Comic Years

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• Jeremy Irvine Cast as Alan Scott in Green Lantern Series
• Kelly Marie Tran Interview: Raya, Star Wars, And Musical Theater
• Robert Kirkman Hardcore Movie Coming From ‘Kong Vs Godzilla’ Director
• Virtual Crunchyroll Expo 2021 Lineup – Musical Performances and VAs
• Aaron Taylor-Johnson Cast as Kraven the Hunter for Sony Films
• New Evil Dead Sequel Coming To HBO Max
• The Friends Reunion Is Finally There For You

Jeremy Irvine Cast as Alan Scott in Green Lantern Series Posted: 29 May 2021 03:53 PM PDT Some of us tried to forget about the character of Green Lantern after the universally disliked 2011 film. After all, the film was far from being considered a financial success, and the star, Ryan Reynolds, couldn’t even voice his satisfaction in the film. Despite this less-than-stellar theatrical presence, many fans and filmmakers could see the potential in the DC Comics hero that had yet to be tarnished forever. So, some people are working pretty hard to fix the character’s reputation. The upcoming Green Lantern series has just cast another lead, and Jeremy Irvine is behind the role. Jeremy Irvine To Play Alan Scott In Green Lantern Series There can only be one Batman, and that’s Bruce Wayne. But when it comes to Green Lantern, plenty of heroic players have suited up for the title. This is mostly thanks to the mighty Green Lantern Rings that give the wearer different powers. Alan Scott donned the first ring to be worn on Earth. The character is also notable for his participation in the founding of the Justice Society of America. Jeremy Irvine will be taking on Scott’s character in the Green Lantern series. We’re especially excited to see this character be brought to the screen, as he has quickly become one of the most prolific members of the queer community throughout DC Comics. Scott was announced as a secretly gay FBI agent in a previous comic, which means we may be getting some well-deserved representation in the world of comic adaptations. The upcoming series has already explained that it will explore various decades and galaxies, starting in 1941 with Scott. This casting news comes after Finn Wittrock had already joined Green Lantern earlier this year. Wittrock is set to play Guy Gardner, another ring-wearer. Image via DC Comics. This Casting News Brings Controversy For Some As we mentioned, it’s pretty exciting getting to see a character like Alan Scott come to life on camera, especially when the character can bring along some great representation. However, the casting has bothered some. Irvine is best known for his portrayal of Danny Winters in Stonewall. The 2015 film told the story of the 1969 Stonewall riots, one of the most critical moments in the history of queer liberation. But what could be the problem of telling such an important story? Well, rather than focus on the real people who risked their lives for the sake of being open about their identity, the film chose to take a different route. They centered it around Danny Winters, who, by the way, isn’t a real person. This contributed to serious white-washing of the riots while also excluding much of the history of how many transgender individuals were at the front of the riots. Stonewall. Image via Roadside Attractions. Irvine’s contribution to the film is not something that he is solely to blame. There were many concerns about the film, and his role was just a piece of the puzzle. Many fans remain wary about seeing such an outspoken young actor take on a role that will no doubt be meaningful for LGBTQ+ identifying fans. Readers, we want to hear your thoughts. Does this casting news upset you based on the actor’s past roles? Or are you just excited to see the Green Lantern brought to life by some passionate portrayals? Either way, let us know what you think about Jeremy Irvine joining the cast of Green Lantern. Featured image via DC Comics. Jeremy Irvine Cast as Alan Scott in Green Lantern Series Meghan Hale

Kelly Marie Tran Interview: Raya, Star Wars, And Musical Theater Posted: 29 May 2021 12:53 PM PDT Without a doubt, one of the brightest and most talented stars of this generation is Vietnamese-American actress Kelly Marie Tran. She was born January 17, 1989 in San Diego, California, to Vietnamese refugees. She started acting in 2011, but rose to fame as Rose Tico in the Star Wars sequel trilogy films The Last Jedi in 2017 and The Rise of Skywalker in 2019 (where there was a suspicious lack of Rose Tico screentime). Recently, Collider shared this Kelly Marie Tran interview, where she talked about her love of musical theater, voice acting for Raya and the Last Dragon, and Star Wars. One delightfully surprising fact that we learned was that Tran did sketch comedy and has a lot of experience with improv. She’s taken away a lot of valuable lessons from it, as she talked about in the interview: “The first rule you learn about in improv is 'yes and-ing' and making sure that you're not turning down someone else's ideas and that you are always adding to something and creating something together. That, to me, is something I want to take with me always and forever because it's such a good way to look at the creative process.” She even mentioned how improv helped in Raya and the Last Dragon: “There is a specific scene with Raya that we basically improvised in the booth, and that is the prayer scene when she's in the cave and she says a little incantation. I remember reading that scene and I remember really – the crazy thing is, I'm telling you about this experience like it was easy for me, but I remember in that moment being very afraid to ask if I could try something different. And I remember feeling like I knew what it was like to be a person in life – at this point, Raya has traveled for six years and she is at the end of her rope and she doesn't know if any of this is going to lead to anything or if she's just wasted those years searching for this thing – and I remember asking if I could try something different because I remember what it felt like to be desperate and I remember how I acted in those moments and what it felt like to pray to a being, in this case Raya's praying to Sisu, that you're not even sure exists.” She also lit up when talking about her love of musical theater and when asked which movie musical she would like to star in, she got adorably nervous and teary-eyed. According to the interview, it seems like we might be seeing Tran in Jon M. Chu’s Wicked movie musical?! YES PLEASE! Image via screengrab Tran also talked about how she used her own personal experience as a child of refugees from a war-torn country to channel the Rose Tigo character, and how excited she is to be an executive producer on Carlos López Estrada's upcoming film Summertime. Watch the edited video interview below: And if you need the uncut version, you can listen here. Kelly Marie Tran stars in Hulu’s Monsterland and can also be seen opposite Elizabeth Olsen in Sorry for Your Loss. She's racked up quite a bit of voice acting experience from The Croods: A New Age and now Raya and the Last Dragon. She’s also an executive producer on the award-winning documentary Lily Topples the World as well as the aforementioned  Summertime. On top of all that, she went back to her love of musical theater with her Miscast21 performance, where she played both Elder Price and Elder Cunningham in a rendition of “You and Me (But Mostly Me)” from The Book of Mormon. What do you think of this Kelly Marie Tran interview? Was there anything that surprised you? Let us know in the comments below! Featured image via Disney Kelly Marie Tran Interview: Raya, Star Wars, And Musical Theater Keilin Huang

Robert Kirkman Hardcore Movie Coming From ‘Kong Vs Godzilla’ Director Posted: 29 May 2021 09:53 AM PDT There are few comic writers with as much franchise potential as Robert Kirkman. His work includes the long-running Walking Dead and the Amazon renewed Invincible. But for the most part, his work has only been adapted for TV. One property – Thief of Thieves – became a video game. However, that's about to change. As The Hollywood Reporter recently announced, Kong Vs Godzilla director Adam Wingard will be directing the movie adaptation of Hardcore by Robert Kirkman and Marc Silvestri. Hardcore is the Perfect Robert Kirkman Property to Adapt Into a Movie Two Guns = Super Hardcore! (Image: Hardcore #3, Skybound/Image) Hardcore is just five issues long, so instead of spending years to truly capture the narrative of the comics, a feature film works much better. However, though a Hardcore movie is great for Robert Kirkman, it really shows just how much Hollywood wants to invest in Adam Wingard. As THR reports: Wingard, who broke out with 2011's You're Next and went on to helm The Guest, Netflix's Death Note and 2016's Blair Witch, has a busy slate. He is also attached to Paramount's Face/Off sequel and an animated Thundercats for Warner Bros., while Legendary is eying him to continue its MonsterVerse to follow up the success of Godzilla vs. Kong, which has earned $432.3 million globally. So, we should expect some big movies coming from Wingard over the years. Chances are that we'll see him helm a Marvel or DC property by the end of the decade. Robert Kirkman Isn't the Only Creator who Deserves Recognition for the Hardcore Movie Think of this – Keanu Reeves, but he gains 200 pounds for the role and still kicks ass. (Image: Hardcore #1, Skybound/Image) Though Robert Kirkman created Hardcore and wrote an outline for the movie, Andy Diggle was the actual writer of the book. For a while, Kirkman had the burden of too much success, and teamed up with other writers to bring him properties to life. He and Andy Diggle worked together a few times over the years. But whether or not Diggle has any hand in the movie, we don't know. So, what is Hardcore about? Hardcore is a program that "can turn anyone—your neighbor, your co-worker, your spouse—into a human drone to get to targets normal soldiers can't." But things go wrong when one of the best soldiers gets stuck in someone else's body and has only a few days to figure out what happened. Also, there's Hardcore Reloaded, so we already know there will probably be a sequel. Now, what other Kirkman properties are left to turn into million-dollar franchises? Wait, the answer is obvious. The world is finally ready for Kirkman' masterpiece: Anthony Hopkins is…BATTLE POPE! He can get in shape for it. (Image: Battle Pope #14, Skybound/Image)   (Featured Image: Hardcore #5, Skybound/Image) Robert Kirkman Hardcore Movie Coming From 'Kong Vs Godzilla' Director Roman Colombo

Virtual Crunchyroll Expo 2021 Lineup – Musical Performances and VAs Posted: 29 May 2021 06:53 AM PDT Crunchyroll is one of the more impressive companies when it comes to giving fans what they want. The popular anime streaming platform is planning once again to host an online fan expo. The digital event is known to feature all the things we love about in-person conferences. From great merch to interesting panels and performances, these events are a really great time to interact with big names in the anime industry. Let’s dive into the Virtual Crunchyroll Expo 2021 lineup and preview some of the fun in store for this summer. Virtual Crunchyroll Expo 2021 – Let’s Celebrate All Things Anime Image Credit: Crunchyroll The virtual Crunchyroll Expo in 2021 will take place August 5-7. While that seems pretty far away, it’s going to arrive before we know it. Crunchyroll is preparing by announcing some initial appearances from great musical groups and voice actors. For fans of Haikyu!! and Dr. STONE, Japanese rock band Burnout Syndromes are going to be a big draw. The group is known for some of the best themes in the game. Fans will enjoy a concert followed by a Q&A session to get to know the artists. Other musical groups appearing include 7 Billion Dots, MAGIC OF LiFE, and Rhythmic Toy World. In the voice acting world, two big names at the top of the lineup are going to be a ton of fun. Bryce Papenbrook is headlining the Virtual Crunchyroll Expo. Papenbrook plays many big-time characters, including Hashibira from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Kirito from Sword Art Online, and Eren from Attack on Titan. Zeno Robinson will also appear, who you likely know from video games, anime, and other projects. He performs in series like Fire Force, Re:Zero, and My Hero Academia, for which he received a Best VA Performance award at the 2021 Crunchyroll Anime Awards. The Virtual Crunchyroll Expo 2021 lineup is still growing. Digital cosplay events, fan panels, and more are in the planning process now. If you want to participate, then check out the Crunchyroll Expo site. Here you can register for the event, check out the merch, and get hyped for the expo. Overall, an in-person convention is hard to beat. That said, Crunchyroll handles their virtual events very well. I’m super excited to keep you all up to date on more info and news from this event. Featured Image Credit: Crunchyroll Virtual Crunchyroll Expo 2021 Lineup – Musical Performances and VAs Taylor Bauer

Aaron Taylor-Johnson Cast as Kraven the Hunter for Sony Films Posted: 29 May 2021 02:53 AM PDT Sony’s Marvel films feature a universe distinct from that of the MCU. If you ask me, then I think both can coexist quite nicely. From Disney’s perspective, the MCU is a treasure trove of blockbuster films and TV series fit for a wide audience. Sony’s Marvel films can stand to be a bit bolder in their character exploration and stories. While the recent Venom: Let There Be Carnage trailer points to the style of the Sony Marvel film world moving forward, it’ll need help from other notable Spidey-verse characters. Nobody fits the bill better than Kraven the Hunter. The anti-hero offers a rich pool of lore and storylines to explore. Sony has its leading man for Kraven the Hunter in Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who himself has already appeared in this convoluted array of Marvel film universes. Aaron Taylor-Johnson to Play Kraven the Hunter for Sony Picture’s Universe of Marvel Characters Image Credit: Comic-Con It’s not shocking anymore to see an actor double-dip in the world of comic book film adaptations. Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s portrayal of Quicksilver in The Avengers: Age of Ultron was short-lived. The actor’s recent appearances, including a role in Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, certainly warrant the star’s new high-profile role in the Sony Picture’s Marvel universe. The studio got a good look at Taylor-Johnson in the upcoming Bullet Train and liked what they saw according to The Hollywood Reporter. Overall, Spider-Man fans will know Kraven quite well. The cutthroat big game hunter has shown up in countless Amazing Spider-Man runs since the 1960s. The character is vicious and visceral in his attempts to kill Spider-Man. Eventually, the comics land the hunter in a much more anti-hero role, not dissimilar to Sony Pictures’s treatment of Venom. Sure, he’s out for blood. It’s not always about death though, sometimes it’s about the friends we make along the way. Sony plans on Kraven the Hunter to fit in nicely with its Venom films and the upcoming Morbius film starring Jared Leto. Aaron Taylor-Johnson reportedly signed up for a multi-film deal in his portrayal of Kraven the Hunter for Sony. If the non-MCU wing of Marvel films can keep pining down these types of characters for their universe, then I think they’ll be in good shape. Let us know what you think of the casting for Kraven in the comments. As always, keep reading Comic Years for the latest in all things comics and pop culture. Featured Image Credit: Disney/Marvel Studios Aaron Taylor-Johnson Cast as Kraven the Hunter for Sony Films Taylor Bauer

New Evil Dead Sequel Coming To HBO Max Posted: 28 May 2021 03:33 PM PDT The 1981 film The Evil Dead was, of course, a landmark in horror film history. Unsurprisingly then, it spawned a franchise and a reboot. However, never mind the original and never mind the reboot:  a new, new Evil Dead sequel is coming. The New Evil Dead Sequel, Evil Dead Rising, Will Tell a New Story While the original story took place at a quintessential cabin in the woods, the new film, Evil Dead Rising, won’t. Actually, it’s a city slicker. It also won’t follow the adventures of perennial Evil Dead hero Ash (Bruce Campbell) whose adventures continued on into the recently-ended series Ash vs. Evil Dead. It also won’t follow, well, whatever went on in the 2013 reboot (I haven’t seen it). Instead, it will focus on two sisters, whom Alyssa Sutherland (Vikings) and Lily Sullivan (Barkskins) will play. Evil Dead (2013), image via Sony Pictures Releasing According to Deadline, the sisters reunite after an estrangement. However, their “reunion is cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons, thrusting them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most nightmarish version of family imaginable.” Don’t you hate it when that happens? Anyway, there’s no word yet on how or if the Necronomicon (last seen in the Creepshow season 2 premiere) will figure into all this. Ooh, maybe it’s an app now (Ncronomr). Sequel Will Play Exclusively on HBO Max…Maybe Lee Cronin, who directed The Hole in the Ground, will direct this movie. However, just because Sam Raimi’s not directing the movie doesn’t mean that he’ll be absent. Instead, he’s a producer on this new version, along with Bruce Campbell and original Evil Dead producer Robert Tapert. They hand-picked Cronin, who will also write the movie as well as direct it. To that end, Raimi said, “I'm equally excited to be working with Lee Cronin, whose gifts as a storyteller make him the ideal filmmaker to continue the enduring legacy of the franchise.” The film is in preproduction right now, but when they complete it, it will be exclusive to HBO Max. Well, sort of. For areas where the streamer isn’t available, it could have a theatrical release. That, of course, is too far in the future, though, to tell at this time. They haven’t even started making it yet, after all. But we’ll let you know. What do you think about a new Evil Dead sequel? Tell us in these comments or on our social media. featured image via New Line Cinema New Evil Dead Sequel Coming To HBO Max Salomé Gonstad

The Friends Reunion Is Finally There For You Posted: 28 May 2021 12:22 PM PDT In 2004, Friends ended, but did it, though? For the people who loved it, the series may have stopped producing episodes, but it never really ended. The 17 intervening years since the series finale gave the world time to process the show in its entirety, and it seems that's done by watching it with no change in enthusiasm for two decades. Nearly 20 years after the last episode and you probably know someone who'd call it their favorite show. You probably know someone else who remembers all the words to the theme song and is at any given moment right about to clap 4 times and pose in a fountain. Watching the Friends reunion, there's a pretty hefty emotional payoff to seeing the cast in the same room again, but there is also a lot that goes unstated, possibly to the reunion's detriment.  The Friends Reunion We Wanted Friends began airing in 1994, which doesn't feel too long ago until you realize that was the year The Lion King came out and a full 10 years before the first Spongebob movie. Things were different back then. Not better. Just different.  Actually, it was worse. Things were way worse. If you were arguing with someone, you had to actually argue instead of just using Googling it to prove you're right. You still had to rely on physical media to watch movies,  rented if you could find one, or viewed in theaters  that really hadn't pinned down a good way to clean the floors between viewing. And being gay was still a "not that there's anything wrong with that"-style punchline, at best. Being trans wouldn't stop being a punchline to sitcoms until… well it's good to have dreams. The demand for inclusion of marginalized identities was there, but it didn't have all that much power to enact change. Presumably, that wouldn't happen until everyone was on social media and could yell directly at each other.  Friends was a product of its time. A fun, deeply flawed product from a fun, really weird time. Just look at what people were doing to denim back then. Is it any surprise that homophobia is a joke that era would produce? If the Friends reunion sought to make up for every joke it made about gay people and every missed or ignored opportunity to cast a person of color, it would have to pivot harder than a sofa in a stairwell or John Steinbeck writing a werewolf book. We’d need a longer reunion for all of that. Gosh, just making up for Chandler's trans-coded parent would have given us at least a full season. That'd almost be a longer spinoff than Joey.  Image via Warner Bros. We couldn't expect Friends to both make up for all the painful faults of its past and be a joyful experience, but it may have been nice to get a bit more of a clear indication that the showrunners felt something. Maybe a nod to the living punchlines that contributed to their paychecks for years. Some kind of in-universe indication that things were better, and $20 sent to every trans person within 10,000 miles of a tv that has ever played an episode of Friends on it.   The series ran for so long, made so many lives better, it would have been nice to see an acknowledgement for all the people whose lives were worse for it. It also would have been nice to see more fluffy baby birds, but it’s understandable that the cast didn’t want to finally reveal to Matt LeBlanc that they hadn’t actually gone off to a farm.  The Friends Reunion We Got As much as it's easy to dislike Friends, seeing the original six back in the same room, on the same set, lovingly restored even though half the items there might have been stolen by the cast themselves was beautiful. It was the innocent, candy-sweet experience people had been asking for pretty much since the day the show ended, and it gave us some fun depth behind the scenes of the series. Part clipshow, part behind the scenes retrospective, part documentary hosted by James Corden, the Friends reunion let us revisit some of the joy from the best moments in the series reflected through the eyes of the people who built it.  There's something special about seeing the cast enjoying the show as much as the fans did. Mathew Perry and Courtney Cox enjoyed the secret romance between Monica and Chandler. David Schwimmer has childlike enthusiasm for pretty much every aspect of the show. And Lisa Kudrow is an unmatched national treasure who can still bust out the best cat-themed banger of the 90s. And Lady Gaga can too, which isn't a surprising revelation, but it was one the world definitely needed. The Friends reunion gives fans the gift of having something special in common with the cast: they all really liked Friends, and that's enough of a foundation for plenty of real friendships.  The One With The Mostly Met Expectations  The Friends reunion wasn't perfect, but it was pleasant to watch and seemed like an absolute joy for the cast. Seeing them all sitting together, talking about how funny everyone else's performances were was wholesome and felt like seeing the characters themselves sitting around being fans of each other. The fact that Matt LeBlanc liked Ross's leather pants as much as the fans did was so in-character and just so perfect.  Image via Warner Bros. The Friends reunion didn't deliver on everything it could have, but it's hard to hold it against them. When HBO dropped the Friends reunion trailer, the collective joy from fans was tangible, and it's hard to be too picky with something that makes people feel good in a time when everything feels bad all the time always. It would have been nice to get some closure about the LGBT characters of the series, but it didn't happen.  It also would have been nice if the duck and the chicken’s family or agents could have made an appearance in the reunion, but they're probably off on their own feather reunion, sitting on a feather couch, reminiscing about bathtubs and foosball tables loved and lost.  What did you think of the Friends reunion? Was it everything you wanted, or are you going to spend the next 17 years waiting for the next one? Let us know in the comments below.  The Friends Reunion Is Finally There For You Jessica Kanzler

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