Comic Years |
- The Forgotten City Review – From Skyrim Mod To Storytelling Marvel
- Sound Familiar? Game Development Vets Launch That’s No Moon Studio
- Dark Nights: Death Metal Record: The Best Superhero Epic You’ll Ever…Hear?
- Burberry Turned Adam Driver Into A Centaur Because How Else Do You Sell Cologne?
- The HFPA Is Dealing With Some New Bylaws, and Not Everybody Is Happy
- Supergirl Finale Set Photos Show Many Character Returns But At A Funeral?
- Scarlett Johansson Suing Disney Over Black Widow Dual Release Strategy
- We’re Ready To Look For Some Ghosts After The New Ghostbusters: Afterlife Trailer
| The Forgotten City Review – From Skyrim Mod To Storytelling Marvel Posted: 30 Jul 2021 10:37 AM PDT There’s something to be said about Skyrim‘s influence on gaming. Not only does it sell well a decade after its release, but it inspired a ton of great games. One example that’s particularly interesting is The Forgotten City. Back in 2015, a Skyrim mod of the same name took players through the Forgotten Ruins, an abandoned Dwemer ruin with tons of mystery. Building on that premise, developer Modern Storyteller turned the experience into a standalone experience. Don’t be fooled; this isn’t a passion project worth a simple nod. The Forgotten City is a storytelling powerhouse full of great characters and a wonderful narrative from the very start. Here’s our review of The Forgotten City, easily one of our favorite storytelling experiences in gaming for 2021. No Rest for the Wicked, or Life for that Matter Image Credit: Dear Villagers When you begin The Forgotten City, you wake up confused and lost. You don’t even recognize the Tiber River on which you’re resting. A mysterious woman sends you into a nearby ruin to find Al, an explorer who hasn’t returned. As you delve into the ruins, you’re slowly exposed to something remarkable. Overall, the ruins are far from ruins at all, but a Roman encampment and small collective of sorts. You have a full Roman city to explore but one key power holding everyone there captive. You know that old saying “do unto others as you would have them do to you?” Now imagine that if one person in your city sins, you all get punished. It’s not just a moral quandary either; giant guardian statues come alive if this rule is broken and turn everyone into gold. Because violence is obviously a sin, you won’t find much combat in this city to be a factor. Instead, some pretty creative forms of manipulation are keeping the dozens of residents at each other’s throats. It’s up to you to figure out how to break this odd rule hovering over everyone and avoid the end of the city as everyone knows it. If You Liked the Mod, You’ll Love the Standalone The Forgotten City Experience Image Credit: Dear Villagers There’s a special joy that players can take with The Forgotten City as a game if they played the mod. While changes certainly occurred, they provide a familiar experience to that of Skyrim. The real joy here for me is the need to rely on dialogue. As you meet members of the city, you become invested in it all immediately. There are really great twists and turns to each person’s role in the community that become increasingly high-stakes. The funny thing about the game is that it’s almost a bit too much like Skyrim in its stagnant character animations. A fix is coming, according to the developer, but it didn’t matter in my playthrough. The game’s narrative is wonderful. I don’t often mention voice acting in my reviews, but I love the cast in The Forgotten City. There are some really wonderful performances here that help keep things interesting. There are likely some players who will be turned off by the dialogue-only gameplay experience. Go play Skyrim if you’re craving action RPG combat. In The Forgotten City, you’re treated to a really wonderful time loop experience that keeps you wanting more until you solve the city’s predicament. When you fail and someone sins, you start from the beginning of a new day. It’s not a new concept, but it’s well done here. Of course, there’s no denying that the game the mod and this game have incredible visuals as well. Some of the scenic environments and areas of the game almost make you stop completely. Unreal Engine 5 might be the new thing people can’t wait to play with, but this game looks incredible on its own. During my time playing for this review of The Forgotten City, I used Xbox’s screenshot function quite a bit. All that said, here’s what we’re rolling with in terms of scoring. The Forgotten City Review Score Image Credit: Dear Villagers I review games on a scale of 1-10; The Forgotten City is a 9. In about 11 hours, I finished the game and loved every minute. If you’re curious about the game at all, then I’d recommend looking into some videos. Likewise, Skyrim fans who enjoyed the base game or mod that inspired this release should also consider picking it up. I’m not someone who salivates over dialogue-heavy RPGs like Disco Elysium. That said, I do know that they’re worth every minute of playing them if you engross yourself. Not everyone likes story-focused games but The Forgotten City is more than that. The best thing about this game is that the characters immediately feel real. You don’t just solve a puzzle here or unravel a mystery. There’s a keen sense of genuine interest in the city you stumble upon that mimics a great book or movie. Beyond gaming, storytelling as a whole is about escaping to a place where you feel transported. From my couch and in front of my Xbox, I was fully into this world and loved my time there. The Forgotten City is available now for Xbox Series X|S and One, PS4|PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. If you played the game, then drop your 3-sentence, spoiler-free review in the comments! A digital copy of this game was provided by the publisher for the purposes of this review. Featured Image Credit: Dear Villagers The Forgotten City Review – From Skyrim Mod To Storytelling Marvel  |
| Sound Familiar? Game Development Vets Launch That’s No Moon Studio Posted: 30 Jul 2021 07:30 AM PDT There’s a reason we cover gaming here on a site called Comic Years. Geek culture runs deep and diverse, from the things we watch to the ways we like to kill time. It’s no wonder that a new games studio is giving a nod to a galaxy far, far away. Game development veterans from iconic series like Call of Duty, The Last of Us, and more are teaming up. The new project from a band of well-versed game designers is called That’s No Moon Studio, in a nod to A New Hope. There’s plenty reason to be optimistic about this new project. For more on what we learned from the big announcement, let’s dive into some details. That’s No Moon Studio Announcement Begs the Question, “Why Aren’t More Things Named After Star Wars Quotes? Image Credit: That’s No Moon Studio Michael Mumbauer, the former Head of Playstation's Visual Arts Group, heads the new studio with several game development vets. Tina Kowalewski, formerly of Giant Squid, serves as CSO. Former EA director Nick Kononelos and narrative wiz Taylor Kurosaki will also lead the expert team. Kurosaki is best known for work at Infinity Ward, the team responsible for many games across the history of Call of Duty. I spoiled it a bit in the intro, but the name is a nod to Obi-Wan Kenobi’s first look at the Death Star. If you’re intrigued by the team’s extensive background, then good news. You might have a role waiting for you. The studio is hiring over 25 positions right now, most of which are located on the East Coast. The team so far includes professionals from iconic games like God of War, Fortnite, The Last of Us Part II, Destiny, and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. These super-studios, if you will, often turn out some great content. It’s fair to say, however, that we won’t hear of any release dates from the team for a while. The studio is in the early stages of bringing about its vision. In Mumbauer’s words, “We started That's No Moon with a singular vision of creating unforgettable stories and characters that will define and extend beyond our medium.” Overall, whatever that ends up resulting in, we’ll be ready for it! Featured Image Credit: That’s No Moon Studio Sound Familiar? Game Development Vets Launch That’s No Moon Studio  |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal Record: The Best Superhero Epic You’ll Ever…Hear? Posted: 30 Jul 2021 04:47 AM PDT With a name like Dark Nights: Death Metal, you'd almost expect there to be an accompanying soundtrack to go along with it from day one. But instead, the Dark Nights: Death Metal record came a bit afterward. Through a love of the genre and boredom during the quarantine, composer Tyler Bates brought together a true army of Metal artists from across the spectrum. Well, except for any actual death metal artists, as moderator Gwarsenio Hall from Two Minutes to Late Night pointed out. Still, the album is truly remarkable, and it's a record every comic book AND metal fans need to own. Before the Record, There Was Dark Nights: Death Metal, by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo (DC Comics) During the SDCC 2021 Dark Nights: Death Metal Soundtrack panel, Snyder went into the history of Death Metal and how Capullo wasn't just a partner on the project but a mentor as well. In fact, the two Dark Nights events, Metal and Death Metal, were inspired by the artist. As Snyder explained, Metal (and music, in general, helped Capullo through some very dark times growing up. But the key to why Metal was so important to the stories was that "metal has a freedom to it," and with it, they could go "bigger than ever…balls to the wall." Even the historical record of Dark Nights: Death Metal is one of drama and turbulence. In Death Metal, Wonder Woman is both fierce and loving (a dynamic that inspired one of the tracks). Even though Diana and Capullo couldn't be more different, they certainly fight the same way. When DC editors said that elements of Snyder's script or Capullo's art went "too far," Capullo stood his ground and helped Snyder get the courage to join him. The imposing artist even quotes Steve Jobs: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish." He even made Snyder go radio silent on his bosses at times, sometimes for an entire week. Put the Record On, Tell Me Your Favorite…Comic? (DC Comics) The creative team had two goals with Dark Nights: Death Metal, besides telling an awesome story. First, to make it fun. And, somehow, for kids? Did they read their own scripts, because "kids" isn't the audience I'd market it to. But the story, and in particular the Batman Who Laughs, was "born out of a dark moment." But that was even before the pandemic brought us to an even darker place. As Snyder said, he and Cappulo wanted to tell readers, "let's be brave and face this together…and 700 evil Batmans." That is why Wonder Woman had to be the lead protagonist. To rally what was left of the DC Universe, we needed Wonder Woman. Batman and Superman? Just not enough. But Dark Nights: Death Metal is more than a message of bravery. Just like Dark Nights: Metal, it's a rock opera in the form of pages and panels. And what that really means is that the story has an energy to it. In this case, it energized bravery in a dark time for both the superheroes and for us. So, it's was easy to see why composer Tyler Bates saw such potential for a massive album inspired by the story. With the insanity of Dark Nights: Death Metal, a music record was the only thing missing. So, how did they make it? And how did it come out? Making the Dark Nights: Death Metal Record Was a Much Smoother Process Than the Comic (DC Comics) When Dark Nights: Metal came out, Tyler Bates got a few artists together for a six-track LP. It was a fun little project, but Bates knew they could do better. In fact, producer Matt Keller saw it as a missed opportunity. So, just as Death Metal evolved from Dark Nights: Metal, the new record evolves from that first attempt. Even better, DC was all-in. Well, all-in on the idea, not so much on the funding. As Bates said, this wasn't a "cash grab" for any of the creators. It was just something awesome that Metal musicians who loved the comic could do. They each picked a different element of the event and created an "emotional interpretation of the material," taking inspiration from scenes and dialogue. As a result, the bands on the record that INSPIRED Dark Nights: Death Metal became PART of Dark Nights: Death Metal. Unlike Snyder and Capullo's experience making Dark Nights: Death Metal, DC gave Bates no pushback on the record. Instead, as he said, they gave him "complete autonomy…no notes." But then again, they didn't get a blank check either. As a result, they created an "indie version of a comic world" that was "made for fans, by fans." And there's one more thing that "helped" the production: the pandemic. For the artists, it wasn't just something cool they could do; it was something to do. Just like the timing of the comic itself, the pandemic heavily informed the process. After all, we were "already living in a dystopia," so why not sing about one? And so, the Dark Nights: Death Metal record was born! The Source Material Deeply Inspired the Artist (DC Comics) During the SDCC 2021 panel with the Dark Nights: Death Metal record artists, we got to see how much two of the artists got into the project. Two of Metal's most notable creators, Brann Dailor of Mastodon and solo artist Chelsea Wolfe. Their songs start the record with a whiplash of explosions, whispers, and industrial chaos. It's hard not to feel hooked by the record with these two opening tracks. In the first track, "Forged by Neron," Mastodon gives the album a punch into the stratosphere. Bates said that Mastadon was a "must-have" to being the Dark Nights: Death Metal record. Comic fans should instantly recognize the name "Neron," as he is a powerful demon in the DC Universe. So when Dailor was reading the comic and came across the line "forged by Neron," he immediately knew that this was their song. "Neron's our guy," Dailor said of the demon. However, the entirety of Dark Nights: Death Metal inspired their contribution to the record. For Chelsea Wolfe, she knew what her song would be the moment she read one scene:  (DC Comics) What impressed Wolfe with Scott and Capullo's depiction of Wonder Woman was how she could be this sweet, soft, comforting friend; then, ten seconds later, she sawed in half the Batman Who Laughs with an invisible chainsaw. So, for Diana, she used both soft, whispering vocals with hard industrial instrumentals. It's…transcendent. Tyler Bates Brought Together a Justice Metal LeagueThat's how Gwarsenio Hall described the variety of bands on this album. With Bate's curated selection, "All the sides of the heavy music genre came together, like the Justice League." Well, again, minus a Death Metal artist. Apparently, Metal fans are very particular on what exactly qualifies as Metal. But Bates was never trying to create a Death Metal playlist; he wanted to create a Dark Nights: Death Metal record. The music is "complementary to the story," Bates explained, adding that the soundtrack "creates another dimension to the source material." To do this, he needed a diverse group of musicians that fit the storyline, and then "let the story resonate with them." Did it work? The Dark Nights: Death Metal Record Is Extraordinary, Complex…and F!!!!!G Rocks (DC Comics) While I've reviewed a musical or two for Comics Years – probably confusing my editors the first time I did – Dark Knights: Death Metal is the first record I've ever reviewed. I'm not going to pretend I know all the lingo and standard qualities of every aspect of the Metal genre. I love Metal, but I love bands like Metalica on the same appreciation level as Rachmaninov, Bille Eilish, Hans Zimmer, Busta Rhymes, and The Prom. The Spotify algorithms gave up on me a long time ago. So, no, I'm not qualified to assess the quality of an album. But seriously, the Dark Nights: Death Metal record will rock your face off. The Mastadon and Chelsea Wolfe tracks, "Forged by Neron" and "Diana," are an amazing start. But there are several great tracks on here. Other Great Tracks on the Dark Nights: Death Metal RecordMaria Brink, Tyler Bates, and Andy Biersack's "Meet Me In Fire" makes you feel like you just triumphantly climbed out of apocalyptic ruins. Next, Rise Against's "Broken Dreams, Inc" puts the warrior in social justice warrior. Then we have Denzel Curry and PlayThatBoiZay's "Bad Luck" is pure chaotic crisis energy bleeding out of the dark multiverse. Finally, "Goodtime Girl," from Starcrawler, is the hard rock tribute Harley Quinn deserves. It really sounds like it should have been in Birds of Prey. Gunship, Tyler Bates, and Dave Lombardo's "Berserker" is that perfect song for the team going into a battle they have no hope of winning. But of course, they always end up winning, right? "Sodium," by the band Idles, personifies the Darkest Knight (what the Batman Who Laughs evolves into) perfectly. Finally, Soccer Mommy's "Kissing In the Rain" is a perfect end to the record in how it perfectly captures those beautiful last few pages of Dark Nights: Death Metal, with Wonder Woman ascending to a level above godhood. It's all awesome, really. And not just the music… The Vinyl Record Release of Dark Nights: Death Metal Gets the Variant Comic Book Treatment (DC Comics) The packaging for the soundtrack is impressive as it is, as is the vinyl pressings. But in addition to the standard release, we have seven variant exclusives. Wal-Mart, FYE, Revolver, Barnes & Noble, Record Store Day, Newbury Comics, and Brooklyn Vegan all have their own special editions. Each of them has specially colored vinyl pressings and/or variant covers. I received the beautiful Record Store Day edition, with Superman raging on the guitar and smoke-colored vinyl pressings. But this might drive collectors a bit insane: each edition has one or two trading cards, totaling eleven in all. So to get every piece of the release, all the trading cards, covers, and colored vinyl pressings, you're looking at about $320-$350. And the Dark Nights: Death Metal record won't be the last of its kind. Bates revealed that they are already working on another soundtrack but didn't say what it was. But if we had to guess? The upcoming Batman event Fear State looks like it could use some hard rock tracks. What do you think? Do you want to see more music based on comics? Tell us below! Dark Nights: Death Metal Record: The Best Superhero Epic You'll Ever…Hear?  |
| Burberry Turned Adam Driver Into A Centaur Because How Else Do You Sell Cologne? Posted: 30 Jul 2021 12:58 AM PDT Sometimes you just have to be a horse a little bit, and that's ok if you're Adam Driver in a fragrance commercial. Ads for fragrances have the impossible job of selling you something using a medium that cannot possibly give you a totally accurate idea of what the thing is. It's like having an argument in space. Nobody can hear you scream, and smelling your screen is just going to tell you that you need to wash your hands. So that's why we get bonkers scent commercials, and that's when the inevitable hands of destiny, joy, and fashion give us something as bananas and beautiful as a Burberry commercial with Adam Driver turning into a centaur. Forget whatever summer you thought you were having, it’s Kylo Rentaur summer now.  Image via Lucasfilm Yes, I Mean Adam Driver Turned Into a Centaur to Sell CologneTalking about something like this always ends up sounding like you're a kid in 4th grade trying to convince an older cousin that you're cool using only your ham-fisted guile. There's no way for this to make sense, but it's a beautiful mess that ends exactly when you think it couldn't. The commercial for Burberry Hero, a scent for men, plays out as follows. Adam Driver is running on a beach. All good so far. The beach is a land of recognizable scents, and Adam Driver is a relevant, appealing icon. "Two Weeks" by FKA twigs is playing in the background, soft and romantic. Then Adam is in the water, and he's swimming because that's what you do in the water. Natural, totally normal. Then there's a horse. It's just there. The horse manifests in the water, and nobody bats an eye. Adam Driver is now swimming with a horse in deeper water. So far, context has not been offered, and it would be best not to expect that to change. Now the pair are swimming closer, with Adam nearly riding the horse like a selkie's willing prey. Then we get some 80s montage-style overlays as the music hits a fever pitch. We don't know it yet, but this is their fusion dance. The water shimmers, a droplet of fate disturbing the clear surface for a moment. A shake of the hair, a paddle of a hoof, and the epicenter of a thousand Reylo's obsession is standing on the beach. He's a centaur now. "Burberry Hero. A New Fragrance for Men"
Why Did Burberry Do This Ad Campaign?If you want to contextualize the Kylo Rentaur, you have to go back a few decades. The first SuperBowl commercials were just commercials. It was the 60s, so they were kind of boring, usually had a man telling you why this particular product was really swell. In 1984, Apple released a Superbowl commercial that went against the grain a bit. There'd been weird commercials before, but this one was really weird. Dystopian, gray imagery interrupted by a lone woman in orange shorts carrying a big hammer. The dreary imagery was a reference to George Orwell's 1984, and Apple's entire pitch was that they were going to release a computer that was going to make 1984 not like 1984. Naturally, people started chatting about it.
You ever watch a commercial and really think about what you're looking at. It's weird. It's all so weird. The conventions that made up a straightforward ad unraveled, and now we have stuff like this beautifully rendered postmodern nightmare. Using imagery alone, a fragrance commercial genuinely cannot communicate what you're going to get out of actually smelling the stuff. In the best case, they'd be confusing. Marry that confusion with a history of the weirdest thing getting the most attention, and that's how we get Ben Kelydesdale. And it works! Twitter is blowing up with this because it's absolutely bonkers. Burberry is trending already! Now we're getting stuff like this because the only thing better than enjoying postmodern nightmare fuel is participating in it.
It's so damn beautiful.
Burberry transformed Adam Driver into a centaur, but it's a fragrance commercial so actually they built a new mythical beast: the Scentaur. Now they're trending because what Hero smells like is not important. What's important is that the pretty man went swimming and then he was a horse, and now we're all justifiably enthused. The future is wild, man. Did you watch the commercial? How are you feeling? Are you a little miffed that the X-Men panel at SDCC didn’t warn us about this? Tell us in the comments or on social media. Neigh.Featured image via Burberry Burberry Turned Adam Driver Into A Centaur Because How Else Do You Sell Cologne?  |
| The HFPA Is Dealing With Some New Bylaws, and Not Everybody Is Happy Posted: 29 Jul 2021 02:27 PM PDT The Golden Globes used to be known as a mid-tier awards show. Something to watch in anticipation of the Oscars and to get us excited about movies during the dead of winter. But after years of open secrets and comments hiding underneath rugs, the ceremony was in the middle of a controversy that they couldn’t ignore. And now, after months of wondering what would come next, there are some new bylaws up for debate in the HFPA. Some people are happy. Others, not so much. Potential New Bylaws For HFPA Don’t Please EverybodyIn case you’ve managed to miss the drama, the group that puts on the Golden Globes, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (the HFPA), is nearing expulsion. That is unless they act fast. NBC has already canceled the 2022 ceremony, and various celebrities have been boycotting future shows and returning awards. And it’s not just because Emily in Paris got nominated. One root of the ongoing problems is all about an ongoing lack of diversity within the HFPA. A recent investigation by the Los Angeles Times discovered a shockingly low number of Black members within the HFPA. So low, in fact, that you couldn’t go lower. There were 0. In addition to the clear and continued problems of a lack of diversity, there remains an ongoing “culture of corruption” within the HFPA. Members take bribes and are swayed to vote in certain ways, despite how good (or bad) a film or series is. This is one of the biggest threats to the HFPA that the new bylaws are meant to prohibit.  Image via Netflix. So, What New Bylaws Can Help This Out?A vote to determine whether or not these new bylaws will be in effect is coming up, and members are not unanimously in agreement. There would be much more strict policies on voting, conduct, and ethics. No gifts or bribes from studios and other industry leaders would be allowed. These bylaws require a majority of two-thirds of the members to pass. The original draft has already been approved, and a final decision will be made in early August. Some of those dealing with the behind-the-scenes fight for survival rely on these new bylaws more than anything. A recently released memo that was sent to members last week begged voters to agree to the bylaws. If they don’t, the entire association could fall. James Lee of Lee Strategy Group explained that things would only worsen if the bylaws didn’t pass. In an almost threatening tone, it’s clear that headlines will shame the HFPA forever and that all funding could disappear. While it’s tough to tell voters’ opinions, some have made it clear that they aren’t happy. At least two members threaten to turn against the association if the bylaws cause certain changes, including new provisions for nonworking members.  I May Destroy You was recently snubbed by the HFPA. Are they getting destroyed in return? Image via HBO. Will The Golden Globes Ever Come Back?Ratings for plenty of televised content are going down all of the time. For the 2021 Golden Globes, ratings saw a 62% dip from the year before. This begs us to ask the question: Who are the Golden Globes even for? Sure, they’re a celebration where celebrities can get drunk and praise each other. But they aren’t as prestigious as other shows, like the Academy Awards or Emmy Awards. Do they really matter? We would love to see an association pull itself back up and show how real change can get made. If enough members care enough to want positive change, rather than just getting reporters off of their backs, then we have hope for the future of awards shows. But is that really the reality of what is going on with the HFPA and the new bylaws? Probably not. No matter what happens, we’ll be watching any future Golden Globe shows with a grain of salt. Readers, let us know your thoughts about the ongoing drama surrounding the HFPA and what you think some new bylaws could do to fix their problems. Featured image via Focus Features. The HFPA Is Dealing With Some New Bylaws, and Not Everybody Is Happy  |
| Supergirl Finale Set Photos Show Many Character Returns But At A Funeral? Posted: 29 Jul 2021 12:30 PM PDT With Superman & Lois dominating the Kyrptonian content on the CW at the moment, it's been easy to forget that Supergirl was canceled by the CW last year. The series, starring Melissa Benoist as the super-charming Kara Danvers is currently finishing up filming. Yet, new set photos of what appears to be the Supergirl finale shows a host of characters returning. Only the bad news is that it seems they are back to film a funeral scene. Images captured by on-set sleuths saw the return of Benoist's real-life husband (and current He-Man) Chris Wood as Mon-El. We also see Jeremy Jordan on set as Winn Schott, Kara's former best pal. Superman's pal, Jimmy, er James Olsen is also back, as Mehcad Brooks was caught laughing heartily in a photo. No sighting of Ally-McBeal-turned-Cat-Grant Calista Flockhart, though.
While it warms the hearts of fans who watched the show since it debuted on CBS, before switching to the CW, there is a downside. These set photos pretty clearly show that these characters are attending what looks to be a funeral for a friend. (The lack of David Harewood's J'onn J'onzz in these photos worries your humble correspondent for his character's fate.) Because as great as these Arrowverse shows are, they do differ from the comics in a major way: the eventually have to end. Check out the Supergirl series finale set photos from Twitter below:
Of course, these set photos from what appears to be the Supergirl finale suggest it might be a pretty, well, final ending. Yet, there is always hope for these versions of the characters to return. David Ramsey just popped up on all of the CW series this year, even though Arrow ended after the Crisis On Infinite Earths event. Cress Williams may return as Black Lightning on The Flash next year after his series finale this year. So, while it may be over for the show, these characters will live on. (Except maybe one.) This show was incredibly important and full of wonderful, heartfelt stories. It’s a shame to see it end, but such is real-life. In fact, it's possible that with Supergirl ending, Kara Danvers could finally make an appearance on the Supergirl spinoff, Superman & Lois. The first season of that show kept the "universe" small, focused on the Super-family. In season 2, they will hopefully open things up to return Tyler Hoechlin's Superman to the TV Justice League. Supergirl returns for her final flight on August 24, 2021.What do you think? Is this a funeral we're seeing in these Supergirl finale set photos? If so, which character do you think meets their end? Share your thoughts, theories, and favorite moments from the series in the comments below. Featured image via Warner Bros. Television. Supergirl Finale Set Photos Show Many Character Returns But At A Funeral?  |
| Scarlett Johansson Suing Disney Over Black Widow Dual Release Strategy Posted: 29 Jul 2021 11:43 AM PDT There is no question that the Black Widow solo movie was a hit for fans and Disney, considering the box office gross and the Disney+ Premier Access haul. However, star of the film Scarlett Johansson is not happy and is suing Disney for the dual release model. Her attorneys filed the breach-of-contract lawsuit on Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court. The grievance the star has relates to the difference between the box office performance and the Disney+ revenue. Johansson's contract gave her what's known as "points on the back-end," meaning that an actor will forego a higher salary to share in the profits of the film. Deals like this have been incredibly lucrative for superhero-movie stars like Jack Nicholson from Tim Burton's Batman or, more recently, Robert Downey, Jr. for his appearances in the MCU. First reported by The Wall Street Journal, the lawsuit claims that in releasing the film on Disney+ as well as in theaters was a bald-faced attempt by the company to keep as much of the profits from the film as they could. This would be the last MCU role for Scarlett Johansson, which is only underscored by the fact that she's suing Disney in such a public way. John Berlinski, an attorney at Kasowitz Benson Torres, had harsh words for Disney in a statement. As he told CNBC.com:
He went on to say that he expects other actors and creators working on Disney projects to "stand up" to the company, demanding they "honor its contracts." However, after this weekend's release of Jungle Cruise, Disney said (before Johansson filed the lawsuit) that they plan to return to a theaters-only release strategy. And Black Widow is still the highest-grossing film released since March 2020, meaning that Johansson isn't the only one who lost money. The most conservative pre-pandemic estimates for this film was a box office gross around $600 million. Other folks had it as a sure-thing hit that could, possibly, get to the $1 billion range. So, there is no doubt that the Covid-19 pandemic did play a role, and the pandemic isn't even close to over yet. But Johansson's attorneys are downplaying that for their case, claiming this is just a naked money grab. Still, it's strange that Disney didn't anticipate this and renegotiate her contract to avoid this public legal battle. Black Widow is currently in theaters and streaming on Disney+ Premier AccessWhat do you think? Do you sympathize with why Scarlett Johansson is suing Disney over Black Widow? Share your thoughts, reactions, and feelings about the day-and-date release model we've seen throughout 2021? Featured image via Marvel Studios Scarlett Johansson Suing Disney Over Black Widow Dual Release Strategy  |
| We’re Ready To Look For Some Ghosts After The New Ghostbusters: Afterlife Trailer Posted: 29 Jul 2021 10:28 AM PDT Plenty of franchises bring in only the interested watchers. You have to be into certain genres to enjoy some, while others rely on specific demographics. But not when it comes to Ghostbusters. This is one franchise that begs to be watched by kids, parents, grandparents, and everyone in between. The new trailer for Ghostbusters: Afterlife proves that it’s not running out of heart, fun, and certainly not ghosts. Who, by the way, we ain’t afraid of. The New Trailer For Ghostbusters: Afterlife Is HereAs seen in the new trailer, Ghostbusters: Afterlife seems to look for a blending of genres that isn’t common within the franchise. Bringing in the child characters of Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) and Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) will allow the tale to dive into coming-of-age themes while still relying on the necessary horror and thrilling elements that these films are so well-known for. Also seen in the trailer is the typical excitement that Paul Rudd brings, shown through Mr. Grooberson. Afterlife will see the two kids discover the truth behind previously unexplained earthquakes in their new home in Summerville, Oklahoma. They soon find out just how much ghostbusting history is in their family, even as the world slowly forgets who the original Ghostbusters are. There will be new and old villains returning, including the iconic Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man in Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Could we see that perfect blend of nostalgia and newness with this movie? Our hopes are pretty high, Sony.  Image via Sony Pictures After a string of delays due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the film is set to release on November 11th, 2021. It won’t make the competitive Halloween-season release window. Still, it gives us plenty of time to enjoy the spookiness before the holidays (and all of the box-office competition coming from Marvel). Readers, let us know your thoughts on the new trailer for Ghostbusters: Afterlife! Will you be first in line at the theaters with me when it comes out? Drop your thoughts in the comments. Featured image via Sony Pictures. We're Ready To Look For Some Ghosts After The New Ghostbusters: Afterlife Trailer  |
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