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From film to TV, gaming to comics and everything in between, here’s what you might have missed in pop culture news this week.
TV
With the Witcher heading to Netflix, the fantasy series has this week announced Henry Cavill in the role of Geralt of Rivia. Announcements for the remaining cast members are expected in the coming months, with the premiere rumoured for 2020.
Henry Cavill will play Geralt in #TheWitcher — an epic, eight-episode fantasy series based on the best-selling book series!! pic.twitter.com/fBv0Gpkif9
— See What’s Next (@seewhatsnext) September 4, 2018
According to The Hash Tag Show, the 2018 Arrowverse crossover event in December may introduce a third Kryptonian character to appear alongside Supergirl (Melissa Benoist) and Superman (Tyler Hoechlin). The CW is reportedly casting characters named Lon-El, “a mysterious visitor who is from another planet and is both ambiguous, inscrutable and has the power that is teased as nearly infinite,” and Dr. Elias Kern, “a brutal sociopath who appears to be starting to lose his grip on reality.” The crossover is one of the most anticipated events of 2018, set to introduce Lois Lane and Batwoman (Ruby Rose) to the growing list of recurring names.
“It’s about time.” That’s exactly what the BBC said when confirming Doctor Who would (finally) return to the small screen on October 7.
With Riverdale season three scheduled to premiere October 10, Entertainment Weekly has given fans a first look at Archie Andrew’s new nemesis, the town’s prosecutor, Ms. Wright, as played by Penelope Ann Miller.
While it doesn’t have an official name yet, the Game Of Thrones prequel series is slated to begin filming in Ireland by February 2019, according to Geeks WorldWide. Reportedly going by the working title The Long Night, the series takes place thousands of years before the events of Game Of Thrones, revealing the truth behind the White Walkers and other secrets of Westeros. The series is expected to premiere on HBO in 2020.
The CW has dropped an electrifying trailer for the second season of Black Lightning, promising big things to come for the show’s lead and his daughter Anissa Pierce, aka Thunder, played by Nafessa Williams. Black Lightning returns October 9.
American Horror Story: Apocalypse drops next week, and if you weren’t already excited enough (or scratching your head due to the cryptic promos), have at the first full trailer for the show’s eighth season.
FILM
Halloween has come early this year, with a trailer for the October 19 film dropping online and starring return lead Jamie Lee Curtis.
Marvel fans got excited this week with first-look photos of the upcoming Captain Marvel surfacing through an Entertainment Weekly exclusive featuring Brie Larson in the signature costume, a young Nick Fury and more.
See @BrieLarson, Jude Law and @SamuelLJackson in these 10 exclusive new photos from #CaptainMarvel: https://t.co/lORjocbqsg @CaptainMarvel pic.twitter.com/nftmVxisqP
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) September 5, 2018
Community star Yvette Nicole Brown has been cast as Aunt Sarah in the upcoming live-action Lady And The Tramp remake. Brown joins previously confirmed stars Tessa Thompson, Justin Theroux, Benedict Wong, Kiersey Clemons, Thomas Mann, and Ashley Jensen.
Mark Hamill teased fans via Twitter this week, leading to great speculation that he’s now shooting on the Star Wars Episode IX set.
I’ve always loved the irony of America celebrating #LaborDay by NOT working.
Speaking of irony-I’m posting this a day early cuz at the moment I’m not in the good ol’ USA & tomorrow (wait for it…) I HAVE TO GO TO WORK! ❤️-mh #EnjoyYourBarbequesBarbecuties pic.twitter.com/GJ8yPAbF8p— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) September 2, 2018
The action film franchise proving hard to die out, Die Hard has had a sixth film greenlit entitled McClane and will bring back Bruce Willis to the title role along with a younger version of McClane in his twenties, yet to be cast.
With The Predator scheduled for release next week, 20th Century Fox has unveiled another trailer, this time titled Breathe Deep, which features the cast doing just that as they find themselves being hunted.
GAMING
If you’re sick of greasy controllers, you’re in luck, with Xbox unveiling a special a “greaseproof” controller this week.
With the release of Red Dead Redemption 2 quickly approaching, Rockstar Games have shared a new teaser poster online, giving more insight into Dutch van der Linde.
— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 5, 2018
ANIME
A Puella Magi Madoka Magica spin-off entitled Magia Record: Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica Gaiden has been announced for release next year. The franchise isn’t new to spin-offs as there are already several in manga form, however, this is the first to come in anime form. The trailer has also appeared online to celebrate the announcement.
COMICS
Grant Morrison has confirmed he is already working on the second season of his recently announced Green Lantern series – which isn’t even out yet!
Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw will relaunch Guardians Of The Galaxy in 2019. A teaser double page spread displaying 35 Marvel characters declaring #whoaretheguardians can be seen in Thanos: Legacy. Shaw and Cates will announce the team soon.
Sad news as this week we lost Spider-Woman co-creator Marie Severin aged 89 and Ghost Rider co-creator Gary Friedrich aged 75. An artist and colourist for over 50 years, Marie Severin’s tenure at Marvel began in the 1950s when they were still Atlas comics. She designed the costume for Spider-Woman in 1976. Gary Friedrich first started writing for Marvel in 1967 on Sgt. Fury And The Howling Commandos. He co-created Ghost Rider in 1973’s Marvel Spotlight #5.
THIS WEEK’S PICKS
Cover #1 – The hit team of Brian Michael Bendis and David Mack bring you a true story (?) about a time when the American Intelligence community recruited international jet-setting comic book creators as covert operatives…
Dreaming #1 – Dream has abandoned his world where stories are born in this new ongoing set in Neil Gaiman’s Sandman universe. Written by Simon Spurrier with art by Bilquis Evely.
James Bond: Origin #1 – Explore James Bond’s service in WWII with Jeff Parker and Bob Q.
Bully Wars #1 – A former top Bully declares war on the bullies at his new school with the help of his victims. Written by Skottie Young with art by Aaron Conley.
Thanos Legacy #1 – All the questions surrounding the gap between “Thanos wins” and Infinity Wars: Prime are answered in this new series from Donny Cates and Gerry Duggan with art by Brian Level and Cory Smith.
Lead image: Nafessa Williams and Cress Williams in Black Lightning.
