Comic Years |
- James Bond Brings the International Box Office for No Time to Die to New Heights and Beats F9
- Razor Fist Deleted Scene Shows That The Character Wasn’t Supposed To Live
- Sesame Street Debuts First Asian American Muppet Named Ji-Young
- The Elder Scrolls 6 Confirmed To Likely Be An Xbox Exclusive
- Marvel Exec Says T’Challa Won’t Get Recast In The MCU
- Doctor Who: Flux Gains Focus While Lost In A Time Storm In “Once, Upon A Time”
| James Bond Brings the International Box Office for No Time to Die to New Heights and Beats F9 Posted: 16 Nov 2021 09:34 AM PST There might be no time to die, but there is certainly enough time to make money. One of the most expensive films of the year, No Time to Die, marks Daniel Craig’s finale in the franchise while also releasing one of the first films to be delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. After less than two months, No Time to Die has officially broken a significant record, making it the top-grossing Hollywood film at the international box office since the start of the pandemic, beating F9. How The International Box Office For No Time To Die SkyrocketedEarly box office predictions for No Time to Die speculated that the film would pull in more than enough to recoup its production budget of $301 million. However, the tricky part would be making back its total budget of $900 million. Fortunately, a strong foreign box office debut of $119.1 million and a domestic opening of $55.2 million helped us think this mission was possible. In the weeks after its premiere, No Time to Die has officially earned $558.2 in total international ticket sales. This beats the grand total of F9, the high-earning addition to the Fast & Furious franchise, which made $549 million internationally. The difference means that the James Bond film is the highest-grossing Hollywood-made film at the international box office since the beginning of the pandemic.  Image via Universal Pictures. Can It Be The Best Of The Best?Despite the win, Bond still has a ways to go before winning at the worldwide box office. The film currently stands at $708.5 million worldwide, while F9 is racing ahead with $721 million. We don’t expect the race to last much longer, though. No Time to Die continues to be brand-new in some markets, including Australia, where the film only just released. Bond will likely overtake the fast cars for Hollywood-made films, but we don’t know if it could beat its Chinese competition. The Battle at Lake Changjin and Hi, Mom have made $882 million and $822 million, respectively. If the Cary Joji Fukunaga-directed film surpasses this duo, it will successfully reclaim its hefty budget and surprise even the most optimistic box office follower. You can contribute to the domestic or international box office for No Time to Die today as the film remains in theaters.Readers, are you surprised to hear about the overseas success of No Time to Die? It may not be beating the superheroes at the domestic market, but it sure is a success. Featured image via Universal Pictures. James Bond Brings the International Box Office for No Time to Die to New Heights and Beats F9 |
| Razor Fist Deleted Scene Shows That The Character Wasn’t Supposed To Live Posted: 16 Nov 2021 06:48 AM PST In one of the post-credit scenes for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, we learned that Shang-Chi’s sister, Xialing, has taken over the Ten Rings and she’s employed a bunch of new female fighters. She’s surrounded by several other members of the organization, including Razor Fist (played by Florian Munteanu), one of her father’s strongest members and right hand man who has a machete for an arm. While the scene didn’t cause a lot of attention at first, a newly released Razor Fist deleted scene from IGN shows that the character actually wasn’t supposed to live. What Does The Razor Fist Deleted Scene Mean For The Franchise? Image via Marvel In the deleted scene, we see Katy panicking as Razor Fist tries to provide her with some emotional support. “I’m an amputee from Romania who shouldn’t be here either. But I’ve seen you drive and shoot better than most men in my army. And right now the only thing that matters is stopping that monster. OK?” he says. He then goes out onto the field to try and retrieve a bow for Katy to continue fighting only to be attacked by the Dweller in the Darkness’s flying soul-sucking minions. In a statement to Screen Rant, Munteanu said:
He hinted that fans would learn more about Razor Fist in the Shang-Chi sequel or perhaps another MCU movie. While we didn’t get to learn a lot about the character in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, it would be interesting to learn more about Razor Fist’s background. How did he get a machete for an arm? Did Wenwu recruit him into the Ten Rings? I’m looking forward to seeing where Marvel takes the Razor Fist character! Watch the Razor Fist deleted scene below: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is currently streaming on Disney+.What are your thoughts on the Razor Fist deleted scene? What are your theories as to why they kept the characters alive? Let us know in the comments below! Featured image via Marvel Razor Fist Deleted Scene Shows That The Character Wasn’t Supposed To Live |
| Sesame Street Debuts First Asian American Muppet Named Ji-Young Posted: 16 Nov 2021 03:44 AM PST As the longest running children’s educational TV series, Sesame Street has been (and still continues to be) an integral part of many people’s childhoods. Using live-action, sketch comedy, animation and puppetry, Sesame Street starred “Muppet Man” Jim Henson’s creations as a way to engage with kids and educate them in a way that was fun and creative. The show has earned a reputation for being able to broach difficult topics with children, such as divorce and dealing with death. In light of the 2020 protests against police brutality, Sesame Street introduced a Black muppet named Wes and his father, Elijah, as a way to talk about what was happening. A few years earlier, they had introduced Lily, the first homeless muppet. While there’s a broad range of diversity in the muppet characters, there’s never been an Asian American muppet…until now! Sesame Workshop announced Sesame Street first Asian American muppet named Ji-Young and I am thrilled! Who Is Sesame Street‘s First Asian American Muppet?Ji-Young is Korean American and she enjoys rocking out on her electric guitar (she’s a fan of the punk rock band, the Linda Lindas), skateboarding, and cooking dishes like tteokbokki (chewy rice cakes) with her halmoni (grandmother). In an interview with the new muppet, Ji-Young said, “So, in Korean traditionally the two syllables they each mean something different and Ji means, like, smart or wise. And Young means, like, brave or courageous and strong. But we were looking it up and guess what? Ji also means sesame.” How appropriate right? According to Ji-Young’s puppeteer, Kathleen Kim, it was important the new muppet not be “generically pan-Asian.” Kim said:
Like other muppets before her, Ji-Young is going to show kids how to be an “upstander.” Kay Wilson Stallings, executive vice-president of Creative and Production for Sesame Workshop, explained what an “upstander” is below:
See the first image of Ji-Young below:
Ji-Young is going to make her first appearance in a special premiering on Thanksgiving Day called “See Us Coming Together.” In the special, Sesame Street is preparing for Neighbor Day where all the characters will gather together and share food, music, or dance from their culture. During the preparations, someone off screen tells Ji-Young "to go back home," which greatly upsets her; however, she feels empowered after Sesame Street's other Asian American residents, guest stars (Simu Liu, Padma Lakshmi, and Naomi Osaka, just to name a few), and friends assure her that she belongs just as much as anyone else. See the promotional image for "See Us Coming Together: A Sesame Street Special” below:  Image via Sesame Street Thankfully Ji-Young will make several appearances next year during Sesame Street‘s 53rd season and not just as a one-off character to talk about racial justice. As I’ve talked about before, representation matters and having Ji-Young as the first Asian American muppet is a big step for the Sesame Workshop organization. Meet Ji-Young in the Sesame Street special “See Us Coming Together,” which premieres on Thanksgiving, November 25, on HBO Max, Sesame Street social media platforms, and on local PBS stations.Are you excited to meet Sesame Street first Asian American muppet? Let us know in the comments below! Featured image via Wikimedia Commons/Walter Lim from Singapore Sesame Street Debuts First Asian American Muppet Named Ji-Young |
| The Elder Scrolls 6 Confirmed To Likely Be An Xbox Exclusive Posted: 16 Nov 2021 12:45 AM PST Ten years ago, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim shocked me in a truly unique way as a gamer. Firstly, the game was massive. I remember someone in line at GameStop telling me that they read 400 hours of gameplay was included at launch. Add-in some DLC and you’re looking at days and days of gaming content. Of course, it was also gorgeous and expanded the RPG series in big ways. All eyes have been on The Elder Scrolls 6 since the new consoles launched. Overall, we know there’s still quite some time between now and the game releasing. Phil Spencer, however, is back to sharing little tidbits about the game in interviews. Recently, the head of Xbox himself said he’s almost certain that The Elder Scrolls 6 will be an Xbox exclusive. Let’s look at exactly what he said and discuss what it might mean for the series. Phil Spencer Confirms (Softly) The Elder Scrolls 6 as an Xbox Exclusive Image Credit: Bethesda & Xbox Game Studios Phil Spencer loves talking Xbox, and of all places, British GQ is the latest outlet posting the head of Xbox’s thoughts on upcoming games. We know in the near future that all eyes are on Halo Infinite, and next year, Bethesda’s own Starfield. The other major Bethesda IP, other than Fallout of course, is The Elder Scrolls. The sixth game in the series is going to be one of the biggest game launches of all time. Spencer isn’t saying when we can expect the game, but he did hint strongly that we won’t see it outside of the Xbox ecosystem. In the interview, Spencer explained "It's not about punishing any other platform, like I fundamentally believe all of the platforms can continue to grow.” Of course, Bethesda isn’t ever going to ‘push’ Xbox, but it is now part of the Xbox Game Studios family. That blockbuster deal in 2020 where Microsoft acquired Bethesda and ZeniMax Media for $7.5 Billion changed things for Bethesda franchises. We’ve seen Fallout and The Elder Scrolls on PlayStation consoles. Skyrim even got a Switch release. That said, those days are likely over, especially for Xbox’s main competitor, Sony. The Elder Scrolls 6 was assumed to be an Xbox exclusive, but Spencer solidified those sentiments. Here’s what he said about the idea that Xbox Game Studios games are best served on the company’s own console and ecosystem:
While we might not see The Elder Scrolls 6 for years, a major anniversary release of Skyrim just dropped last week. We’ll be playing that until the next game comes! The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition is Out Now Image Credit: Bethesda & Xbox Game Studios As of November 11, eager players anxiously awaiting TES 6 might want to hop into The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition. The Anniversary Edition includes a decade worth of content. Overall, that includes the critically acclaimed core game and add-ons of Skyrim Special Edition, plus pre-existing and new content from Creation Club. These community-created mods are officially adopted expansion to the game. The Creation Club content includes quests, dungeons, bosses, weapons, spells, and even farming. If you’re feeling good or not so good about The Elder Scrolls 6 being an Xbox exclusive, then let us know in the comments! Exclusivity can be cool for some, and suck for other players. Thanks for reading Comic Years for all things gaming, comics, and pop culture. Image Credit: Bethesda & Xbox Game Studios The Elder Scrolls 6 Confirmed To Likely Be An Xbox Exclusive |
| Marvel Exec Says T’Challa Won’t Get Recast In The MCU Posted: 15 Nov 2021 04:09 PM PST It was a huge blow to the Marvel Cinematic Universe fandom when Chadwick Boseman passed away. More specifically, it was a major loss for strong, impactful representation within the MCU to lose its top character of color. Of course, that loss does not surpass the loss of the actor himself. One might wonder what the future of the character holds in the MCU given the fact that Boseman will not get a chance to play the character again. It’s a joy that we got to see him, or hear him that is, in one final Marvel appearance in What If…?. That said, the character T’Challa could live on, but a Marvel exec explained recently that he will not be recast in the MCU. The decision is certain to be decisive, and we’re a bit surprised at what the exec shared on a recent podcast appearance. MCU Will Not Recast T’Challa Character into Future Films Image Credit: Disney & Marvel Studios On The Ringer-Verse podcast, MCU VP of Development Nate Moore appeared to talk all things Marvel. It’s a busy time for the franchise, especially after some major Disney+ Day reveals. Moore didn’t pull any punches or leave room for speculation. Here’s the direct quote from the podcast that honestly surprised me and a lot of others:
Boseman passed away on August 28, 2020. The loss was certainly a surprise to fans and many Marvel execs. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is still just about a year away. It is no surprise that all involved felt shock and lost with many questions unanswered. Firstly, what would a sequel to Black Panther be without the titular hero? Of course, there’s also the question of future MCU storylines. Without T’Challa, the entire microuniverse and narrative around Wakanda was changed in a major way. If you think about it, then you can understand the decision was difficult. That said, it’s a little surprising that they won’t attempt to recast the character. Some online argued that the only decision was to leave T’Challa as a lasting memory of Boseman’s impact on the MCU and the world. As of May 2018, Black Panther earned $1.344 billion USD. The revenue brought in at the box office was only surpassed by the cultural significance of the film. There’s an argument to be made that T’Challa is too vital of a character and symbol to leave behind. Other characters within the first film will certainly get a chance to step up and shine in Black Panther 2. That said, is this the right call? Black Panther 2 Still Set for November 11, 2022 Image Credit: Disney & Marvel Studios Overall, the question of recasting T’Challa isn’t easy. Imagine someone else playing the character; it’s hard, right? Of course, there’s a lot to be said about what characters mean beyond the actors that represent them. The symbolism of a hero goes well beyond the MCU. These characters began on the page, portrayed not by actors but by artists and writers. Does an MCU without T’Challa do more for Boseman or the character than letting him live on with a new actor? I’m not so sure. The plan doesn’t sound fluid; Moore expressed a definite position on the matter. I’m not sure it’s the right call, but I’m curious what everyone reading this thinks. It’s not like any of us want to imagine a T’Challa in the MCU that isn’t Boseman, but doesn’t the character deserve to live on in a new way? It’s not cut and dry one way or the other, that is for sure. If you’re a big-time Black Panther fan, then let us know if you want T’Challa recast in the MCU. More importantly, what do you think of Marvel making that decision so quickly and definitively. I really think it’s worth discussing because of what T’Challa and Boseman meant to so many. There’s a hastiness to this that just doesn’t feel like it’s necessarily the right choice to me. Thanks for reading Comic Years for all things MCU, comics, and pop culture. Featured Image Credit: Disney & Marvel Studios Marvel Exec Says T’Challa Won’t Get Recast In The MCU |
| Doctor Who: Flux Gains Focus While Lost In A Time Storm In “Once, Upon A Time” Posted: 15 Nov 2021 01:53 PM PST The third episode of Doctor Who: Flux marks the halfway point of this serialized story, and it continues to raise the stakes for the universe as we know it in an episode titled “Once, Upon A Time.” The title hearkens back to the Capaldi-era episode “Twice Upon A Time.” That episode saw the official reveal of Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor after Peter Capaldi’s Doctor regenerated. But what do these two episodes have in common? Perhaps the most notable connection is the question of the Doctor’s many faces. In “Twice Upon A Time” former showrunner Steven Moffat wove together the story of the First and Twelfth Doctors. Both of them fought against the regeneration process. In that episode, Moffat also showed viewers the many faces of the Doctor from the classic and current series. And it is that montage of faces that feels particularly pertinent to this week’s episode of Doctor Who as the Thirteenth Doctor finds herself reliving memories from a forgotten incarnation. Let’s dive headfirst into the Time Storm to see what it reveals. Who Gets To Control Time? Image via BBC “Once, Upon A Time” opens where last week’s Sontaran slog of an episode left off. The Doctor and her companions – alongside new ally Vinder – are facing off against Swarm and Azure in the Temple of Atropos. These villains have now officially been labeled as the “Ravagers.” More specifically, they are the Ravagers of Time. They are determined to break Time free from the control of the Mouri – an ancient race that manages the flow of time (on an actual planet named Time). There is a bit in this episode about how Time and Space are constantly battling one another. But Space can never defeat Time. It is an intriguing philosophical concept. One that unfortunately does not give us any real information about what the Ravagers really want. When asked directly by the Doctor what his plan is, Swarm simply cackles and proclaims that he wants to “Reign in Hell.” Which is really not a great motivation. Because this episode shows exactly what that Hell could look like. A universe controlled by all the factions the Doctor has fought for years: Daleks, Cybermen, and Sontarans in control of the Universe and willfully destroying all life and habitable planets to gain supremacy. Doctor Who: Flux Is Bringing In All The Villains At Once Photo by James Pardon via BBC America One thing about Doctor Who that is both a blessing and curse is how many villainous races there are to contend with. Linking all of them together with the Flux is definitely ambitious. However, in this episode alone we caught glimpses of every single race. We saw the Daleks controlling Vinder’s homeworld. Cybermen attacking a new character named Bel (an instant favorite). The Sontarans are still running around trying to conquer everything. And the Weeping Angels are suddenly haunting Yaz. This will undoubtedly be addressed in the next episode – along with the new character of Claire who was introduced in the premiere. New Characters Drive Emotional Stakes Thaddea Graham as Bel | Image via BBC All of these villains at once lend an urgency and apocalyptic feel to the Flux – as it is meant to do. However, at times it can often feel overstuffed and overwhelming. Oh to have one purely character-driven episode in this series, that would be a relief. This episode tried to give us some of that with the character of Bel, who is fleeing her conquered homeworld in search of her lost love. She is a new character with little (obvious) connection to the overall story. But what she does bring to the table is a grounded perspective from a character who is suffering as a result of the Flux. But she keeps going, determined to find her lost lover and be reunited. In a story with so much overwhelming high-stakes universe-ending ramifications, the pure simplicity of Bel’s storyline so far is refreshing. I loved her immediately. Into The Heart Of The Time Storm Photo by James Pardon via BBC America As “Once, Upon A Time” opens we are thrown right into the frantic mindset of the Doctor. She races through all of her options to save her friends. What she chooses is the biggest risk as she throws all of them into the heart of the Time Storm. This concept has been seen in other Doctor Who stories before, notably in the ongoing Doctor Who multimedia event Time Lord Victorious where it has popped up in audio dramas and novelizations. In the heart of the Time Storm, the Doctor’s companions are all pulled away into various time streams. And so begins the Doctor’s hunt through time to find her allies. She is determined to hide them within their own timestreams, to keep them safe from the Ravagers. This is where the story gets weird and trippy, and also far more interesting. As the companions travel back to earlier points of their life (and in some cases, events that have yet to occur) we learn more about them. This is most effective when it comes to the character of Vinder. He is a brand new character who has a lot of question marks hanging over his head. And this episode answers many of them. We see his history with a mysterious organization headed by someone named “The Grand Serpent.” We learn how he wanted to expose the corruption and deceit within the organization, only to be banished to the obscure outpost where we first saw him. Slipping Between Timestreams Image via BBC Vinder might be my new favorite character this season (sorry Dan). And Jacob Anderson is excellent in this role. He brings an element to the show that is desperately needed. A (seemingly) normal human character who is just trying to do his best against all odds. I actually really appreciate the fact that Vinder is not from Earth. He is knowledgeable about the universe and his place in it. He even knows what the TARDIS is! Here is a character who is being thrust into a weird cosmic apocalypse and just rolls with it. He is ready to help, to do the right thing even if it seems impossible. But crucially, he is not about to become a new companion whose whole life revolves around the Doctor. He had his life taken away from him once already. And he is determined to salvage what he can in the face of the looming apocalypse. As the companions relive their past and future memories, they often find the wrong faces staring back at them due to the mixed up timestreams. In Vinder’s case, he finds Yaz constantly filling in for a superior officer, or another guard on duty. It is her appearance that reminds him that this is only a memory. And he begs to be released so he doesn’t have to relive these painful moments. “Once, Upon A Time” does a clever job of exploring Vinder’s backstory through the Time Storm, and making him a character to root for in Doctor Who. The Fugitive Doctor Returns Ruth Clayton (JO MARTIN) – (C) BBC – Photographer: James Pardon However, Vinder isn’t the only one seeing the wrong face in his memories. The Doctor herself finds herself continually returning to a timestream that she believes belongs to someone else – to the history of the Mouri. It is a memory of the last time Swarm and Azure attacked the Mouri, and tried to wrest Time from their control. And it is only when she catches a glimpse of her reflection does she realize the truth. This is her own timestream, but it is from a life that she does not remember. This moment was part of The Fugitive Doctor’s life – as in the character of Ruth who was introduced last season as a previously unknown version of the Doctor. Soon the Doctor’s identity begins to shift between her current incarnation and that of Ruth. I speculated in my review of the Doctor Who: Flux premiere that the characters of Swarm and Azure would have some ties to the Fugitive Doctor. And “Once, Upon A Time” proved that prediction true with a showdown between the Doctor(s) and the two Ravagers. In the past, the Fugitive Doctor captured the two. Presumably this is how Swarm ended up imprisoned and Azure had her identity subsumed into a human life. There are hints that she did this in order to be free of the organization that she was fighting for. But what was this organization – is it the Division we keep hearing about? Is this also the same organization that Vinder was working for? The Many Lives Of The Doctor Image via BBC The premise of the episode – with characters slipping in and out of their own timestreams – is an interesting one. It feels like something we should actually see more of in Doctor Who – the kind of timey-wimey shenanigans that make time travel such an interesting concept. The insertion of the current companions into alternate roles was a bit of cleverness on Chibnall’s part. It allowed the actors to play against type, and flex their acting muscles. But what is most compelling is seeing the Doctor herself slip in and out of her own timestream. Jodie Whittaker is excellent in this episode. Frantic with desperation to save the day (yet again) and fear for her friends (as always). It reminds us that these traits are ingrained in the character of the Doctor. But the look in her eyes when she sees Ruth her reflection (and again later, when she only sees her current face) is powerful understated acting from Whittaker. It reminds us of all the many faces that the Doctor has worn. And all of the unfathomable lives she has lived. We remember that the Doctor is a powerful and ancient being, but one who has made countless mistakes across lifetimes. We wonder at the fact that the Doctor doesn’t slip into other memories and timestreams more often, reliving past lives and identities. And we wonder if that is why Ruth has been erased… and how many other faces and memories may have gone with her. Perhaps we will gain more insight in the coming weeks as Doctor Who: Flux speeds towards the end of this season and Jodie Whittaker’s tenure in the TARDIS. To stay up to date on all of our news and reviews, be sure to follow Comic Years on Facebook and Twitter today. Doctor Who: Flux Gains Focus While Lost In A Time Storm In “Once, Upon A Time” |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Comic Years. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States | |
No comments:
Post a Comment