If you know me and follow my Reel Action series of videos, you know I’m a total geek for Jean-Claude Van Damme. And so it was a thrill to see him as part of Comic-Con @ Home, promoting his upcoming Netflix film The Last Mercenary! Joined by director David Charhon, not to mention his pet pup, JCVD revealed a new clip from the action flick which shows he hasn’t lost a step after all of these years.
The scene actually begins with a classic JCVD throwback as his character, a mysterious secret service agent, does the splits to get the drop on his foes from above. That exact trick was pulled, shot in virtually the same way, in JCVD’s classic Cyborg! I can’t wait for this. Here’s the synopsis:
A mysterious former secret service agent must urgently return to France when his estranged son is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat and a mafia operation.
The Last Mercenary hits Netflix on July 30th so we don’t even have to wait long for it.
It’s tough to imagine a San Diego Comic-Con without The Walking Dead. What would that even look like? But as the venerable series comes to a close with its final season, that’s a prospect we have to deal with. Then again, who knows what SDCC will look like in the years to come, anyway?
For now, Comic-Con @Home is where it’s at, and the panel for The Walking Dead‘s 11th and final season arrived. And, as is tradition expected by fans who would normally be packing Hall H, a new trailer has debuted. And there’s a lot going on here, much of which I won’t even pretend to know about. But there are some things I did pick up. The Reapers are new villains that look like they’ll be a deadly threat to the entire group; Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) are going to have some issues, as they should considering he murdered Glen years ago, and Carol (Melissa McBride) and Daryl (Norman Reedus) are still an awesome pair especially now as the seasoned vets of the crew.
I still maintain IF CAROL DIES WE RIOT!!! so she better live to see this show come to an end. What an unlikely survivor if that works out, eh?
Finally, the wait for that Rick Grimes movie is going to be a bit longer. Robert Kirkman held his own solo panel, and he said jokingly…
“It’s definitely going to be before 2032. I wish there were more updates. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes…and I’m as frustrated as you guys are that we’re not able to reveal everything to you and talk about it non-stop. But Andrew Lincoln is amazing. I miss seeing [him] run around as Rick Grimes. I can’t wait until we’re filming this thing and this thing is coming out. It’s gonna be awesome. Everyone is working very hard to make it as good as we can be.”
“We don’t want a bad Rick Grimes movie, right?” he added. “We want an amazing Rick Grimes movie. And so everybody behind the scenes is making sure that when this comes out it’s worth the wait and it is actually the special, character-building, Rick Grimes journey that everyone wants it to be. So we’re not going to be rushing this thing out and we’re gonna make sure that it’s perfect…When it finally comes out, when we’re showing trailers and stuff you’ll see. You’ll be like ‘That’s exactly what we wanted. I’m so glad they waited.’”
Personally, I liked The Walking Dead a whole lot more when they weren’t going out of their way to give fans what they wanted. That’s when I quit watching. Anyway…
The Walking Dead‘s 11th season debuts on AMC on August 22nd, however if you have AMC+ you’ll get episodes a week earlier.
In the season finale of Fear The Walking Dead, radical doomsday cult leader Teddy Maddox semi-succeeded in detonating the nuclear missiles from the submarine, setting off a nuclear armageddon in the zombie apocalypse. Morgan and company all were off seeking shelter to avoid not only the explosion, but also the nuclear fallout from the missiles. In this year’s virtual Comic-Con @Home, the cast of Fear The Walking Dead shared some details as to what we should expect in the upcoming season via a panel hosted by Walking Dead enthusiast, Chris Hardwick.
Right off the top, Fear The Walking Dead returns Sunday, October 17th at 9:00 PM EST. Alicia Clark, who plays Alycia Debnam-Carey (the only person from season 1 still in the cats) is also stepping up behind the scenes and will direct an episode this season. In addition, many of our main heroes are going to be experiencing all new dangers. In addition to flesh-hungry hordes (that they are pretty much used to at this point), but now that a nuclear bomb has gone off, they’re navigating a nuclear winter, full of non-breathable air. Lucky for Morgan (Lennie James), he’s going to hunker down with Grace (Karen David) who was a nuclear scientist/expert before the world went to hell. In addition to this newfound disastrous moment, there will always be human monsters that our heroes will need to deal with.
Many of our characters will be evolving. Strand’s gonna out-Strand himself. Alicia will be caught in the dead-yet-still-looming Teddy’s apocalyptic plans of rebuilding society from the ashes with her as the leader of humanity (or does she want that role?). Luciana (Danay García) who has always been adaptive depending on what community she’s a part of will also step up in a big way. June (Jenna Elfman) and John Dorie Sr (Keith Carradine) will now be exploring one of Teddy’s nuclear bunkers. And everyone else still has to find a way to adapt to this new world within the new world!
Although Fear takes place years before the mothership series, details about the group involved with Rick Grimes’ sudden disappearance during season 9 could still be dropped. That group is the CRM, the only major force to appear in every aspect of the franchise, including World Beyond.
“Each show has a different piece of the puzzle, but those pieces of the puzzle… aren’t just plots, they are personal stories for the characters that do advance aspects of the greater mythology,” franchise guru Scott M. Gimple explained. “But the CRM stuff in Fear really has to do with a couple of characters very deeply, and their situation bleeds out to other characters.”
So this won’t be a direct story related to Rick Grimes, who has a bunch of delayed films still arriving at some point, but could inform what we see about his situation later.
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Meanwhile, the “couple of characters” affected “very deeply” that Gimple refers to are Al (Maggie Grace) and her lover, CRM pilot Isabelle, who will be played by the returning Sydney Lemmon. Lemmon had departed the series to shoot the short-lived Marvel show Helstrom.
Gimple adds that the CRM story is “part of a personal and emotional story on this show. It just so happens, though, that it does give other info about the greater world [that our survivors] inhabit.”
Check out the full Fear The Walking Dead panel below and tune in for Fear The Walking Dead Season 7 this October:
While fans of his Happy Death Day franchise are undoubtedly hoping for a third movie, Christopher Landon has clearly moved on. Last year he gave us the body-swapping horror-comedy Freaky, and now Landon is keeping it funny with We Have a Ghost, a Netflix film that is boasting his most star-powered cast yet.
A pair of Marvel actors have joined the We Have a Ghost Cast as production gears up. THR says contemporaries Captain America Anthony Mackie and Red Guardian David Harbour are on board, along with Army of the Dead‘s Tig Notaro, Charm City Kings star Jahi Di’Allo Winston, plus Jennifer Coolidge (American Pie), Erica Ash (Uncle Drew), Isabella Russo (Crashing), Niles Fitch (This is Us), Faith Ford (Murphy Brown), and Steve Coulter (Shotgun Wedding).
Landon will direct and write We Have a Ghost, which centers on a family who discover their home is haunted by a ghost named Ernest. Rather than freaking out like normal people, they use the ghost to become overnight social media sensations. When the son, Kevin (Winston) takes Ernest to investigate the spirit’s past, they become targets of the CIA. The film is based on a short story by Geoff Manaugh.
Say what you will about Kevin Smith and his recent work, the guy is just a pit of joy and love these days. That about sums up the feeling of the panel for Masters of the Universe: Revelation at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, which is an @home Con for the second year in a row (fingers crossed for a live action Con later this year). Smith, the showrunner for Netflix’s newest dip into nostalgia, was joined on the Zoom panel by Chris Wood (as He-Man), Tiffany Smith (as Andra), Tony Todd (as Scare Glow), and Sarah Michelle Gellar (as Teela) where the group collectively gushed about the experience and what it meant to take on these iconic characters for another go.
I had to wait to write this (to the chagrin of many) until I had a chance to watch the first few episodes, just for some perspective. I get the love. I sat down last night with my 4-year old son and basked in the reflected joy he got watching the show. It’s truly something I want to thank these folks for. There’s nothing quite like seeing your kid loving something you loved when you were younger (and still love, to be honest). Screaming “I Have The POWER!” and gasping when Skeletor shows up. THIS is what remakes should be looking to recapture, not just the references and poster points, the feeling that it creates.
Watching the panel it’s no secret that pretty much everyone involved seemed to really take their roles in bringing this back with the seriousness it deserves. Chris Wood, who was awesome on Supergirl gushes about saying those words (By the power of Greyskull) for the first time, and even Sarah Michelle Gellar seemed genuinely overjoyed by the chance to be a hero for young girls in the form of Teela. Not to worry Luke Skywalker fans, Mark Hamill did drop in to talk a bit about how he approached one of the most well-known animated villains of all time, Skeletor.
The panel didn’t drop any news or unknown secrets, but they confirmed a second part to this first 5-part season was on it’s way. No date sadly, but from what I’ve seen already they have me on the hook. Smith is well known these days for his role as more of a cheerleader then a director on set (I mean that in a positive way), and the effects show. It’s almost like if people are happy and treated well, they do better work….crazy huh?
Check out the full panel below and look for Masters of the Universe: Revelation on Netflix, NOW!
One of the most exciting reveals of Comic-Con @ Home yesterday was the trailer for Blade Runner: Black Lotus. The footage was introduced during the panel event, and takes plact at a time between the classic Blade Runner and Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049. The series centers on a previously unknown replicant, Elle (voiced by Iron Fist‘s Jessica Henwick), and the mystery surrounding her creation.
The voice cast from top to bottom is excellent, and includes Samira Wiley, Brian Cox, Wes Bentley, Will Yun Lee, Josh Duhamel, Stephen Root, Barkhad Abdi, Peyton List, Gregg Henry, and Henry Czerny. Damn. The series is is executive produced by Joseph Chou (Starship Troopers: Invasion), and features episodes co-directed by Shinji Aramaki and Kenji Kamiyama.
It’s clear that Elle is going to have dramatic impact on the world of Blade Runner, and how it evolved so much between movies. I can’t wait. They’ve really captured the look of the films, and Elle’s story looks like it could be perfect for people who are missing out on more Akira: Battle Angel.
Blade Runner: Black Lotus is expected to hit Adult Swim later this year. Check out the trailer and the panel below.
All roads lead to Fear Street…and fans to Comic-con @Home!
This first exclusive panel with member of the Fear Street team since the release of all three films. Joined together is Fear Street director Leigh Janiak and cast members Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr., and Fear Street author R.L. Stine to celebrate this epic trilogy. Fans get to hear some behind the scenes details on how they made the films and what they liked most about making them. R.L. Stine reveals what it’s like to see his vision turn into a blood-splattering, iconic killing, and keeps you on the edge of your seat kind of adventure.
First in discussion is the the favorite methods of how characters were killed off. Each one recounts what stood out the most while comparing them to classic slasher/horror films that have also helped inspire these films. For anyone who has seen the Fear Street Part 1:1994, we all know that Bread Slicer scene is hella crazy, for sure! Bob (aka R.L. Stine ) leads the conversation into everyone pointing out moments of his books vs. films that were most memorable for them. For him, he states that the suspense of the reader/viewer knowing that a character is in trouble but that the character is unaware of themselves is what draws the most parallel. For the rest, it’s a refreshing take that ups the horror and centers around a female lead love story that includes a diverse (and very talented) cast.
Films can be met with challenges, Leigh and cast, talk about what those were for them. They are all in agreement that doing accents for Fear Street Part 3: 1666 was the top challenge. Overall, everyone was pleased at the development and growth of each character. Further in agreement is the detailed authenticity that went to building the set for 1666 is acknowledged as incredible. I agree, 1666 is best of all three.
Easter eggs and a killer soundtrack. Leigh, Kiana, Oliva, and Ben point out Deena’s mixed tape, how Nick got his limp, and spatial elements like the Witches Tree linked throughout the trilogy. My personal favorite is how the books were used at the beginning of part one and how they came back into play at the end of part 3. This fantastic panel closes on the best part. BLOOPERS! A soundtrack to all three movies can even be found on vinyl.
Fear Street: 1994, 1978, and 1666 are currently streaming globally on Netflix.
While Comic-Con @Home is taking place right now, a story from the in-person Comic-Con from two years ago is still bearing fruit. It was then that the Russo Brothers announced their development of a live-action Battle of the Planets movie through their AGBO production label. And now they’ve finally named a writer, F9 scribe Daniel Casey.
Casey has joined the Russo Brothers on Battle of the Planets, which they’re planning as a huge multimedia franchise. They’ll be working with Tatsunoko, creators of the classic anime known as Gatchaman in Japan, to come up with ideas to create an entire cinematic universe.
Battle of the Planets is based on the 1970s Japanese anime series which follows a team known as G-Force. Together, the colorful team members battle evil from the planet Spectra. The series has been adapted numerous times before, including a Japanese live-action movie in 2013.
Pretty good way for Casey to followup the biggest hit of his career, F9, which has nearly hit $600M worldwide. [Deadline]
One of the few bright spots in 2020 was Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso. A surprisingly touching comedy about an American football coach who moves to England to led a professional soccer team, the series found its inspiration from a series of NBC Sport commercials and is now nominated for 20 Emmy awards. The show slowly built a following and a reputation for finding the good in the cynical. Now, it’s back for its second season and though it still has the kind, hilarious, and folksy Lasso spirit we’ve come to know, this time around the show makes a few bad passes.
Created by Jason Sudeikis, Brandan Hunt, Joe Kelly, and Bill Lawrence, Ted Lasso left its characters all over the place last year. The entire AFC Richmond Greyhound football team was officially relegated to a lower division after losing to their pompous and rude former teammate Jamie Tartt’s (Phil Dunster) new team Manchester City. Teamowner Rebecca Walton (Hannah Waddingham) finally came clean to Ted (Sudeikis) that she set him up to fail as coach to exact revenge on her ex-husband. While Ted forgave her, his own demons and anxiety around his divorce continued to linger.
Ted was very much a static figure last season, with most of the characters changed by him, season two tests everything we’ve come to know Ted stands for. For a man who doles out words of wisdom like he has extra to spare, the man make it known he hates therapy and therefore struggles to adjust to the new no-nonsense sports psychologist Dr. Sharon Fieldstone (Sarah Niles). Niles it the perfect foil to Sudiekis’ Ted, testing every button he has and points out Ted’s use of positivity to dodge some of life’s more complicated issues. However the show doesn’t use the character to her fullest potential, dropping her off for a few episodes to focus on other storylines.
Which brings us to the next issue: three main conflict hung over last season’s head. 1. Rebecca using Ted to sabotage the team, 2. The threat of relagation, 3. The entire teams resistance to the Lasso. This season doesn’t have a clear overarching thread to connect subplots together. Instead smaller arch pop in and out depending on the episode, making the season less predictable and coherent. Ted Lasso is still as funny as last year and most of the characters are just as loveable as ever, but its hard not to feel as though its structure is all over the place.
This season belongs to Brett Goldstein’s Roy Kent. The grumpy player who was headed towards retirement at the end of last season finds himself immersed in that decision in season two. While still navigating his relationship with the team’s PR head Keeley (Juno Temple), he struggles to find his place off the soccer field. With every grunt and “fuck you,” Goldstein once again finds a way to pump heart into every scene he’s in. While Ted may have been the soul of last season, it’s Goldstein’s Roy who gets the best lines and gives the best advice.
The second album, book, or season is always the hardest for an artist. Though Ted Lasso doesn’t quite reach the heights it did last year when everyone was in quarantine, it does a lot right. Its humor hits right where you would want it, Ted is more three-dimensional this season, its supporting cast is given a chance to shine in all the right ways, and it packs the same emotional punch you want from Ted Lasso. If its first season was the surprising underdog of last year’s bleak TV landscape, expect this season to still medal, just not come in first.
You can watch new episodes of Ted Lasso on Apple TV+ every Friday
Comic-Con @Home 2021 has begun and the first panel that I had to see is Paramount+ Peak Animation. Hosted Jerry O’Connell introduces a jam packed panel that kicks off presenting the all new Paramount+, CBS Studios, and Nickelodeon and highly anticipated upcoming Star Trek animated kids’ series, Star Trek: Prodigy. A wildly diverse voice cast includes 25 year veteran to the franchise, Kate Mulgrew as Hologram Kathryn Janeway, Brett Gray as Dal, Ella Purnell as Gynn, Angus Imrie as Zero, Rylee Alazraqui as Rok-Tohk, Dee Bradley Baker as Merf, and Jason Mantzoukas (The Good Place, Brooklyn 99) as Jankom Pog.
Developed by Emmy Award winners Kevin and Dan Hageman (Trollhunters and Ninjago) the CG-animated series Star Trek: Prodigy is the first “Star Trek” series aimed at younger audiences but is geared toward the all-around family. The show will follow a motley crew of young aliens who must figure out how to work together while navigating a greater galaxy, in search for a better future. These six young outcasts know nothing about the ship they have commandeered – a first in the history of the Star Trek franchise – but over the course of their adventures together, they will each be introduced to Starfleet and the ideals it represents. Growing up a proud Trekki I happy to admit that this is something to look forward to. The cast is perfectly matched and uniquely talented! I am super stoked that The Trek verse is expanding for younger generations to see and broaden those horizons.
Star Trek:Prodigy will begin streaming on Paramount+, Fall 2021.
Next up at Comic-con @Home 2021 and on the Paramount+: Peak Animation panel is Star Trek: Lower Decks.
Moderator Jerry O’Connell voices the purple haired Commander Jack Ransom. He talks with fellow cast mates Tawny Newsome (Ensign Mariner), The Boys Jack Quaid (Ensign Boimler) , and Eugene Cordero (Ensign Rutherford). Noel Wells voices Ensign Tendi (who couldn’t attend the panel) and sent a special greeting. Creator, showrunner, and executive producer Mike McMahan dives in and gives an extended look at what’s featured in the second season.
Developed by Emmy Award winner Mike McMahan (Rick and Morty, Solar Opposites), season two of Star Trek: Lower Decks is going to be bigger, funnier and Star Trekkier than ever before! Expect strange new (and familiar) aliens to challenge the crews of the U.S.S. Cerritos and the U.S.S. Titan. For Mariner, Tendi, Rutherford and Boimler, the animated adventure is just beginning. The first season is currently available on Prime.
Starfleet characters voiced from the U.S.S. Cerritos’ bridge crew include Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis), Commander Jack Ransom (Jerry O’Connell) and Doctor T’Ana (Gillian Vigman).
Star Trek: Lower Decks premiers in the U.S. on Paramount+ on Thursday, August 12th.
