‘Fantastic Beasts 2’ Open Casting Call Offers Tantalizing Plot Clues

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June 6, 2017

Warner Bros. have posted an open casting call for the second Fantastic Beasts film via Pottermore. The movie is looking for young actors to play five new roles, including teenage incarnations of familiar names and one completely unknown character.

Full information can be found at Pottermore, but the details of the roles are as follows:

An open casting call has gone out for three actors between the ages of 13 and 16 to play young versions of Newt, Leta, and another character called Sebastian. They are also looking for actors between 16 and 18 to portray both Gellert Grindelwald and Albus Dumbledore as teenagers. So, if you know any young acting hopefuls who know their Elder Wand-lore, or have a penchant for Sherbet Lemons, now is the time to let them know.

The filmmakers responsible for bringing J.K. Rowling’s Magical World to life have made good use of open castings before. In preparation for the 5^th instalment of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the United Kingdom was scoured from top to bottom in the hunt for the perfect Luna Lovegood. Eventually, Evanna Lynch would be cast in the role which has become somewhat iconic; memorable for the character’s defiant bohemian individuality.

Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood in ‘Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince’

This is the first we’ve heard from the franchise since the news of Jude Law’s casting as a young Dumbledore (in his capacity as Hogwarts Transfiguration teacher, so not yet Headmaster). Not only will this open casting ignite a dreamy excitement in the hearts of countless young British actors, but it also gives clues as to what can be expected from the second film.

J.K. Rowling announced she had finished writing the script at the end of May, but details have been scarce. We know that the franchise will span two decades, starting in 1926 with Fantastic Beasts and coming to a close with the fifth instalment in 1945. With Jude Law entering the fray as Albus Dumbledore, who was only talked about in Fantastic Beasts, it is expected that the franchise will shed light on the historic events referenced in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. That is, the relationship between Dumbledore and Grindelwald, leading to the latter’s downfall around the year 1945.

As for this open casting call, there are a few things we can guess at. First of all, we can expect Eddie Redmayne’s awkward Buster Keaton-esque Newt Scamander to feature heavily despite speculation that his role would shrink in significance as the franchise moves forward. Well, at least heavily enough to warrant flashbacks to his school days.

Another role awaiting casting is that of Leta Lestrange, a character who only featured as a photograph and subject of conversation in Fantastic Beasts. Small though her role may have been, it was clear that there was a deep and perhaps uncomfortable story to explore surrounding Leta and her relationship with Newt. We know that Newt was expelled from Hogwarts school and that Leta may have been involved, so the age of the roles being cast here indicate that Fantastic Beasts 2 may give us some of the juicy details.

J.K.Rowling is very good at running multiple character arcs alongside each other without muddying the waters. All the signs are pointing towards a two-pronged (minimum) approach to the sequel, focusing both on Newt and Dumbledore, two of the most intelligent, but at the same time, unconventional characters she has every created.

Fantastic Beasts 2 is expected to begin shooting this summer and is slated for release on 16^th November 2018. The returning cast includes Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler, Zoe Kravitz and Ezra Miller. Jude Law joins as Albus Dumbledore and Callum Turner is onboard to play Theseus Scamander, Newt’s “war-hero” brother. The film is directed by David Yates who has been at the helm of every movie in the Harry Potter world since Harry Potter 5.

What do you think these roles mean for the second Fantastic Beasts movie? Let us know your theories, hopes and dreams in the comments!

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About Last Night Episode 14: ‘Wonder Woman’ Spoiler Video Review

By

EJ Moreno

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June 6, 2017

Monkeys Fight Robots Exclusive: ‘Wonder Woman’ Review

“About Last Night” is a movie review show, where movie critic EJ Moreno talks about the movie he saw last night. This week’s episode is all about DC’s ‘Wonder Woman‘.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMBfi_sxjz8

“Before she was Wonder Woman she was Diana, Princess of the Amazons, trained warrior. When a pilot crashes and tells of conflict in the outside world, she leaves home to fight a war to end all wars, discovering her full powers and true destiny.”

‘Wonder Woman‘ stars Gal Gadot as the titular character and Chris Prine as Steve Trevor. The supporting cast includes Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Connie Nielsen and Elena Anaya. Patty Jenkins is the director while Allan Heinberg penned the script.

You can find this film in theaters now! The next entry into the DC Extended Universe comes this November with ‘Justice League‘.

What did you think of this review? Let me know in the comments below!

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Happy Birthday, Robert Englund And Thanks For All The Nightmares

By

Ruben Diaz

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June 6, 2017

On June 6th, 1947 (that’s 70 years ago today) a nightmare was born. That nightmare was Robert Barton Englund who is better known to pop culture as the man who played Freddy Krueger. Englund’s a legend in film for playing one of the greatest slasher villains of all time, but his career spans far beyond Kreuger. From Star Wars to Freddy to Injustice 2, Robert Englund’s long tenure in Hollywood provides a lot of work to admire.

Happy Birthday to Robert Englund! Here’s a look back through his career.

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4. Return to Freddy

A new documentary called Nightmares in the Makeup Chair takes a look at the use of practical makeup effects. In the doc, Robert Englund reprises his role as Freddy Krueger, for a minute anyway, and pays tribute to Wes Craven. Englund says of the doc “I think it might inspire a new generation of practical effects artists.”

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Review: 11 Reasons ‘Reborn’ #6 Ends With Both A Bang And A Whimper

By

Manuel Gomez

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Bonnie Black is an elderly woman living out her last days in a care home. Although visited by a loving granddaughter, surrounded by friends, and filled with memories of a happy life, Bonnie still fears dying. Prone to strokes, she goes to sleep wondering if she will even wake up. But what Bonnie Black doesn’t know is that death is just the beginning…after her death, Bonnie finds herself in a bold, dangerous, and unfamiliar new world, populated by all manner of magic and monster. But Bonnie is not alone, as everyone from her past life exists in the new realm, some are friends, some are family, some are enemies, and some are something much, much worse.

Now Bonnie is finally face to face with the villain that both plagues this new land and was responsible for killing her husband on Earth. She will launch a last-ditch battle to save her husband, avenge his death, and stop the evil Golgotha from spreading his evil from Adystria to Earth!

Reborn #6

A Millarworld Book
Written by: Mark Millar
Art by: Greg Capullo
Inks by: Jonathan Glapion
Colors by: Fco Plascencia

Created by: Mark Millar and Greg Capullo
Published: Image Comics

This issue concludes the first story arc of Reborn, and it is as satisfying as an ending as you could have wanted or expected from a book that has been this fun, thrilling and consistent from the beginning. Mark Millar, Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion, and Fco Plascencia all helped deliver one hell of a story over six issues that really could have been told only in a comic book (though the afterward does drop the news that there is interest in it as a TV show). Read on for 11 reasons Reborn #6 maybe the end of volume one for this series, but should be one of the first books you pick up this week.

That ‘bang’ of an opening!
Mark Millar’s ability to ratchet up the tension with every page as the story heads to its conclusion.
The splash page of Bonnie finally slashing her sword at Golgotha. Capullo, Glapion and Plascencia have never looked this good together.
The art, in general, is gorgeous in this comic and has a real sense of color and texture. It’s vibrant and alive. It almost feels like animation.
How cinematic the feel of this book is. It delivers great moments, the kind that makes movie audiences clap and cheer.
“The worst people who have ever lived are standing here around you, all tooled up. All desperate to hurt you. Do you really love him that much?” –Golgotha. “I do.” –Bonnie Black
How truly epic this comic feels. The big moments are earned and delivered with appropriate impact.
Despite being epic, it is also deeply grounded in emotions and relationships.
The fact this only volume one and the possibilities that brings.
“He’s a fifty-ton dragon with a goddamn lion’s head”
For a story about death, it’s actually about living and what it means to appreciate life.

I really hope this entire creative team returns to this title and this world soon. Reborn was released with little fanfare and has made quite a splash in the comics word. It did so the old fashioned way; by telling a kick-ass comics story, building a new world, and giving us characters to care for and root for.

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The Cinematic Gentrification of Tom Cruise

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

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June 6, 2017

There was a time in the not-too-distant past when Tom Cruise was an actor who showed off his own diversity, mixing smaller dramas and character studies in with his stratospheric blockbuster epics. He was not always the best at everything, running from destruction and staking his entire career on doing his own stunts. Sometimes he played a broken man, an actual human being with a fragile psyche and an arc that didn’t involve hanging from an airplane or pirouetting outside the 130th floor of a skyscraper.

Tom Cruise isn’t really into acting anymore as much as he’s into having fun, delivering the goods for the masses in middlebrow action spectacle instead of working on emotionally challenging roles. His work has been gentrified to hit as many important demographics as possible and sell all the tickets.

And that is perfectly fine of course (not that my approval matters). I enjoy the Mission: Impossible franchise as much as the next person. Edge of Tomorrow is a terrific film, The Mummy looks ridiculous but fun, etc. etc… It’s not necessarily that Cruise should get rid of these big dumb awesome action movies; he never has. But why hasn’t he tried, somewhere in between these movies, to dive deep into a role again, to show an ability to act within himself, to pour his heart and soul into a performance the way he used to?

I blame Magnolia.

But first, let’s back up. The 80s version of Tom Cruise was just getting started, so his career was mixture of movies big and small. He had his big break with Risky Business; from there he worked with Ridley Scott and Martin Scorsese and, in 1986 he blew the doors off the box office with Top Gun. In 1988, he worked with Barry Levinson on Rain Man. His Charlie Babbitt character thought he was hot shit, but the entire picture focused on the destruction of his ego as he learned how to love another human being, his brother Raymond.

Two years later, Cruise kicked off his epic 90s run with an Oscar nomination in Oliver Stone’s Born on The Fourth of July, where played paralyzed Vietnam Vet Ron Kovic. This would begin a decade where there was no bigger star on the planet than Cruise, who would dominate the box office in movies like Days of Thunder, A Few Good Men, The Firm, Interview with The Vampire, and Mission: Impossible. Jerry Maguire would earn Cruise his second Oscar nomination, cementing his status as THE leading man. But look at the run of success here… a big-budget Tony Scott racing movie, a courtroom drama from Rob Reiner and written by Aaron Sorkin, a horror movie where he was the villain, and an epic franchise starter DIRECTED BY BRIAN DE PALMA! Jerry Maguire was Cameron Crowe at the height of his powers, where Cruise played a phony Master of The Universe whose ego was systematically broken down. Tom Cruise showed diversity in his selection of roles, and he showed an incredible range; we all know about the work he put in on Stanley Kubrick’s (STANLEY KUBRICK!) final film, Eyes Wide Shut. And then, the pinnacle of Cruise’s diversity came in a supporting role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s magnum opus.

As Frank T.J. Mackey, the crass male self-help guru in PTA’s Magnolia, Cruise was one of a handful of captivating performances. But his portrayal of broken maleness inflicted upon him by the sins of his father was the standout role. Cruise was nominated for Best Supporting Actor, and seemed to be a shoe in at the Academy Awards that year. But then, he was beat by Michael Caine for Caine’s turn as an ether-addicted doctor in the widely forgotten The Cider House Rules. This loss just may have broken Tom Cruise’s desire for diversity.

He did try his hand at heavy dramatics for a few more years in Cameron Crowe’s bizarro pop nightmare Vanilla Sky, in the Dances With Wolves redux The Last Samurai, and as the silver-haired assassin in Michael Mann’s brilliant Collateral. But for whatever reason, Cruise has had zero interest in stretching himself as an actor for about a decade.

After Collateral, arguably his last intimate performance, came War of The Worlds, M:I 3, Jack Reacher, Oblivion, action movies and running and explosions and stunts galore. He no longer works with auteurs like De Palma, celebrated directors like Spielberg, or brilliant visual masters like PTA. The director has been secondary to what sort of elaborate stunt Cruise can pull off. Which, again, is perfectly fine. It’s fun to see what Tom Cruise can do on the screen because the audience has no doubt that it’s him risking his life for these stunts. But I, for one, miss the days when Tom Cruise was still trying to execute emotional stuntwork in between his physical theatrics.

Cruise doesn’t look to be changing course anytime soon. Mission: Impossible 6 is on the way (awesome), a pair of Doug Liman action films are in some form of pre-production (iffy) – the first one being American Made, which got an interesting but uninspiring trailer yesterday. and we are getting a sequel to one of his biggest hits, Top Gun (a groan-inducing announcement if ever there was one). Perhaps one day the right director will get their hands on Tom Cruise, and push him back into emotionally challenging work. But for the foreseeable future, it appears The Cruiser will keep running and running and…

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GWAR’s Orgasmageddon – Bohabs’ New Bible

By

Roger Riddell

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For anyone familiar with GWAR’s on-stage antics, B-movies, and overall mythology over their 30-plus years of slaughtering and enslaving humans.

But I’m getting ahead of myself…

For a little background on that mythos, the key members of GWAR, a group of intergalactic warriors known as the Scumdogs of the Universe, came to Earth millions of years ago under orders from their boss, The Master. They had sex with monkeys, creating humans in the process, and also created music. Then they were frozen during the Ice Age.

At some point in the 1980s, our lords and masters thawed out. Let’s just blame that on the holes in the ozone layer created by all of the CFCs from the rise of hair bands and big hair in general. Renowned pompadoured manager Sleazy P. Martini discovered them, introducing the Scumdogs to the joys of smoking crack and playing heavy metal.

In the years since, they’ve toured the world, slaying or enslaving audiences. Sometimes, that involves feeding them to the World Maggot or their pet tyrannosaurus, Gor-Gor. And along the way, they’ve crossed swords with intergalactic villains like the Destructos (Techno, Sawborg, and Bozo), The Master, Cardinal Syn, the Reaganator, Dr. Skulheadface, and my personal favorites, the Morality Squad.

That’s the basics, give or take a few details. And for Bohabs (GWAR’s name for their fans) who’ve enjoyed that mythos, the first issue of GWAR: Orgasmageddon is a great addition.

Written by longtime GWAR slave Matt Maguire with Matt Miner (writer of Toe Tag Riot and Critical Hit), the story opens during a GWAR show, with the band killing a hipster and a skinhead. Blothar, Balsac the Jaws of Death, Beefcake the Mighty, Pustulus Maximus, Jizmak Da Gusha, Bonesnapper the Cave Troll, and Sleazy are then attacked by Sawborg Destructo.

Ultimately joined by GWAR woman Slymenstra Hymen and GWAR girl Estrogina Lugubrious, the fray is eventually interrupted by Mr. Perfect — a villain who, in GWAR lore, is responsible for the death of original vocalist Oderus Urungus, and whose meat rocket is hijacked by our heroes.

The ship helps them escape into the timestream, where they wreck havoc upon a number of historical periods with their mix of scatological humor and over-the-top violence. In one of the issue’s best moments, they end up changing the course of rock history when they reach the ‘90s.

A duo of backup stories include one that pays homage to the X-Cops, another project of the late Dave Brockie (Oderus Urungus), with writing by longtime GWAR slave Bob Gorman, and a short that follows the antics of the slaves themselves.

The visuals, meanwhile, have a great cartoonish feel that meshes well with the band’s campy, bad-acid-trip ridiculousness. They’re easy to follow and serve the story being told, which is really all you need from a comic based on a heavy metal band.

While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, GWAR: Orgasmageddon is sure to be a favorite among the band’s rabid cult following.

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Let’s Speculate: Where Wonder Woman Goes From Here

By

Eric Morales

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June 6, 2017

The numbers are in: DC’s Wonder Woman is critical darling and box office monster, sitting at a genre-best 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and a massive $233 million global opening weekend. While a sequel has not been officially green lit, director Patty Jenkins is planning on it and is contracted for another film.

Given those numbers, it’s hard to imagine that Gal Gadot and Jenkins wouldn’t get another shot to dazzle us on the big screen. However, it does leave a big question: what would the sequel cover? Luckily there are some fairly big clues from the DCEU and comics as to what a sequel, whenever it does arrive, would likely be about. Here are 5 things to expect the next time we see Diana grace the screen.

*The following contains significant spoilers for BvS, Wonder Woman, and a bunch of comics. You’ve been warned.*

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1. Diana settling back into being Wonder Woman

Batman v. Superman made it clear that Diana was reluctant to return as Wonder Woman. The horrors of WWI and the realization that Ares did not in fact cause mankind to be awful to each other caused her to turn away. As she is reminded several times throughout her film, mankind did not deserve Wonder Woman.

The arrival of Superman, Zod, and Doomsday forced Diana to come back into the spotlight. By the end, it isn’t clear if she will help Bruce Wayne find the “others” to help fight in Superman’s absence (though the Justice League trailers make the answer pretty clear). But the end of her solo film does confirm that Wonder Woman is back. Diana has chosen, perhaps due to being reminded of her first adventure in the mortal world, to return to mankind.

But this doesn’t mean that Diana’s transition back will be smooth, and that seems like a good bet for a personal conflict in Justice League or her sequel. As far as we know she’s been on her own, or at the very least not in combat with a team, for quite some time. Now she’ll have to contend with greenhorns like Flash and Cyborg, who won’t have her experience or control; overly dominant veterans like Batman, who will assume the leadership role despite her experience, and wildcards like Aquaman, who may not be reliable. Count on seeing Diana learning to deal with these new team dynamics, among other conflicts, in Justice League.

What do you think will happen with Diana in Justice League and the (probable) Wonder Woman sequel? Let us know on Twitter and Facebook, and in the comments below!

2. Expanding abilities, and being put to the test

Throughout just the several days during which most of Wonder Woman‘s plot takes place, Diana’s powers develop and grow considerably. In her final bout against Ares, Diana is able to channel the lightning her foe has summoned and unleash it, eliminating him. We also see her struggle with those expanding powers, momentarily taken in a rage that is directed toward an unfortunate unit of German soldiers.

In BvS, Diana’s powers seemed to have expanded, or at least come under more of her control. A hundred years of practice will do that. It stands to reason then that we will see just how far those powers have come in Justice League, especially since she is the veteran of the team. Jenkins has also hinted as much, so it will be exciting to see what the extent of her demigod abilities are.

No matter how Diana’s abilities play out, she is going to need to be at her best against the villains of Justice League. Confirmed for the film is Steppenwolf, general of the war-bent alien planet Apokolips. From the trailer, it seems that in his wake will be legions of Parademons, mindless alien war machines. Together they will constitute the greatest threat Diana has ever faced, and it’s going to put her abilities to the test.

What do you think will happen with Diana in Justice League and the (probable) Wonder Woman sequel? Let us know on Twitter and Facebook, and in the comments below!

3. A threatened Themyscira, and some tragedy

Justice League‘s basic plot line has been seen many times within the pages of DC Comics. Darkseid, the tyrannical leader of Apokolips, sends his armies to Earth to destroy it because he’s the big bad and that’s what they do. The armies of Earth are largely powerless to stop them. Atlantis and Themyscira are petitioned by Arthur Curry (Aquaman) and Diana to help, but they say no because isolationism narratives are easy to play with. Then they get hammered, hard.

Given that the rest of the DCEU spins out of November’s Justice League, it, or more likely the Wonder Woman sequel, will deal with this same plot device. Despite it’s magical camouflage, Themyscira will not be able to hide from the invading armies of Apokolips. Given their continued isolation from the outside world, the question will be “can they survive?”

This also sets up what will be Diana’s primary conflict going forward: can she return home? After leaving with Steve Trevor, she was told by Hippolyta that she would not be able to return home. This action underscored what she was willing to sacrifice to save mankind. However, with her home island under threat, Diana may not be able to resist returning to help her Amazonian sisters. Adding to this, there is a plot from the current and celebrated run of Wonder Woman comics by Greg Rucka and Liam Sharp in which Diana tries to return to home, but cannot find a vanished Themyscira. Whichever way Jenkins and Co. chooses to go, Diana will have a rough time finding her way home.

Let’s assume the best for a moment, and say that Diana is able to find her way home. Unfortunately, the 2011-2014 comic run by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang, from which Wonder Woman took a lot of inspiration, presents a bleak future for her. Upon returning home after many separated years, Diana confronts her mother about the lie she told her as a child. Hippolyta told Diana that she born from clay, when in truth she is the daughter of Zeus. When Hera finds this out, she goes to Themyscira and transforms the Amazons into snakes and Hippolyta into clay. It’s unlikely that Hera will show up since according to Wonder Woman the gods are gone, but an unfortunate fate for the Amazons should certainly be anticipated.

What do you think will happen with Diana in Justice League and the (probable) Wonder Woman sequel? Let us know on Twitter and Facebook, and in the comments below!

4. The gods aren’t done with Diana yet

The Azzarello comics run had something in else in common with Wonder Woman: in both stories, Zeus is assumed dead, and other gods cause trouble in his absence. The difference obviously being that in Wonder Woman, all of the gods are dead. If the comics are any sort of clue, they may not stay that way.

During Azzarello’s run, Diana must protect a toddler named Zeke who is said to be the son of Zeus and therefore her half brother. In actuality the baby is Zeus, hiding himself from the other power hungry gods. Other hidden gods include Athena, disguised as Zeke’s mother, and Eros, who is basically a millennial in Italy.

It’s doubtful that Jenkins will follow this exact storyline in the sequel, but it does provide precedent for supposedly dead gods coming out of the woodworks. Keep an eye out for some Olympian shenanigans in her sequel.

What do you think will happen with Diana in Justice League and the (probable) Wonder Woman sequel? Let us know on Twitter and Facebook, and in the comments below!

5. Artifacts and Arch-nemeses

Whether the gods do come back or not, you’d be smart to expect one of their most famous storylines in the Wonder Woman sequel: ‘The War of the Gods’ by George Pérez. In it, the gods from multiple pantheons all start a war, and things go pretty poorly for Earth in the process. Diana eventually discovers that it isn’t their fault. And the whole thing starts with some artifacts.

Bookending Wonder Woman are scenes showing Diana in a small lab space in the Louvre, surrounded by artifacts of unknown origin. In BvS, we see her in a museum assessing their Sword of Alexander. It’s pretty clear that whatever Diana has been up to in her hundred year sabbatical, it includes artifacts. When it comes to Wonder Woman lore and artifacts, there are always two immediate villainous connections.

The first is Circe, the sorceress from Homer’s Odyssey, who Diana discovers is responsible for the War of the Gods. Circe begins the whole event by murdering some folks and stealing some artifacts, which sounds right up cinematic Diana’s alley. Circe has been used many times throughout Wonder Woman’s history, and is certainly among the top of her rogues gallery. The cherry on top: Circe was just reintroduced into DC Comics, with a modern origin that might factor well into a big screen adaptation.

The second artifact to Diana to villain connection is one of her best known villains: Barbara Ann Minerva, the Cheetah. While her origin has changed several times over the decades, one thing is consistent: Barbara Ann gets caught up with the ancient god Urzkartaga who gifts/curses her, and she becomes the Cheetah. Much like Circe, Cheetah was recently reintroduced, and Barbara Ann was revealed to be a longtime friend of Diana’s before things went bad.

Obviously nothing is certain, but assuming that the sequel film takes as much from comics as the first film did, looking to one of Wonder Woman’s most famous stories and to her biggest villains is a smart bet.

What do you think will happen with Diana in Justice League and the (probable) Wonder Woman sequel? Let us know on Twitter and Facebook, and in the comments below!

Philadelphia Wizard World 2017, A Celebration Free Of Internet Rage

By

Brandon J. Griffin

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June 6, 2017

This past weekend was the Philadelphia Wizard World 2017 celebration. Monkeys Fighting Robots was on the scene, taking in the refreshing experience. In a world dominated by internet rage and faceless misguided anger, it was stimulating to be among a constantly flowing sea of passionate fans.

The turnout was phenomenal, every corner of pop culture fandom was represented proudly. Every panel I attended was met with an enthusiastic and warm reception, creators and celebrities alike were engaging. It was also the beginning of a new tradition as Wizard World inducted Rob Liefeld into their first member of the Hall Of Legends.

Vendors and exhibitors provided a worthwhile opportunity for those looking to add to their various collections. Cosplay Corner was always active and lively, colorfully littered with a diverse collection of heroes and villains. There was even a booth for those looking to meet a like minded fan romantically called Sci Fi Speed Dating!

Danny Fingeroth, former writer and editor for Marvel, was MVP (Most Valuable Panelist) of the weekend. He hosted seemingly every other comic book related panel, sharing insight and experience involving every facet of the comic book industry. Below is his panel about creating comics with Joe Caramanga, Dean Haspiel, and Mostafa Moussa.

There was also a strong video game presence, including a massive gaming area and stage. Kids were also provided with their own section and stage deforested to younger attendees.

This year was the debut of Horror Fest, a joint effort by Wizard World and BloodyDisgusting.com that took place in conjunction with the main convention. This included intimate screenings of Monster Squad, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.

Fans got to watch these classic horror flicks along with cast members and directors while they provided commentary and answered questions. Dream Warriors was screened with star Heather Langenkamp and director Chuck Russell, hosted by the stars of Monster Squad.

The overall was experience was as fulfilling as it was overwhelming. With so much to do at any time of day, it was easy to miss a few panels or events, but what I did get to see was fantastic. To be among so many fans, and without the negativity that generally comes along with internet discussion, was invigorating. Conventions like this restore my faith in our comic book and nerd communities.

It was an absolute joy to share love for our passions with people in the flesh, and with the people that create them as well! If you’re ever sick of the negative and unrelenting culture that seems to consume the internet from time to time, I urge you to attend a convention like this and engage with real people.

The next Wizard World takes place in Sacramento June 16-18.

For more photos, check here!

Were you at the convention? Share your stories and pictures in the comments below or on Twitter!

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The Russo Brothers Tease ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ On Instagram

By

Aric Sweeny

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June 6, 2017

Joe and Anthony Russo, directors of Avengers: Infinity War, teased the film’s massive cast in an image on Instagram.

Day #63 of Infinity.

A post shared by The Russo Brothers (@therussobrothers) on Jun 5, 2017 at 8:59am PDT

Additionally, the photo’s caption notes that it’s day 63 of filming.

“As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos. A despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment – the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain.”

Avengers: Infinity War stars Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong, Scarlett Johansson, Brie Larson, Cobie Smulders, Elizabeth Olson, Jeremy Renner, Sebastian Stan, Peter Dinklage, Chadwick Boseman, Chris Hemsworth, Karen Gillian, Bradley Cooper, Samuel L. Jackson, Paul Rudd, Josh Brolin, Paul Bettany, and Mark Ruffalo.

May 4, 2018 is the release date.

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Why Netflix Canceling Sense8 On The First Day of Pride Month Is A Big Deal

By

Elliott Dunstan

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June 5, 2017

In a move that seems designed to annoy a good chunk of its fanbase, Netflix cancelled Sense8 on June 1st, the first day of Pride Month.

Sense8, directed by Lilly and Lana Wachowski, follows eight individuals across the globe. Slowly, they discover they’re connected through their senses and thoughts. Season One premiered in 2015 to critical acclaim and popularity. Season Two took two years to produce – only to be abruptly cancelled a month later.

However, the move seems to have ignited the Sense8 fanbase in a way Netflix has never seen before. In the last five days, angry fans have taken to Twitter, Tumblr, and even Change.org to petition Netflix for a renewal, or at least some answers. Not only that, but they’ve been swarming Netflix with angry phone calls.

I just called Netflix to try to #RenewSense8 – the person I talked to was so nice. He encouraged me to get friends to call in, so PLEASE DO.

— Ava (@Bookishwithtea) June 4, 2017

This is INCREDIBLE. People who have been working there for years have never seen this much backlash!! Im SO proud #BringBackSense8 #Sense8 pic.twitter.com/3veCyBI74P

— jess / TOMORROW (@lydstilinskis) June 5, 2017

WHY IS “SENSE8” SO IMPORTANT?

Sense8 is incredibly unusual with how much backlash it’s generated from its cancellation. Like the screenshot above says, usually after a few days, people move on. However, this time, it’s different.

The Change.org petition for Season 3, 94,000 signatures away from being complete, gives one explanation.

“It is not just a tv show, to watch for fun, instead of just being that, Sense 8 has given the world a new way of seeing others: with acceptance, love and understanding.”

With the world getting scarier all the time, it’s an important message. Critics called Season One too political and cheesy. However, Season Two was exactly what the world needed after the sharp downturn of 2016. Lito comes out as a gay man at the Sao Paolo Pride Parade, for those who can’t come out of the closet. Nomi and Amanita propose to each other, for those around the world who can’t marry those they love. Capheus starts fighting for his neighborhood as somebody who understands the area; for those who feel downtrodden and ignored by their leaders.

WHY CANCEL SENSE8?

The short answer is: Nobody’s quite sure. The secondary aim of the petition on Change.org is to get some sort of definitive answer from Netflix. Unfortunately since Netflix refuses to release viewer numbers, it’s hard to say. Metro pinpoints the issue when it brings up that while Netflix apparently ‘needed to cancel shows’, Sense8 was cancelled unfinished while 13 Reasons Why got a second season it doesn’t need.

“The issue gets stickier when you consider critical failures like Marvel’s Iron Fist earlier this year, which is presumably untouchable being grid-locked into Marvel’s wider TV universe. The platform’s ongoing partnership with Adam Sandler for four more movies now also feels particularly sour. We doubt you’d see hashtag trends or online petitions if they cut that leash.”

In addition, Sense8 is far from the only inclusive show to be cut. The Get Down, the hip-hop chronicle from Baz Luhrmann, was cut last month. Outside of Netflix, CBS’s Doubt, ABC’s The Real O’Neals, and USA’s Eyewitness have all been cancelled this year. Doubt is especially tragic; featuring Orange is the New Black’s breakout star Laverne Cox as a trans lawyer, it ran for two unadvertised episodes before being quietly dropped.

Overall, it’s not a good look. In the wake of a tough year, networks should be giving diverse shows a chance to shine. Instead they’re being systematically axed and discouraged, spitting in the face of people who need these shows.

At least we have the promise of four more Adam Sandler movies on the horizon.

Sign the petition here.

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