On August 22, celebrities big and small will come together for EXTRAORDINARY: STAN LEE, a live event paying tribute to the iconic creator. The event will be held at the Saban Theatre in Los Angeles, and will also be live streamed in movie theaters nationwide. Chris Hardwick, Nerdist CEO and host of AMC’s Talking series, will host the special.
“Stan is not only a living legend who has birthed so many of our most cherished cultural icons, he is also a lovely human being whom I am proud to call my friend,” said Hardwick. “I couldn’t be more proud to be involved with this tribute and look forward to an evening honoring him with thousands of fans in Los Angeles and across the country via live stream. Excelsior!”
Guests will include “heavyweights of the comic book world,” as well as film/TV stars such as Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk).
“Back when I started writing, I never could have dreamed that someday these little characters I thought up would connect with so many people in so many places, let alone on the silver screen…I’m just floored,” said Mr. Lee. “I’m so lucky to have such great friends and supportive fans who continue to inspire me and have kept me going.”
Tickets for Extraordinary: Stan Lee are available now on Ticketmaster (ranging from $95.00 for general seats to $350.00 for VIP seats and a meet and greet), and tickets for the livestream will go on sale mid-July.
“Additionally, Stan has partnered with the online fundraising platform Omaze, delivering fans the ultimate opportunity to attend Extraordinary: Stan Lee while supporting a great cause. Starting July 11, fans can visit Omaze.com and donate as little as $10 to enter for the chance to be flown out to Los Angeles, receive a complimentary hotel stay and enjoy two front-row seats at the tribute. To complete the VIP experience, the winner and his or her guest will also have the chance to talk all things Marvel with Stan in a private meet and greet, as well as attend the exclusive VIP after party. Proceeds raised from the campaign will support Make-A-Wish® to grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.”
DC’s Earth One line of graphic novels take the company’s classic heroes and puts a new spin on their origins. So far we’ve seen Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and the Teen Titans get the treatment. Hal Jordan will be getting his turn next in Green Lantern: Earth One by writer Corinna Bechko, writer/artist Gabriel Hardman, and colorist Jordan Boyd.
…the story sees Hal Jordan re-envisioned as an astronaut who seeks the thrill of discovery, yet finds himself in an unfulfilling job prospecting asteroids for Ferris Galactic. His fortunes change when he finds a powerful green ring and learns that it came from the Green Lantern Corps, a group that was long ago murdered by killing machines called Manhunters. This sets him on a mission to reinstate the Corps, a nearly impossible task for the fearless Jordan.
Bechko and Hardman’s story takes Hal from being a test pilot to an astronaut. It also flips the script on how he comes into possession of the Power Ring. In classic DC lore, Green Lantern Abin Sur crashes to Earth where Hal finds him. Earth One sends Hal to space to find the ring in an asteroid.
Hardman spoke about the changes he and Bechko made to the story:
“Approaching this as an Earth One story gives us the opportunity to go back to the core concept of Green Lantern and interpret it through the lens of a modern, grounded sci-fi story while still being true to the Silver Age roots of Hal Jordan. Having storyboarded Interstellar, this is an approach I’m comfortable with and have wanted to explore in comics. Realistic sci-fi is only the beginning of this story; we have something much more epic in store.”
He also commented on changing Hal Jordan from an impulsive test pilot into a calculated scientist:
“Hal Jordan is a smart, capable person with a space and science background who has a lot of untapped potential even before he finds the ring. That means he’s going to approach everything the ring does from the perspective of a scientist, but he’s going to employ it for action and adventure. The result for us as writers is the opportunity to fully embrace the science fiction aspects of the story in a way that would be impossible with a lot of other characters.”
As he mentions, Hardman previously worked as storyboard artist for Interstellar. He’s also storyboarded comic book movies like X2, Dark Knight Rises, and Logan. He, Bechko, and Boyd previously worked together on Star Wars: Legacy, Savage Hulk and Invisible Republic.
Green Lantern: Earth One comes out March 20, 2018.
Amazon Video has released the official trailer for their upcoming superhero show, The Tick. Watch it below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKFxFqOmqcs
“From creator Ben Edlund comes the hero you’ve been waiting for. In a world where heroes and villains have existed for decades, a mild-mannered accountant named Arthur has his life turned upside down when he runs into a mysterious blue superhero, The Tick, who insists that Arthur become the brains to his brawn in a crime-fighting duo. Will Arthur resist the call of Destiny or join the fight?”
The Tick seems to embrace its wackiness, which is where it may find success. Are you looking forward to the show? Sound off in the comments below.
The Tick starts streaming August 25 on Amazon Video.
Black Panther actors Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, and Lupita Nyong’o are featured, in character, on the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly.
Director Ryan Coogler briefly talked about the politics of Black Panther:
“In this movie, a lot like politics, it’s a little tricky to define who’s [a good guy]. The film very much plays with those concepts, looking at conflicts and different motivations, and who’s with who.”
Black Panther is slated for a theatrical release on February 16, 2018. San Diego Comic-Con will likely give us our second trailer.
Marisa Tomei talked to The Huffington Post about Spider-Man: Homecoming, and interestingly enough, the actress talked a bit about an important scene that was cut from the film.
“There was something going on in the neighborhood, and there was a little girl in distress, and I saved her, and Peter saw me save her, so you kind of saw that he got part of his ethics from her.Then I come home, and I don’t even tell him that that’s what happened, and, of course, there’s all this stuff that he’s not telling me. So he’s like, ‘How was your day?’ And I’m like, ‘It was fine,’ but really I was shaking inside because of this whole crisis that had happened in the city. I’m kind of fibbing to him, and he’s fibbing to me, and we’re living in this house together, and it was a very interesting setup. I was quite disappointed that wasn’t in there.”
The scene Tomei’s talking about sounds important, but plot-wise it likely didn’t fit into the final cut of Homecoming. Time will tell if we get the extra footage in the Blu-Ray package, however.
As Batman continues his investigation into a mysterious metal, his path crosses with Wonder Woman and Talia Al Ghul, both of which give him weapons of both great power and danger. Carter Hall, the Hawkman, continues to narrate his tale across time. And in the Batcave, Duke Thomas and Green Lantern continue to fight an escaped Joker, who’s insanity seems to hold dangerous and vital information.
DARK DAYS: The Casting Written by: Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV Art by: Jim Lee, Andy Kubert, John Romita Jr., and others Published by: DC Comics
Now we are on our second step toward DC: Metal and things are showing no indication of slowing down. Like The Forge, Dark Days: The Casting is a rollicking story filled with action, easter eggs, and plenty of “oh shit!’ moments. Read on for 11 reasons pick up Dark Days: The Casting. Oh yeah, there are SPOILERS!!!!!
The appearance of Ras Al Ghul and Talia Al Ghul. Always love a drop in from the In-Laws!
Batman getting Apollo’s Sunblade, an actual weapon for a God.
“Be wary of the Gods, they have their own agenda”-Wonder Woman. “So do I” –Batman
The pure, non-stop narrative pace of the story.
The art. Somehow having three artists just works, giving each segment a specific feel.
The explanation of how the Joker’s face got healed.
The use of the Joker in general.
How there is aLovecraftian nod and feel throughout this whole thing.
“Oh, I know how this story is going to end. Because it’s happened before.”
Two issues into a prelude, and this whole DC: Metal event is shaping to be one hell of a fun ride. It’s great to see a comic crossover like this that embraces the fun and throws in a ton for the fans but not at the cost of the story. DC fans REALLY need to check this out.
Warner Bros. seems to be moving fast with a sequel to 2016’s Suicide Squad!
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jaume Collet-Serra – who directed 2016’s shark thriller The Shallows – has emerged as the studio’s frontrunner to helm Suicide Squad 2.
Quentin Tarantino is sneaking around Hollywood recruiting A-list actors for his next film that centers around the Manson Family murders, according to THR.
According to the report, Tarantino will write and direct the film that centers on Sharon Tate, the actress, and wife of director Roman Polanski who was murdered by Manson and his followers in 1969.
Over the course of several hours on the night of Aug. 8, four of Manson’s followers, using guns and knives, brutally killed Tate, who was eight months pregnant, and four other occupants.
Jennifer Lawrence and Brad Pitt have been contacted about the film, with a plan to start filming in 2018. No title has been announced.
Check back as more details become available on the breaking news story.
Netflix announced late Tuesday afternoon it will bring a ten-episode series from Dark Horse Comics ‘The Umbrella Academy’ to the network in 2018.
“I am thrilled that The Umbrella Academy has found a home at Netflix. I couldn’t think of a better place for the vision Gabriel Bá and myself had when creating the comic, and cannot wait for people to experience that world as a live action show,” said Gerard Way.
The series will be based on the Eisner award-winning comics and graphic novels created and written by Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance) and illustrated by Gabriel Bá. According to Netflix, ‘The Umbrella Academy’ is a live action series that follows the estranged members of a dysfunctional family of superheroes (The Umbrella Academy). The team is made up of; The Monocle, Spaceboy, The Kraken, The Rumor, The Séance, Number Five, The Horror, and The White Violin. They have joined forces the best that they can to solve their father’s mysterious death while coming apart at the seams due to their divergent personalities and abilities.
“What drew us to The Umbrella Academy is that it’s wholly unique, visual and stylized,” said Cindy Holland, Vice President, Original Content for Netflix. “These aren’t the usual superheroes, and this series will embrace the singular tone of the graphic novels — dark yet humorous, supernatural yet grounded in reality. We’re excited to see this world and introduce these unforgettable heroes to Netflix members around the globe.”
‘The Umbrella Academy’ will be produced by Universal Cable Productions.
“It’s a thrill to be producing this wonderful show for Netflix,” said Jeff Wachtel, Chief Content Officer, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, and President, Universal Cable Productions. “It’s been a passion project for the UCP development crew and we can’t wait to bring it to life.”
Steve Blackman (Fargo, Altered Carbon) will serve as executive producer and showrunner, with additional executive producers Bluegrass Television and Mike Richardson and Keith Goldberg from Dark Horse Entertainment. Gerard Way will serve as co-executive producer. The pilot script was adapted from the comic book series by Jeremy Slater (The Exorcist).
In 1979, astronomer, astrophysicist, and author Carl Sagan and his wife Ann Druyan wrote a 100-page script for a film called Contact. However, in the midst of StarWars and Alien, Contact never saw the light of day and instead, Sagan morphed the script into a novel. Flash-forward ten years and several fired directors later, including Mad Max’s George Miller, before Robert Zemeckis would take to turning the script-turned-novel back into a film. In 1997, Zemeckis released Contact, a movie starring Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey. The film was a breath of fresh air in a year of science fiction that, while pretty impressive, was stagnant when it came to smarts.
The premise of Contact is beautiful in its simplicity. SETI, the group responsible for spending countless hours listening to space noises, receives a message that is undeniably from an alien source. The world reacts to the news in diverse ways. From cultists doomsayers to those seeking the guidance of a higher intelligence. In the meantime, the message turns out to be schematics for a machine, and the government intends on building it. The alien device is designed for one occupant to travel and Elle Arroway, the protagonist of the film, wants to be that lone traveler. However, the battle between science and religion tries to dominate who will play ambassador to an alien civilization. Treachery, betrayal, love, hate, God, and more are subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) debates woven into the movie.
THE DIRECTOR
In 1985, at the same time that Sagan released Contact the novel, Zemeckis broke through with a science fiction comedy known as Back to the Future. Over the next ten years, Contact the book sold millions and Zemeckis made millions at the box office. In 1997, two two would finally meet. After many stalled attempts at turning Contact into a film, Zemeckis made it happen. Zemeckis’ journey from action-comedy director to a full-blown master of the cinematic arts was already complete when he made ForrestGump. In Contact, Zemeckis created smart science fiction with a brilliant mix of performance, writing, and the director’s innovative use of effects.
We don’t often see Zemeckis mentioned as one of the great directors, but his films are a masterclass in quality from all angles. Contact features tracking shots integrating CG in near-perfect ways. These are methods common today, but this movie, and many of Zemeckis’ films, were a significant influence in making it happen.
THE STARS
In 1997, Jodie Foster was, well, Jodie Foster, a child star turned acclaimed actress and director. Foster plays Elle Arroway, the scientist who discovered the alien signal and wants to be the one to make first contact. Arroway is decidedly a scientist, believing there’s no need for a God, that’s it’s a waste of time. Elle also believes one of the central tenants of what the film preaches “If there’s no life out in there, it’s an awful waste of space.”
“… they both see the beauty of thinking about the universe and everything in it.”
Featured in the film are the likes of Tom Skerrit, Angela Bassett, James Woods, John Hurt, Robe Lowe and Jake Busey. There’s also a young Matthew McConaughey who plays the ying to Foster’s yang. As Palmer Joss, McConaughey presents the theistic point of view and the argument that, while no single religion may be right, they all believe in a God, a creator. If this “alien” message is the creator, it should be someone who believes in him or her to make the first contact. Despite their differences, Arroway and Joss share an attraction, perhaps simply because they both see the beauty of thinking about the universe and everything in it.
THE IMPACT
Critical reception to Contact then was very positive. Contact released in the same year as Men in Black, Starship Troopers, The Fifth Element, and Gattaca. Only Gattaca presented a non-action orientated science fiction film. Today, most cinema analysts put Contact in the same class as 2001: A Space Odyssey and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Contact doesn’t have quite the awe-inspiring cinematic brilliance of 2001, and it doesn’t have the darker aspects of Close Encounters. However, in its right, Contact deserves mention with both. Like Close Encounters, Contact presents a much more positive view of aliens and, to some degree, mankind.
Contact is smart, particularly the ambiguous ending that creates friendly (I hope) debate among viewers. It’s not as heady as 2001, but it does pose aspects of some of our most difficult questions. It’s also sneakily a technically brilliant movie with shots like the opening galaxy scene or the wormhole sequence that still feel fresh and look fantastic.
Twenty years later and Contact is as fresh today as ever.
