News Around the Net!

I’m thrilled that the writers’ strike has been resolved with what looks like big wins for the union!  Now I hope the actors strike can be resolved as well as that Hollywood can get back to work.  Here’s an interesting run-down by The Hollywood Reporter of where things stand post-writers’ strike.

One of those updates is that Paramount is reportedly trying to get Star Trek 4 into production quickly.  I’ll believe it when I see it.  It’s sad that Paramount can’t seem to find a way to get their act together to make a new Trek movie!

The recent news that Best Buy was not longer selling physical media (DVDs & blu-rays) made a lot of waves.  Click here to read a fascinating, in-depth article exploring what’s going on and why Hollywood seems to be abandoning its “golden goose” of home video.  I enjoyed seeing ample quotes from Bill Hunt, whose wonderful website, The Digital Bits, I have been reading since the early days of DVD.  (I suspect anyone reading my website would enjoy The Digital Bits!)  A few days later, Bill Hunt published a terrific editorial of his own on The Digital Bits, with his thoughts on how Hollywood could once again reap the financial rewards of physical media (and make fans of physical media — liked me! — very happy!!).  This is a terrific read and well-worth your time.

I’ve backed the fan-funded creation of seasons 12 and 13 of Mystery Science Theater 3000, and I’m excited that they’ve started a campaign for season 14!!  Click here to learn more and to get involved in backing the project.

I’m not wild to learn that Amazon Prime Video will soon start showing ads in its shows and movies (unless, of course, you pay for the more expensive ad-free tier…)  Bummer.

Click here for a look at what seem to be some crazy upheavals happening behind-the-scenes at Marvel’s TV division.  They were deep into filming the new Daredevil show, but have now apparently parted ways with the main writer and director and are starting over.  Wowsers!!  Overall I’ve enjoyed most of the Marvel TV shows on Disney+, though the recent Secret Invasion was a mess.  I hope they can right their ship.

Click here for a lengthy interview with Rick & Morty co-creator Dan Harmon.

Click here to watch a trailer for The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, the last film from the late William Friedkin (who directed The French Connection and many other great films).

I’m interested to read about Guillermo del Toro’s scrapped Star Wars film.  On the one hand, a Guillermo del Toro Star Wars film sounds amazing!!!  The creatures and monsters and aliens would have been incredible.  On the other hand, I’m not exactly hopping at the bit for a Jabba the Hutt movie, and frankly I’m happier for Mr. del Toro to make original films as opposed to trying to fit his unique creative spirit into a pre-existing franchise.

I’ve been interested by what I’ve read about the in-the-works Deadpool 3, and I’m curious how the film will fit into the MCU.  I can’t wait.

Matthew Vaughn recently told a wild story that one of the reasons he quit as the director of X-Men: The Last Stand was that he found out the producers had a plan to trick Halle Berry to reprise her role of Storm by creating a fake Storm-heavy version of the script.  That is an ugly story if it’s true.

Speaking of Matthew Vaughn, here’s a trailer for his new film Argylle:

That looks like a lot of fun!  What a cast!

I was sad to read that Michael Gambon passed away.  Mr. Gambon, of course, played Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films (replacing original Dumbledore actor Richard Harris after Mr. Harris’ death).  Mr. Gambon also appeared in films such as The Insider, Gosford Park, The King’s Speech, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and many others.

Sad news that Keith Giffen has died.  Mr. Giffen co-created Rocket Rackoon, Lobo, the Jaime Reyes version of Blue Beetle (who headlined the recent DC movie), and was a hugely talented and influential comic book creator for decades.

I was also very sad to read that Shawna Trpcic has died.  Ms. Trpcic was the extremely talented costume designer for Ahsoka, The Mandalorian, Firefly, and many more wonderful and iconic shows.

I’m intrigued that Kevin Costner’s next film is a two-part Western epic.  It’s called Horizon: An American Saga.  A two-part movie event?  I like the ambition!

Click here for a fascinating retrospective interview with fantastic comic book creator Matt Wagner.  In the interview, Mr. Wagner talks about the I-still-can’t-believe-it heartbreak that Netflix went and made an entire season of a show adapting his comic book series Grendel, before then deciding to shelve it and never air it.  The filmed the entire first season!!!  And then cancelled the show before it ever aired!!!  Crazy.

I enjoyed Only Murders in the Building season three, and I’m pleased the show has been renewed for season four!

They’re making a TV show spin-off of Guy Ritchie’s movie The Gentlemen…???  OK, that’s a wild idea.  I liked the movie… if they can capture that fun and dangerous tone, that could make for an interesting TV show…

Ridley Scott has a four-hour cut of his upcoming movie Napoleon??  Great, I hope Apple TV+ decides to release it someday!  (I usually like the longer director’s cuts of Mr. Scott’s films more than the theatrical versions… the best example is Kingdom of Heaven, where the theatrical cut was a mess but the director’s cut was a masterpiece.)

I’ll leave you with this: Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 best books about movies of all time.  Wow.  I need to clear my schedule.  I’ve read several of those books but there are so many on that list that I now desperately want to read.  If any of you feel the same, perhaps you’ll use one of my Amazon links to help support my website!  Please and thank you…!

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