The Flash's Season 2 Costume is Comic Book Friendly
I was a big fan of The Flash's first season. Since CW worked out all of the DC superhero kinks with Arrow, The Flash got off to a great start and never let up. A show not afraid to shy from how wacky its comic book origins (as the show featured two speedsters, a psychic gorilla, and time travel shenanigans), season two is already shaping up to be wonderful. We've got a bit more info on the series since San Diego Comic Con, and now we've got a look at Barry Allen's fresh new costume featuring a comic book accurate insignia (with white like the future Flash revealed in the finale instead of just red and gold like he had last season).
Also, according to an interview with Collider, season two will also taking the show more into its comic book roots. The Flash is going to be more known to the public (like his comic book counterpart, Flash won't hide in the shadows like Batman), Barry's getting a new love interest, the show's going to introduce a multiverse aspect (which means dead characters have a chance of coming back) and Flash will develop a new lightning based power. It's all very exciting and I can't wait to hear more. If the show can maintain its quality even when all of this goofier stuff hits, we're in for a good time.
The Flash season 2 premieres on The CW October 6th.
Hulu is Considering Ad-Free Subscriptions
While Amazon and Netflix have been in the news lately for their exclusives, it feels like Hulu has stayed relatively quiet, save for their exclusive distribution for Seinfeld. In fact, I've spent more time watching various shows on Hulu than Netflix and Amazon combined over the past month. However, one thing I'll never be able to get over are Hulu's ads. Without fail, most will opt to wait for releases on Netflix rather than watch them earlier on Hulu with ads.
It's this mentality Hulu must combat in order to stay competitive with Netflix and Amazon. If rumors are to be true, the streaming company is ready to make the necessary adjustments. According to the Wall Street Journal, Hulu insiders revealed plans to explore ad-free subscriptions, perhaps timed for a fall release. The initiative, nicknamed internally as NOAH (no ads Hulu), is rumored to be in the $12 to $14 per month range. If true, their fees will be considerably more expensive than Netflix ($8/month) and Amazon ($99/year or $8.25/month), and slightly cheaper than HBO Now ($15/month).
Will a few extra dollars for ad-free Hulu content be enough to convince current and prospective Hulu subscribers? Personally, I would rather stick with the commercials or wait patiently for a Netflix release.
[Wall Street Journal via /Film]
John Francis Daley, Jonathan M. Goldstein to Write Spider-Man Reboot
The Spider-Man reboot finally has screenwriters, and they're a formidable duo. Following the announcement of Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Jon Watts as the director comes news that the writing duo of John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein will be handling script duties. The two have written Horrible Bosses, Horrible Bosses 2, and are making their directorial debut with this summer's Vacation.
Back when the purported shortlist of directors for Spider-Man was released, Daley and Goldstein were present. In fact, the duo was my personal favorite to direct the film. To have them involved in the project is a great sign for the film. As anyone who has seen Horrible Bosses and/or Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 can attest, Daley and Goldstein have a great handle on modern comedy and pop culture.
With everybody in place, we can expect to hear a plethora of rumors pertaining to the plot in the months to come. And you know what? I can't wait.
[via Deadline]
[Weekly Netflix Fix] Mid-July 2015 Update
Sorry for missing last week's Weekly Netflix Fix - I was afflicted with a mild case of strep throat, and being sick in the middle of the summer is the worst thing to ever happen to man. This week, we have an extra-sized installment combining all of the latest Netflix Instant additions from the past two weeks. Spike Lee's most recent film, Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, has been added, the indie darling Faults starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), and Mark Duplass' Creep are my personal recommendations. Take a look at all of the new Netflix Instant additions below!
Changeling
Plague
10 Questions for the Dalai Lama
An Act of War
Carita de Angel
The Comedian
Da Sweet Blood of Jesus
El Chavo Animado: Season 1
El Chavo Animado: Season 2
El Chavo Animado: Season 3
El Chavo Animado: Season 4
El Internado: Season 1
El Internado: Season 2
El Internado: Season 3
El Internado: Season 4
El Internado: Season 5
El Internado: Season 6
El Internado: Season 7
Eugene Mirman: Vegan on His Way to the Complain Store
H2O: Mermaid Adventures: Season 2
Penguins of Madagascar: The Movie
The Physician
Rebelde
Todd Barry: The Crowd Work Tour
Vandal
XH Derbez
A Year in Champagne
America's Book of Secrets: Season 3
An Amish Murder
Bad Ink: Season 1
The Bible Rules: Season 1
Bible Secrets Revealed: Season 1
Carnal Innocence
Christie's Revenge
Creep
From the Dark
God, Guns & Automobiles: Season 1
Goodbye to All That 2014
Human Planet
Human Planet: Behind the Lens
Imaginary Friend
The Killer Speaks: Season 2
Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley’s Island of Dr. Moreau
MonsterQuest: Season 1
MonsterQuest: Season 4
Pastor Brown
Preachers' Daughters: Season 2
Storage Wars: Texas: Season 1
The Unwanted
WWII From Space
Corvette Nation: Season 1
Corvette Nation: Season 2
Hard Drive
Adventures of Pepper and Paula
Opposite Field
These Final Hours
Chris Tucker Live
The Expendables 3
Violetta: Season 1
Violetta: Season 2
Are We Done Yet?
Deep in the Darkness
The Last Unicorn
Monsters: Dark Continent
The Phoenix Project
Serena
Baby Boom
Knights of Sidonia: Season 2
Faults
Hell on Wheels: Season 4
White Collar: Season 6
Superfast!
Bitten: Season 2
Underwater Dreams
Alien Outpost
Dark Summer
Gerontophilia
A Gesar Bard's Tale
Loitering with Intent
Monster High: Scaris, City of Frights
The Pact 2
The Search for General Tso
Wild Canaries
Witches of East End: Season 2
Genocide
Hjørdis
I Have Never Forgotten You
The Long Way Home
The Prime Ministers: The Pioneers
Winston Churchill: Walking with Destiny
Are We Done Yet?
Deep in the Darkness
The Last Unicorn
Monsters: Dark Continent
Serena
Amazon to Release Spike Lee's Chicago Film in Late 2015
The much-criticized "Chicago" film by Spike Lee recently wrapped production last week. Story details are still under wraps, but as we noted many moons ago, the film was rumored to be a musical comedy based on the Greek play, Lysistrata, with a cast led by Mad Men's Teyonah Parris alongside Nick Cannon, Jennifer Hudson, Wesley Snipes, John Cusack, Angela Bassett, Samuel L. Jackson, and more. However, the "musical" element of the film is in question, as the script, co-written by Lee and Kevin Willmott, is in a lyrical style similar to Shakespeare, but assumedly modernized.
Originally, the film was going to hold its world premiere at Cannes Film Festival 2016 (if accepted), but both Spike Lee and Amazon Studios, the film's distributor, are confident enough in the film that they're bumping its release up to December 2015 as part of a limited theatrical run to qualify it for the awards season. Furthermore, the film will be Amazon Studios' first original film, establishing Amazon's film distribution program that was started back in January. The film will officially open next year in theaters, followed by an Amazon-exclusive release online.
Lee had this to say about the film and Amazon Studios' involvement:
I’m honored to be part of the film that will launch Amazon Studios and to tell a story that is so important. Please don’t be fooled by the title of Chi-Raq, this new Spike Lee joint will be something very special.
I've already cast judgment on the film and its offensive title, but I'll hold any real criticism until the film is released. Could this be Spike Lee's return to form? I can only hope.
[via The Hollywood Reporter]
Marvel Comics' Hip Hop Variant Covers
Hip hop has become an undeniably large influence on pop culture; the same can be said for comics, especially in light of Marvel Studios' takeover of Hollywood over the last decade. With the level of artistry behind the hip hop's lyricism and comic books' increasing level of illustrative talent, it was only a matter of time before one of the Big Two (Marvel and DC) paid homage to hip hop in an official capacity. While Ed Piskor's Hip Hop Family Tree has been nominated for the Eisner Award and was named one of New York Times' Graphic Books Best Seller, it doesn't have the same level of visibility as Marvel.
Beginning this October, Marvel will be paying homage to hip hop with its line of Marvel's Hip Hop Variants. Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso had this to say about the line of variant covers:
"For years, Marvel Comics and Hip-Hop culture have been engaged in an ongoing dialog. Beginning this October, we will shine a spotlight on the seamless relationship between those two unique forces in when we unveil the first of more than fifty variant covers, each of which pays tribute to an iconic album cover from the past 30 years that shaped pop-culture over the past three decades."
You can find 12 of the hip hop variant covers in the gallery below. Can you name them all?
The first wave of Marvel's Hip Hop Variants will be released in October:
Amazing Spider-Man # 1- HIP-HOP Variant by Mike Del Mundo
Angela: Queen of Hel #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Annie Wu
The Astonishing Ant-Man #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Mark Brooks
Contest of Champions #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Denys Cowan
Doctor Strange #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Juan Doe
Extraordinary X-Men #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Sanford Greene
Guardians of the Galaxy #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Shawn Crystal
Invincible Iron Man #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Brian Stelfreeze
The Mighty Thor #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Mike Deodato
Sam Wilson, Captain America #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Mahmud Asrar
Spider-Gwen #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Humberto Ramos
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Phil Noto
Uncanny Inhumans #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Damian Scott
Uncanny Avengers #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Jason Pearson
Another wave of Marvel's Hip Hop Variants will be released later in the fall:
All-New All-Different Avengers #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Jim Cheung
All-New Wolverine #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Keron Grant
Carnage #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Ariel Olivetti
Howard the Duck #1 - HIP-HOP Variant Juan Doe
Ms. Marvel #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Jenny Frisson
Old Man Logan #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Tim Bradstreet
Spider-Man #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Adi Granov
Spider-Man/Deadpool #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Dave Johnson
Squadron Supreme #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Mike Del Mundo
Star-Lord #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Tradd Moore
The Totally Awesome Hulk #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Mahmud Asrar
Web Warriors #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Damian Scott
Hayao Miyazaki Making CG Short Film
Famed animator Hayao Miyazaki is returning to the drawing board... literally. It's been two years since Miyazaki's retirement and the release of his last film, The Wind Rises, yet it was only a matter of time before the legendary director got the creative itch and returned to work on a new project. However, there are a few caveats surrounding the announcement of his return.
Firstly, the short, which is rumored to be a 10-minute short about a fuzzy caterpillar named Boro, might be a Ghibli Museum-exclusive. Miyazaki has created Ghibli Museum-exclusive shorts before, such as the My Neighbor Totoro follow-up, Mei and the Kittenbus, but rarely do they screen in the United States, nor do they ever get an official domestic release. Fans of Miyazaki interested in seeing this new short will have to visit the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo to do so. The second caveat, which isn't much of a bad thing, is Miyazaki's use of CG to create the short. Miyazaki has utilized CG in the past to supplement his art, but this will be his first full CG short film. Lastly, it might take an estimated three years for the short to be completed.
Regardless, it's great to see Miyazaki returning to what he loves the most. We can only hope he'll still have the itch to develop a full-length feature once the short is completed.
[via Variety]
Highlights from San Diego Comic Con 2015
I've been to dozens of expos, conventions, festivals, and the like over the years, but my favorite type of events have always been comic book conventions. From the dozens of vendors selling unique items and hard-to-find collectibles to the amazingly talented cosplayers to meeting your favorite artists and writers, I've always enjoyed my time at the various comic book conventions I've attended. In recent years, they've become larger pop culture events in which film studios screen their latest films and trailers, cast members come out for intimate Q&As, and con attendees get their exclusive sneak peeks at everything the world will be talking about later that week.
San Diego Comic Con has grown to become the comic book convention to go to in the United States, and while I wasn't in attendance this past weekend (SDCC '17, my eyes are on you), I've compiled some of the weekend's best highlights. Whether you're a dedicated comic book fan waiting to hear what Marvel and DC have up their sleeves, a film fan excited for the first glimpses at 2016's top superhero films, or just really enjoy good cosplay, we have you covered! Also, check out the Suicide Squad footage if you haven't yet!