News Around the Net

Let’s start with the first trailer for Marvel’s Fantastic Four:

That’s a great trailer!  I love the 1960’s retro-futuristic vibe; perfect for the FF.  The Thing looks amazing.  (Finally!!)  And seeing Galactus at the end, with his classic weird helmet looking exactly right, made me very happy.  Boy do I hope this is good!!

Also terrific: this first look at James Gunn’s Superman movie:

I’ve watched that trailer a LOT of times!!  I love the look; I love the vibe.  I like how it starts with Superman beaten down and ends with him rising in hope and triumph.  I like the look of his costume.  I like the bright colors.  I like seeing Superman saving people.  I LOVE KRYPTO!!!  I can’t believe we’re seeing Krypto in a live-action Superman story!  I love the look of the Justice League characters, most especially Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner (in an appropriately ridiculous hairdo).  I love hearing John Williams’ classic score, albeit in a fun new way.  I am counting the days.

Bumping back to Marvel, here’s a trailer for Daredevil: Born Again:

It’s fascinating how much that trailer seems to position this show as a direct sequel to the Netflix Daredevil show, with shots of lots of returning characters from that show (even Bullseye from season three!).  That’s a surprise!  I’m a little sad they seem to have abandoned the more fun-loving version of Matt Murdock glimpsed so wonderfully on She-Hulk… but I’m interested to seeing what they’ve cooked up here.

I’m excited to read that, despite his many comments from last year, it’s now looking more likely that Denis Villeneuve is going to move forward on a third Dune film as his next movie, adapting Dune: Messiah!  Yay!!

In other Dune news, I’m glad, I guess, that Dune: Prophecy was renewed for a second season, though I was let down by the first season.  (My review is coming soon.)

I’m so happy to hear that production on Shrinking season 2 is underway.  I LOVE this show and can’t wait for more!  Click here for my review of season 2.

And speaking of show-runner Bill Lawrence, I’m happy that it seems like additional steps forward towards a return to his show Scrubs seem to be happening!

I’m excited that Apple TV+ is working on a TV adaptation of William Gibson’s seminal sci-fi novel Neuromancer, and I love that they’ve cast Mark Strong to be a part of it!

Click here for an interesting interview with James Gunn, talking about Creature Commandos and upcoming DC projects including his Superman movie and (thank heaven!) Peacemaker season two.  (Soon after that interview came word that Mr. Gunn’s animated Creature Commandos show was renewed for a second season at MAX.  I’m also excited to read updates on The Lanterns TV show, which has a lot of cool people involved, both in front of and behind the camera.)

On the Marvel side, click here for an interview with Brad Winderbaum on Marvel TV on Disney+.  Despite Mr. Winderbaum’s enthusiasm, I was disappointed by the end of What If…? (my full review is coming soon).  I really hope he’s right and we’ll be seeing Kamala Khan again before too long!  (Come on… let’s make a second season of Ms. Marvel!!)

I am bummed bummed BUMMED that Netflix has cancelled Girls5Eva.  I loved this show, and I was excited when Netflix revived it for a season 3.  (Which was terrific!!)  But we only got 6 new episodes, and now it’s dead again.  Dang it!

Netflix is working on a Ghostbusters animated movie, in addition to a Ghostbusters animated series.  That’s interesting.  (I loved The Real Ghostbusters as a kid, though that was definitely a kids’ show.)  Let’s hope they remember to make these projects funny, unlike the recent movies.

I loved Star Trek: Lower Decks and am sad it was cancelled.  Let’s hope star Tawny Newsome is correct when she says that none of them are done with those great characters!

In other Star Trek news, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan was named to the National film registry!  Cool!!

I was sad to read that Matt Reeves’ sequel to 2022’s The Batman was moving back a whole year, to 2027.  It’s taking them a long time to get this sequel going.  I wonder what’s going on.  I liked The Batman and am eager for this next film.

I enjoyed reading this interview with screenwriter David Koepp (who wrote the scripts for Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible, Carlito’s Way, and many other great films).  (He’s also writing the script for the upcoming Jurassic Park sequel Jurassic World: Rebirth.  I don’t have much excitement for that film — I didn’t much like any of the Jurassic World sequel films — but Mr. Koepp’s involvement gives me a glimmer of hope.)

I’m intrigued to read that Rory McCann, who played the Hound on Game of Thrones, will be replacing the late Ray Stevenson as Baylan Skoll for Ahsoka season two.  I’m glad they’ve decided to recast the role and continue this great character after Mr. Stevenson’s tragic passing.  I think Mr. McCann is a strong choice; I’m very curious to see what he does with the character.  I hope we don’t have to wait too many more years for Ahsoka season two!!

I loved the original 1980’s V mini-series.  Its story about fascism emerging in the United States is more relevant today than ever!  Good for creator Kenneth Johnson for working for new ways to bring that story to life.

I’m not currently watching The Diplomat (though I have a number of friends and family members who love it), but I think it’s cool that the third season will feature a mini-West Wing reunion, with both Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford appearing!

In a similar vein, I haven’t watched the show The Sex Lives of College Girls, but I applaud the comments by co-show-runner Justin Noble about how, in today’s streaming landscape, the idea of ending a season on a cliffhanger feels like an idea whose time has passed, and that it’s better to give audiences satisfactory closure.  Amen!!

Will we someday get a great movie and/or TV adaptation of Stephen King’s magnum opus The Dark Tower?  I love that Mike Flanagan (who wrote & directed the underrated film adaptation of Mr. King’s The Shining sequel Doctor Sleep) is working on the project, and I’m happy to hear that, so far, Mr. King is happy with the work that’s being done!  Here’s hoping this comes to be one day.

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