Jon Bernthal Joining Marvel's Daredevil as The Punisher
Jon Bernthal has been had quite the acting repertoire since being killed off in the second season of The Walking Dead, appearing in films like The Wolf of Wall Street, Fury, and one of my current favorite films of the year, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. However, Bernthal's next role could be his biggest to date.
Yesterday, Marvel announced that Bernthal has been cast as Frank Castle/The Punisher for the next season of Marvel's Daredevil. For those unaware, The Punisher is a brutal vigilante/anti-hero unlike any of the other mainstream Marvel superheroes who has no problem killing villains for the greater good. In saying that, Bernthal has the look and demeanor necessary to portray such a character. Marvel's Head of Television Jeph Loeb had the following to say about Bernthal's casting:
Jon Bernthal brings an unmatched intensity to every role he takes on, with a potent blend of power, motivation and vulnerability that will connect with audiences. Castle’s appearance will bring dramatic changes to the world of Matt Murdock and nothing will be the same.
This will be the fourth time The Punisher has been depicted in a live-action film or series, but the first time under the watchful eye of Marvel Studios. With rumors that Marvel Studios has plans to incorporate its TV series characters with the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, could it only be a matter of time before we see Bernthal and the rest of the Daredevil cast side-by-side with Robert Downey, Jr, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, et. al.? It's an exciting time to be a Marvel fan.
Daredevil Season 2's Showrunner Writing Akira Remake Script
We all know the sad tale of the live-action Akira remake by now - it's gone through numerous rumors, delays, budgetary problems, and more since Warner Bros. acquired the rights back in 2002. The last we heard, Non-Stop director Jaume Collet-Serra was on board to direct the film and bring the project's budget down to the $60m - $70m range. Since then, production was cancelled (yet again), leaving the film in limbo once again.
Fast forward to this week when it was announced that Marvel's Daredevil's Season 2 showrunner, Marco J. Ramirez, has been hired by Warner Bros. to write a new script treatment for Akira. Ramirez served as a writer and producer for the first season of Marvel's Daredevil, and has also written for Sons of Anarchy, Da Vinci's Demons, and Orange is the New Black (for which he was nominated for three awards). There's no word on which volumes of Akira Ramirez will be adapting, or if Collet-Serra is still slated to direct.
At this point, it's hard to get excited for Akira remake news, given how many false starts fans have experienced over the past decade. Once again, the best course of action is to play the waiting game to see if Warner Bros. is confident enough in the script to finally move forward.
[via IGN]
New Powerpuff Girls Series Coming in 2016
Cartoon Network is getting in on the remake/reboot fun (following the very recent announcements of the ReBoot re-imagining and a new Mega Man cartoon series) with a new, revamped Powerpuff Girls series coming in 2016. The new series won't stray too much from the established story from the original Powerpuff Girls series, but there's no word or confirmation on whether the same stable of villains will be around.
Also of note is the re-casting of each girl's voice. Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup will now be voiced by Amanda Leighton (The Fosters), Kristen Li (Monsters University), and Natalie Palamides, respectively, with Tom Kenny returning as the Narrator/Mayor of Townsville. The previous voice actresses (Catherine Cavadini, Tara Strong, and E.G. Daily) expressed both their support of the newer, younger actresses, but also their disappointment in not being contacted:
I wish the new girls well but Wow! does this hurt my heart:( https://t.co/OzchpdAXFR
— Catherine Cavadini (@CatCavadini) June 9, 2015
I have NO ILL FEELINGS 4 the actresses in the new #ppg, We were just beyond hurt we were NEVER asked..every role I breathe life into I love
— tara strong (@tarastrong) June 9, 2015
Owie! Rt in the kisser ! Hurts 😥Xxeg https://t.co/nq9xQQOvUs
— RealEGDaily (@RealEGDaily) June 8, 2015
I don't blame Cartoon Network for not contacting Cavadini, Strong, and Daily, wanting to go for a cleaner slate with younger actresses. Nevertheless, when the trio played such vital roles for one Cartoon Network's most popular and successful series, you'd at least think they'd be contacted.
[via IGN]
ReBoot Returning to TV as Live-Action/CG Series
As 80s nostalgia gives way to '90s nostalgia, it's been a great time to be a 90s kid like myself. Shows from our childhood are getting big screen adaptations, Full House is coming back for a sequel for some reason, and now one of the more asked for shows on the Internet is coming back in a big way. The semi popular computer animated series ReBoot (which ran from 1994 to 2001 on ABC very early in the morning, and that's why few folks remember it), is now getting a reboot itself as a live-action/CG hybrid show according to The Hollywood Reporter.
While the original series was a fully computer animated series (notably the first of its kind) that followed its main character Bob as he fought a being known as "The User" in the Mainframe, the sequel/reboot series titled Reboot: The Guardian Code will focus on four teens (Austin, Grey, Parker, and Tamra) who find out that they're next generations Guardians and have to travel into cyberspace to fight an evil hacker's (named "The Sorcerer") viruses.
The new series, produced Corus Entertainment, Rainmaker Entertainment, and TWC/Dimension Television, will intially run for 26 episodes, and apparently won't even look like the show we remember because kids these days use new technology. As series creator Michael Hefferson puts it:
Technology is ever-changing and Reboot: The Guardian Code will utilize the very technology inherent in the concept of the show—and prevalent in kids’ everyday lives—to drive a new type of relationship across multiple platforms...[ReBoot] will deliver mass appeal with a technology focus, empowering kids with the tools and confidence to chart their own course in a world that is increasingly dependent on and powered by technological knowledge.
Well, here's hoping the actual show isn't as bad as this sounds.
[via THR]
Bart Simpson is Getting Killed Off This Season
After 25 years, Sideshow Bob is finally getting his revenge against Bart Simpson in the next season of The Simpsons. During a panel at this past weekend's ATX Festival in Austin, TX, The Simpsons producers revealed that Sideshow Bob will achieve his goal of killing Bart during this year's annual Treehouse of Horror episode. Of course, as is the nature of the Treehouse of Horror episodes, the death won't be permanent.
The Simpsons executive producer Al Jean explains why the team finally relented to Sideshow Bob's wishes by using classic Looney Tunes characters Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner as an analogy by stating, "I hated frustration comedy so we’ll scratch that itch." It appears that the true "horror" for the vignette will not stem from Bart's death, but from Bob's realization that he has nothing to live for following the accomplishment of his life's goal.
The producers were coy on the ongoing Harry Shearer situation, providing no update on whether Shearer would be replaced or brought back on board. For a show that's been running somewhat stagnant for several seasons now, an announcement such as Bart's death was meant to draw headlines, even if the move is only temporary. Still, what will it take to help elevate The Simpsons back to the top of primetime animated comedies? Only time can tell.
[via Entertainment Weekly]
[This Week In TV] Hannibal; Sense8; Community
With the TV season drawing to a close, This Week In TV is following it into a summer break. Reviewed in this final edition, Hannibal opens its third season with a gialli-inspired detour through Florentine high society, Sense8 proves that moving to Netflix has done nothing to dilute the Wachowskis' eclectic vision or ambition, and Community's first season on Yahoo comes to a close with an episode which could bow out the series for good.
[The Weekly Swarm] 6/1 - 6/7
Last week was an amazing news week, wasn't it? So many notable announcements, reveals, debuts, and more took place last week, and as somebody who spends the majority of their time reading news articles, it was like a summer Christmas online. Some of my favorite posts from last week include our review of Nintendo's online shooter, Splatoon, Akon's plan to bring electricity to the 600 million people in Africa who still live without it, Disney's cancellation of Tron 3, Sony and Marvel's shortening of candidates for Spider-Man, James Wan officially on board for the Aquaman and Robotech film adaptations, Showtime's announcement of their own streaming service, Bridjet's debate over why blink-182's Take Off Your Pants and Jacket is their best album, our top 10 episodes of Entourage, and semi-confirmation that Arrested Development is poised for a 2016 release on Netflix.
You can read all this and more on The Weekly Swarm below.
[Review] Splatoon
Akon's Solar Academy Could Bring Electricity to 600 Million People in Africa
It's Game Over for Tron 3
Sony Shortens List of Spider-Man Directors, Actors
Netflix Testing Teasers Before and After TV Shows
Furious 7 Director Tackling Both Aquaman and Robotech
[Weekly Netflix Fix] Hot Girls Wanted, The Aviator
Showtime's Streaming Service Sidesteps HBO Now's Subscription Prices
[SXSW Interview] Paul Feig and Melissa McCarthy (Spy)
Official Trailer for Post-Apocalyptic Love Triangle Film, Z For Zachariah
Trailer for Jake Gyllenhaal and Antoine Fuqua's Boxing Film, Southpaw
Tom DeLonge and blink-182 Reaching Amicable Break-up
30 Years, 30 Death Metal Albums: 2005-2014
Akon's Solar Academy Could Bring Electricity to 600 Million People in Africa
Why "Take Off Your Pants and Jacket" is blink-182's Best Album
WWE Elimination Chamber 2015: Results and Match Reviews
[This Week In TV] Game Of Thrones; Outlander
Netflix Testing Teasers Before and After TV Shows
Top 10 Entourage Episodes
Mega Man Getting a New Animated TV Series
Arrested Development Season 5 Coming to Netflix in 2016?
[Weekly Netflix Fix] Hot Girls Wanted, The Aviator
Showtime's Streaming Service Sidesteps HBO Now's Subscription Prices
Showtime's Streaming Service Sidesteps HBO Now's Subscription Prices
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In a move that will surprise no one, Showtime has just announced their plans to launch their own streaming service. The service, which will simply be referred to as Showtime, undercuts HBO Now's price of $14.99 by offering a monthly plan of $10.99. While Showtime does offer some amazing series like Shameless, Homeland, Dexter, the upcoming third season of Twin Peaks, and more, they don't carry the same gravitas as HBO's offerings like Game of Thrones, True Detective, Six Feet Under, The Sopranos, and much, much more. However, what Showtime is offering that HBO doesn't is live broadcast streams from both East and West Coasts.
Showtime will launch on Apple devices next month, with many other devices and platforms to be announced at a later date. You can read the full press release below.
For the first time ever, SHOWTIME will be offered over the internet as a stand-alone streaming service launching in early July, with Apple as its first partner. The stand-alone service will be called SHOWTIME, a brand already embraced by consumers as the home for cutting-edge original programming, sports and movies. The launch of SHOWTIME will coincide with the new seasons of the critically-acclaimed, hit series RAY DONOVAN and MASTERS OF SEX, premiering on Sunday, July 12th. iPhone®, iPad®, iPod touch® and Apple TV® users will be able to subscribe to SHOWTIME as a stand-alone service on the SHOWTIME app anywhere in the U.S., for one monthly price ($10.99) to view on all Apple devices. Additional platforms and providers will be announced soon. To learn more about SHOWTIME, visit http://www.showtime.com.
Subscribers will have unlimited on demand access to every season of award-winning SHOWTIME original series, and hundreds of hours of movies, documentary and sports programming, as well as the live broadcast of the east and west coast feeds of SHOWTIME. Showtime will offer a 30-day free trial to new customers who sign up through Apple in July. Apple users simply need to go to the SHOWTIME app on their device to sign up and create a SHOWTIME account. Subscribers can use their SHOWTIME account to watch the service across all supported devices, as well as online at http://www.showtime.com.
Showtime and its acclaimed original programming continues to make its mark on the cultural landscape. The network is home to one of the most successful programming line-ups in all of television, with hits that include HOMELAND, RAY DONOVAN, THE AFFAIR, MASTERS OF SEX, PENNY DREADFUL, SHAMELESS, HOUSE OF LIES, NURSE JACKIE, HAPPYish, EPISODES, and the anticipated new series BILLIONS and the limited series TWIN PEAKS. Original series play a key part in the network’s programming mix, along with box office hits, comedy and music specials, provocative documentaries, and hard-hitting sports programming, including the flagship franchise SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® and the news magazine programs 60 MINUTES SPORTS and JIM ROME ON SHOWTIME. The network’s diverse slate of films includes Boyhood, Lee Daniels’ The Butler, Philomena, St. Vincent, The Imitation Game and Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.