Comic Years |
- Hugh Jackman Has COVID – And Many Others On Broadway Too
- The Original Eternals Ending Was Bleak, According to Director Chloé Zhao
- A Lesbian Aunt May – How Marisa Tomei Wanted To Change Her Spider-Man Character
- Stan Lee Predicted Comic Book Collecting And Its Valuable Future (But Is It Still True?)
- The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie Trailer Is Out Now
- Emma Stone For Spider-Gwen Movie At Sony – Possibly, If New Online Rumor Is True
- The Comic Years Podcast: Hawkeye Series Spoiler Discussion
- Who Is The Riddler – A History Of A Silly But Deadly Batman Villain
- Wheel of Time Showrunner Interview – Rafe Judkins Discusses The Season 1 Finale
| Hugh Jackman Has COVID – And Many Others On Broadway Too Posted: 31 Dec 2021 11:14 AM PST He's the Greatest Showman. A magician. Prisoner 24601. A dancing penguin. A vampire hunter. He's the goddamn Wolverine. But just a couple of weeks into his Broadway return as the Music Man, Hugh Jackman announced that he has COVID. Unfortunately, however, he's not the only person on Broadway to catch the virus. Like the rest of the country, the Omicron variant is spreading rapidly and shutting down productions all over the famous theater district surrounding Times Square. Sadly, it doesn't look like it will get better anytime soon. What Did Hugh Jackman Have to Say About Having COVID?Using his Instagram account, the famous sometimes-clawed actor explained that he tested positive but had only mild symptoms. "I just wanted to make sure you heard this from me," he started. "I tested positive for covid. Mild symptoms and looking forward to getting back on stage ASAP! Sending love for a happy and healthy new year." His dog also chimed in at the end to share his support for his fellow wolf-like owner. The Music Man is still in previews on Broadway, but because both stars of the show, Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, are both out with COVID, all future shows have been postponed to January 6th, assuming Jackman can return to the stage. However, Music Man is far from the only Broadway show affected by COVID. COVID is Wreaking Havoc on Broadway – And Not All Productions Will Return (Image: Winter Garden Theater) Though Hugh Jackman might be the biggest name on Broadway that has COVID, dozens of productions had to shut down along with The Music Man. This includes long-running hits such as The Lion King and Aladdin. Tony Award winners for best musicals, like Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, and Hadestown. Recent hits, including Come From Away, Six, American Utopia, and Tina. Brand new shows like Skeleton Crew and Company. There's also the major, blockbuster Broadway double-feature Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. These are all set to return at some point in the near future. Sadly, the long-running hit Waitress is halting production permanently. "We are heartbroken to announce that Waitress on Broadway will be closing effective immediately," the production announced on Twitter, continuing:
Hopefully, other shows don't suffer the same fate. Before Hugh Jackman Came Down with COVID, He Praised the Swings and Understudies Frantically Filling RolesThough productions have to shut down at some point, there are times when the notice is too short, and the show must go on. This was the case on December 23rd when Kathy Voytko found out at noon that she had to play the leading role of Marian Paroo, Sutton Foster's role. Hugh Jackman, who may or may not have had COVID already, took a moment at the curtain call to prase Voytko. Jackman explained to the audience, "Kathy, when she got to work, could have played any of eight roles. Eight roles." Even more impressive, "at one o'clock, she had her very first rehearsal as Marian Paroo." He then brought forward all of the Swings, mentioning them by name and calling them the bedrock of Broadway. But why did Jackman feel the need to praise Voytko and her peers? Well, a few days before Christmas, Broadway League president Charlotte St Martin delivered this early gift:
Yikes. Just a few weeks ago, I was in New York to see Stephen Sondheim's Company with Katrina Link and Patti LuPone. But Patti was out sick (and later tested positive for COVID too). Filling her role was Anisha Nagarajan, a name that will probably be on the marquis one day. Like Voytko, she had to be ready to play any of several roles with only a moment's notice. After Catching COVID, Hugh Jackman Might Have Also Needed a Swing for His Role Is this kid available? (Image: 20th Century Pictures) St Martin issued a lackluster apology the day after her original comments. If The Music Man continued after Hugh Jackman came down with COVID, some Swing would have to go on. Sometimes, audiences are less than kind when the theater announces a Swing. But even the big names have to take breaks. When they return, Jackman, Sutton, and the rest of the company will perform eight shows a week. They get Mondays off. There's always the chance that the star you wanted to see won't be able to perform that day. But audiences should never grumble. That Swing might not just be good – they might be better. You also never know that if you go to the theater to see, say, Alan Cummings (Nightcrawler!), you could see someone who would turn out even more famous – like Neil Patrick Harris. (This actually happened to some friends of mine). In the meantime, we wish Hugh Jackman and all of Broadway affected with COVID or otherwise quick recoveries. And if you happen to go to see The Music Man and Jackman can't perform, sit back and enjoy the show anyway. That Swing could be the next, well, Hugh Jackman. (Featured Image: 20th Century Pictures) Hugh Jackman Has COVID – And Many Others On Broadway Too |
| The Original Eternals Ending Was Bleak, According to Director Chloé Zhao Posted: 31 Dec 2021 07:32 AM PST We all know how important the end of a movie is. It’s the conclusion, after all. The thing that takes a good movie and turns it into a great one. But with great power comes great responsibility, and we’ve all seen the disastrous ways in which bad endings have ruined perfectly good movies. One ending that recently when in a direction different than its first drafts was one of Marvel’s latest. According to director Chloé Zhao, the original Eternals ending was quite different. This would have led to a changed future for the MCU, as well as our now-beloved new heroes. So, let’s compare what we got with what could have been. The Original Eternals Ending Would Have Made Us More Sad Thanks To Chloé ZhaoEternals was always going to be an adventurous project for Marvel Studios. It brings in a whole squad of new heroes into the cinematic universe’s fourth phase, playing with themes of mortality and fate in ways that we’ve never considered. It also had extremely high stakes. Like, end-of-the-world stakes. Oh, and the first sex scene and first gay superhero in the MCU! The Celestial Arishem sends 10 Eternals to Earth. Ajak, Sersi, Ikaris, Sprite, Phastos, Makkari, Druig, Gilgamesh, and Thena have one mission: to save humans from Deviants. They can ignore everything else, (including Thanos) as long as Deviants aren’t involved. After seemingly exterminating the creatures and parting ways for centuries, the Eternals go on to learn that their true mission includes leaving Earth for the Emergence. This event would see the birth of another Celestial, Tiamut, but would end all other life on the planet. The Emergence is stopped, despite two Eternals, Ikaris and Spirte, trying to interfere. The film ends with Thena, Druig, and Makkari leaving Earth in search of other Eternals. Sersi, Phastos, and Kingo are pulled into space by Arishem, who is displeased with their betrayal. Meanwhile, Sprite gets to stay on Earth. It’s an ending that gives closure to some characters and gives plenty of potential to others, with a clear route toward at least one sequel.  Image via Marvel Studios. So What Was The Ending That Chloé Zhao Planned?Zhao co-wrote the screenplay for the film, along with Patrick Burleigh, Ryan Firpo, and Kaz Firpo. These credits mean that she has more control over the film than most directors, as she was involved since some early stages. She, along with the rest of the writing team, developed an original Eternals ending that looks different than the one that we got. In a recent interview with Empire, Zhao explained that she has never made a film where the end plays out exactly as it was written. This saved the film from a bleak ending, which she explains further:
The group would have been joined by another character, too. She adds that Eros (Harry Styles) “was going to be one of the Eternals on that ship” with the “depressing ending.” This means that a sequel would have still been set up through that post-credit scene, but it would have a different start than the one that we’ll be getting.  Image via Marvel Studios. Would The Original Eternals Ending Have Worked with Audiences?We don’t always need happy endings. And sometimes bleak is good, which was recently proven again with Adam McKay’s Don’t Look Up. However, erasing minds can mean that character development gets erased. Future sequels would need to start with an entirely new setup for getting our characters back to a place where we recognize them. And considering how much development some of our heroes went through, we can see why Zhao thinks that it’s a bleak ending. This sort of depressing ending would work wonders in another Zhao-directed film, as she’s known for her realistic portrayals of humanity. In fact, the same interview shares Zhao saying that she is used to more melancholy films. And sometimes that humanity is bleak, or filled with moments of melancholy! But one of our favorite things about comic book adaptations is the fun source material, and this is a story that we’re happy to see with an ending that promises some joy. You can stream Eternals on Disney+ starting on January 12th.Readers, we want to hear your honest opinions on the original Eternals ending that Chloé Zhao is talking about. Would it have made the film better, or worse? It’s already a divisive film, earning some odd and often clashing critical reviews on sites like Rotten Tomatoes. We think that this ending would only increase the differences in opinion! Featured image via Marvel Studios. The Original Eternals Ending Was Bleak, According to Director Chloé Zhao |
| A Lesbian Aunt May – How Marisa Tomei Wanted To Change Her Spider-Man Character Posted: 30 Dec 2021 11:21 PM PST Aunt May is one of the most iconic characters in comics, and she does that by barely even punching anyone. There have been many iterations of Aunt May in comics and film, but overall the recipe remains the same. Good mother, dead husband, endangered child, and she's nice. Spider-Man: No Way Home somehow changed a lot with the MCU's Spider-Man while also keeping him very in-line with the comics, and they almost did the same with May. In a recent interview, Marisa Tomei revealed she campaigned for Aunt May to be a lesbian in No Way Home, and we kind of have to talk about what a gay Aunt May would have meant in the context of the series. Spoilers for No Way Home incoming. Marisa Tomei As Lesbian Aunt MayIn the MCU's Spider-Man, Uncle Ben has been out of the picture for a while, and Aunt May is living a quiet life raising Peter to be the best (Spider) man he can be. According to Tomei, that was her reasoning for arguing for May to have a girlfriend. Tomei said "There was a moment, where I felt that May — maybe she should just be with a woman because Ben is gone," which is an interesting idea that would have worked well with this interpretation of Aunt May.  Image via Sony pictures Whether this means she was always Bi or, like many adults, didn't realize she was super gay until later in life doesn't really make a difference in the story. She still loved Ben, and now she's dating again. Aunt May as she's often depicted is a very externally driven character, and this change would have given her something she wanted that wasn't based on the tragedy that's hovering around her. They still did that a little bit by having the whole relationship with Happy being a way for May to find some joy of her own, but why be with Happy when she could be with Sony Producer Amy Pascal? Tomei wanted the longtime Sony and Spider-Man producer to play the role of her girlfriend. Marisa Tomei's Aunt May was an interesting take on the character. She was younger, more energetic, and lively than she has been in the comics. She very much had the cool Aunt energy which played off Peter being a strait-laced nerd boy. The character almost feels incomplete without a cool girlfriend, and Marisa Tomei as lesbian Aunt May probably would have gotten Spider-Man: No Way Home to a billion dollars faster than Endgame. Burying The Theoretical GaysLesbian Aunt May died before she could ever come to the big screen but would it have been cruel to give this character a chance to have a happy romance only to kill her in the same movie that's revealed. The film industry loves killing off gay characters, so it's almost a surprise they didn't follow through and make Aunt May gay. Selfishly, I'd almost rather she remained straight if only to not add to the legions of characters for whom coming out is a way to add quick emotional depth before they die.  Image via Sony Pictures However, another buried gay is the start and end of the list for reasons it would have been a bad idea for Aunt May to be gay. In reaction to the news that Marisa Tomei wanted to make Aunt May a lesbian, some fans argue that this shows Tomei didn't understand the character, which is fundamentally silly when there's a multiverse of villains and nephews duking it out on the streets of New York. If there are infinite Aunt Mays, some of them are going to be gay. And maybe even one of them survives. But that doesn't matter either because making her bi wouldn't change the character in any way they haven't already changed her. It's funny that the same people frothing at the mouth at the idea of Aunt May loving women were quiet when she was romantically involved with Happy. Would Lesbian Aunt May Still Be Aunt May?Yes. Developing a character in a new direction doesn’t fundamentally change the character fundamentally. Aunt May is Aunt May if she's Peter's Aunt and mother-figure. If she hits the overall personality beats, the character works. However, pretty much every time a character is written with a shade of queerness to them, very sweaty-looking folk in the comment sections ask why they don't just create a new character instead of sullying the pristine heterosexuality of their favorite characters. Again, the same people were pretty quiet when this Peter was younger, or when Tony was the father figure and Ben was barely mentioned, or any of the other changes this trilogy made. Sure, people whined, but not in the volume they do when a character comes out.  Image via Sony Pictures We don't have to unpack the implication that these people see a gay version of the characters they love as a different and worse version of the ones they love. We're not going to unpack that at all. Instead, we can note that Aunt May having a lesbian awakening late in life would have been an interesting way of adding some depth to the character, showing she was still working on herself independent of the men in her life. That's a good thing for characters to have. It's like seeing NPCs in games interacting independent of your character, but we didn't get cool gay Aunt May, so we'll just hold out for other gay characters in the MCU. You can still catch Spider-Man: No Way Home in theaters now!What would you think of a lesbian Aunt May? Talk to us about it on Twitter! Featured image via Sony Pictures A Lesbian Aunt May – How Marisa Tomei Wanted To Change Her Spider-Man Character |
| Stan Lee Predicted Comic Book Collecting And Its Valuable Future (But Is It Still True?) Posted: 30 Dec 2021 07:05 PM PST It's hard to overstate how important Stan Lee was to making comic books a part of American culture. Yes, he ran the Marvel Comics bullpen, and his pitchman antics always focused on their characters. Yet, more so than just being an advocate for his company, Stan Lee believed in the medium more so than maybe anyone else. Here's one piece of proof. In the mid-1970s, Stan Lee predicted that comic book collecting was going to be a good investment. This was at a time when parents and even comic book readers thought that these funny books for kids were as disposable as diapers. Thankfully, it's that attitude that proved the Marvel Editor Emeritus correct in the long-term. Yet is comic book collecting still lucrative? A decade or so after Marvel Comics burst on to the scene in a big way, Stan Lee backed away from his editorial role. The company was making money and hiring writers, artists, and editors so he had less to do. Yet, because of his willingness to be the voice and face of Marvel, Stan Lee continued to be the biggest advocate comic books ever had. If you look through clips of his interviews on YouTube, you see that most of what he talks about is how seriously he takes these stories. Sure, he admits that they are flights of fancy, but he sees that as a 'feature' and not 'a bug.' I am not sure if Stan Lee really predicted the comic book collecting marketplace because of smarts or simply because he just believed in the work so much. At the time of this interview, the first appearance of Spider-Man in Amazing Fantasy #15 was selling for hundreds of dollars. Today, a copy of that comic book sells for millions. How Stan Lee Predicted Comic Book Collecting and Its Value for 'Investors' Image via Marvel Comics When faced with questions about the imaginative content of the stories, Stan Lee never talked down the stories. Rather, he said that teenaged and adult readers proved their intelligence by seeing the themes in these stories that they find in classic myth and literature. He admitted that Marvel Comics artists had to rush through their work in order to meet deadlines, yet again he flipped that as evidence of the talent of these powerhouses of penciling. Even before comic book collecting was in vogue, first editions of books and art and paintings were already high-value collectibles. Yet, I have another theory as to why Stan Lee predicted that comic book collecting would become a thing. He couldn't bear parents and kids just throwing these books in the trash. Here's what he said in the interview:
So, it's less that Stan Lee predicted comic book collecting, and more that he simply noticed that collectors turned their eyes to the medium. Today, The Marketplace for Collectible Comics Is Very Different Image by Gage Skidmore via Flickr Stan Lee goes on to clarify that Howard the Duck #1 was a special case, but still evidence of both the potential and unpredictability of what these collectors will want. Yet, as per usual, Lee shifts the conversation from their value as items to their value as literature. It's ironic, but Stan Lee the pitchman was less business savvy and more unbridled love for this form of storytelling. To him that people were paying lots of money to collect these books validated his views on how important these stories are to readers. (And that these readers were not all just kids.) Fast-forward 20 years, and most of America agreed with him on both counts. By this time, Watchmen came out and people were looking at comic books and graphic novels with new eyes. The comic book collecting boom happened, and (again, ironically) are why collecting comic books is not an easy hobby to break into anymore if you're goal is to make a profit. In the new documentary Slugfest on Roku, one episode deals with The Death of Superman comic. Millions and millions of copies of Superman #75 were sold to people thinking they had just made the best investment of their lives. Yet, unlike stocks, the more people who buy a comic book, the less it will be worth. Today, you can get a copy of that comic book for just a few bucks. Also, the CGC is a new factor in the hobby. This group grades comics, but they don't do it for free. Collectors have to pay anywhere from $20 to $100 (or a percentage of the book's value up to $5,000) to get a grade. I don't think Stan Lee predicted that collecting comic books for a profit would become so, well, costly. Watch the Interview where Stan Lee predicts the comic book collecting fad below:What do you think? Share your thoughts, opinions, and reasons for collecting comics in the comments below. (Also, Stan’s comic book collecting comments start at around the 24-minute and thirty-seconds mark.) Featured image: Digital painting by Abijith Ka via Wikimedia Commons Stan Lee Predicted Comic Book Collecting And Its Valuable Future (But Is It Still True?) |
| The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie Trailer Is Out Now Posted: 30 Dec 2021 02:33 PM PST There are a few writers at Comic Years who love anime. I tend to lean a lot more on the romance, slice of life side of things. Call me crazy, but with all the chaos of the world, I just want something to make me feel good. Of course, not all shojo anime are created equal. Some dive into deeper topics, such as loss, anxiety, or even death. The Quintessential Quintuplets is a bit less serious. The premise of the series is simple. A poor tutor takes on the academic fate of five sisters who want nothing to do with learning. The series, which is certainly fun, also has beautiful moments of life lessons learned in real-time. Good news: fans of the anime can soon catch the featured film coming in 2022. If you loved the anime, then you’ll definitely want to check out The Quintessential Quintuplets movie trailer. Here Comes the Bride: It’s The First Trailer for The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie Image Credit: Crunchyroll After the second season of The Quintessential Quintuplets, we learned at least one of the five sisters is taking herself out of the running. What’s at stake, non-watchers might ask? The overarching mystery in the series is who ends up marrying Futaro, the tutor who ends up teaching them all about who they truly are. In a manga turned anime ripe with romance, drama, and humor, this is the most suspenseful part of the show. We have one sister technically out of the running following Miku’s heartfelt statement at the end of season two. That leaves four sisters who might fall for Futaro before all is said and done. The manga wrapped up in February 2020 just short of three years as a running series in Weekly Shōnen Magazine in Japan. The series came to the West in translated volumes. With an anime that took off, the final season ended up changing into a full-blown theatrical release. This is a trend we see more and more with anime’s growing popularity. In the new trailer for the movie, we see The Quintessential Quintuplets briefly in little vignettes akin to the gorgeous anime animations. Masato Jinbo is directing the film, with the main staff of the second season returning to reprise their roles. That means this will finally conclude the series in a big way. That said, some fans, myself included, wonder if a film is the best way to wrap up this story. Will More Anime Series Switch to Featured Films for Big Conclusions? Image Credit: Crunchyroll It’s not something that’s happening in great numbers yet, but you can feel it. More and more anime production companies seem to consider featured films as a good way to wrap up the main storyline. We see no better example of this than the Demon Slayer: Mugen Train box office record surpassing Spirited Away in Japan. This is a manga turned anime just years old, not decades, overtaking possibly the best Studio Ghibli film in history. If the money is there, then studios stand to make much more profit from theatrical releases than traditional series broadcasts. There’s no denying anime’s rising popularity in the West is part of this phenomenon. As The Quintessential Quintuplets movie takes over a third anime season, I’m left wondering what’s the best move. As long as we get everything adapted from the manga that matters, I’m happy. That said, 13 30-minute episodes of an anime is a lot longer than presumably a 2-hour movie. Pacing in a film is also much different than a series. With millions of readers and viewers of the manga and anime, The Quintessential Quintuplets is one of the most beloved shojo stories as of late. This award-winning anime might fare better with a series, but this is the reality we have. For a story I adore so much, I worry a film is the quicker, less effective way to wrap things up. I worry a movie offers less time to breathe as well. We’ll just have to wait and see when the film releases next year. The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie Trailer Reveals a May 20, 2022 Release DateIn the new trailer, a release date for The Quintessential Quintuplets revealed a May 20, 2022, arrival in theaters. That means we’ll get the movie in a few short months. That’s great news for fans who might worry that a large gap loomed ahead of the conclusion of this story. Nevertheless, we’ll see our favorite quintuplets and beloved tutor again soon. If you’re excited about the arrival of the movie, then let us know in the comments. Take time to chime in on the movie vs. series approach as well. I don’t think there’s a “right” way to end a great anime, but I want your thoughts too. If you want to check out the show, then stream the first two seasons on Crunchyroll now! Thanks for reading Comic Years for all things anime, comics, and pop culture. Featured Image Credit: Crunchyroll The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie Trailer Is Out Now |
| Emma Stone For Spider-Gwen Movie At Sony – Possibly, If New Online Rumor Is True Posted: 30 Dec 2021 11:44 AM PST With the massive success for Spider-Man: No Way Home, both Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios proved their universe is big enough for many characters. Also, The Amazing Spider-Man series is in the midst of something of a renaissance. People realize that they were perhaps a bit too harsh on these films. Sure, they have issues (what movie doesn't?) but the kids who grew up with these movies love them as much as any Spidey film. So, whether this is an actual leaked rumor or just a good guess, Sony Pictures wants Emma Stone for a Spider-Gwen movie. There are reasons to both believe and be skeptical about this rumor, if only for the mercurial nature of Hollywood contracts. Still, let's see where this comes from and if it's true. It's not just the success of the latest live-action movie. The success of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which featured Spider-Gwen as a central character, also plays a role in Sony Pictures' decision-making. Yet, the desire to build a franchise as cheaply as possible (especially in the 2021 box office climate) gives us pause. If Sony Pictures wants to make a Spider-Gwen live-action movie for the purposes of a new franchise, would they go with Emma Stone and her take on Gwen? There is also the Peter Parker problem, specifically that they'd be expected to bring back Andrew Garfield just to kill him. Yet, if the last decade of superhero movies and TV series have proven anything, it's that anything is possible. Especially with the resurgence of love for the Spider-Man universe with Emma Stone as Gwen, why not try to capitalize on that with a new movie? Let the speculation begin! Emma Stone for Spider-Gwen Live-Action Sony Movie – Why the Rumor Might Be True Image via Sony Pictures Before I got to write about whimsy and stories on a daily basis, I was a regular-old reporter. So, that means any story is only as good as its source. In the entertainment space, especially for these big franchises, there is a cottage industry of online leakers on Twitter and Reddit with a mixed bag of success. There are those people who just get it wrong, of course. They're easy to spot. There are also those who have a legitimate source and report what they are told as factually as they can. Finally, there are those who just make educated guesses, including those built off of other, confirmed leaks and rumors. In the case of Sony wanting Emma Stone for a Spider-Gwen movie, the rumor comes from two specific leakers.
One of them is My Time To Shine Hello (MTSH), an anonymous leaker on Twitter and most active on Reddit. Their record is a mixed bag of close-to-accurate predictions and wild speculation seemingly based off of other leaks. To be clear, I am not suggesting that MTSH is just making stuff up, but rather that they seem to be less judicious than some about what rumors they pass on. In this case, MTSH is just co-signing the rumor that Sony Pictures wants Emma Stone for a live-action Spider-Gwen movie. The original source is Twitter user @EdwinSRP, who started tweeting in November 2021. Looking back through the tweets, this person has been right about everything. (It's possible they delete wrong predictions, but there is no evidence such as ghost replies to a deleted tweet or anything.) Also, all EdwinSRP is saying is that Sony is open to the idea, meaning if talks are even going on with the actor they are in very preliminary stages. Why a Ghost Spider Film From Sony Might Actually Be Very Different Image via Marvel Entertainment In 2018, Marvel Comics decided to change the name of Spider-Gwen to Ghost Spider. If Sony Pictures and Marvel Entertainment hope to keep character branding consistent, they may want to kickstart a franchise with a new and, let's face it, younger actor. Okay, clarification and caveat time. At the age of 33, Emma Stone is perfectly capable of playing Spider-Gwen or Ghost Spider or even Gwenpool. She is a recognizable name and has history with the character of Gwen Stacy. There is no maximum age limit for a woman superhero character. Betty White could be one. Still, it’s possible that Sony Pictures is taking a page out of Marvel Studios' playbook. Rather than going with a big name for a marquee Spider-Verse character, they could cast a younger, relative unknown in the role. This would both establish this Ghost Spider is a brand-new thing, and Sony Pictures would save money on actor salary. They also might want to lock down an actor who has fewer options than Stone into a long-term deal. And as much as the Amazing movies are having a renaissance, there is no guarantee that goodwill lasts beyond No Way Home.  Image via Sony Pictures Another reason why the rumor that Sony Pictures wants Emma Stone for a Spider-Gwen movie might not be true comes down to diversity. For all the classic Spider-Man love we're seeing, there are people clamoring for more stories with Miles Morales. So, Sony Pictures might introduce a Ghost Spider film featuring a non-white actor in the Gwen Stacy role. Sony also reportedly has projects in the works for Spider-Woman and Silk. They also want to do TV shows, like the reported Jackpot project. There is an appetite for Spider-Verse characters, but for how many? Verdict: The Rumor that Sony Pictures Wants Emma Stone for a Spider-Gwen Movie Is Plausible Not a Certainty Image via Marvel Entertainment In terms of how truthful this rumor is, we say that it feels like an educated guess or one of many options Sony is considering. The original source appears to have a solid track record of being right. The second source is less solid, but still not one we can fairly dismiss out-of-hand. Still, we do not put this report on the same level as one from one of the Hollywood trades or other sites with more solid track records when it comes to sourcing. Yet, if they later report something similar, we should take note that at least one of these leakers seems to have a genuine insider source at Sony or Marvel. A Spider-Gwen movie starring Emma Stone does make sense for Sony on one hand. She's an established actor playing a version of a character audiences are familiar with. Spider-Man: No Way Home showed that there is still an appetite for Spider stories outside of the MCU. Still, this feels like it would be in the very early stages and the type of project that can fall through for any number of reasons. It's also possible that Stone herself has moved on from this experience and wants to do different things as an actor.  Image via Sony Pictures Spider-Man: No Way Home is currently in theaters, Across the Spider-Verse (Part One) is coming October 7, 2022.What do you think? Do you believe Sony Pictures wants Emma Stone for a Spider-Gwen or Ghost Spider movie? Would you like to see that? If not her, who would you want to play Gwen Stacy or Ghost Spider? Share your thoughts, theories, and fan casting in the comments below. Featured image via Sony Pictures. Emma Stone For Spider-Gwen Movie At Sony – Possibly, If New Online Rumor Is True |
| The Comic Years Podcast: Hawkeye Series Spoiler Discussion Posted: 30 Dec 2021 07:00 AM PST In a year with countless new Marvel Studios projects, everything feels like a blur. After a long drought of MCU content from before, 2021 saw everything from WandaVision to Loki, and even cinematic offerings like The Eternals and Spider-Man: No Way Home. No one can be more surprised than me when the MCU Disney+ series about the 'lesser' Avenger, is ranking up there with the rest. With Hawkeye coming to a close, the Comic Years Podcast team reunites to break it all down and talk about where the show stood among all those other Marvel releases. So, check out this Hawkeye series spoiler podcast to close out the MCU year of 2021.
How Hawkeye Was the Underdog of the MCU Disney+ Shows Image via Disney Plus. Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye character was always considered to be less than the other Avengers. Just a guy with a bow and arrow standing back-to-back with a God, an armored suit and a super soldier; among others. Throughout the Marvel Studios run of its shared universe, filmmakers have found unique and creative ways for Hawkeye to stand out. Things like his corruption at the hands of Loki in the first Avengers. Or the reveal of his family in Avengers: Age of Ultron. To a dark turn and eventual return from it in Avengers: Endgame. You'd think given that history, that the Hawkeye series wouldn't have been as good or important as the others we got this year. I mean, WandaVision kickstarted the MCU Disney+ shows with a bang with its depiction of grief and reality-altering powers. Loki continued with the introduction of time travel and the multiverse within a love story. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier tackled racial issues in the MCU. And What If…? gave us amazing alternative stories with our favourite characters. So, a show about the human Avenger training a younger replacement didn't feel as— epic. And it wasn’t, but maybe that’s just what MCU audiences needed. How the Hawkeye Series Stands Out from the Rest of the Disney+ Marvel Shows Image via Disney Plus. The fact that the Hawkeye series didn't deal with world-ending consequences was to its benefit. While the other shows had repercussions that we will be feeling through the MCU in the future, Hawkeye kept the stakes close to its protagonist. The story was a personal one, the stakes were specific to these characters, but the action and heart were huge! And even after everything is said and done, the impact of the story is limited to these characters and their experiences through this series. With some, exceptions like the fate of Maya (Alaqua Cox) and the surprise big bad of the show, revealed in the finale. And as Joshua mentions in the podcast, the fact that 30-plus-year-olds can finally relate to a superhero with the Dad- energy that Renner brings to this show, is something we didn't realize we needed. Feeling close to a dad with too much on his plate, but still having to clean up the mess of yet another kid, is the level of exasperation we all feel. The slow texting and the falling asleep on the couch are acts we can totally relate to. Much more than riding a magic hammer in the wind. Finally, a Marvel superhero that feels like the everyday person that we all are. If that wasn't clear from his other appearances, then Hawkeye series drives that point home. The Hawkeye Series Spoiler Podcast Goes into All Things MCU in 2021During this spoiler podcast of Hawkeye series, the Comic Years Podcast team of Joshua M. Patton, Meghan Hale and Roman Colombo breakdown why they related to and loved the show. Meghan especially felt a kinship to the series, and so she explains why it was this show that stood out for her. Joshua sets out to rank all the Marvel Studios releases from this past year and takes some hits for his choices. Check out this Hawkeye series spoiler podcast to see where the team puts their favourite MCU shows and movies this year. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the Comic Years Podcast on all the various podcasting platforms we are on. Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcast. And be sure to check out all our previous episodes covering many of the Marvel Studios' Disney Plus shows. All episodes of Hawkeye is now streaming on Disney+Let us know where Marvel shows and movies ranked on your list, and if you agree or disagree with ours, in the comments below. Featured image via Disney Plus. The Comic Years Podcast: Hawkeye Series Spoiler Discussion |
| Who Is The Riddler – A History Of A Silly But Deadly Batman Villain Posted: 30 Dec 2021 03:04 AM PST Dear reader: which Batman supervillain likes to wear green, enjoys puzzles, and was once played by Jim Carrey? Give up? The Riddler! Thanks to the recent The Bat and The Cat trailer for The Batman, fans got to see a little bit more of the riddle-loving antagonist. But who is this villain and what is his character’s backstory? In today’s blog post, I’m looking at: who is the Riddler and what is the history of The Riddler? Who Is The Riddler And What Are His Powers? Image via DC Comics The Riddler (alias: Edward Nigma, later Edward Nygma and Edward Nashton) is one of Batman’s silliest villains, but make no mistake; the Riddler is deadly and should be taken seriously. As a boy, young Edward Nigma was fascinated with puzzles. After his teacher announces a contest where whoever solves a puzzle fastest wins a prize, Edward breaks into the school to practice the puzzle until he is able to solve it in under a minute. When he ends up winning and is given a book of riddles as a prize, he becomes enamored with the idea that cheaters always come out on top, and he embraces puzzles of all kinds. Eventually, he becomes a carnival employee who excels at cheating his customers out of their money with his bizarre puzzles and mind games. He soon seeks out bigger fish to fry, namely the Dynamic Duo of Batman and Robin. He disguises himself as the “Riddler” to challenge them, believing they are worthy adversaries. The name Edward Nigma is a pun itself (E. Nigma, or enigma, is a person or thing that is difficult to understand). His crimes are usually very attention-grabbing and flamboyant and usually depicted as less violent than other Batman villains (e.g. The Joker). He likes to wear green, usually wearing a domino mask paired with a green unitard with question mark prints, or a green suit and bowler hat. His symbol is often a black, green, or purple question mark. The Riddler has genius-level intelligence, which is why he is obsessed with and excels at riddles, puzzles, and word games. He loves basking in his “intellectual superiority” and will often send complex clues in the forms of riddles to both Batman the Gotham City police department. He has excellent deductive and analytical skills and is a great escapologist, having been a huge fan of Harry Houdini. He carries a steel question mark shaped cane called the Riddler’s Cane that houses several devices, including holograms, a security bypass, and electrical blasts. He also has a Question Mark Grapple Gun, which shoots out grappling hook pistols. He often has puzzle-based weapons too, such as exploding jigsaw puzzle pieces and crossword puzzle throwing nets. The History Of The Riddler Image via DC Comics The Riddler character first appeared in Detective Comcis #140 in October 1948 and was thought up by Bill Finger and Dick Sprang. Edward Nigma was abused as a child, which led to him seeking comfort in puzzles and riddles as it gave him some control over “solving” a problem. He’s one of the most enduring enemies of Batman and has been adapted for various media including films, television series, and video games. While the Riddler may seem silly, he can cause a lot of damage. As mentioned before, some of his crimes aren’t considered as violent as others, but it ultimately depended on the story arc and iteration of the character. For example, in Batman: Earth One, the Riddler is a serial killer that murders people whether they answer the riddles he poses or not. On the other hand, there have been a few versions of the Riddler where he tries to reform himself or turns against the other villains that are going after Batman. Even in live-action versions, Carrey’s Riddler seems far more ridiculous than Dano’s upcoming version in The Batman. The director himself, Matt Reeves, had wanted to base his Riddler on the Zodiac Killer, a notorious serial killer in the San Francisco Bay area during the 1970s who was never captured. A live-action Riddler was first seen in the 1960s Batman television series, portrayed by Frank Gorshin and John Asin. More recently Jim Carrey played the villain in the 1995 Batman Forever and Cory Michael Smith portrayed him in the television series, Gotham. And, of course, everyone is looking forward to Paul Dano playing him in the upcoming film, The Batman, next year. The Riddler has been voiced by John Glover in the DC animated universe and Robert Englund in The Batman video game and Wally Wingert in the Batman: Arkham video game series. What About Some Riddles? Image via Warner Bros. Riddles, you say? It wouldn’t be a blog post about the history of the Riddler without some of the supervillain’s best riddles! In the Gotham episode “Under the Knife,” Ed Nygma poses the question to an abusive police officer, Dougherty: “I can start a war or end one. I can give you the strength of heroes or leave you powerless. I might be snared with a glance, but no force can compel me to stay. What am I?” The answer? Love. In Batman Forever, the Riddler asks: “If you look at the numbers on my face, you won’t find 13 anyplace.” The answer? A clock! On a much cheesier note, Frank Gorshin’s Riddler from the 1960s asked: “Which president wore the biggest hat?” The answer? “The one with the biggest head.” Cue my dad joke face palm. Catch a glimpse of the Riddler in the trailer for The Batman below: The Batman will be in theaters March 4, 2022, and later streaming on HBO Max on April 19, 2022.Do you feel like you have a better idea of who the Riddler is? What do you think of the version glimpsed in The Batman? Is there anything I’m missing in my history of the Riddler? Let me know in the comments below! Featured image via Fox Who Is The Riddler – A History Of A Silly But Deadly Batman Villain |
| Wheel of Time Showrunner Interview – Rafe Judkins Discusses The Season 1 Finale Posted: 29 Dec 2021 10:48 PM PST As the first season of The Wheel of Time weaves its dramatic conclusion, even long-time fans of the books are wondering what will come next. Amazon Prime has created an adaptation that is fresh and exciting. The changes made in translation may be controversial for some fans, but it is all part of the plan. In a recent interview, Wheel of Time showrunner Rafe Judkins answered some questions about the season 1 finale in an interview – and where the series will go from here. Wheel of Time Showrunner Interview Addresses Book to Show Changes Image via Amazon Prime Video. Wheel of Time showrunner Rafe Judkins has spoken before about how he is approaching the epic adaptation in interviews. Rather than sticking to one book per season, he is looking at the series as a whole. This means moving some storylines around, and changing some character backstory. In this way, some of the later characters who are major players will be brought to the foreground earlier.  Screenshot via Amazon Prime In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Rafe Judkins spoke about these changes.
Rafe Judkins Teases Wheel of Time Season 2 In InterviewAny showrunner on a series as big as this will inevitably be tight-lipped about what is to come. However, Wheel of Time showrunner Rafe Judkins did drop some hints about what we can expect to see in season 2. He says that “season 2, for all our characters, will be about peeling back the surface. And trying to understand what balance between dark and light they’re all trying to find within themselves.” Additionally, in the interview Rafe Judkins says that “Fans of the books will see that some characters are diving more into their book two story in season 2. And some of them are diving more into their book three story in season 2… We have a big round-up point at the end of season 2 that reconnects everything and pushes us off in a new direction where we’ve completed all the stories we need to get through. Albeit in a slightly different order so we can compress them.”  Photo by Jan Thijs via Amazon Studios Rafe Judkins also spoke in this interview about the additions made to the stories we saw in season 1. Including the new storyline regarding the Warders and a focus on Lan and Moiraine. Namely he wanted to dig into the bond between Aes Sedai and Warder. Something that will be highly important to know about down the line. There will be some changes to their storyline, in order to give the characters larger focus in seasons to come.
Spoiler Alert: Your Favorite Character Is Not Dead Image via Amazon Prime Finally, Rafe Judkins reassures fans in this interview that he is not about to kill off their favorite characters. Specifically Loial – who was wounded in the season 1 finale. Viewers were concerned that Loial was dead after that scene. But Judkins wants us to know that the character is alive and well. And we will see more of the lovable Ogier next season.
Season 1 of The Wheel of Time is currently streaming all episodes on Amazon Prime. With the show’s success on the streaming network confirmed, it is likely that we will be hearing plenty more from Rafe Judkins about Wheel of Time in the years to come. For more genre news and reviews, be sure to follow Comic Years on Facebook and Twitter today! (Featured image via Tor/Forge) Wheel of Time Showrunner Interview – Rafe Judkins Discusses The Season 1 Finale |
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