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March 29-30, 2025
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Written by Sarah Minazzo, Chris Daniel & Kieron Byatt
From film to TV, gaming to comics and everything in between, here’s what you might have missed in pop culture news this week.
Aussie actor Ruby Rose has been confirmed to play Batwoman in CW’s Arrowverse. Portraying Kate Kane, aka Batwoman, Rose will not only be a guest star in this year’s crossover event, but is also expected to launch her own TV series.
Ruby Rose is Batwoman, coming to The CW’s crossover event this December! pic.twitter.com/ibZS15Cq7X
— Arrow (@CW_Arrow) August 7, 2018
According to The New York Times, the upcoming live-action Star Wars television series, directed by Iron Man and The Jungle Book talent Jon Favreau, will have a massive budget of $100 million dollars. Favreau’s series is expected to debut on Disney’s streaming service in 2019.
Emma Stone and Jonah Hill are set to reunite for new Netflix series Maniac. Examining the psychological effects of a three-day drug trial, Maniac is a mind-bending drama that will test the limitations of the mind and soul. Maniac will be available on Netflix from September 21.
In an age of reboots, it appears The Twilight Zone may finally return to the small screen, with Deadline reporting that CBS may begin production soon. As a popular series during the 1960s, the reboot is sure to channel elements of Black Mirror to replicate the dangers of modern technology. With concepts, outlines and scripts already in action, production is expected to start within the coming months.
A sequel to 2017’s Power Rangers has been given the green light, with Paramount and Hasbro banding together for production. Despite the underwhelming response from its cinematic release, Power Rangers home release sparked hope for another run.
A new trailer for The Nutcracker And The Four Realms has danced its way across the internet this week, revealing new twists on the original The Nutcracker story with Alice In Wonderland vibes and detailed steampunk style production values.
Sonic The Hedgehog has gained momentum this week announcing that Sonic will be played by Ben Schwartz, while the first teaser poster has been unveiled.
I. LOVE. 90S. BLUE. ICONIC. CHARACTERS. I am beyond excited about this movie. It’s gonna be amazing. I have been training by running, wagging my finger and impatiently tapping my foot. GOTTA GO FAST! https://t.co/SOYqgnf3ym
— Ben Schwartz (@rejectedjokes) August 9, 2018
S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Agent Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) are, according to Vulture, shaking off the dust to appear in Spider-Man: Far From Home. As to what capacity, we will have to wait and see.
A new Supergirl movie is reportedly in the works for Kara Zor-El to join the cinematic DCEU. Writer Oren Uziel is currently developing the script for the potential production. A director and producer are yet to be attached to the project.
Evo 2018 took place over the weekend, pitting the best of the fighting game community against one another in mano a mano combat across eight games: Street Fighter 5, Tekken 7, Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2, Injustice 2, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Dragon Ball FighterZ and BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle.
The event saw big announcements for numerous titles, including Tekken 7, with The Walking Dead’s Negan added to its character database. Known for the additions of oddball guest characters, Tekken will give Negan the ability to reign down on his opponents, though the wait continues for the release of the game’s second season. Other new characters confirmed are Lei Wulong and Anna Williams.
Soulcalibur VI also revealed new characters during the event, including fan favourites Astaroth and Seong Mi-Na. The game is set for release on PC, Xbox One, and PS4 on October 19.
To add to the excitement, Dragon Ball FighterZ received a new gameplay trailer featuring Base Goku and Base Vegeta. The two characters are available for download now.
As if that wasn’t enough, Street Fighter V dropped new trailers for Sagat and G, another two characters available for download now.
In other gaming news, fans have been given an exciting new look at October release Red Dead Redemption 2, with the title’s official gameplay video dropping this week.
Free! fans will want to grab the Free! Dive Into The Future first volume Japanese DVD and Blu-ray release. It was announced that the volume would feature an exclusive bonus Episode 0.
Code Geass: Lelouch Of The Resurrection was announced this week, as a sequel to the compilation movie trilogy and will be premiering in February next year in Japan. A 30-second video has been uploaded online as a teaser for fans.
This week saw the long-awaited return of Marvel’s first family to comic books with stores worldwide hosting midnight release parties for Fantastic Four #1 by Dan Slott and Sara Pichelli. Released on the same date as their very first issue back in 1961, the new series celebrates not just that the team are back in the fold, but it commemorates 57 years of Reed, Sue, Ben and Johnny. Furthermore, to celebrate the release there is a gaggle of variant covers and limited edition goodies – go check out how your local comic store celebrated the release!
Writer and artist Chip Zdarsky has announced on a Reddit AMA that he will soon be leaving Peter Parker: Spectacular Spider-Man. The upcoming issue #310 will be Zdarsky’s last of the series, which he officially joined in 2017. But fear not as he hinted during that same AMA that he already has another “pretty cool” project lined up.
Scott Snyder has announced on Twitter that he will be writing his new Justice League series for at least 50 issues. Snyder also announced that approximately every fifth issue would be a Legion of Doom chapter from James Tynion IV.
Just for clarity: I’m on JUSTICE LEAGUE for at least 50 issues. Not going anywhere for a looong time 🙂
But! Every five or so issues of JUSTICE LEAGUE will be a LEGION of DOOM chapter where @JamesTheFourth tells the story from the villains’ side and reveals big secrets.
— Scott Snyder (@Ssnyder1835) August 2, 2018
THIS WEEK’S PICKS
Fantastic Four #1 – They’re back! 44 action-packed pages from writer Dan Slott and artist Sara Pichelli, including bonus stories illustrated by Simone Bianchi and Skottie Young.
Superman #2 – The entire world is trapped in the Phantom Zone as Superman takes on an old enemy! It’s not too late to jump on board Brian Michael Bendis’ run on the Man of Steel. Art by Joe Prado and Ivan Reis.
Sandman Universe #1 – Neil Gaiman’s beloved Sandman saga joins all your favourite dreams and nightmares in this new shared universe, courtesy of Vertigo/DC. This special issue will kick-start four brand-new ongoing series set in the Sandman Universe. Written by Dan Watters, Kat Howard, Nalo Hopkinson and Simon Spurrier with art by Sebastian Fiumara, Max Fiumara, Tom Fowler, Domonike Stanton and Bilquis Evely.
Predator Hunters II #1 – The hunters are back in this sequel from writer Chris Warner and artists Agustin Padilla and Neeraj Menon.
Red Hood And The Outlaws #25 – It’s Batman vs Jason Todd in a vigilante showdown 25 years in the making from writer Scott Lobdell with art by Dexter Soy.