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November 2-3, 2024
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From film to TV, anime to comics and everything in between, here’s what you might have missed in pop culture news this week.
The Rise of Skywalker may be the last Star Wars outing on the big screen for a couple of years, but fans have plenty to look forward to on the TV front. In addition to the confirmed The Mandalorian and Cassian Andor live-action TV series, Disney CEO Bob Iger has recently revealed that a third live-action show is also in the works.
After an extended wait, Rick and Morty fans can rejoice in the news that season four of the hit show will return this November.
We heard some of you were interested in this information. #WarnerMediaUpfront @rickandmorty pic.twitter.com/UkUINBmw9a
— [adult swim] (@adultswim) May 15, 2019
Fresh off their success with The Umbrella Academy, Netflix has inked a new deal with Dark Horse Comics, which gives them first option to adapt any of their intellectual property going forward.
Touted as being more Trek-like than the most recent Star Trek outings themselves, Seth MacFarlane’s sci-fi comedy series The Orville has been renewed for a third season.
With only two more weeks until DC Universe begins airing its third live-action series, Swamp Thing, in the US, they’ve released a new teaser, narrated by Supanova alumna Crystal Reed (Teen Wolf, Gotham), who’ll be starring opposite Swampy as as Abby Arcane.
In further DC news, The CW has dropped an all new trailer for their upcoming Batwoman series, starring Ruby Rose as the titular heroine. While fan reception to the casting has been mixed, this new trailer looks incredibly promising, teasing at key plot points of the character’s formative run in Detective Comics. The series is set to air this Spring.
Batwoman wasn’t the only overnight offering from The CW, with the network also releasing teasers for Nancy Drew and an all new Riverdale-spinoff, Katy Keene, starring Supanova alumna Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars).
Over to ABC, a trailer for Stumptown has been released. Starring Avengers and How I Met Your Mother‘s Cobie Smulders as an army veteran turned P.I., the show is an adaptation of the graphic novel series.
Finally, Matt Groening fans awoke to exciting news on Disenchantment Part 2. The animated fantasy-comedy will continue on Netflix later this year, premiering on 20 September.
Will she win… or booze? Disenchantment returns September 20. pic.twitter.com/8ZchIk96XP
— Disenchantment (@disenchantment) May 16, 2019
Round one, FIGHT! After years stagnating in the development phase, the Mortal Kombat reboot is finally moving forward. And what’s more, it will be bringing its production to Australian shores. Produced by Aquaman director James Wan and directed by fellow Aussie Simon McQuoid, the video-game adaptation will be calling Adelaide home when production begins. Flawless victory!
Screen Australia has recently provided over $800,000 in funding for five new online projects, including Deadhouse Dark, “a series of six short horror films for YouTube and deadhouse.tv anchored by a woman who orders a ‘mystery box’ from the dark web.”
The first look at Australian director Grant Sputore’s I Am Mother has been released. Scheduled for a screening at the Sydney Film Festival, and a limited cinematic run, the post-apocalyptic thriller will then drop on Netflix in late June.
In other local news, a teaser for Australian-produced sci-fi blockbuster Occupation: Rainfall has been unveiled. The sequel, which is currently in production, stars Ken Jeong (The Hangover) Supanova alumnus Daniel Gillies (The Originals, The Vampire Diaries) Temuera Morrison (Aquaman) and more.
Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi’s next project is an adaptation of the cult anime film Akira, and reports indicate filming is expected to begin this July.
Last week Disney announced a massive film schedule stretching into 2027, amongst them being a new Star Wars trilogy beginning in 2022. What was not clear is whether the new films would be helmed by either The Last Jedi’s Rian Johnson or Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, who have each been tasked with developing their own separate trilogies. Disney CEO Bob Iger has finally cleared that up, and it would seem that Benioff and Weiss will be the first out of the gate with their new trilogy, rumoured to be set during the days of the Old Republic.
According to Terminator: Dark Fate director Tim Miller, it won’t be too much longer until we finally get to see the first trailer for the latest instalment in the franchise. In the meantime, he has offered us this behind-the-scenes glimpse of Sarah Connor back in action via the film’s official Twitter account.
“I like to spend every #TerminatorDay in a dark room thinking dark thoughts & our edit bay is the perfect place! We’re here putting the finishing touches on our FIRST TRAILER-we’re just weeks away from releasing this fucker into the wild & we’re very, very excited.” -Tim Miller pic.twitter.com/Eh0gcCRi61
— Terminator: Dark Fate (@Terminator) May 12, 2019
It seems like every other day we are hearing more casting rumours for James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, with most recent whispers circulating around Guardians of the Galaxy’s Michael Rooker being eyed for King Shark. In another addition to the casting gossip, The Last Jedi’s Benicio del Toro is now reportedly being eyed to take on the role of the film’s main villain.
In more DC casting news, reports have surfaced that Robert Pattinson (Twilight, Harry Potter) may be the next to don the cowl in the upcoming film, The Batman. This latest big screen iteration of The Bat is currently scheduled for release in 2021.
Things aren’t looking good for the 25th James Bond film. After a string of hurdles including a change in directors, multiple rewrites and delays, production has reportedly stalled again due to an injury that Daniel Craig sustained to his ankle whilst on set. The accident occurred on location in Jamaica and the actor had to be flown to the U.S. for x-rays.
In their most recent Nintendo Direct, the gaming giant has dropped several details about their upcoming Super Mario Maker 2, such as the inclusion of a story mode, 4-player co-op, versus mode, and way more options for level creation than the first. The game comes out on June 28, 2019.
Netflix has announced that it is working on turning some of its original shows into video games. A Stranger Things game has been public knowledge for a while, but it will be interesting to see how Netflix transfers its other properties into game form.
Of course there’s the upcoming @Stranger_Things game but hmmmmm… there’s definitely more to come! pic.twitter.com/UFBUCAs7Qr
— NX (@NXOnNetflix) May 13, 2019
Final Fantasy 7 HD Remake has finally climbed out of development hell, resurfacing with a new trailer four years after its initial announcement.
In anime this week, the biggest headline is that director Mamoru Oshii, the genius behind the original Ghost in the Shell anime film, will be creating a new TV show, set to air next year. Not a manga or a light novel adaptation, but an original show, out of an idea that has been reportedly brewing in his head for a decade! It is yet to be revealed what the idea is, however, or when fans can expect it to come out.
The new Code Geass film, Lelouch of the Re;surrection, also opened in Australian cinemas yesterday, so make sure to check that out!
Stranger Things fans will be thrilled to see LEGO’s newly licensed set, The Upside Down. This huge, 2,287 piece set faithfully recreates not only the regular Byer residence, but the Upside Down version as well. The entire set can be flipped to have whichever version you prefer. Figures included are Sheriff Hopper, Joyce, Will, Dustin, Mike, Lucas, Eleven and yes, even a Demogorgon. No word as of yet as to when it will be available in Australia, but it is retailing for $349.99 in the US.
Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god! Introducing LEGO Stranger Things, available today for LEGO VIP members! https://t.co/EUTjqXYEAn @NXOnNetflix pic.twitter.com/QBC0ByrE1u
— LEGO (@LEGO_Group) May 14, 2019
How to handle the new @LEGO_Group @Stranger_Things #TheUpsideDown set in a .gif format. Now that’s really living! @NXOnNetflix pic.twitter.com/QByQ8dTXP5
— Justin Ramsden (@justinramsden) May 15, 2019
For Marvel fans, Hasbro is releasing a Marvel Legends replica of Iron Man’s Power Gauntlet from this year’s blockbuster film Avengers: Endgame. Anyone familiar with the Legends series will know the quality of the work and this replica definitely reflects that. It is similar to the Infinity Gauntlet that came out last year and shares the same production value and quality. Collectors can pre-order from most retailers that specialise in collectibles, with the expected release being in July.
Hasbro made an Infinity Gauntlet and we love it 3000 ❤️ https://t.co/d3x5KfsyuM #AvengersEndgame pic.twitter.com/L4OraATvO6
— CNET (@CNET) May 10, 2019
Fans of Stan Lee are petitioning online to have a statue erected of the comic legend in his home town of New York City.
Marvel has announced it will be releasing a brand new special that will bring back its young superhero team, Power Pack. The new series will feature appearances from X-Men favourites, Wolverine and Kitty Pride, with Issue #1 scheduled to be released on August 28.
DC has just introduced its own version of Cable, sparking intrigue from many fans. In Batman and the Outsiders #1, fans were introduced to a brand new character, who goes by the name of Kaliber. He is a time traveller from the future sent to save the world, who also just so happens to be a cyborg with a massive gun. Rob Liefeld, who created Cable, tweeted his approval of DC’s addition.
Honored, flattered. https://t.co/DAgtfawLHO
— robliefeld (@robertliefeld) May 11, 2019