Monthly Archives: January 2017
What Comic Book TV Show Was Your Favorite in 2016?
With 2016 now in our rear view, and Riverdale about to kick off on the CW, it's time to look back at the ever-expanding crop of live-action comic book-based TV shows from this past year and vote for your favorite!
Netflix continued to grow its Marvel arsenal with a second helping of Daredevil and the debut of Luke Cage, while ABC's Agents of SHIELD rounded its fourth season and Agent Carter sadly bit the dust after two years.
DC's TV-verse kept going strong as Supergirl officially switched over to the CW, Superman entered the mix, and everyone joined forces from all four series -- Supergirl, Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow, and The Flash -- for a giant alien invasion storyline. Meanwhile, Gotham brought the Mad Hatter in for its third season, iZombie continued to be clever and brain-y in its second year and FOX's Lucifer delivered more devilish delights.
Triple H on Playing a Penguin and This Year’s Jam-Packed Royal Rumble
WWE Superstars have been paired up with the likes of Scooby-Doo, the Flintstones, and the Jetsons for animated family fare that brings different worlds of entertainment together. But in Surf's Up 2: WaveMania -- available now on DVD and digital platforms -- Triple H, John Cena, the Undertaker, Vince McMahon, Paige and more get transformed into penguins (and an otter) in order to play the extreme surf brigade, Hang 5.
Surf's Up 2: WaveMania features the return of Cody Maverick (Shia La Beouf in the first movie, Adventure Time's Jermey Shada here), Chicken Joe (Jon Heder) and Tank (Diedrich Bader) for an all new adventure that takes out heroes to the hazardous Slaughter Island for a contest of bravery and fortitude.
Witchblade TV Show Set Up With Vampire Diaries, CSI Alum
NBC is looking to make a new comic book TV series based on the Witchblade comic.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, NBC has tapped CSI alum Carol Mendelsohn and The Vampire Diaries showrunner Caroline Dries to pen the script and executive produce the show, along with The Vampire Diaries writer and co-executive producer Brian Young. No premiere date for the series has been set yet.
Witchblade is a graphic novel from Marc Silvestri and comics publisher Top Cow. The story follows Sara Pezzini, a homicide detective in San Francisco's Mission District on the hunt for an elusive serial killer while also dealing with police politics.
6 Things We Learned About Ultra Street Fighter on Switch
Last week at the Nintendo Switch event, Capcom announced Ultra Street Fighter II: The The Final Challengers, a updated version of the original Street Fighter II, a game that catapulted the series to huge mainstream awareness in the ‘90s. IGN caught up with Street Fighter series producer Yoshinori Ono at the Nintendo Switch. Ono is one of the most energetic people in the video game industry. His pure enthusiasm for the Street Fighter brand is electric, and in this interview we discussed the making of Ultra Street Fighter II, reconnecting with Street Fighter’s past, and the strive to balance the Switch game for both veterans and newcomers alike.
Amazon and Netflix Don’t Understand Anime Fans
I was elated when Crunchyroll and Funimation, the two largest English-language streaming anime services, formed a pact last year. New subbed anime would be consolidated on Crunchyroll and Funimation would produce English dubs for select series.
Last week Amazon launched its own competing anime streaming channel, Anime Strike. And in 2016 it struck a deal for exclusive rights to Fuji TV’s Noitamina block, which includes anime like Scum’s Wish and Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress. We’ve seen Netflix consistently pick up more anime exclusives like Little Witch Academia and Ajin, too.
Logan: Marvel Probably Doesn’t Exist in the X-Men Movieverse
So the new trailer for Logan has shown us that they’ve got superhero comic books in the X-Men movieverse. And not just that, but they’ve got X-Men comics. Which you’ve gotta figure makes sense; we don’t even have real superheroes in our world, and we’ve got comic books. (Of course comics go well beyond superhero stories in our reality and probably Wolverine’s as well, but that’s a different article…) But here’s the thing: If you take a close look at the comics Hugh Jackman is flipping through in the Logan trailer, it appears that while Professor Xavier’s band of merry mutants have gotten the four-color treatment in that universe, Marvel Comics is nowhere to be found.
J.K. Rowling Responds to Cursed Child Movie Rumor
J.K. Rowling has responded to the rumors about a potential new Harry Potter movie trilogy.
On Twitter, Rowling confirmed there is currently no plan to make movies based on the latest Harry Potter story/stage play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
I know a lot of people are looking for reasons to be cheerful today, but there is NO TRUTH to the rumor about a #CursedChild movie trilogy!
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) January 20, 2017
Currently, you can catch the Cursed Child in London at the Palace Theatre. There are also plans to potentially bring the show to Broadway beginning in the spring of 2018.
Green Lantern Corps Casting Rumors
A new report claims some familiar faces and big names are in the mix to play Hal Jordan in Green Lantern Corps., Warner Bros.' big screen version of the DC comic slated for a 2020 release.
According to TheWrap, the studio's "shortlist" to play Jordan includes Ryan Reynolds, Tom Cruise, Community's Joel McHale, Bradley Cooper, Armie Hammer, and Jake Gyllenhaal. Yes, Ryan Reynolds, who already played Hal Jordan in the 2011 Green Lantern movie that proved a critical and commercial flop, but who has rebounded this year with the smash hit Deadpool.
The site claims, though, that the "casting process is still in the very early stages, and there are no talks with any of the actors as of yet."
First Clue About Dinklage’s Role in Avengers: Infinity War
Earlier this month Peter Dinklage was reportedly joining the cast of Avengers: Infinity War in a mysterious role, and the first clue about his character might've been spotted.
In a few photos captured by the Daily Mail, Dinklage can be seen wearing red hair after an appointment at a salon in Manhattan. Though not confirmed, the sudden change in hair color is most likely related to Dinklage possibly playing either Pip the Troll or Starfox, as both Marvel characters sport red hair as well.
Street Fighter Surprises Teased for E3 or Comic-Con
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Street Fighter, and according to series producer Yoshinori Ono, 2017 will hold a surprise or two for fans of the franchise.
When asked by IGN about Capcom's plans for the big anniversary, Ono said, "around E3 timing, maybe even San Diego Comic-Con, we have one or two surprises we hope our fans will look forward to."
Ultra Street Fighter 2, which was just recently announced for Nintendo Switch, will serve as the "kick off for our 30th celebration," Ono added. He also highlighted last year's announcement of Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite at PlayStation Experience and reaffirmed that Capcom is still updating Street Fighter V and releasing Season 2 content in 2017.