by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
Support Leroy on Patreon:
CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19 NEWS:
From CDC: The Centers for Disease Control has a "COVID Data Tracker."
From YahooNews: Why does COVID-19 kill some people and hardly affects others?
From YahooNews: Yahoo has a dedicated page of links updating news about COVID-19.
From Deadline: The news site "Deadline" has a dedicated page for news about coronavirus and the film, TV, and entertainment industries.
From TheNewYorker: The venerable magazine has a dedicate COVID-19 page free to all readers.
From YahooNews: Re: the federal government's response to COVID-19: What if the most important election of our lifetime was the last one - 2016?
From YahooLife: What is "happy hypoxia?" And do you have this COVID-19 symptom?
From JuanCole: Remeber when President Donald went crazy and suggested that we ingest household cleaning supplies and UV light to fight COVID-19. Here is the video and commentary from Juan Cole.
From TheIntercept: The federal government has ramped up security and police-related spending in response to the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic, including issuing contracts for riot gear, disclosures show. The purchase orders include requests for disposable cuffs, gas masks, ballistic helmets, and riot gloves...
From NPR: A sad milestone: over 100,000 American have died due to COVID-19.
From TheAtlantic: The Coronavirus Was an Emergency Until Trump Found Out Who Was Dying. The pandemic has exposed the bitter terms of our racial contract, which deems certain lives of greater value than others.
From YahooEntertainment: In the ongoing saga of Broadway star Nick Cordero's battle against coronavirus/COVID-19, his wife, Amanda Kloots, has been told to say goodbye to him.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS:
MOVIES - From DigitalSpy: Director Ridley Scott teases a new film in his "Alien" franchise.
RACE-SPORTS - From People: Retired NFL tight end Martellus Bennett says that the NFL is racist and is build on the back of black athletes.
BLM-CELEBRITY - From IndieWire: Jordan Peele, Edgar Wright, and Guillermo del Toro are among the directors supporting actor John Boyega ("Star Wars") in the wake of his June 3rd "Black Lives Matter" speech in London. He'll have work as an actor.
BLM-MOVIES - From IndieWire: 10 films to watch in support of Black Liberation
CELEBRITY - From YahooDS: The autopsy of "Twilight" actor, Gregory Tyree Boyce, has been made public. Boyce and his girlfriend, Natalie Adepoju, were found dead in their apartment back around May 18th. Their deaths were ruled accidental.
MOVIES - From Deadline: Filmmaker Jamal Trulove, breakout star of "The Last Black Man in San Francisco," talks about George Floyd, his new docu-series, and spending six years in prison after the police framed him for murder.
MOVIES - From GamesRadar: Ryan Gosling is set to play the lead in a remake/reboot of the "Universal Monsters" classic, "The Wolfman."
TELEVISION - From YahooNews: Leonardo DiCaprio’s Big Middle Finger to the Confederacy - with the History Channel series, "Grant."
BLACK AMERICA AND COVID-19 - Crisis or... :
GEORGE FLOYD:
From YahooEntertainment: Spike Lee has released a new short film that connects the dots from his iconic film, "Do The Right Thing" to the police killings of Eric Garner and George Floyd.
From NBCNews: (5/26) - A Minneapolis black man, George Floyd, dies after pleading with a police officer that he could not breathe.
From YahooInsider: (6/3) - Teens on TikTok are exposing a generational rift between (white) parents and their kids over how they treat Black Lives Matter protests
From YahooNews: (6/3) - A group of three young African-American protestors, calling itself "Concerned Citizens," are attempting to link the George Floyd protests to a list of demands.
From YahooNews: Obama praises George Floyd protests and sees hope for police reform, racial progress
From YahooLife: "Star Wars" star John Boyega joins a "Black Lives Matter" demonstration in Hyde Park, London.
From YahooEntertainment: Grammy-winner Billie Eilish goes after "white privilege" with a vengeance in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd.
From USAToday: Journalists blinded, injured, arrested covering George Floyd protests nationwide
From YahooAustralia: Photojournalist Linda Tirado permanently blinded after being shot by a police rubber bullet during George Floyd protests.
From BET: Filmmaker Ava DuVernay gives a check to President Donald's daughter, Ivanka, for the "First Daughter's" Bible-verse tweet in regards to the George Floyd protests.
From YahooNews: ‘We’re sick of it’: Anger over police killings shatters US
From YahooNews: A Tennessee police chief had a message for fellow law enforcement: turn in your badge if 'you don't have an issue' with George Floyd's death
From NPR: A decade of watching Black people die.
From YahooEntertainment: African-American actor, Kendrick Sampson ("Insecure"), was hit by rubber bullets and batons by Los Angeles Police Department officers while attending a peaceful protest in L.A.
From YahooLifestyle: Should the police officer who killed George Floyd be forgiven so quickly, if at all. Welcome to "toxic black forgiveness."
From CNN: Demonstrators in Europe rally to support #GeorgeFloyd protestors in the United States.
From YahooSports: It is a big frickin' deal when a white NFL quarterback speaks out about the murder of George Floyd and the African-American community, even if that QB is an incoming rookie - in this case, Joe Burrows of the Cincinnati Bengals.
From YahooUSAToday: "Qualified immunity" allows police officers to act like laws don't apply to them... because they don't.
From YahooABC: The wife of Minneapolis police office, Derek Michael Chauvin, who killed George Floyd, says she is filing for divorce.
From NBCNews: The phrase, "When the looting starts, the shooting starts," that Trump has twice used on Twitter has its origins in one of the darkest periods of American history.
From YahooSports: Prominent sports figures react to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and remind people of why former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick protested by taking a knee before his games.
From CBSNews: Because COVID-19 isn't killing Black people fast enough to satisfy some... Video shows Minneapolis cop with knee on neck of motionless, moaning man who later died.
From CNN: The four police officers involved in the death of George Floyd have been fired. That includes Officer Derek Chauvin who kneeled on Floyd's neck.
From TheDailyBeast: Ira Toles, a black man, recounts how Minneapolis police office, Derek Chauvin, who killed George Floyd by kneeling on his neck, tried to kill him in 2008. He still bears the scars of Chauvin's violence.
------------------
Friday, June 5, 2020
A "Star Wars" Link-o-Rama 2020 by Negromancer - Update #54
by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
Support Leroy Doureseaux on Patreon.
REVIEW - From Patreon: My review of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker."
JOHN BOYEGA - From IndieWire: Star Wars' very on "Finn," actor John Boyega, gave an impassioned speech in support of Black Lives Matter in London on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK - From StarWars: In an interview done to commemorate the 40th anniversary of "The Empire Strikes Back," George Lucas says that he doesn't know why "Star Wars" is so popular.
REVENGE OF THE SITH - From YahooMovieUK: There is a fan petition demanding that Disney release an alleged four-hour cut of "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith."
JAR JAR BINKS - From YahooEntertainment: The voice actor behind prequel trilogy star, "Jar Jar Binks," Ahmed Best, will be the host of the upcoming game show, "Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge," on YouTube's "Star Wars Kids" channel.
STAR WARS OBIT - From Variety: "Boom operator" (sound department) veteran Ken Nightingall has died at the age of 92, Tuesday, May 19, 2020. He worked on over 47 films, including the original 1977 film, "Star Wars." In recent years, he became a cult figure when a photo of him emerged in which he was shirtless and wearing pink shorts while his arms were hoisting a boom microphone over Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker, CP30, and R2D2 during a scene shot in Tunisia. To fans, Nightingall was the "pink shorts boom guy."
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK - From YahooEntertainment: George Lucas apparently changed the ending of "The Empire Strikes Back," slightly, early in original release.
THE MANDALORIAN - From SlashFilm: Katee Sackhoff will appear in Season 2 of "The Mandalorian" in which she will play in live-action the character "Bo-Katan Kryze," that she has given voice to in the animated TV series, "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" and "Star Wars Rebels."
THE MANDALORIAN - From THR: Actor Temuera Morrison, who played "Jango Fett" in "Attack of the Clones," will reportedly play "Boba Fett" in Season Two of Disney+'s "The Mandalorian."
REBELS - From WeGotThisCovered: Rumors say that Lucasfilm is developing a spinoff of the animated series "Star Wars Rebels." The alleged live-action spinoff would focuse on the character, "Kanan Jarrus."
FRANCHISE - From TheWrap: 34 Celebrities You Probably Didn’t Know Were in ‘Star Wars’ Movies (with photos)
WAITITI - From StarWars: Oscar-winner Taika Waititi will co-write and direct a new "Star Wars" film.
ROGUE ONE - From BritishGQ: In an interview, actor Riz Ahmed, who appeared as "Bohdi Rook" in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," says that two of his family members have died of COVID-19.
ROGUE ONE SPIN-OFF - From THR: The Disney+ "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" spinoff has a new showrunner, Tony Gilroy. Gilroy came in to co-write (or script doctor) "Rogue One," and may have directed new scenes for the film. Gilroy replaces original showrunner, Stephen Schiff. The series also added actresses, Genevieve O'Reilly and Denise Gough.
FUTURE - From Variety: Leslye Headland, the creator of Netflix's "Russian Doll," is developing a "Star Wars" series for Disney+.
THE MANDALORIAN - From Variety: While the second season of Disney+/Lucasfilm's "The Mandalorian" is not due until Oct. 2nd of this year, the third season is already being written and conceptualized artistically.
ROGUE ONE SPINOFF - From Variety: Actors Stellan Skarsgard and Kyle Soller join the Disney+ "Rogue One" spinoff.
THE HIGH REPUBLIC - From BleedingCool: The first inter-company crossover between publishers of "High Republic" fiction will involve two comic book publishers, Marvel Comics and IDW Publishing. However, the crossover will not be a comic book, but a novel.
THE HIGH REPUBLIC - From StarWars: StarWars.com reveals the Jedi Knights and Jedi Masters that are presumably the main protagonists in the upcoming multi-platform, "Star Wars: The High Republic." The first publications are set to arrive in August 2020, with the "Light of the Jedi" novel due August 25, 2020.
OBI-WAN - From Variety: Joby Harold has been named the new head writer of the planned Disney+ Obi-Wan Kenobi TV series.
OBITUARY - From YahooEntertainment: Dialect coach and "Star Wars" actor, Andrew Jack, has died at the age of 76, Tuesday, March 31, 2020. He died as a result of COVID-19. Jack played the character Caluan Ematt in "The Force Awakens" and "The Last Jedi," as well as providing the voice for a character in "Solo: A Star Wars Story." Since the early 1980s, Jack was the dialect coach for over 200 actors, including stars such as Robert Downey, Jr. and Chris Hemsworth. He was the supervising dialect coach on "The Lord of the Rings" and created the "Middle-earth" accents.
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - From YahooEntertainment: A look at the concept art for "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" reveals Lando's original look for the film and also the "space wolves."
THE MANDALORIAN - From THR: Actor Michael Beihn, best known for his roles in James Cameron's "The Terminator" (1984) and "Aliens" (1986), has reportedly been cast in Season 2 of "The Mandalorian."
THE MANDALORIAN - From Variety: Actress Rosario Dawson will portray the "Star Wars" character, Ahsoka Tano," in Season Two of the Disney+ series, "The Mandalorian." This will be the first live-action version of the character which appeared in the long-running animated series, "Star Wars: The Clone Wars."
TOYS - From Newsarama: Long time principal "Star Wars" toy designer, Mark Boudreax, is retiring after 43 years of designing for first, Kenner, and then, Hasbro.
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - From Deadline: Disney drops "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" on digital early, Dec. 13th, instead of the planned Dec. 17th digital release date.
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - From Empire: Some of the scenes deleted from "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" will appear in Marvel's comic book adaptation of the film.
THE HIGH REPUBLIC - From Newsarama: Formerly known as "Project Luminous," "Star Wars: The High Republic will bridge multiple publishers and platforms. "The High Republic" is set 200 years before the events depicted in "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace." The first publications are set to arrive in August 2020.
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK - From ScaryMommy: This year marks the 40th anniversary of the first theatrical release of "The Empire Strikes Back," and Hasbro is celebrating with the upcoming release of a "Retro Collection" of action figures from the move. According to reports the figures are "highly detailed" and "life-like."
FUTURE - From THR: Director J.D. Willard ("Sleight") and writer Matt Owens ("Luke Cage") are developing a "Star Wars" project for Lucasfilm. No other details are known.
From Deadline: Willard and Owens "Star Wars" project will take place on the Sith planet, "Exegol," which debuted in "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker."
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - From Newsarama: Marvel Comics will adapt "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" into a five-issue miniseries, with new material.
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - From GamesRadar: The novelization of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" confirms a deleted scene from the film in which Kylo Ren meets "The Oracle."
FRANCHISE - From Variety: The future of "Star Wars" is television says Disney CEO Bob Iger.
KATHLEEN KENNEDY - From CNN: Lucasfilm president, Kathleen Kennedy, attended the 2020 BAFTA Film Awards ceremony in London on Sun., Feb. 2nd. There, she received the coveted "BAFTA Fellowship" trophy, their version of a lifetime achievement award. She also talked about changing the future of "Star Wars."
OBITUARY - From FanthaTracks: The British "Star Wars" actor, Alan Harris, died at the age of 81, Saturday, January 25, 2020. He was best known for portraying the bounty hunter, "Bossk," in "The Empire Strikes Back." Harris also played several bit parts and was also a body double in the original trilogy films. He wore costumes for tests and also appeared as Terrence Stamp's body double in "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace."
UNDERWORLD - From Newsarama: Making the Internet rounds is what is purported to be test footage from "Star Wars: Underworld," the planned "Star Wars" TV series that George Lucas scrapped.
FUTURE - From Esquire: Could the "High Republic" and "Project Luminous" be the future of Star Wars?
EPISODE IX - From GamesRadar: Director Colin Trevorrow, fired from directing "Star Wars 9," confirmed as "real" the recent script leak and concept art for what would have been his Episode 9 film, "Star Wars: Duel of the Fates."
OBI-WAN - From Deadline: The Disney+/Lucasfilm "Obi-Wan" series has been put on hold.
EPISODE IX - From YahooLifestyle: More concept art, allegedly from Colin Trevorrow's aborted version of "Star Wars Episode IX," has been leaked. Trevorrow, who was hot off "Jurassic World," was fired and replaced by J.J. Abrams.
THE CLONE WARS - From GamesRadar: Season 7 of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" has a release date (Feb. 21st on Disney+) and a new trailer (which can see in the article I've linked to).
JOHN BOYEGA - From YahooNews: John Boyega, "Finn" in the sequel trilogy (in case you didn't know), bought his parents a house. They were speechless and there were lots of tears...
FUTURE - From TheWrap: Oscar-nominated filmmaker, Taika Waititi, is being eyed to develop a "Star Wars" film of some type.
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - From Variety: "The Rise of Skywalker" crosses the one billion dollar mark in global box office, $1.001 billion.
EPISODE IX - From YahooEntertainment: Before J.J. Abrams came back to direct what would become "The Rise of Skywalker," Colin Trevorrow was going to co-write and direct Episode IX. Now, comes a leak of what is alleged to be Trevorrow and writing partner's Derek Connolly's Episode IX script, "Star Wars: Duel of the Fates."
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - From Space: "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" earned two Oscar nominations as the 2020 / 92nd Academy Awards: "Music (Original Score)" and "Sound Editing and Visual Effects."
THE MANDALORIAN - From TheWrap: Meet the actor who punched the "Baby Yoda" puppet that cost five million dollars to make.
PRINCESS LEIA - From YahooEntertainment: Apparently, Billie Lourd played her mother, Carrie Fisher's character, Princess Leia, in "The Rise of Skywalker," for "a few seconds" with the help of VFX magic.
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - From GamesRader: Apparenly, classic Star Wars character, Nien Nunb (Return of the Jedi), dies in "The Rise of Skywalker."
COMIC BOOKS - From Newsarama: The site has a first-issue preview of Marvel Comics' new Darth Vader series, "Star Wars: Darth Vader." The preview includes seven pages of interior art and also a look at the art for two covers.
THE MANDALORIAN - From CBR: Director Taika Watiti says that he knows "The Child" a.k.a. "Baby Yoda's" real name, but he is waiting for "The Mandalorian's" creator and executive producer, Jon Favreau to reveal it.
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - From IGN: "The Rise of Skywalker" apparently has deleted scenes that explain how Palpatine is still alive.
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - From BleedingCool: Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner (1984-2005) took to Twitter to criticize "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" and actress Daisy Ridley's performance in it.
THE MANDALORIAN - From MovieWeb: Actress Gina Garano says that she fainted twice while filming the "Baby Yoda choke scene" during a recent episode of Disney+/Lucasfilm's "The Mandalorian."
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - From VanityFair: Director J.J. Abrams explained how he convinced Harrison Ford to come back and play "Han Solo" one more time in "The Rise of Skywalker."
--------------------------------
STAR WARS Reviews:
From Negromancer: "Star Wars"
From Negromancer: "The Empire Strikes Back"
From Negromancer: "Return of the Jedi"
From Negromancer: "Star Wars: The Force Awakens
From Negromancer: "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"
From Negromancer: "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker"
From Negromancer: "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" (2008 animated film)
From Negromancer: "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story"
From Negromancer: "Solo: A Star Wars Story"
------------------
Support Leroy Doureseaux on Patreon.
REVIEW - From Patreon: My review of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker."
JOHN BOYEGA - From IndieWire: Star Wars' very on "Finn," actor John Boyega, gave an impassioned speech in support of Black Lives Matter in London on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK - From StarWars: In an interview done to commemorate the 40th anniversary of "The Empire Strikes Back," George Lucas says that he doesn't know why "Star Wars" is so popular.
REVENGE OF THE SITH - From YahooMovieUK: There is a fan petition demanding that Disney release an alleged four-hour cut of "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith."
JAR JAR BINKS - From YahooEntertainment: The voice actor behind prequel trilogy star, "Jar Jar Binks," Ahmed Best, will be the host of the upcoming game show, "Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge," on YouTube's "Star Wars Kids" channel.
STAR WARS OBIT - From Variety: "Boom operator" (sound department) veteran Ken Nightingall has died at the age of 92, Tuesday, May 19, 2020. He worked on over 47 films, including the original 1977 film, "Star Wars." In recent years, he became a cult figure when a photo of him emerged in which he was shirtless and wearing pink shorts while his arms were hoisting a boom microphone over Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker, CP30, and R2D2 during a scene shot in Tunisia. To fans, Nightingall was the "pink shorts boom guy."
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK - From YahooEntertainment: George Lucas apparently changed the ending of "The Empire Strikes Back," slightly, early in original release.
THE MANDALORIAN - From SlashFilm: Katee Sackhoff will appear in Season 2 of "The Mandalorian" in which she will play in live-action the character "Bo-Katan Kryze," that she has given voice to in the animated TV series, "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" and "Star Wars Rebels."
THE MANDALORIAN - From THR: Actor Temuera Morrison, who played "Jango Fett" in "Attack of the Clones," will reportedly play "Boba Fett" in Season Two of Disney+'s "The Mandalorian."
REBELS - From WeGotThisCovered: Rumors say that Lucasfilm is developing a spinoff of the animated series "Star Wars Rebels." The alleged live-action spinoff would focuse on the character, "Kanan Jarrus."
FRANCHISE - From TheWrap: 34 Celebrities You Probably Didn’t Know Were in ‘Star Wars’ Movies (with photos)
WAITITI - From StarWars: Oscar-winner Taika Waititi will co-write and direct a new "Star Wars" film.
ROGUE ONE - From BritishGQ: In an interview, actor Riz Ahmed, who appeared as "Bohdi Rook" in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," says that two of his family members have died of COVID-19.
ROGUE ONE SPIN-OFF - From THR: The Disney+ "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" spinoff has a new showrunner, Tony Gilroy. Gilroy came in to co-write (or script doctor) "Rogue One," and may have directed new scenes for the film. Gilroy replaces original showrunner, Stephen Schiff. The series also added actresses, Genevieve O'Reilly and Denise Gough.
FUTURE - From Variety: Leslye Headland, the creator of Netflix's "Russian Doll," is developing a "Star Wars" series for Disney+.
THE MANDALORIAN - From Variety: While the second season of Disney+/Lucasfilm's "The Mandalorian" is not due until Oct. 2nd of this year, the third season is already being written and conceptualized artistically.
ROGUE ONE SPINOFF - From Variety: Actors Stellan Skarsgard and Kyle Soller join the Disney+ "Rogue One" spinoff.
THE HIGH REPUBLIC - From BleedingCool: The first inter-company crossover between publishers of "High Republic" fiction will involve two comic book publishers, Marvel Comics and IDW Publishing. However, the crossover will not be a comic book, but a novel.
THE HIGH REPUBLIC - From StarWars: StarWars.com reveals the Jedi Knights and Jedi Masters that are presumably the main protagonists in the upcoming multi-platform, "Star Wars: The High Republic." The first publications are set to arrive in August 2020, with the "Light of the Jedi" novel due August 25, 2020.
OBI-WAN - From Variety: Joby Harold has been named the new head writer of the planned Disney+ Obi-Wan Kenobi TV series.
OBITUARY - From YahooEntertainment: Dialect coach and "Star Wars" actor, Andrew Jack, has died at the age of 76, Tuesday, March 31, 2020. He died as a result of COVID-19. Jack played the character Caluan Ematt in "The Force Awakens" and "The Last Jedi," as well as providing the voice for a character in "Solo: A Star Wars Story." Since the early 1980s, Jack was the dialect coach for over 200 actors, including stars such as Robert Downey, Jr. and Chris Hemsworth. He was the supervising dialect coach on "The Lord of the Rings" and created the "Middle-earth" accents.
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - From YahooEntertainment: A look at the concept art for "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" reveals Lando's original look for the film and also the "space wolves."
THE MANDALORIAN - From THR: Actor Michael Beihn, best known for his roles in James Cameron's "The Terminator" (1984) and "Aliens" (1986), has reportedly been cast in Season 2 of "The Mandalorian."
THE MANDALORIAN - From Variety: Actress Rosario Dawson will portray the "Star Wars" character, Ahsoka Tano," in Season Two of the Disney+ series, "The Mandalorian." This will be the first live-action version of the character which appeared in the long-running animated series, "Star Wars: The Clone Wars."
TOYS - From Newsarama: Long time principal "Star Wars" toy designer, Mark Boudreax, is retiring after 43 years of designing for first, Kenner, and then, Hasbro.
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - From Deadline: Disney drops "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" on digital early, Dec. 13th, instead of the planned Dec. 17th digital release date.
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - From Empire: Some of the scenes deleted from "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" will appear in Marvel's comic book adaptation of the film.
THE HIGH REPUBLIC - From Newsarama: Formerly known as "Project Luminous," "Star Wars: The High Republic will bridge multiple publishers and platforms. "The High Republic" is set 200 years before the events depicted in "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace." The first publications are set to arrive in August 2020.
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK - From ScaryMommy: This year marks the 40th anniversary of the first theatrical release of "The Empire Strikes Back," and Hasbro is celebrating with the upcoming release of a "Retro Collection" of action figures from the move. According to reports the figures are "highly detailed" and "life-like."
FUTURE - From THR: Director J.D. Willard ("Sleight") and writer Matt Owens ("Luke Cage") are developing a "Star Wars" project for Lucasfilm. No other details are known.
From Deadline: Willard and Owens "Star Wars" project will take place on the Sith planet, "Exegol," which debuted in "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker."
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - From Newsarama: Marvel Comics will adapt "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" into a five-issue miniseries, with new material.
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - From GamesRadar: The novelization of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" confirms a deleted scene from the film in which Kylo Ren meets "The Oracle."
FRANCHISE - From Variety: The future of "Star Wars" is television says Disney CEO Bob Iger.
KATHLEEN KENNEDY - From CNN: Lucasfilm president, Kathleen Kennedy, attended the 2020 BAFTA Film Awards ceremony in London on Sun., Feb. 2nd. There, she received the coveted "BAFTA Fellowship" trophy, their version of a lifetime achievement award. She also talked about changing the future of "Star Wars."
OBITUARY - From FanthaTracks: The British "Star Wars" actor, Alan Harris, died at the age of 81, Saturday, January 25, 2020. He was best known for portraying the bounty hunter, "Bossk," in "The Empire Strikes Back." Harris also played several bit parts and was also a body double in the original trilogy films. He wore costumes for tests and also appeared as Terrence Stamp's body double in "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace."
UNDERWORLD - From Newsarama: Making the Internet rounds is what is purported to be test footage from "Star Wars: Underworld," the planned "Star Wars" TV series that George Lucas scrapped.
FUTURE - From Esquire: Could the "High Republic" and "Project Luminous" be the future of Star Wars?
EPISODE IX - From GamesRadar: Director Colin Trevorrow, fired from directing "Star Wars 9," confirmed as "real" the recent script leak and concept art for what would have been his Episode 9 film, "Star Wars: Duel of the Fates."
OBI-WAN - From Deadline: The Disney+/Lucasfilm "Obi-Wan" series has been put on hold.
EPISODE IX - From YahooLifestyle: More concept art, allegedly from Colin Trevorrow's aborted version of "Star Wars Episode IX," has been leaked. Trevorrow, who was hot off "Jurassic World," was fired and replaced by J.J. Abrams.
THE CLONE WARS - From GamesRadar: Season 7 of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" has a release date (Feb. 21st on Disney+) and a new trailer (which can see in the article I've linked to).
JOHN BOYEGA - From YahooNews: John Boyega, "Finn" in the sequel trilogy (in case you didn't know), bought his parents a house. They were speechless and there were lots of tears...
FUTURE - From TheWrap: Oscar-nominated filmmaker, Taika Waititi, is being eyed to develop a "Star Wars" film of some type.
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - From Variety: "The Rise of Skywalker" crosses the one billion dollar mark in global box office, $1.001 billion.
EPISODE IX - From YahooEntertainment: Before J.J. Abrams came back to direct what would become "The Rise of Skywalker," Colin Trevorrow was going to co-write and direct Episode IX. Now, comes a leak of what is alleged to be Trevorrow and writing partner's Derek Connolly's Episode IX script, "Star Wars: Duel of the Fates."
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - From Space: "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" earned two Oscar nominations as the 2020 / 92nd Academy Awards: "Music (Original Score)" and "Sound Editing and Visual Effects."
THE MANDALORIAN - From TheWrap: Meet the actor who punched the "Baby Yoda" puppet that cost five million dollars to make.
PRINCESS LEIA - From YahooEntertainment: Apparently, Billie Lourd played her mother, Carrie Fisher's character, Princess Leia, in "The Rise of Skywalker," for "a few seconds" with the help of VFX magic.
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - From GamesRader: Apparenly, classic Star Wars character, Nien Nunb (Return of the Jedi), dies in "The Rise of Skywalker."
COMIC BOOKS - From Newsarama: The site has a first-issue preview of Marvel Comics' new Darth Vader series, "Star Wars: Darth Vader." The preview includes seven pages of interior art and also a look at the art for two covers.
THE MANDALORIAN - From CBR: Director Taika Watiti says that he knows "The Child" a.k.a. "Baby Yoda's" real name, but he is waiting for "The Mandalorian's" creator and executive producer, Jon Favreau to reveal it.
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - From IGN: "The Rise of Skywalker" apparently has deleted scenes that explain how Palpatine is still alive.
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - From BleedingCool: Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner (1984-2005) took to Twitter to criticize "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" and actress Daisy Ridley's performance in it.
THE MANDALORIAN - From MovieWeb: Actress Gina Garano says that she fainted twice while filming the "Baby Yoda choke scene" during a recent episode of Disney+/Lucasfilm's "The Mandalorian."
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER - From VanityFair: Director J.J. Abrams explained how he convinced Harrison Ford to come back and play "Han Solo" one more time in "The Rise of Skywalker."
--------------------------------
STAR WARS Reviews:
From Negromancer: "Star Wars"
From Negromancer: "The Empire Strikes Back"
From Negromancer: "Return of the Jedi"
From Negromancer: "Star Wars: The Force Awakens
From Negromancer: "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"
From Negromancer: "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker"
From Negromancer: "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" (2008 animated film)
From Negromancer: "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story"
From Negromancer: "Solo: A Star Wars Story"
------------------
Thursday, June 4, 2020
PBS to Broadcast a Series of Films and New Specials on Race in America
PBS to Address Race and Racism in America Through Broadcast and Streaming Content
RACE MATTERS: AMERICA IN CRISIS, A PBS NEWSHOUR SPECIAL Premieres Friday, June 5 at 9:00 p.m. ET
AMERICA IN BLACK AND BLUE 2020 Premieres Monday, June 15 at 9:00 p.m. ET
Films with Historical Context by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Including RECONSTRUCTION: AMERICA AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, BLACK AMERICA SINCE MLK: AND STILL I RISE and THE AFRICAN AMERICANS: MANY RIVERS TO CROSS; and From Stanley Nelson and Independent Lens, THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION, and More Will Rebroadcast and/or Stream Across PBS Stations and Platforms
PBS KIDS and PBS LearningMedia Provide Resources to Support Families and Educators
PBS AMERICAN PORTRAIT Invites Americans to Share Their Stories About Racism and Its Impact, Past and Present
ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PBS announced that it will broadcast a series of films and new specials focused on race in America following the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, and the ensuing protests that erupted across the country. In addition to re-broadcasting films focused on African American history by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Stanley Nelson, PBS will also curate a playlist of programs from FRONTLINE, POV, INDEPENDENT LENS and other iconic series that explore the impact of racism on Black Americans and the larger country.
.@PBS to Address Race and Racism in America Through Broadcast and Streaming Content
“As a media system that serves every person in America, we stand with the Black community, and we stand against racism and hate," said Paula Kerger, President & CEO of PBS. "In the coming days and weeks, we will use our national reach and community presence to deepen understanding, foster conversation and enable meaningful change. And we will continue to stand behind our courageous journalists, whose unwavering commitment to speak truth to power is essential to the strength of our democracy.”
PBS will rebroadcast THE TALK – RACE IN AMERICA on Thursday, June 4, 2020 at 9:00 p.m. ET. The documentary, which first aired in 2017, tells six stories of struggle between people of color and law enforcement in America. It chronicles how families of color attempt to protect their children with “The Talk” — about what to do and how to react if they are stopped by police.
On Friday, June 5, 2020 at 9:00 p.m. ET, PBS and member stations will air a new special, RACE MATTERS: AMERICA IN CRISIS, A PBS NEWSHOUR SPECIAL. The one-hour program will be anchored by managing editor Judy Woodruff with contributions from senior national correspondent Amna Nawaz, correspondent Yamiche Alcindor and special correspondent Charlayne Hunter-Gault. RACE MATTERS: AMERICA IN CRISIS will focus on the frustration pouring out onto American streets, outrage about police brutality, and America’s deep systemic racial disparities in the economy, education, criminal justice system and health care, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will also include grassroots voices from around the country and roundtable conversations with thought leaders and other newsmakers.
Also on Friday, June 5, PBS will rebroadcast FRONTLINE “Policing the Police,” in which writer and historian Jelani Cobb examines allegations of abuses within the Newark Police Department and the challenge of fixing its broken relationship with the community. “Policing the Police” will air at 10:00 p.m. ET.
GREAT PERFORMANCES “Twilight: Los Angeles” encores Monday, June 8, 2020 at 10:00 p.m. ET. Anna Deavere Smith’s powerful one-woman theater piece gives a riveting account of the violent aftermath of the 1992 Rodney King verdict and the lasting impact of the Los Angeles riots on America’s conscience. Award-winning director Marc Levin weaves Smith’s stage performance with news footage and interviews to create a portrait of rage, sorrow, loss and battered hope.
AMERICA IN BLACK AND BLUE 2020, which broadcasts on PBS stations Monday, June 15, 2020 at 9:00 p.m. ET, will report from across the country, and include interviews with key leaders and participants in the struggle for racial justice, accountability and equity, as well as voices from law enforcement. As the latest crisis of police violence on black citizens — and outraged protests and ensuing violence — engulf the nation, this PBS special will bring context and insight. It will update reporting from the original AMERICA IN BLACK AND BLUE, which first aired in 2016, as well as THE TALK - RACE IN AMERICA. Correspondents will report from Minneapolis, Georgia, New York and elsewhere, and interviews from PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND, AMANPOUR AND COMPANY, and other PBS national and local programming will be included. More details are forthcoming.
PBS and member stations will this week begin rebroadcasting and/or streaming a full slate of films about the history of injustices within the African American community. Films from Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. include THE AFRICAN AMERICANS: MANY RIVERS TO CROSS, a chronicle of African American history, from the origins of slavery on the African continent through more than four centuries of remarkable events; RECONSTRUCTION: AMERICA AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, a four-part series that explores the transformative years when the nation struggled to rebuild itself in the face of profound loss and African Americans forged a new, more equal place in American social and political life, only to face the backlash of segregation and institutionalized disempowerment whose legacy persists today; and BLACK AMERICA SINCE MLK: AND STILL I RISE, a detailed exploration of how the civil rights movement impacted the country, including successes and failures related to political and economic equality.
PBS will also provide Stanley Nelson’s award-winning Independent Lens film THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION, a riveting look at an earlier era of conflict and how the Black Panthers provided community services while advocating for more radical national change.
All films will also be available for streaming on station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS Video App, available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Chromecast. PBS station members will be available to view all episodes via Passport (contact your local PBS station for details).
In addition to the broadcasts, films from Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Stanley Nelson will be included as part of a special curated collection streaming free on PBS.org. The filmmakers will offer their insights into the events currently gripping the country and historical origins for greater context. The programs below will also be included as part of the curated collection, with titles provided in association with Black Public Media.
INDEPENDENT LENS “Always in Season”
A grieving mother embarks on a quest for racial justice after her teenage son’s suspicious death.
INDEPENDENT LENS “Charm City”
Get to know the people on the front lines of three years of unparalleled violence in Baltimore.
INDEPENDENT LENS “The First Rainbow Coalition”
Notable community groups in 1960s Chicago bridge race and ethnicity to form a surprising alliance.
INDEPENDENT LENS “I Am Not Your Negro”
Explore James Baldwin’s unfinished book about race in America in this Oscar-nominated documentary.
JOHN LEWIS – GET IN THE WAY
Follow the courageous journey of John Lewis, from his youth in the segregated South, through his leadership within the Civil Rights movement, to his current role as a powerful voice in Congress.
POV “Whose Streets?”
Take an unflinching look at the Ferguson uprising, told by the activists leading the movement.
PBS AMERICAN PORTRAIT, the signature programming and engagement initiative of the network’s 50th anniversary, invites people across the country to share their stories about race and current events with a new prompt, “Now is the time...” Stories can be uploaded to AMERICAN PORTRAIT at pbs.org/americanportrait and may be included in a featured collection of personal stories from Americans grappling with racism and its impact, past and present. PBS AMERICAN PORTRAIT will air two new specials this fall and a four-part docuseries in January 2021 that spotlight American stories, including how the far-reaching impact of the events of 2020 have affected our everyday lives.
PBS KIDS will offer families resources to discuss race, racism, civil rights, current events and more with young children, including a virtual event on YouTube on Tuesday, June 9 at 3:30 p.m. ET with parents, teachers and child development experts.
PBS LEARNINGMEDIA will offer materials to help educators talk with students about race in America and current events, including classroom-ready resources for a variety of grade levels aligned to state and national standards. Professional learning materials for educators will also be available later this month.
In the spirit of providing resources and information on topics exploring race in America, PBS DIGITAL STUDIOS will curate a themed playlist featuring wide-ranging content from some of its most popular series, including SAY IT LOUD, ABOVE THE NOISE, ORIGIN OF EVERYTHING and CRASH COURSE. Programs explore “The Origin of Race in the USA,” “Should We Police Our Police,” “The Reason #BlackTwitter Exists (And Is Totally Awesome),” “What Does Resistance Look Like” and many more.
About PBS
PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 120 million people through television and 26 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. Decades of research confirms that PBS’ premier children’s media service, PBS KIDS, helps children build critical literacy, math and social-emotional skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality educational content on TV – including a 24/7 channel, online at pbskids.org, via an array of mobile apps and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.
--------------------------
RACE MATTERS: AMERICA IN CRISIS, A PBS NEWSHOUR SPECIAL Premieres Friday, June 5 at 9:00 p.m. ET
AMERICA IN BLACK AND BLUE 2020 Premieres Monday, June 15 at 9:00 p.m. ET
Films with Historical Context by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Including RECONSTRUCTION: AMERICA AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, BLACK AMERICA SINCE MLK: AND STILL I RISE and THE AFRICAN AMERICANS: MANY RIVERS TO CROSS; and From Stanley Nelson and Independent Lens, THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION, and More Will Rebroadcast and/or Stream Across PBS Stations and Platforms
PBS KIDS and PBS LearningMedia Provide Resources to Support Families and Educators
PBS AMERICAN PORTRAIT Invites Americans to Share Their Stories About Racism and Its Impact, Past and Present
ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PBS announced that it will broadcast a series of films and new specials focused on race in America following the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, and the ensuing protests that erupted across the country. In addition to re-broadcasting films focused on African American history by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Stanley Nelson, PBS will also curate a playlist of programs from FRONTLINE, POV, INDEPENDENT LENS and other iconic series that explore the impact of racism on Black Americans and the larger country.
.@PBS to Address Race and Racism in America Through Broadcast and Streaming Content
“As a media system that serves every person in America, we stand with the Black community, and we stand against racism and hate," said Paula Kerger, President & CEO of PBS. "In the coming days and weeks, we will use our national reach and community presence to deepen understanding, foster conversation and enable meaningful change. And we will continue to stand behind our courageous journalists, whose unwavering commitment to speak truth to power is essential to the strength of our democracy.”
PBS will rebroadcast THE TALK – RACE IN AMERICA on Thursday, June 4, 2020 at 9:00 p.m. ET. The documentary, which first aired in 2017, tells six stories of struggle between people of color and law enforcement in America. It chronicles how families of color attempt to protect their children with “The Talk” — about what to do and how to react if they are stopped by police.
On Friday, June 5, 2020 at 9:00 p.m. ET, PBS and member stations will air a new special, RACE MATTERS: AMERICA IN CRISIS, A PBS NEWSHOUR SPECIAL. The one-hour program will be anchored by managing editor Judy Woodruff with contributions from senior national correspondent Amna Nawaz, correspondent Yamiche Alcindor and special correspondent Charlayne Hunter-Gault. RACE MATTERS: AMERICA IN CRISIS will focus on the frustration pouring out onto American streets, outrage about police brutality, and America’s deep systemic racial disparities in the economy, education, criminal justice system and health care, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will also include grassroots voices from around the country and roundtable conversations with thought leaders and other newsmakers.
Also on Friday, June 5, PBS will rebroadcast FRONTLINE “Policing the Police,” in which writer and historian Jelani Cobb examines allegations of abuses within the Newark Police Department and the challenge of fixing its broken relationship with the community. “Policing the Police” will air at 10:00 p.m. ET.
GREAT PERFORMANCES “Twilight: Los Angeles” encores Monday, June 8, 2020 at 10:00 p.m. ET. Anna Deavere Smith’s powerful one-woman theater piece gives a riveting account of the violent aftermath of the 1992 Rodney King verdict and the lasting impact of the Los Angeles riots on America’s conscience. Award-winning director Marc Levin weaves Smith’s stage performance with news footage and interviews to create a portrait of rage, sorrow, loss and battered hope.
AMERICA IN BLACK AND BLUE 2020, which broadcasts on PBS stations Monday, June 15, 2020 at 9:00 p.m. ET, will report from across the country, and include interviews with key leaders and participants in the struggle for racial justice, accountability and equity, as well as voices from law enforcement. As the latest crisis of police violence on black citizens — and outraged protests and ensuing violence — engulf the nation, this PBS special will bring context and insight. It will update reporting from the original AMERICA IN BLACK AND BLUE, which first aired in 2016, as well as THE TALK - RACE IN AMERICA. Correspondents will report from Minneapolis, Georgia, New York and elsewhere, and interviews from PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND, AMANPOUR AND COMPANY, and other PBS national and local programming will be included. More details are forthcoming.
PBS and member stations will this week begin rebroadcasting and/or streaming a full slate of films about the history of injustices within the African American community. Films from Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. include THE AFRICAN AMERICANS: MANY RIVERS TO CROSS, a chronicle of African American history, from the origins of slavery on the African continent through more than four centuries of remarkable events; RECONSTRUCTION: AMERICA AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, a four-part series that explores the transformative years when the nation struggled to rebuild itself in the face of profound loss and African Americans forged a new, more equal place in American social and political life, only to face the backlash of segregation and institutionalized disempowerment whose legacy persists today; and BLACK AMERICA SINCE MLK: AND STILL I RISE, a detailed exploration of how the civil rights movement impacted the country, including successes and failures related to political and economic equality.
PBS will also provide Stanley Nelson’s award-winning Independent Lens film THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION, a riveting look at an earlier era of conflict and how the Black Panthers provided community services while advocating for more radical national change.
All films will also be available for streaming on station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS Video App, available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Chromecast. PBS station members will be available to view all episodes via Passport (contact your local PBS station for details).
In addition to the broadcasts, films from Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Stanley Nelson will be included as part of a special curated collection streaming free on PBS.org. The filmmakers will offer their insights into the events currently gripping the country and historical origins for greater context. The programs below will also be included as part of the curated collection, with titles provided in association with Black Public Media.
INDEPENDENT LENS “Always in Season”
A grieving mother embarks on a quest for racial justice after her teenage son’s suspicious death.
INDEPENDENT LENS “Charm City”
Get to know the people on the front lines of three years of unparalleled violence in Baltimore.
INDEPENDENT LENS “The First Rainbow Coalition”
Notable community groups in 1960s Chicago bridge race and ethnicity to form a surprising alliance.
INDEPENDENT LENS “I Am Not Your Negro”
Explore James Baldwin’s unfinished book about race in America in this Oscar-nominated documentary.
JOHN LEWIS – GET IN THE WAY
Follow the courageous journey of John Lewis, from his youth in the segregated South, through his leadership within the Civil Rights movement, to his current role as a powerful voice in Congress.
POV “Whose Streets?”
Take an unflinching look at the Ferguson uprising, told by the activists leading the movement.
PBS AMERICAN PORTRAIT, the signature programming and engagement initiative of the network’s 50th anniversary, invites people across the country to share their stories about race and current events with a new prompt, “Now is the time...” Stories can be uploaded to AMERICAN PORTRAIT at pbs.org/americanportrait and may be included in a featured collection of personal stories from Americans grappling with racism and its impact, past and present. PBS AMERICAN PORTRAIT will air two new specials this fall and a four-part docuseries in January 2021 that spotlight American stories, including how the far-reaching impact of the events of 2020 have affected our everyday lives.
PBS KIDS will offer families resources to discuss race, racism, civil rights, current events and more with young children, including a virtual event on YouTube on Tuesday, June 9 at 3:30 p.m. ET with parents, teachers and child development experts.
PBS LEARNINGMEDIA will offer materials to help educators talk with students about race in America and current events, including classroom-ready resources for a variety of grade levels aligned to state and national standards. Professional learning materials for educators will also be available later this month.
In the spirit of providing resources and information on topics exploring race in America, PBS DIGITAL STUDIOS will curate a themed playlist featuring wide-ranging content from some of its most popular series, including SAY IT LOUD, ABOVE THE NOISE, ORIGIN OF EVERYTHING and CRASH COURSE. Programs explore “The Origin of Race in the USA,” “Should We Police Our Police,” “The Reason #BlackTwitter Exists (And Is Totally Awesome),” “What Does Resistance Look Like” and many more.
About PBS
PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 120 million people through television and 26 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. Decades of research confirms that PBS’ premier children’s media service, PBS KIDS, helps children build critical literacy, math and social-emotional skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality educational content on TV – including a 24/7 channel, online at pbskids.org, via an array of mobile apps and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.
--------------------------
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
Amblin Acquires Film Rights to British Novel, "The Switch"
Amblin Partners and Rachel Brosnahan to Make The Switch
Bekka Bowling will adapt Beth O’Leary’s Sunday Times Bestseller for Oscar®-nominated producer Kristie Macosko Krieger
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Amblin Partners announced that it has acquired the rights to Beth O’Leary’s The Switch, with The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star Rachel Brosnahan attached in the leading role and set to executive produce. Bekka Bowling (Thanks for the Memories, Netflix’s Lovesick) is adapting the novel into a screenplay.
Two-time Oscar® nominee Kristie Macosko Krieger (The Post, Bridge of Spies) will produce, with O’Leary serving as executive producer alongside Brosnahan. Amblin Partners’ President of Production Jeb Brody will oversee the project for the studio.
The dramedy centers around a 29-year-old consultant, and her 79-year-old grandmother, who decide to swap lives (including cell phones) for two months, after a series of personal setbacks. While the younger woman moves to a tiny Yorkshire village to tackle the responsibilities of dog walking and neighborhood watch, the older woman finds herself in a tiny London flat, navigating dating apps and starting up a social club for lonely Londoners.
Emmy® and two-time Golden Globe winner Rachel Brosnahan became a household name with her turn as Miriam ‘Midge’ Maisel in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and is also known for her roles in Manhattan, and Netflix’s groundbreaking series House of Cards, for which she was also Emmy®-nominated.
Bowling, an actor, writer and stand-up comedian, first won acclaim in 2011, when she was runner-up at the Funny Women Awards. As well as her numerous television and film roles, she is known to audiences after being named as a writer on the BBC’s New Talent Hot List.
The Switch, which released in the UK last month and is already a Sunday Times Bestseller, is Beth O’Leary’s second novel. It will publish in the US and Canada on August 18th, 2020. O’Leary’s debut The Flatshare, which she wrote on the train as she commuted to her day job in children’s publishing, was released last year and was a Sunday Times Top 5 Bestseller that the UK’s Sunday Express described as “set to become the romcom of the year – a Sleepless in Seattle for the 21st century.”
Macosko Krieger said:
“Beth has written a gorgeous, sweet and funny book in The Switch, and I couldn’t be more excited to start this journey with her. As we all know by now, Rachel is an amazing actress and a force to be reckoned with – I’m delighted she’s agreed to come on board as both an actor and executive producer.”
Brosnahan said:
“I am thrilled to be partnering with Amblin to bring Beth O’Leary’s beautiful book to life. I was utterly charmed and deeply moved from the first page to the last and can’t wait to share Leena and Eileen’s story with everyone.”
O’Leary said:
“I couldn't be happier that The Switch has found a home with Amblin. I came away from my first call with Kristie, Jeb and the team absolutely buzzing – their vision for The Switch is just so exciting. I'm a huge fan of Rachel, too, so it's an absolute dream to have her both starring and exec producing. Basically, I'm still pinching myself.”
Brosnahan is also attached to star alongside Anthony Ramos in Amblin’s Distant, which postponed production due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
RACHEL BROSNAHAN has won an Emmy, 2 Golden Globes, 2 Screen Actors Guild Awards for her performance as Miriam ‘Midge’ Maisel in the critically acclaimed series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She also earned an Emmy nomination for her performance as Rachel Posner in Netflix’s groundbreaking series House of Cards. On the big screen, it was recently announced that Brosnahan will produce and star in I’m Your Woman, an Amazon Studio movie directed by Julia Hart and co-written with Jordan Harowitz. Additional film credits include the upcoming Ironbark, Patriots’ Day, Burn Country, Boomtown, The Finest Hours, Louder Than Bombs and Beautiful Creatures. On Stage, Brosnahan was last seen as Desdemona in Sam Gold’s NYTW production of Othello opposite Daniel Craig and David Oyelowo.
She is represented by Brillstein Partners, CAA and Schreck, Rose, Dapello, Adams & Dunham.
Beth O’Leary is represented by Sheila David and Tanera Simons at the Darley Anderson Literary, TV & Film Agency, London & Richard Thompson at Brecheen Feldman Breimer Silver & Thompson, LLP.
Bowling is represented by CAA and Robert Taylor at The Artists Partnership.
About Amblin Partners:
Amblin Partners is a film and television production company, led by Steven Spielberg, that develops and produces films using the Amblin Entertainment, DreamWorks Pictures and Participant Media banners and includes Amblin Television, a longtime leader in quality programming. The company’s investment partners include Participant Media, Reliance Entertainment, Entertainment One (eOne), Alibaba Pictures and Universal Pictures. The company’s recent theatrical releases include 1917, which won three Academy Awards® and has grossed more than $375m at the global box office to-date, and Green Book, which last year won three Academy Awards® including Best Picture and grossed more than $320m worldwide.
www.amblin.com
---------------------------
Bekka Bowling will adapt Beth O’Leary’s Sunday Times Bestseller for Oscar®-nominated producer Kristie Macosko Krieger
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Amblin Partners announced that it has acquired the rights to Beth O’Leary’s The Switch, with The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star Rachel Brosnahan attached in the leading role and set to executive produce. Bekka Bowling (Thanks for the Memories, Netflix’s Lovesick) is adapting the novel into a screenplay.
Two-time Oscar® nominee Kristie Macosko Krieger (The Post, Bridge of Spies) will produce, with O’Leary serving as executive producer alongside Brosnahan. Amblin Partners’ President of Production Jeb Brody will oversee the project for the studio.
The dramedy centers around a 29-year-old consultant, and her 79-year-old grandmother, who decide to swap lives (including cell phones) for two months, after a series of personal setbacks. While the younger woman moves to a tiny Yorkshire village to tackle the responsibilities of dog walking and neighborhood watch, the older woman finds herself in a tiny London flat, navigating dating apps and starting up a social club for lonely Londoners.
Emmy® and two-time Golden Globe winner Rachel Brosnahan became a household name with her turn as Miriam ‘Midge’ Maisel in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and is also known for her roles in Manhattan, and Netflix’s groundbreaking series House of Cards, for which she was also Emmy®-nominated.
Bowling, an actor, writer and stand-up comedian, first won acclaim in 2011, when she was runner-up at the Funny Women Awards. As well as her numerous television and film roles, she is known to audiences after being named as a writer on the BBC’s New Talent Hot List.
The Switch, which released in the UK last month and is already a Sunday Times Bestseller, is Beth O’Leary’s second novel. It will publish in the US and Canada on August 18th, 2020. O’Leary’s debut The Flatshare, which she wrote on the train as she commuted to her day job in children’s publishing, was released last year and was a Sunday Times Top 5 Bestseller that the UK’s Sunday Express described as “set to become the romcom of the year – a Sleepless in Seattle for the 21st century.”
Macosko Krieger said:
“Beth has written a gorgeous, sweet and funny book in The Switch, and I couldn’t be more excited to start this journey with her. As we all know by now, Rachel is an amazing actress and a force to be reckoned with – I’m delighted she’s agreed to come on board as both an actor and executive producer.”
Brosnahan said:
“I am thrilled to be partnering with Amblin to bring Beth O’Leary’s beautiful book to life. I was utterly charmed and deeply moved from the first page to the last and can’t wait to share Leena and Eileen’s story with everyone.”
O’Leary said:
“I couldn't be happier that The Switch has found a home with Amblin. I came away from my first call with Kristie, Jeb and the team absolutely buzzing – their vision for The Switch is just so exciting. I'm a huge fan of Rachel, too, so it's an absolute dream to have her both starring and exec producing. Basically, I'm still pinching myself.”
Brosnahan is also attached to star alongside Anthony Ramos in Amblin’s Distant, which postponed production due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
RACHEL BROSNAHAN has won an Emmy, 2 Golden Globes, 2 Screen Actors Guild Awards for her performance as Miriam ‘Midge’ Maisel in the critically acclaimed series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She also earned an Emmy nomination for her performance as Rachel Posner in Netflix’s groundbreaking series House of Cards. On the big screen, it was recently announced that Brosnahan will produce and star in I’m Your Woman, an Amazon Studio movie directed by Julia Hart and co-written with Jordan Harowitz. Additional film credits include the upcoming Ironbark, Patriots’ Day, Burn Country, Boomtown, The Finest Hours, Louder Than Bombs and Beautiful Creatures. On Stage, Brosnahan was last seen as Desdemona in Sam Gold’s NYTW production of Othello opposite Daniel Craig and David Oyelowo.
She is represented by Brillstein Partners, CAA and Schreck, Rose, Dapello, Adams & Dunham.
Beth O’Leary is represented by Sheila David and Tanera Simons at the Darley Anderson Literary, TV & Film Agency, London & Richard Thompson at Brecheen Feldman Breimer Silver & Thompson, LLP.
Bowling is represented by CAA and Robert Taylor at The Artists Partnership.
About Amblin Partners:
Amblin Partners is a film and television production company, led by Steven Spielberg, that develops and produces films using the Amblin Entertainment, DreamWorks Pictures and Participant Media banners and includes Amblin Television, a longtime leader in quality programming. The company’s investment partners include Participant Media, Reliance Entertainment, Entertainment One (eOne), Alibaba Pictures and Universal Pictures. The company’s recent theatrical releases include 1917, which won three Academy Awards® and has grossed more than $375m at the global box office to-date, and Green Book, which last year won three Academy Awards® including Best Picture and grossed more than $320m worldwide.
www.amblin.com
---------------------------
Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama - 2020 - Update #62
by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
Support Leroy on Patreon:
TRAILERS, TEASES, and TV SPOTS:
From YouTube: The "final trailer" for "Black Widow" (released Mon., March 9, 2020).
From Newsarama: This Disney+ Super Bowl TV spot focuses on the upcoming Marvel Studios TV series, "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," "WandaVision," and "Loki."
From Newsarama: Here is the 30-second TV spot for "Black Widow" that was shown during Super Bowl LIV (Sun., Feb. 2nd, 2020).
From EW: Here is the special look at "Black Widow" shown during the "College Football Playoff" Championship game between LSU (winner) and Clemson (Mon., Jan. 13th, 2020).
From Marvel: See first official teaser trailer for Marvel Studios' "Black Widow" (Tues., Ded. 3, 2019).
----------------------------------
NEWS:
WANDAVISION - From MurphysMultiverse: Evan Peters, who played "Quicksilver" in Fox's "X-Men" movies signed on to play a mystery role in "WandaVision," and he has apparently already filmed his scenes. Could he be playing Quicksilver again?
SPIDER-MAN - From EW: J.K. Simmons says that he has signed on to reprise the role of "Spider-Man" character, "J. Jonah Jameson," hot-tempered editor of "The Daily Bugle." When and where will he appear? Time will tell.
CAPTAIN AMERICA - From THR: While promoting his Apple+ miniseries, "Defending Jacob," Chris Evan stated that he initially kept saying "No!" to the part of Steve Rogers/Captain America.
OBIT - From Variety: Leslie A. Pope, the set decorator for "Avengers: Endgame," has died at the age of 65, Wednesday, May 6, 2020. Pope had received an Oscar nomination for her work on 2003's "Seabiscuit" ("Best Art Direction," which she shared with Jeannine Oppewall).
IRON MAN 2 - From YahooUK: What went wrong with "Iron Man 2" (2010), Marvel Studios most troubled production?
FALCON-WINTER SOLDIER - From THR: Sebastian Stan talks about his latest film, "Endings, Beginnings," and his role as Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier in Marvel Studios' "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier."
DOCTOR STRANGE 2 - From Variety: "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" gets another release date change, March 25, 2022.
DOCTOR STRANGE 2 - From ComingSoon: Director Sam Raimi seems to officially confirm that he is directing the Marvel Studios film, "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness."
THOR 4 - From Deadline: Director Taika Waititi and star Tessa Thompson tease the upcoming "Thor" sequel, "Thor: Love & Thunder."
GUARDIAN GALAXY 3 - From GamesRadar: Director James Gunn teases that "Rocket" is a big part of what happens next for the "Guardians of the Galaxy."
ANT-MAN 3 - From THR: Writer Jeff Loveness has been hired to write a draft of "Ant-Man 3." Loveness is known for being a writer and producer on Cartoon Network's popular "Rick and Morty" animated series. Loveness has also written issues of Marvel Comics' "Groot" and "Nova" comic book series. Peyton Reed, the director of the first two "Ant-Man" films, has been signed to return for the third film.
FUTURE - From Variety: Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, Walt Disney has changed the release dates of several of its films, including a big shift for all Marvel Studios films through 2022.
BLACK WIDOW - From FilmMusicReporter: Lorne Balfe is composing music for the "Black Widow" film. There isn't any word on the music already composed for the film by Oscar-winner Alexandre Desplat.
COVID-19 - From BusinessInsider: In an opinion piece, the article says that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) faces a big test as shifting movie release dates challenges its meticulous story planning. The release of "Black Widow" has already been postponed indefinitely because of the coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak.
THOR: THE DARK WORLD - From IndieWire: Director Patty Jenkins explains why she left "Thor: The Dark World." [It wasn't a big loss - Ed.]
LOKI - From DiscussingFilm: Actor Richard E. Grant, who recently appeared in "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," has joined Disney+/Marvel Studios TV series, "Loki," in a secret role.
FALCON AND WINTER SOLDIER - From Deadline: Shooting on Disney+'s "The Falcon & the Winter Soldier" in the city of Prague has shut down over coronavirus concerns. The series is due to debut August 2020.
WHAT IF - From Variety: Marvel Studios has picked the Quebec, Canada-based animation studio, "Squeeze," to create five episodes of its "What If...?" series.
BLACK WIDOW - From EW: Scarlett Johansson talks about the "closure" of appearing in the standalone "Black Widow" film. This article includes a video interview.
THOR 4 - From ETOnline: Tessa Thompson ("Valkyrie") says that Christina Bale will play the villain in 2021's "Thor: Love & Thunder."
From CinemaBlend: Vin Diesel says that the "Guardians of the Galaxy" will appear in "Thor: Love & Thunder." Diesel voices the GotG character, "Groot."
FALCON AND WINTER SOLDIER - From Newsarama: "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" star Anthony Mackie says the Disney+ shows are shot completely differently from the Marvel Cinematic Universe films.
HAWKEYE - From BleedingCool: Jeremy Renner talks about working out for the Disney+ "Hawkeye" series. This suggests that the rumors that the series was being cancelled or that Renner was being replaced are not true...
ETERNALS - From Newsarama: Kumail Nanjiani says that the character he plays in Marvel's "The Eternals" is the "biggest Bollywood star."
SHE-HULK - From ComicBook: Mark Ruffalo says that he has had some preliminary talks to reprise his role as Bruce Banner/Hulk in the planned Disney+ series, "She-Hulk."
FALCON & WINTER SOLDIER - From Deadline: Actor Carl Lumbly ("Supergirl") has reportedly joined the cast of Disney+'s "The Falcon & the Winter Soldier."
ETERNALS - From NewNowNext: Actor Haaz Sleiman says that he will be the husband of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first openly gay superhero in "The Eternals." He says that the film will feature the first "gay kiss."
LOKI - From Variety: The actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw has been cast in Disney+/Marvel Studios' "Loki."
THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER - From Variety: Jennifer Kaytin Robinson is reportedly joining recent Oscar winner, Taika Waititi, to writer "Thor: Love and Thunder."
DOCTOR STRANGE 2 - From Variety: Sam Raimi is in talks to direct "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness." Raimi previously directed Sony's original "Spider-Man" trilogy.
FUTURE - From THR: Including the upcoming "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," "WandaVision," and "Loki," Disney CEO Bob Iger says that there are seven other Marvel TV series in various stages of development.
DISNEY+ - From Newsarama: There are new synopses for Disney+/Marvel Studios' TV series, "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," "WandaVision," and "Loki."
BLACK WIDOW - From Newsarama: There are new character posters for "Black Widow," and a new story synopsis.
LOKI - From ComicBook: Actor Owen Wilson has signed on for a major, but unknown role in Disney+/Marvel Studios' "Loki."
CAPTAIN MARVEL - From ShowbizCheatSheet: Rumors suggest that "Captain Marvel" might lead two super-teams.
FALCON AND WINTER SOLDIER - From Deadline: Actor Noah Mills (NBC's "The Enemy Within") is joining "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" in an unnamed role.
FALCON AND WINTER SOLDIER - From GamesRadar: An alleged leaked photo from the set of "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" Disney+ series may include a reference to the world of the "X-Men" comic books.
THE ETERNALS - From GamesRadar: Leaked set photos from "The Eternals" shows what is supposed to be the character, "Ikaris," in flight.
CAPTAIN MARVEL 2 - From THR: A sequel to the billion-dollar film, "Captain Marvel," is apparently in the works. Megan McDonnell, writer of Disney+/Marvel's "WandaVision," is in talks to pen the script.
FUTURE - From GamesRadar: Sir Patrick Stewart, who played Professor X in several of Fox's "X-Men" movies, says that he has he recently met with Marvel Studios president, Kevin Feige, to "talk shop." Stewart said that Professor X came up in the conversation, but also said that he is through with the character.
FALCON AND WINTER SOLIDER - From TheWrap: Here is a first look at actor Wyatt Russell as "John Walker/U.S. Agent" in "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier."
RED SKULL - From YahooMoviesUK: Hugo Weaving said that he did not reprise his role as "the Red Skull" in "Avengers: Endgame" because Marvel was impossible to deal with.
DOCTOR STRANGE 2 - From Newsarama: The film industry site, "Backsgate," may have the synopsis for "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
BLACK WIDOW - From Newsarama: There is a video "featurette" that delves into Black Widow's history.
ETERNALS - From Newsarama: A new synopsis of Marvel's "The Eternals" reveals story details. The film also ties into "Avengers: Endgame" and seems to borrow plot elements from Neil Gaiman's 2008 "Eternals" comic book series.
FALCON & WINTER SOLDIER - From Variety: Production has been delayed on "Falcon & Winter Soldier" due to the Jan. 7th and Jan. 11th earthquakes in Puerto Rico.
KEVIN FEIGE - From ScreenRant: Managing Marvel Comics may prove to be quite a challenge for Marvel Studios' boss, Kevin Feige.
SHANG-CHI - From Newsarama: Who is Shang-Chi? And what are the "10 rings?"
NEW MUTANTS? - From Newsarama: D23, the official Disney fan club, seems to think that, "The New Mutants," the X-Men film that Disney inherited after buying 20th Century Fox, is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The MCU is comprised of films produced by Marvel Studios.
FRANCHISE - From YahooMovies: Why you'll never see James Dean (or any other dead actor) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
DOCTOR STRANGE - From Deadline: Director Scott Derrickson has left "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" due to "creative differences." Derrickson directed the 2016 original film.
ABC - From Deadline: The ABC Network is in talks with Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige about Marvel developing a new TV series for the network. The net's long-running "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." is coming to an end.
BLADE - From Newsarama: Stephen Dorff played the villain, "Deacon Frost," in the original "Blade" film from 1998. He said that he wouldn't mind reprising the role in the planned new Blade films starring his pal, Mahershala Ali."
THOR: LOVE & THUNDER - From THR: Oscar-winner Christian Bale ("The Fighter) is in talks to join "Thor: Love & Thunder."
THOR: LOVE & THUNDER - From Gamespot: Director Taika Watiti says that "Thor: Love & Thunder" is scheduled to begin shooting in Australia in August 2020.
SHANG-CHI - From THR: Director Destin Daniel Cretton talks about moving from directing his current drama, "Just Mercy," to his next film, "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings."
THE ETERNALS - From YahooEntertainment: Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige has revealed that Marvel's first transgender character will appear in "The Eternals," which is due November 2020.
WANDAVISION - From Newsarama: Disney has moved the release date for the Disney+/Marvel Studios' series, "WandaVision" to 2020 from 2021.
DOCTOR STRANGE 2 - From Collider: Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige says that "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" is not "exactly a horror movie," although it will have scary scenes.
------------------------------
Click here for the 2019 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama 2019.
Click here for the 2018 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama 2019.
Support Leroy on Patreon:
TRAILERS, TEASES, and TV SPOTS:
From YouTube: The "final trailer" for "Black Widow" (released Mon., March 9, 2020).
From Newsarama: This Disney+ Super Bowl TV spot focuses on the upcoming Marvel Studios TV series, "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," "WandaVision," and "Loki."
From Newsarama: Here is the 30-second TV spot for "Black Widow" that was shown during Super Bowl LIV (Sun., Feb. 2nd, 2020).
From EW: Here is the special look at "Black Widow" shown during the "College Football Playoff" Championship game between LSU (winner) and Clemson (Mon., Jan. 13th, 2020).
From Marvel: See first official teaser trailer for Marvel Studios' "Black Widow" (Tues., Ded. 3, 2019).
----------------------------------
NEWS:
WANDAVISION - From MurphysMultiverse: Evan Peters, who played "Quicksilver" in Fox's "X-Men" movies signed on to play a mystery role in "WandaVision," and he has apparently already filmed his scenes. Could he be playing Quicksilver again?
SPIDER-MAN - From EW: J.K. Simmons says that he has signed on to reprise the role of "Spider-Man" character, "J. Jonah Jameson," hot-tempered editor of "The Daily Bugle." When and where will he appear? Time will tell.
CAPTAIN AMERICA - From THR: While promoting his Apple+ miniseries, "Defending Jacob," Chris Evan stated that he initially kept saying "No!" to the part of Steve Rogers/Captain America.
OBIT - From Variety: Leslie A. Pope, the set decorator for "Avengers: Endgame," has died at the age of 65, Wednesday, May 6, 2020. Pope had received an Oscar nomination for her work on 2003's "Seabiscuit" ("Best Art Direction," which she shared with Jeannine Oppewall).
IRON MAN 2 - From YahooUK: What went wrong with "Iron Man 2" (2010), Marvel Studios most troubled production?
FALCON-WINTER SOLDIER - From THR: Sebastian Stan talks about his latest film, "Endings, Beginnings," and his role as Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier in Marvel Studios' "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier."
DOCTOR STRANGE 2 - From Variety: "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" gets another release date change, March 25, 2022.
DOCTOR STRANGE 2 - From ComingSoon: Director Sam Raimi seems to officially confirm that he is directing the Marvel Studios film, "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness."
THOR 4 - From Deadline: Director Taika Waititi and star Tessa Thompson tease the upcoming "Thor" sequel, "Thor: Love & Thunder."
GUARDIAN GALAXY 3 - From GamesRadar: Director James Gunn teases that "Rocket" is a big part of what happens next for the "Guardians of the Galaxy."
ANT-MAN 3 - From THR: Writer Jeff Loveness has been hired to write a draft of "Ant-Man 3." Loveness is known for being a writer and producer on Cartoon Network's popular "Rick and Morty" animated series. Loveness has also written issues of Marvel Comics' "Groot" and "Nova" comic book series. Peyton Reed, the director of the first two "Ant-Man" films, has been signed to return for the third film.
FUTURE - From Variety: Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, Walt Disney has changed the release dates of several of its films, including a big shift for all Marvel Studios films through 2022.
BLACK WIDOW - From FilmMusicReporter: Lorne Balfe is composing music for the "Black Widow" film. There isn't any word on the music already composed for the film by Oscar-winner Alexandre Desplat.
COVID-19 - From BusinessInsider: In an opinion piece, the article says that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) faces a big test as shifting movie release dates challenges its meticulous story planning. The release of "Black Widow" has already been postponed indefinitely because of the coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak.
THOR: THE DARK WORLD - From IndieWire: Director Patty Jenkins explains why she left "Thor: The Dark World." [It wasn't a big loss - Ed.]
LOKI - From DiscussingFilm: Actor Richard E. Grant, who recently appeared in "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," has joined Disney+/Marvel Studios TV series, "Loki," in a secret role.
FALCON AND WINTER SOLDIER - From Deadline: Shooting on Disney+'s "The Falcon & the Winter Soldier" in the city of Prague has shut down over coronavirus concerns. The series is due to debut August 2020.
WHAT IF - From Variety: Marvel Studios has picked the Quebec, Canada-based animation studio, "Squeeze," to create five episodes of its "What If...?" series.
BLACK WIDOW - From EW: Scarlett Johansson talks about the "closure" of appearing in the standalone "Black Widow" film. This article includes a video interview.
THOR 4 - From ETOnline: Tessa Thompson ("Valkyrie") says that Christina Bale will play the villain in 2021's "Thor: Love & Thunder."
From CinemaBlend: Vin Diesel says that the "Guardians of the Galaxy" will appear in "Thor: Love & Thunder." Diesel voices the GotG character, "Groot."
FALCON AND WINTER SOLDIER - From Newsarama: "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" star Anthony Mackie says the Disney+ shows are shot completely differently from the Marvel Cinematic Universe films.
HAWKEYE - From BleedingCool: Jeremy Renner talks about working out for the Disney+ "Hawkeye" series. This suggests that the rumors that the series was being cancelled or that Renner was being replaced are not true...
ETERNALS - From Newsarama: Kumail Nanjiani says that the character he plays in Marvel's "The Eternals" is the "biggest Bollywood star."
SHE-HULK - From ComicBook: Mark Ruffalo says that he has had some preliminary talks to reprise his role as Bruce Banner/Hulk in the planned Disney+ series, "She-Hulk."
FALCON & WINTER SOLDIER - From Deadline: Actor Carl Lumbly ("Supergirl") has reportedly joined the cast of Disney+'s "The Falcon & the Winter Soldier."
ETERNALS - From NewNowNext: Actor Haaz Sleiman says that he will be the husband of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first openly gay superhero in "The Eternals." He says that the film will feature the first "gay kiss."
LOKI - From Variety: The actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw has been cast in Disney+/Marvel Studios' "Loki."
THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER - From Variety: Jennifer Kaytin Robinson is reportedly joining recent Oscar winner, Taika Waititi, to writer "Thor: Love and Thunder."
DOCTOR STRANGE 2 - From Variety: Sam Raimi is in talks to direct "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness." Raimi previously directed Sony's original "Spider-Man" trilogy.
FUTURE - From THR: Including the upcoming "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," "WandaVision," and "Loki," Disney CEO Bob Iger says that there are seven other Marvel TV series in various stages of development.
DISNEY+ - From Newsarama: There are new synopses for Disney+/Marvel Studios' TV series, "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," "WandaVision," and "Loki."
BLACK WIDOW - From Newsarama: There are new character posters for "Black Widow," and a new story synopsis.
LOKI - From ComicBook: Actor Owen Wilson has signed on for a major, but unknown role in Disney+/Marvel Studios' "Loki."
CAPTAIN MARVEL - From ShowbizCheatSheet: Rumors suggest that "Captain Marvel" might lead two super-teams.
FALCON AND WINTER SOLDIER - From Deadline: Actor Noah Mills (NBC's "The Enemy Within") is joining "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" in an unnamed role.
FALCON AND WINTER SOLDIER - From GamesRadar: An alleged leaked photo from the set of "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" Disney+ series may include a reference to the world of the "X-Men" comic books.
THE ETERNALS - From GamesRadar: Leaked set photos from "The Eternals" shows what is supposed to be the character, "Ikaris," in flight.
CAPTAIN MARVEL 2 - From THR: A sequel to the billion-dollar film, "Captain Marvel," is apparently in the works. Megan McDonnell, writer of Disney+/Marvel's "WandaVision," is in talks to pen the script.
FUTURE - From GamesRadar: Sir Patrick Stewart, who played Professor X in several of Fox's "X-Men" movies, says that he has he recently met with Marvel Studios president, Kevin Feige, to "talk shop." Stewart said that Professor X came up in the conversation, but also said that he is through with the character.
FALCON AND WINTER SOLIDER - From TheWrap: Here is a first look at actor Wyatt Russell as "John Walker/U.S. Agent" in "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier."
RED SKULL - From YahooMoviesUK: Hugo Weaving said that he did not reprise his role as "the Red Skull" in "Avengers: Endgame" because Marvel was impossible to deal with.
DOCTOR STRANGE 2 - From Newsarama: The film industry site, "Backsgate," may have the synopsis for "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
BLACK WIDOW - From Newsarama: There is a video "featurette" that delves into Black Widow's history.
ETERNALS - From Newsarama: A new synopsis of Marvel's "The Eternals" reveals story details. The film also ties into "Avengers: Endgame" and seems to borrow plot elements from Neil Gaiman's 2008 "Eternals" comic book series.
FALCON & WINTER SOLDIER - From Variety: Production has been delayed on "Falcon & Winter Soldier" due to the Jan. 7th and Jan. 11th earthquakes in Puerto Rico.
KEVIN FEIGE - From ScreenRant: Managing Marvel Comics may prove to be quite a challenge for Marvel Studios' boss, Kevin Feige.
SHANG-CHI - From Newsarama: Who is Shang-Chi? And what are the "10 rings?"
NEW MUTANTS? - From Newsarama: D23, the official Disney fan club, seems to think that, "The New Mutants," the X-Men film that Disney inherited after buying 20th Century Fox, is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The MCU is comprised of films produced by Marvel Studios.
FRANCHISE - From YahooMovies: Why you'll never see James Dean (or any other dead actor) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
DOCTOR STRANGE - From Deadline: Director Scott Derrickson has left "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" due to "creative differences." Derrickson directed the 2016 original film.
ABC - From Deadline: The ABC Network is in talks with Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige about Marvel developing a new TV series for the network. The net's long-running "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." is coming to an end.
BLADE - From Newsarama: Stephen Dorff played the villain, "Deacon Frost," in the original "Blade" film from 1998. He said that he wouldn't mind reprising the role in the planned new Blade films starring his pal, Mahershala Ali."
THOR: LOVE & THUNDER - From THR: Oscar-winner Christian Bale ("The Fighter) is in talks to join "Thor: Love & Thunder."
THOR: LOVE & THUNDER - From Gamespot: Director Taika Watiti says that "Thor: Love & Thunder" is scheduled to begin shooting in Australia in August 2020.
SHANG-CHI - From THR: Director Destin Daniel Cretton talks about moving from directing his current drama, "Just Mercy," to his next film, "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings."
THE ETERNALS - From YahooEntertainment: Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige has revealed that Marvel's first transgender character will appear in "The Eternals," which is due November 2020.
WANDAVISION - From Newsarama: Disney has moved the release date for the Disney+/Marvel Studios' series, "WandaVision" to 2020 from 2021.
DOCTOR STRANGE 2 - From Collider: Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige says that "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" is not "exactly a horror movie," although it will have scary scenes.
------------------------------
Click here for the 2019 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama 2019.
Click here for the 2018 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama 2019.
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
Fantagrahics Announces Barry Windsor-Smith's "Monsters"
Fantagraphics To Publish Monsters by Legendary Cartoonist Barry Windsor-Smith
Fantagraphics is excited to announce the world-wide publishing rights to Barry Windsor-Smith’s graphic novel, Monsters!
Monsters is the legendary project Barry Windsor-Smith has been working on for over 35 years. A 360-page tour de force of visual storytelling, Monsters’ vast narrative canvas is part familial drama, part espionage thriller, part metaphysical journey — in sum, an intimate portrait of individuals and an epic political odyssey spanning two generations of American history. Trauma, fate, conscience, and redemption are a few of the themes that intersect in Windsor-Smith’s Monsters.
When he walks into a military recruitment office, Bobby Bailey has no idea that he is about to fulfill his tragic destiny. Close-mouthed, emotionally damaged, innocent, trying to forget a past and looking for a future, it turns out that Bailey is the perfect candidate for a secret US government experimental program, an unholy continuation of a genetics program that was discovered in Nazi Germany in the waning days of World war II. Bailey’s only ally and protector, Sergeant McFarland, intervenes, which sets off a chain of cascading events that spin out of everyone’s control. As the titular monsters of the title multiply, becoming real and metaphorical, literal and ironic, the story reaches its emotional and moral reckoning. Monsters is rendered in Windsor-Smith’s impeccable pen-and-ink technique; the visual storytelling with its sensitivity to gesture and composition is the most sophisticated of the artist’s career. It is surely one of the most intense graphic novels ever drawn.
“After putting so much time and investing so much creative energy in this project,” says Windsor-Smith, “I'm pleased that it's finally being published.”
Barry Windsor-Smith began his career by drawing mainstay Marvel characters such as the X-Men and Daredevil in 1969 in the traditional Marvel style. However, in 1971 he broke from the Marvel formula when he started drawing the Conan series, turning heads with a fresh and controversial stylistic approach and winning numerous industry awards. Part of a young generation of artists that included compatriots Berni Wrightson, Mike Kaluta, and Jeff Jones, Windsor-Smith proceeded to carve an independent path for himself. In the ‘90s, he conceived, wrote, and drew three independent series, The Freebooters, Young Gods, and The Paradox-Man. In 1999 and 2001 Fantagraphics published Opus volumes 1 and 2, autobiographical coffee table art books. Monsters is his first book since The Freebooters (2005).
“I’ve known Barry for over 50 years now,” explains Fantagraphics publisher Gary Groth, “so publishing his biggest and most artistically mature work to date is a personal and professional milestone for me, and I’m grateful that he’s entrusted this important work to us.”
Monsters by Barry Windsor-Smith is slated to release in January 2021.
About Fantagraphics:
For nearly 45 years, Fantagraphics has published the very best comics and graphic novels that the medium has to offer. Our mission is to celebrate great cartooning in all of its incarnations, from the form’s early luminaries to contemporary artists currently forging the future of visual storytelling. Not content to rest on our laurels and extensive roster of talented artists, we constantly seek out fresh voices from across the globe. Thus, we honor the rich history of comics while providing a platform for bold new stories, styles, and perspectives that push the boundaries of the medium. Fantagraphics remains peerless in our commitment to be the publisher of the world’s greatest cartoonists.
------------------
Fantagraphics is excited to announce the world-wide publishing rights to Barry Windsor-Smith’s graphic novel, Monsters!
Monsters is the legendary project Barry Windsor-Smith has been working on for over 35 years. A 360-page tour de force of visual storytelling, Monsters’ vast narrative canvas is part familial drama, part espionage thriller, part metaphysical journey — in sum, an intimate portrait of individuals and an epic political odyssey spanning two generations of American history. Trauma, fate, conscience, and redemption are a few of the themes that intersect in Windsor-Smith’s Monsters.
When he walks into a military recruitment office, Bobby Bailey has no idea that he is about to fulfill his tragic destiny. Close-mouthed, emotionally damaged, innocent, trying to forget a past and looking for a future, it turns out that Bailey is the perfect candidate for a secret US government experimental program, an unholy continuation of a genetics program that was discovered in Nazi Germany in the waning days of World war II. Bailey’s only ally and protector, Sergeant McFarland, intervenes, which sets off a chain of cascading events that spin out of everyone’s control. As the titular monsters of the title multiply, becoming real and metaphorical, literal and ironic, the story reaches its emotional and moral reckoning. Monsters is rendered in Windsor-Smith’s impeccable pen-and-ink technique; the visual storytelling with its sensitivity to gesture and composition is the most sophisticated of the artist’s career. It is surely one of the most intense graphic novels ever drawn.
“After putting so much time and investing so much creative energy in this project,” says Windsor-Smith, “I'm pleased that it's finally being published.”
Barry Windsor-Smith began his career by drawing mainstay Marvel characters such as the X-Men and Daredevil in 1969 in the traditional Marvel style. However, in 1971 he broke from the Marvel formula when he started drawing the Conan series, turning heads with a fresh and controversial stylistic approach and winning numerous industry awards. Part of a young generation of artists that included compatriots Berni Wrightson, Mike Kaluta, and Jeff Jones, Windsor-Smith proceeded to carve an independent path for himself. In the ‘90s, he conceived, wrote, and drew three independent series, The Freebooters, Young Gods, and The Paradox-Man. In 1999 and 2001 Fantagraphics published Opus volumes 1 and 2, autobiographical coffee table art books. Monsters is his first book since The Freebooters (2005).
“I’ve known Barry for over 50 years now,” explains Fantagraphics publisher Gary Groth, “so publishing his biggest and most artistically mature work to date is a personal and professional milestone for me, and I’m grateful that he’s entrusted this important work to us.”
Monsters by Barry Windsor-Smith is slated to release in January 2021.
About Fantagraphics:
For nearly 45 years, Fantagraphics has published the very best comics and graphic novels that the medium has to offer. Our mission is to celebrate great cartooning in all of its incarnations, from the form’s early luminaries to contemporary artists currently forging the future of visual storytelling. Not content to rest on our laurels and extensive roster of talented artists, we constantly seek out fresh voices from across the globe. Thus, we honor the rich history of comics while providing a platform for bold new stories, styles, and perspectives that push the boundaries of the medium. Fantagraphics remains peerless in our commitment to be the publisher of the world’s greatest cartoonists.
------------------
Monday, June 1, 2020
BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for June 3, 2020
BOOM! STUDIOS
FEB201295 BUFFY EVERY GENERATION #1 CVR A MAIN $7.99
FEB201296 BUFFY EVERY GENERATION #1 CVR B YARSKY VAR $7.99
FEB201314 RED MOTHER #5 $3.99
FEB208190 RED MOTHER #5 FOC DOE VAR $3.99
FEB201313 RED MOTHER DISCOVER NOW ED TP VOL 01 $14.99
DEC191230 WE SERVED THE PEOPLE MY MOTHERS STORIES ORIGINAL GN HC $24.99
FEB201295 BUFFY EVERY GENERATION #1 CVR A MAIN $7.99
FEB201296 BUFFY EVERY GENERATION #1 CVR B YARSKY VAR $7.99
FEB201314 RED MOTHER #5 $3.99
FEB208190 RED MOTHER #5 FOC DOE VAR $3.99
FEB201313 RED MOTHER DISCOVER NOW ED TP VOL 01 $14.99
DEC191230 WE SERVED THE PEOPLE MY MOTHERS STORIES ORIGINAL GN HC $24.99
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
