matches the description of the man who has been shouting about things in the mist for the last five weeks. So who the hell is Johan? The amnesia story with Bryan/Jonah has been very convenient and even Bryan/Jonah believed his name to be Bryan. It will be interesting to see what happens now that both Mia and Bryan/Jonah know the truth. I’m sticking with my original guess that he’s going to be a royal bastard once he gets his memory back.
One of the best parts of the original movie was the creatures. I’m a huge fan of a creature feature and that is initially what drew me to the show. (Well that and my obsessive nature when it comes to anything Stephen King related.) However, the show has been very monster light. In fact, it seems that the nature of the mist itself is more psychological. Even Kevin’s ill-fated brother made mention that the mist KNEW the bad things that he had done. Making it seem that the mist is almost sentient.
While we’ve not had monsters to match the scale of the movie, we have been presented with various horrors. Moth-Man from episode four seriously traumatized me, the shadow eater from episode four was every parent’s worst nightmare and this week we get leeches. I know they don’t sound scary, but the sheer volume of them and the tension when they appeared (and subsequently tried to eat Kevin and his brother) was brilliantly handled.
Obviously, money is an issue, TV budget isn’t the same as movie budget. All things considered, the show is handling the monster side of things well. This isn’t the movie and they’re not even trying to match it. This is a different, meaner mist. A mist that gets into your mind and uses your own fears against you.
Here’s a hint – it’s not Kevin. Through the use of flashback’s not only did we learn that Kevin’s always loved Eve more than she loved him but more importantly – Kevin isn’t Alex biological father. It was a good twist, although unless they do something with it, it’s going to be wasted. I have a feeling that this is going to tie into why Alex didn’t get eaten by the Mist-Monster last week. It was handled quite well, as almost all the flashbacks were. The reveal has added a much-needed level of depth of the character of Kevin who has until now felt very flat.
“Waiting Room” felt like a very different episode to the previous four and worked so much better because of it. The problem with the show so far has always been the characters. We were expected to care about quite a large cast very quickly. This was the first week that I actually did. The struggle of Kevin trying and failing to save his brother felt genuine. The moment when he chooses to kill Mike and put him out of his misery was genuinely sad. Mia’s obvious heartbreak at finding out Bryan/Jonah isn’t who she thought she was a great motivator for her character to go back to her roots. I still can’t take to Adrian but that’s because I’m waiting for him to be revealed as Alex rapist.
It feels like the show has finally hit its stride. The decision to focus on a core group instead of jumping between the characters worked so well. In this vein, it would be brilliant for the next two episodes to focus on the church and the mall. Giving us flashbacks and a character focus made the fear and tension real. It allowed you to grow to care about the character’s (not you Adrian) in a way that’s not happened before.
We’re five episodes in and for the first time this season – I’m excited to watch the next five!
What did you think of the new format of the show? Are you still even watching? Let us know in the comments below.
The upcoming Fox vampire drama ‘The Passage’ has started to find its feet and a leading man! We’d previously reported that the adaptation of Justin Cronin’s vampire trilogy was headed to Fox, but information was scarce at the time.
The Leading Man
It’s been confirmed that Mark-Paul Gosselaar will be playing Brad Wolgast. The FBI agent is a key player in the flashback portions of the show. Not only is he responsible for collecting the villainous “twelve” but he will develop a loving and doomed father/daughter relationship with the mysterious Amy.
Wolgast isn’t the only character cast either. Saniyya Sidney has also been confirmed as key character Amy Belafonte. While Gosselaar’s character Wolgast is a key figure in the past portion of the story, Amy is the linchpin of the series. She may be young, but Saniyya has already got TV credits under her belt with appearances in “American Horror Story” and Oscar-winning “Fences.”
The casting news doesn’t stop there, however. Genesis Rodriguez has been signed to play Alicia, a tough talking warrior from the present day parts of the story.
Brianne Howey and B.J Britt have also been cast. B.J will be playing an important role in the show as the character of Peter Jaxon. If the series get’s a full season order, B.J’s role in the show will be a large one as Jaxon is a pivotal character in the “Passage” series. The final piece of casting news is Jennifer Ferrin who has signed on to play Sara Fisher.
The pilot will be written by Liz Heldens and directed by Marcos Siega. ‘The Passage’ will be a vast character driven thriller in the past segments and a post-apocalyptic journey in the present parts of the show.
“The Passage” is a tale split between two separate time lines. An apocalyptic present day where humanity is attempting to make a last stand against nature and “viral’s.” Vampire like monsters that were once human. Ten-year-old Amy Bellafonte will be the only person who has the power to communicate with them. Through flashbacks, Amy will tell her tale, which will help to shed light on the evolution of these creatures.
In the past, we will learn the history of Project Noah. A secret government organization, that is using death row inmates to study the effects of a new serum. Unaware of the deadly consequences this will have for humanity. How does a ten-year old Amy fit into this? While in the future, the same ten-year old Amy stands with Peter, Alicia, and Sara as they try to save the last of humanity from a virus that has destroyed the world.
An air date is unknown and the show has only been confirmed for a pilot episode. However ‘The Passage’ is a trilogy that is more than deserving of the television treatment.
Have you read the original Justin Cronin trilogy? Are you excited about the casting choices? Let us know in the comments below.
“Now the story of a wealthy family who lost everything, and the one son who had no choice but to keep them all together. It’s Arrested Development.”
Fans of the Bluth family were delighted when Netflix announced on May 17th that they had renewed Arrested Development for a fifth season, and now – thanks to an interview that Jason Bateman, who plays exasperated son Michael Bluth, did with EW Radio – we have more of an idea of what to expect when the new batch of episodes hits Netflix in 2018.
Holy Will Smith, Batman! Netflix just released the first trailer to ‘Bright’ Thursday evening, and this is either going to be hot-garbage or some new level of geek-awesomeness.
Set in an alternate present-day, this action-thriller follows two cops from very different backgrounds. Ward, a human, and Jakoby, an orc, embark on a routine night patrol that will alter the future of their world as they know it. Battling both their own personal differences as well as an onslaught of enemies, they must work together to protect a deadly, thought-to-be-forgotten relic, which in the wrong hands could destroy everything.
‘Bright’ stars Will Smith, Joel Edgerton, Noomi Rapace, Lucy Fry, Edgar Ramirez, Ike Barinholtz, Enrique Murciano, Jay Hernandez, Andrea Navedo, Veronica Ngo, Alex Meraz, Margaret Cho, Brad William Henke, Dawn Olivieri, and Kenneth Choi. The film is directed by David Ayer and written by Max Landis.
The Netflix original film will be released on December 22.
Girls Trip’s fast paced comedic narrative, hilarious performances, and timely message make this a better movie than The Hangover.
A group of college girlfriends nicknamed the “Flossy Posse” meet-up in New Orleans for a girls weekend that turns into nonstop debauchery fest. Ryan (Regina Hall) is scheduled to be the keynote figure at Essence Fest in New Orleans due to her work as a self-help guru (think Oprah). Her friends agree to come along and watch her in action. Sasha (Queen Latifah) is a struggling gossip blogger who secretly has ill feelings towards Ryan. Lisa (Jada Pinkett Smith) plays your typical single girl with a less than typical sex-life. Dina (Tiffany Haddish) is the life of the party who curses up a storm but is loyal to a fault.
One way in which this film separates itself from The Hangover is how much this cast sells out comedically. In The Hangover, the narrative flows comedically through one character while the rest of them are spending most of their time reacting to what just happened. Girls Trip is an example of how wonderful a narrative can turn out when the whole cast buys into it. Whether it was Ryan (Hall) getting awfully creative with a meat cleaver, Sasha (Latifah) dry humping a lamp, Lisa (Smith) awkwardness with grapefruits, Dina (Haddish) threatening to kill a bitch, the story is relentless and hysterical.
Haddish brought tremendous energy to the film. She brought out a level of comedy in Smith that I’ve never seen her pull off. It certainly was an unexpected surprise.
The most important role in the film certainly falls on Hall’s shoulders. Her character is going through some marriage issues and due to how big her career has become, she excuses the fact her husband can’t stay faithful. Why should she let people know that her life isn’t perfect? It’s the journey that Ryan goes through during the film that makes the message of the film quite poignant. What’s the message of The Hangover? Don’t hang out with guys who roofie you?
It’s refreshing to witness very “blue” comedic moments being pulled off and still having those important themes of sisterhood, unity, and self-worth not get lost in the story. Yes, it’s hilarious to watch Dina explain how to use those grapefruits in a provocative manner but if we don’t see Ryan’s girls be there for one another than this movie isn’t anything other than a rehashed version of Bad Moms.
Director Malcolm D. Lee strikes a balance between keeping the film funny and delving into serious topics.
To say that I’m surprised by Girls Trip would be an understatement. On the surface, the movie just appears to be another bunch of tired tropes about good girls going wild. The film asks the question of what gives women self-worth. Is it a man? Is it a career? Is it both? Yes, we travel on this journey while witnessing the Flossy Posse on hallucinogens but that’s not what’s important. We need to remember to not judge movies before they are actually seen. Girls Trip is a heartfelt journey about a woman’s worth and the power of friendship that’s a movie worth seeing.
