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Written by Sarah Minazzo, Chris Daniel & Kieron Byatt
From film to TV, gaming to comics and everything in between, here’s what you might have missed in pop culture news this week.
TV
In Star Trek news, Sir Patrick Stewart is reportedly nearing a deal to return to the franchise. In the wake of Netflix’s Star Trek: Discovery, the return of his character has some complications, though rumours have emerged of Stewart possibly lending his voice to an animated series.
Further details of HBO’s Watchmen television series have been released, with Jeremy Irons (Justice League, Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice) joining the cast. The series already counts Louis Gossett Jr., Regina King, Don Johnson, and Tim Blake Nelson on its roster, though not specifying the characters they will be portraying.
A new trailer for Syfy’s Nightflyers has dropped, offering creepiness that is out of this world. Based on the novel of the same name from Game Of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin, the series will explore the fate of a space crew who become victim to a mysterious entity.
The first episode of Preacher season three has debuted, pushing the adaptation to its limits, bringing the dark and brooding pages of the comic to life in a satirical light. Co-creator Seth Rogen describes the season to be “as funny as it is violent as it is shocking and heart wrenching”. Preacher is available on Stan.
AMC has cancelled Kevin Smith’s long running Comic Book Men. After seven seasons, 96 episodes and a range of personalities, AMC has parted ways with the show in an attempt to expand their reality programming.
The first footage of Better Call Saul’s fourth season has made its way online, embracing the return of Breaking Bad’s legendary character Gus Fring. The Better Call Saul storyline is beginning to correlate with that of Breaking Bad, so the return of classic characters is not particularly off the table.
Horror icon James Wan is set to direct the pilot for DC’s Swamp Thing television series alongside Deran Sarafian. The series will incorporate darker elements from the comic book, and may begin filming early 2019.
FILM
New images have emerged from the Wonder Woman 84 film set, most recent of which is Kirsten Wiig in her role as Barbara Minerva, the woman who will become Cheetah, Wondy’s well-known arch-nemesis. Director Patty Jenkins shared this image via Twitter:
Enter Barbara Minerva… #WW84 pic.twitter.com/56f8Diu7So
— Patty Jenkins (@PattyJenks) June 27, 2018
A second trailer of the latest Predator flick, The Predator, has been unleashed, revealing more of the film’s tone and more of the new Ultimate Predator forms.
Sony Pictures along with producer Amy Pascal are reportedly in development of a new Spiderverse entry, Silk, based on the comic character of the same name. The character’s civil ego Cindy Moon has recently appeared in the MCU’s Spider-Man: Homecoming as a member of Peter’s academic decathelon team, raising the question if the same actress will be cast for Sony’s version.
Meanwhile, Tom Holland revealed the next title of the upcoming Spidey sequel as Spider-Man: Far From Home in an online video earlier this week. How this sequel plays out after the Infinity War aftermath is anyone’s guess.
Speaking of MCU announcements via social media, James Gunn has posted a photo of the Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3’s script title page, with the caption, “Every bit of my heart”, leading to speculation that he has finished writing the much anticipated film.
Every bit of my heart. pic.twitter.com/hSxnbLpdn6
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) June 25, 2018
In other sequel news, IT Chapter 2 has added Jess Weixler and Teach Grant to the cast list playing Audra, wife to Bill Denbrough (James McAvoy), and adult Henry Bowers respectively.
GAMING
Life Is Strange 2 has been announced for release in late 2018. Earlier in the week, Square Enix announced the all-new 5-episode story to begin on September 27. For those too impatient, The Awesome Adventures Of Captain Spirit, a narrative experience demo that links to Life Is Strange 2, was released on June 26.
ANIME
A teaser has been released by Kyoto Animation ahead of the upcoming Free! Dive Into The Future anime series. The latest series will premiere in Japan on July 11.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s fifth season Golden Wind was announced this week, slated with an October 2018 release date.
For fans of the Seven Deadly Sins on Netflix, a new trailer and theme song by Nogizaka46 has been released for Seven Deadly Sins The Movie: Prisoners Of The Sky, set to premiere on August 18.
COMICS
Geoff Johns has stepped down from his executive position as DC Entertainment’s Chief Creative Officer. The renowned comic book writer/screenwriter/producer is leaving the role to focus on his creative output. Johns has signed an exclusive writer/producer deal with Warner Brothers to launch a new production company called Mad Ghost Productions, which will see Johns write the screenplay for the upcoming Green Lantern Corps movie. He’ll also be launching a new DC Imprint “The Killing Zone” as well as writing a new Shazam! comic series alongside the previously announced Three Jokers and the current DC Rebirth Watchmen sequel Doomsday Clock. Jim Lee will take the reins from Johns as the new CCO while remaining the Publisher alongside Dan DiDio.
DC have announced four giant 100-page special issues, including Superman Giant, Justice League Of America Giant, Batman Giant and Teen Titans Giant. The giant comics will be helmed by comic book royalty, including Tom King, Andy Kubert, Brian Michael Bendis, Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Connor, Dan Jurgens and Tim Seeley.
Marvel Comics has lost the rights to publishing Stephen King’s Dark Tower series, as Simon & Schuster’s Gallery 13 imprint has acquired the rights to the comic-book adaptation. The Gunslinger volumes will be republished starting from spring 2019.
Netflix continues to expand its empire into comic books with the announcement of a partnership with Dark Horse to release a series of comic books and graphic novels based on the streaming services hit, Stranger Things. The first of four issues is due in September 2018, and will see Jody Houser writing, Stefano Martino pencilling, Keith Champagne inking, Lauren Affe colouring and Nate Piekos lettering.
Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, the noir genius-team behind Criminal, The Fade Out and Fatale will release their first original graphic novel via Image Comics this autumn. The series titled My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies will see Phillips and Brubaker occupy their noir territory with a mysterious tale involving romance, addiction and murder.
THIS WEEK’S PICKS
Detective Comics #983 – A new arc and creative team begins for DC’s flagship title, where writer Bryan Hill and artist Miguel Mendonça delivers us a new crop of young heroes including Duke Thomas and Cassandra Cain which require guidance from Batman and Black Lightning!
Final Street #1 – This crowdfunded indie delight release sports a juicy premise, in a tribute to the side-scrolling and beat-em-up fare of Street Fighter, Double Dragon and Final Fight. The tables are turned and gender roles reversed as hero Sullie joins forces with her friend Kumi to rescue her kidnapped boyfriend. Written by Scott Schmidt with art and colouring by Brian Atkins.
Charlie’s Angels #1 – The original ‘70s line-up of Jill, Kelly and Sabrina comes to glorious comic-book form courtesy of Dynamite Entertainment, written by John Layman with art by Joe Eisma.
Multiple Man #1 – Multiple Man aka Jamie Madrox is back from the dead, but perhaps not for long, as his only chance for survival is to kill himself multiple times… This intriguing premise sees the return of an underrated X-Men darling, written by Matthew Rosenberg with art by Andy MacDonald.
Thor #2 – Odinson is back! And he’s written by Jason Aaron with art and colour by Michael Del Mundo. If you missed the first issue of Thor’s reclaiming of the worthy mantle, it’s not too late to catch up!
Lead image: Silk
