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MUFASA Roars to Life with Fun Spectacle, a Killer Villain Song, and an Excellent Cast

Be prepared… as Mufasa: The Lion King roars into theaters this holiday season. At once a sequel and a prequel to 2019’s The Lion King, this movie picks up the mantle of Disney’s unique experiment, blending live-action filmmaking with CGI techniques, and uses it to much greater effect than ever before. Mufasa brings a cast of loveable lions to our screens and immerses us into a fantastical world that’s sometimes beautifully heart-warming and sometimes incredibly harrowing, but in a good way—much like 1994’s The Lion King before it. While the particulars of the plot may not always entirely make sense, Mufasa: The Lion King offers spectacle, song, and just the right amount of snarky meta jokes and altogether serves as a movie you’ll be proud to take your pride to again and again.

Disney

A live-action/CGI blend animal movie was always going to be a bit of a tricky proposition. And though 2019’s The Lion King offered a unique spin on this methodology, some felt that perhaps the emotion and the wonder of the original movie were not as highly present as in the new version of the film. But happily, this is not an issue in Mufasa: The Lion King. Right from the very beginning of the movie, Mufasa takes care to create a world that is both realistic and fantastical. Although the animals look realistic in a very cool way, they are also clearly inhabiting a magical Disney world; one where colors are brighter, settings are more epic and intense, and the lion is truly one of the most majestic creatures around.

In this way, when they begin to sing and interact, as only Disney lions can, everything feels very sensical and immersive. I have to shout out here to one of the first songs we hear in the film, “Milele.” The staging, if you will, of “Milele” is so colorful and gorgeously magical, complete with flowers springing to life and butterflies drenching the air with swathes of color, that a viewer immediately feels transported into Mufasa‘s world.

Disney

And, of course, there are our stars, the animals themselves. If previous incarnations of the “live-action meets CGI” lions, lions, and warthogs (oh my!) of The Lion King didn’t emote as fully as they could, then Mufasa‘s creatures have cracked the code. Mufasa, Taka/Scar, Sarabi, Kiara, Timon, Pumbaa, Zazu, Kiros, and the rest are brimming with multitudes of emotions in this movie. Be it love, hope, helplessness, rage, jealousy, excitement, anguish, or murderous intent, if the animal is feeling it, we are feeling it too. The CGI aspect of the lions and other creatures feels seamless in Mufasa. As a viewer, I immediately accepted these more true-to-life animals as the heroes (or villains) of the sweeping tale, just as I would a fully animated creature or a live-action human character. To me, that feels like a huge credit to this movie.

Walt Disney Studios

The emotion and sincerity of the starring animals would not be able to manifest without the real stars and voices behind them, though. Aaron Pierre shines as our hero, Mufasa, and enriches the lion with a sincere goodness and nobility that pulls the viewer’s heartstrings. Mufasa, I think, has always been seen as one of the most true-hearted characters in the Disney canon, and Mufasa: The Lion King only enhances this vision of him. Mufasa, indeed, is so good and so perfect that, as an adult, you might almost want to dislike him for being so flawless. But Pierre makes sure Mufasa is just so darn likable. Truly, we have no choice but to root for him all the way through. (And we love it every step of the way!)

Disney

Scar, on the other hand, wrestles with threads of jealousy, inferiority, and the pull of good and evil in Mufasa: The Lion King. And Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka/Scar delivers on the specific challenge of balancing all these aspects. Harrison Jr.’s performance helps us to understand and love Scar in his younger form, Taka, while blending in all the ingredients that will come to life to make Scar, Scar, along the way. There’s a moment late in the film where the shift in voice Taka’s voice is chilling and superbly uncanny, and that’s down to Harrison Jr.’s genius.

Disney

Tiffany Boone as Sarabi, Blue Ivy Carter as Kiara, Beyoncé as Nala, John Kani as Rafiki, Thandiwe Newton as Eshe, and Preston Nyman as Zazu (and I could go on) also all lend their voices to create the beautiful tapestry of Mufasa and bring love, goodness, and joy to their roles. And, of course, Billy Eichner as Timon and Seth Rogen as Pumbaa absolutely crush it. The duo add a necessary layer of humor to the movie, most of which, they share with Nerdist, was improvised. These jokes help to keep adults as well as children entertained throughout the film. To conclude this section, we’ll just say, “Hakuna Mufasa!” (So legal won’t get on our case!)

Disney

Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros, the villain of the tale, naturally steals the whole show. But he’s so good, we’ll have to give him his own unique space in just a little bit.

As far as the story of Mufasa: The Lion King goes, director Barry Jenkins weaves a deft story within a story, tying us from the present existence of Nala, Simba, and Kiara to the past story of Mufasa’s childhood and life (as told to Kiara by Rafiki) and then deftly threading us into the future with a joyous ending. This, of course, ties into The Lion King‘s most salient theme of the circle of life, beautifully highlighting the notions of existing beyond just our time, living inside of our descendants, helping them on their journeys, and never losing connection with those we love. At one particularly harrowing moment, Kiros declares that the circle of life is a lie and there is only death. But Mufasa: The Lion King beautifully shows us that this is not the case.

Mufasa’s tale, of course, is all about family and brotherhood. The movie really nicely depicts what it’s like to have a sibling and makes space and time for both blood and found family in a way that I felt was very moving. Especially of note was the beautiful depiction of a relationship between an adopted mother and her son. In short, Mufasa loses his blood parents in a shocking fashion but finds a new family in Taka/Scar’s pride (becoming Taka’s adopted brother)… although that too quickly becomes threatened. At the end of the day, to face a great threat to lions and all other animals, Mufasa must find the strength to assert his true role… as the Lion King. Although, of course, this is a title that Scar/Taka believes is promised to him, creating a tension between them. There’s also a side of leonine romance to complicate things.

Disney

If you take a closer look at the plot of the movie, though, it sometimes overextends itself and sometimes presents as too overly simplistic. For instance, the villains’ identities and motivations are a bit too complicated and unclear in Mufasa, as is the idea of who exactly “The Lion King” is and what the role entails. On the flip side, the love triangle that forms between Mufasa, Taka, and Sarabi to really drive a wedge between the brothers seems a bit too on the nose.

That said, Mufasa: The Lion King is a movie whose audience is, first and foremost, children, and that’s how it should be. So, trying to pick apart the exact meaning of all its plot points or criticizing it too heavily for more overt turns of the story is probably missing the point. If I were a five-year-old or a seven-year-old, I think I would have no complaints. Especially as, in true Disney movie fashion, alongside the greater themes and plots, there are big set pieces of action that include epic fights, wild chases, and harrowing leaps. But the film also features quiet moments of intimacy that speak loudly to those of all ages—holding one another in a time of danger, learning from those you love, and finding comfort in friendship.

Disney

Then, of course, there are the songs in Mufasa: The Lion King. Songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda is back behind the wheel of another Disney movie, and certainly brings his flair for catchy bops and heartfelt counterpoint to the table. Mufasa: The Lion King‘s soundtrack has a good blend of songs that harken back to the original music while bringing something original to the table. For instance, “I Always Wanted a Brother” is in good conversation with “I Just Can’t Wait to be King,” and the pair of songs will be a fun duo to listen to together. Miranda’s flair for memorable tunes that also know how to move the story along really shines in Mufasa. And his work here is guaranteed to get stuck in your head.

Disney

Then, of course, there’s the villain song. Disney movies are well-known for their villain songs hitting it out of the park. And Miranda’s “Bye Bye,” written for Mads Mikkelsen’s villain Kiros, is a banger. Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros, firstly, is exceptional. His star power seeps all the way through, creating a fearsome lion who will casually order your death with a smile. There’s just no ignoring Kiros in a scene, and “Bye Bye” is his true moment to shine. The song is funny but absolutely terrifying. The phrase “bye-bye” is kind of cute and silly in its conceit, but listen to Mads Mikkelsen sing it, and it will bring shudders up your spine.

That is the power of song, the power of a villain song, and the power of Mads Mikkelsen and “Bye Bye” in Mufasa: The Lion King. Only Mads Mikkelsen, in the hands of a great songwriter and director, could deliver the lyrics, “Cause I’m gonna be the last thing you see/Before you go, bye-bye” and make them sound like a true threat to your life. If you will excuse us, we will run and hide.

Disney

Overall, Mufasa: The Lion King takes us on an epic adventure with our favorite realistic animal friends; the movie tells a sincere and emotional journey and brings new life to the most important themes of The Lion King. It highlights the importance of friendship, the idea life contains both delights and rapids, and the beauty of love’s eternal nature. The film will likely make its audience, adults and kids alike, cry, laugh, and gasp as it entertains them with some new favorite songs and whirls them away with a grand spectacle worthy of Mufasa, the Lion King.

Mufasa: The Lion King ⭐ (3.5 of 5)

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ULTRAMAN Meets Santa in a Holiday-Themed Marathon

You may be surprised to hear this in North America, but Japan’s number one superhero, Ultraman, is a big fan of Christmas. It makes a lot of sense if you think about it. They both have red and white (or silver) color schemes. Both are about bringing joy and light to people everywhere. And both concern fighting kaiju in bareknuckle boxing matches. Well, two out of three. In truth, within the Ultraman Universe, the character called Father of Ultra, the Top Commander of the Inter Galactic Defense Force, is canonically Santa Claus himself. No kidding.

Tsuburaya Productions

To celebrate that strange connection, the official Ultraman English YouTube Channel will debut marathon of five Christmas-themed episodes from the series’ 52-year history, three of which will feature Santa/Father of Ultra. This marathon begins Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 6p PT/9p ET. As an added holiday treat, the channel will present The Holiday Special Watch Party, that includes four additional episodes, special guest commentary, and new Ultraman product reveals on December 22. All episodes will be available for fans to enjoy through January 5, 2025.

Tsuburaya Productions

The Ultraman Holiday Special Watch Party featuring the staff of fan hub Ultraman Connection and special guests including Mike Dent from the SHOUT Factory TokuSHOUTsu streaming channel, fan favorite Ultraman artist Klenda Vee, Marvel’s Ultraman X Avengers writer Kyle Higgins, and Ultraman Card Game contributor artist Jamie Noguchi. The event will reveal holiday products on offer from Ultraman licensees, as well as brand new artwork for an upcoming release of the Ultraman Card Game.

But what episodes will be in the mix, I hear you ask? It’s a really fun smattering from across Ultraman history, all with enough Yuletide cheer and monster-bashing to make anyone happy.

The episodes included in The Holiday Special Watch Party on December 22 at 5p PT/8p ET are: 

●      Ultraman Ace Episode 38: Resurrection! Father of Ultra

On Christmas night, a Namahage summons a Terrible-Monster as a punishment against foreigners. Many people lose their vision from the mysterious beams emitted by Terrible-Monster Snowgiran. Meanwhile, Hokuto finds Santa Claus visiting a local orphanage suspicious, and is shocked by who Santa turns out to be!

●      Ultraman Taro Episode 38: The Ultra Christmas Tree

Right before the Yuletide holiday, Kotaro (the human host of Ultraman Taro) meets a young girl named Hitomi. Hitomi’s life was once saved by Alien Miracle who was visiting Earth. However, Alien Miracle was killed by Alien Terrorist on its way back to its planet. Soon, Alien Terrorist appears on Earth, jeopardizing everyone’s Christmas!

Tsuburaya Productions

●      Ultraman 80 Episode 38: The Echoing Voice of Father of Ultra

On Christmas Eve, no one believes Futoshi’s father really saw a monster. Does a  giant Kaiju really lurk near Nakatsudai?

●      Ultraman Mebius Episode 37: Father’s Back

Today is the Advent Festival for Father of Ultra, a day to commemorate the many miracles Father of Ultra performed on Earth. The GUYS crew is planning to throw a party as well, but just then, the monster Jashrine appears. Ultraman Mebius engages, but his body is turned into a golden statue! Can the answer have something to do with…Santa Claus?

Additional episodes included in The Holiday Special Marathon, available to stream on YouTube starting December 18 at 6p PT/9p ET: 

●      Return of Ultraman Episode 37: Ultraman Dies at Sunset

Disguising himself as a member of the Space Radio Wave Laboratory, Alien Nackle wants to get Ultraman out of the way of an Earth invasion. First, he revives monsters to analyze Ultraman’s specs and powers, then he robs MAT’s newly invented gunpowder Saturn Z. And last he disrupts Go’s mind, so that he cannot turn into Ultraman!

●      Return of Ultraman Episode 38: When the Star of Ultra Shines

Alien Nackle attacks MAT Station V1 with his spaceships. With Saturn Z in hand, he declares war on Earth and demands unconditional surrender from humanity. Meanwhile, Ultraman is transported to Planet Nackle for execution. But Shin Hayata and Dan Moroboshi have arrived to save him! With his power regained, Ultraman flies back to Earth for a return match!

Tsuburaya Productions

●      Ultraman Leo Episode 38: Showdown! The Leo Brothers vs the Ultra Brothers

The Tower on Planet Ultra has been destroyed by a powerful being and the Ultra Key has been stolen. Planet Ultra flies off its orbit and falls onto a collision course with Earth. The Ultra Brothers insist that Leo’s younger brother Astra is the thief. Now on Christmas Eve, the world braces for destruction as the Ultra Brothers start battling Astra on Earth.

●      Ultraman Leo Episode 39: The Leo Brothers, the Ultra Brothers, the Moment of Victory

Leo, trying to help Astra, is attacked by the Ultra Brothers and is defeated. Astra threatens the Ultra Brothers with the Ultra Key but lightning strikes it and the key is destroyed. Ultraman King appears before them on Christmas Day!

●      Ultraman Max Episode 26: Elly at Christmas

Young Elly befriends an old man, Dr. Kori. He seeks to capture the Unizin, a monster who appears every 12 years, but things quickly get out of hand. Elly’s Christmas is threatened! Time to call in Ultraman Max!

Spend the holidays with your favorite silver-and-red heroes!

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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DUNE: PROPHECY Episode 5 Recap ‘In Blood, Truth’: An Imprinter Arrives, A New Bashar, and Desmond Hart’s Identity Revealed in an Explosive Ending

Dune: Prophecy‘s penultimate episode, episode five, “In Blood, Truth, is here, and we are here to recap it. The action hasn’t stopped for a minute in Dune: Prophecy, and episode five absolutely keeps up the momentum. As we head toward the season finale of the Dune series’ first season, everything is quickly coming to a head. There are romances, revelations, and, of course, wild endings. This show has had many twists and turns, but the ending of Dune: Prophecy‘s fifth episode feels like it really takes the cake. Who is Desmond Hart? We find out in a big way. Our full recap of Dune: Prophecy episode five, “In Blood, Truth,” is below.

HBOFrancesca, a Dune Imprinter, Arrives on the Scene, and She’s the Mother of the Emperor’s Son

Dune: Prophecy episode five brings a new character, Sister Francesca, an Imprinter played by Bollywood star Tabu. Dune fans will know that an Imprinter is a member of the Sisterhood that uses seduction, sex, and love to form unbreakable bonds with their partners/quarries. As Mother Superior Valya explains, Imprinting is “making an impression so strong it alters the course of someone’s life. An emotional and physical bond that never breaks.” And who has Sister Francesca imprinted, why Emperor Corrino, of course. In fact, we learn that the mother of Emperor Corinno’s illegitimate son, Constantine, is none other than Sister Francesca.

Max

Mother Superior Valya Harkonnen tricked Sister Francesca into coming Salusa Secundus to help control the emperor as things with Desmond Hart and the royal family become contentious. And, to a degree, Sister Francesca does as Valya Harkonenn commands her, urging the Emperor to give Constantine more responsibility and distracting him with her presence. But where Francesca’s loyalties truly lie is not yet clear.

Desmond Hart Becomes the Emperor’s New Bashar in Dune: Prophecy Episode 5 (And Leads What Will Become the Sardaukar Army)HBO

Meanwhile, to the chagrin of his daughter Ynez, Emperor Corinno has made Desmond Hart his new Bashar in Dune: Prophecy. What is a Bashar in Dune lore? Well, it’s a military rank of the of the Sardaukar army that’s similar to Colonel. While Emperor Corrino’s army has not yet been explicitly referred to as the Sardaukar army, which will eventually be the elite military force of House Corrino, referring to Desmond Hart as a Bashar is certainly a step in that direction. In Arabic, Bashar means “bringer of glad tidings,” but it doesn’t seem like Desmond Hart will be bringing very many of those. Instead, Desmond Hart urges the Emperor to have shows of strength and to march on his enemies without mercy.

The Reason for Desmond Hart’s Anger at the Sisterhood Comes to Light in Dune: Prophecy Episode 5

If there’s one thing you can say about Desmond Hart is that he is committed to the destruction of the Sisterhood on Dune: Prophecy. We even see him meet with Valya Harkonnen’s nephew, Harrow Harkonnen, to try and turn him against his family. While we admit that Harrow does seem a bit sneaky, we feel pretty sure in the end, he’s sided with Valya and House Harkonnen in Dune: Prophecy… although it’s possible he will pull a last-minute betrayal.

HBO

But just why is Desmond Hart so enraged at the Sisterhood. We find out a bit more in Dune: Prophecy episode five. Desmond reveals some of his motivations to Empress Natalya, sharing, “The woman who gave birth to me sent me away to live among scavengers, who left me fighting for scraps just to survive. She was a Sister.” Oops. For all his talk about the greater good of the Imperium, it feels like Desmond Hart’s crusade is a personal one between himself and his mother, who abandoned him. Empress Natalya, too, has personal umbrage against the Sisterhood, feeling they have ruined her marriage and relationship with her daughter. As the title of the Dune: Prophecy episode that we’re recapping shares, “In blood, truth.”

Of note: Empress Natalya seems to allude to the powers of Shai-Hulud, which marks one of several references to her having deeper ties to Arakkis than have been overtly discussed so far. In earlier episodes, Natalya mentioned, for instance, the Zensunni Wanderers, the ancestors of Arakkis’ Fremen.

Desmond Hart Attacks the Rebels, and Kieran Atreides Is Exposed as a Member of the Rebellion and Arrested

As mentioned, Desmond Hart attempts to get Harrow Harkonnen to betray his aunt Valya. But instead, Valya feeds him information about a rebel cell where Sister Mikaela is undercover, ready to blow him up with a rather large number of explosives. Unfortunately, the attack on Desmond fails, though no one is quite certain how he is able to survive. Desmond does discover a Sisterhood robe in the rebel cell shortly before it’s blown up, but loses his evidence, although now he knows that the Sisterhood is connected to the rebellion.

HBO

Kieran Atreides also gets mixed up in this attack but manages to escape unseen. Unfortunately, Constantine Corrino discovers his maps of the palace and has him arrested. Princess Ynez is horrified by this revelation but perhaps does not entirely believe that Kieran is in the wrong.

Of note, we hear mention of going to Arakkis for the first time in the present Dune: Prophecy timeline. Valya intends to send Mikaela to a safehouse there.

Mother Raquella Takes Over Sister Lila, and Discovers Desmond’s Powers Are an Airborne Virus HBO

Back in our storyline on Wallach IX, the home of the Sisterhood, Lila, newly back from the dead, has been taken over by her foremother, Mother Raquella. After undergoing The Agony, Lila’s foremothers are now voices inside her head, but also seem to be able to be very present spirits that possess her. Mother Raquella emerges to help Tula get to the bottom of what has attacked the Sisterhood and determines to be an airborne virus not unlike a pathogen the machines released during the war. The enzyme has similar properties to that pathogen but concentrates in the amygdala or fear center. And so, fear is the mind-killer. The good news about a virus is that it can sometimes be cure… sometimes.

Dune: Prophecy Episode 5 Ending Explained—Who Is Desmond Hart and What Are His Origins? HBO

But, of course, the greatest revelation of this episode comes during the ending of Dune: Prophecy, episode five, “In Blood, Truth.” Who is Desmond Hart? It’s a question we’ve been asking since the beginning of the series. And now, we know. Valya sends Tula a sample of Desmond Hart’s blood to run through the Sisterhood’s genetic archive. And the genetic archive reveals that Desmond Hart is the son of a Harkonnen and an Atreides. And which Harkonnen do we know was woo-ing an Atreides not too long ago in some flashbacks? Oh yes. Dune: Prophecy episode five reveals that Desmond Hart is the son of Tula Harkonnen and Orry Ateides. That doesn’t necessarily account for his powers… But it is a pretty hefty lineage. We’ll see how this one plays out when we recap Dune: Prophecy season one, episode six, there series’ final episode from its first chapter. Dune: Prophecy airs Sundays on Max.

Check out our Dune: Prophecy Episode One Recap, Dune: Prophecy Episode Two Recap, Dune: Prophecy Episode Three Recap, Dune: Prophecy Episode Four Recap.

All Dune: Prophecy recaps can be found here.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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WICKED: PART 2 Is Now Titled WICKED: FOR GOOD

Wicked: Part 2 just got a title change, a solid year ahead of its release. Via The Hollywood Reporter, we’ve learned that instead of Wicked: Part 2, it’ll now be called Wicked: For Good. Fans of the Broadway musical know that the song “For Good” is the second to last song in the show, a duet between Elphaba and Glinda. In many ways, “For Good” encapsulates the premise of the whole play, as the two women sing “I know I’m who I am today because I knew you.” In the song, Elphaba tells Glinda “Whatever way our stories end, I know you have rewritten mine by being my friend.”

Changing the name of the second chapter of Wicked makes sense, certainly from a marketing standpoint. Most fans of the Broadway show agree, the biggest banger numbers all occur during Act One. It was a no-brainer (but not in a Scarecrow way) to sell the first Wicked around “Defying Gravity” and “Popular.” Both are songs even people who’ve never seen the play know. Act Two of Wicked has some lovely songs too, but almost nothing as memorable as the ones just mentioned. The big exception to that however is “For Good.” Composer Stephen Schwartz knocked it out of the park with that one. There won’t be a dry eye in the house when Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande sing that to each other.

Universal Pictures

Wicked is currently the highest-grossing film domestically based on a Broadway musical. Although, adjusted for ticket price inflation, that honor would still go to Grease and The Sound of Music. But Wicked wouldn’t be far behind them, even with all of that factored in. It’s a true cultural phenomenon, and that makes the sequel to the Wizard of Oz prequel one of the most anticipated movies of 2025 already. Wicked: For Good opens in theaters everywhere on November 21, 2025.

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Has INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE Season 3 Set a 2025 Release Date Window?

In 2024, Interview with the Vampire season two captured the imagination of audiences, both mainstream and niche. In fact, it was one of our best TV series of the year. And so, there was much excitement and great clamor when Interview with the Vampire season three released a teaser over the summer. But, of course, despite this glimpse of the series’ next adventure, no release date was yet shared at that time. Now, Entertainment Weekly reports of Interview with the Vampire season three, “Its third season is due in 2025.”

AMC

Of course, without firm confirmation from AMC, this could all be speculative. The EW article does note that the page is sponsored by AMC and AMC+, which is an intriguing element to the reporting. But further adds that the content on the page was curated without influence from advertisers. Like the show itself, this bit of information has many twists and turns. Nerdist has reached out for official clarification.

For now, we would err on assuming that we don’t yet know that Interview with the Vampire season three will arrive in 2025. But we sure do think fans would be ecstatic to be able to take a long drink from another chapter of the series so soon. Fingers crossed for more Interview with the Vampire in the new year.

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James Gunn Gives Update on THE BATMAN – PART II Script

Although it will not belong to the main on-screen DC Universe, we were very happy to hear that The Batman – Part II will continue on in DC’s new world order. Under James Gunn and Peter Safran, The Batman – Part II will belong to DC’s Elseworlds Projects. These projects will take place in TV, movie, or game form but will not factor into the main universe story. Still, they play a critical role in keeping the DC Universe varied and interesting.

But what is the current state of The Batman – Part II? Well, James Gunn just gave a little status update on Threads. When asked, “You said you haven’t gotten a draft of the Batman part 2 yet but Matt Reeves said in an interview 3 months ago he gave big portions of The Batman part 2 script to DC. what’s going on?” Gunn replied, “It seems like you answer your own question! Both those things are true.” To us, that makes it sound like The Batman — Part II is well underway, but does not yet have a fully finalized script.

Here’s everything we know about The Batman – Part II.

Warner Bros.Title

For now, the sequel to The Batman carries the descriptive title of The Batman – Part II.

The Batman – Part II‘s Plot

We don’t know much yet about The Batman – Part II‘s plot. But we do know that a cinematic universe is building for The Batman. Next up, we’ll see a Penguin series on HBO Max, and that will tie directly into the coming sequel.

Warner Bros.

One thing is clear about The Batman – Part II; its focus will stay on Batman, a.k.a Bruce Wayne. Reeves shares:

To me, the thing that I really feel is that I also believe that Rob [Pattinson] is so special in the role. My goal has always been to do these point-of-view stories that allow the character to always be the emotional center of the story. Because a lot of times what happens is, after you do the first one, then suddenly other Rogues Gallery characters come in, and they kind of take over, and then Batman takes a backseat sort of character-wise, or emotionally.

The Batman – Part II‘s CastWarner Bros.

For now, we know Robert Pattinson will return as our Bruce Wayne/Batman. It just wouldn’t be a The Batman movie without him. In addition, an article in GQ notes that Matt Reeves has confirmed Andy Serkis’ return as Alfred Pennyworth in The Batman – Part II.

A February 21, 2024 interview on Vanity Fair also confirmed Barry Keoghan—who had a brief cameo in the first film as the Joker—will return, presumably in a much bigger role, for The Batman – Part II.

Warner Bros.Behind the Scenes

Matt Reeves is returning to write the sequel to The Batman. But this time, he will find a co-writer in Mattson Tomlin. We assume Reeves will also direct The Batman – Part II.

The Batman – Part II Release Date

The Batman – Part II will release on October 2, 2026.

Originally published on February 8, 2023.

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FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS Reboot Happening with Original Creative Team at Universal Television

“Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose!” 

That phrase is familiar to all of us who were glued into the drama of Friday Night Lights. The series, which ran from 2006-2011, followed Coach Eric Taylor’s family and his high school football team in the sports-loving town of Dillon, Texas. That fictional small-town setting gave the show a foundation to explore racism, social inequity, family values, and coming-of-age woes. It also was the show that really made me begin to fall for Michael B. Jordan when he came in later to take the star quarterback role at East Dillon High. But that’s a different post. Now, according to Deadline, Friday Night Lights is reportedly getting a reboot under Universal Television, and it’s heading to Peacock. It’s time to turn the bright lights back on and play some football, y’all. 

Universal Television

There aren’t too many solid details about this series yet. For now, we know that Jason Katims, Pete Berg and Brian Grazer are all returning as its creative team. The Friday Night Lights reboot will supposedly follow a whole new group of characters. We assume it will explore similar themes in an updated setting. It’s not clear if the show will return back to Texas or maybe explore the fervent love of football in another state. We know that Texas is a major football hub but let’s not forget the how many college and NFL players hail from Louisiana, Florida, and other Southern states. But going back to Dillon could show how things have changed—or stayed the same, as small towns often do—over the years. Hopefully, there will be more diversity this time around, too.

Deadline notes that the Friday Night Lights spinoff series “will be set following a devastating hurricane, when a rag-tag high school football team and their damaged, interim coach make an unlikely bid for a Texas High School State Championship and become a beacon of light for their town.” Very interesting.

There’s a lot to chew on in today’s world, including politics, ever-shifting social media, and more. It’s not impossible for previous characters to make a cameo, which would draw in fans of the original series. Bring our beloved coach back, please! We can’t wait to get more information about this one.

Originally published on November 15, 2024.

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Sony Reportedly Could Have Featured SPIDER-MAN In Its Own Live-Action Marvel Films But…Didn’t

Kraven the Hunter will likely to be the last of Sony’s Spider-Man free Spider-Man movies. But the studio isn’t done making Marvel films just yet. A new report says Sony isn’t giving up making big screen superhero movies. One of the obvious reasons for its cinematic superhero struggles so far was a deliberate choice not to features Tom Holland’s Peter Parker even though it could have. And that could point to how Sony will change course going forward.

Marvel Studios

Variety‘s Adam B. Vary wrote about the successes (Venom) and failures (everything that wasn’t Venom) of Sony’s Spider-Man-adjacent films, which will seemingly conclude with Kraven the Hunter. His breakdown includes insight into why the studio never included Tom Holland’s version of Peter Parker in their own movies despite the character’s popularity in the MCU. It had nothing to do with any deal Sony struck with Disney. From Vary:

According to one Sony source, the deal with Disney never precluded Sony from using Spider-Man in its movies that didn’t bear his name; the “Spider-Verse” movies’ profusion of Peter Parkers, Gwen Stacys and other various Spider-People certainly bears that out. But there was a feeling within the studio that audiences would not accept Holland’s Spidey suddenly popping up in a live-action film that wasn’t a part of the MCU, especially after Spider-Man: No Way Home and the Marvel Studios projects Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness established definitive boundaries to the Marvel multiverse.

Sony has featured Spider-Man in its animated juggernauts, so we knew that wasn’t an issue. But now we know it could have specifically used Tom Holland’s character in their films. Would Morbius, Madame Web, and Kraven the Hunter have done better if they included Holland? Almost certainly. But that doesn’t mean Sony was wrong about how canon-obsessed superhero fans would feel about his involvement. Featuring Holland’s Spider-Man without a logical explanation for why he suddenly appeared in a different universe might have also lessened his impact on the character’s role in the MCU. Sony would have/does care about that. Those joint MCU productions still make Sony a lot of money.

Marvel Studios

So while Sony could have used Holland in its own films, it’s understandable why they chose not to. But the downside to that choice could also provide a way forward for future Sony Marvel films. The multiverse is full of Spider-People. Sony’s own Spider-Verse films have shown that. The studio could cast its own, entirely new live-action Peter Parker, Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy, or even all three for their own films. Meanwhile Tom Holland could continue to star as the MCU’s Variant.

Not only will that let Sony put Spider-Man back into their Spider-Man movies without worrying about the rules of the multiverse, it would set up a huge crossover film someday with Holland’s Peter appearing with Sony’s Peter. And we already know how audiences would feel about seeing multiple live-actions Spider-Mans onscreen together. That kind of cinematic event will definitely be a bigger box office draw than Madame Web or Kraven the Hunter. (Although Sony apparently still insists Morbius turned a profit.)

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Chris Miller Debunks Rumors of SPIDER-MAN: BEYOND THE SPIDER-VERSE Starting from Scratch, But Still No Release Date for Spidey Movie

When Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse came out in spring 2023, they promised a sequel just one year later. However, that didn’t quite work out. Sony took Beyond the Spider-Verse off the schedule for 2024 before indefinitely delaying it. Rumors then started to surface that Sony had scrapped almost everything so far for the third chapter. Furthermore, the film would not see the light of day until 2027. That’s a full four years since Across the Spider-Verse hit theaters and left a cliffhanger ending. But earlier in the year, two creatives involved debunked this rumor. Of course, there is still no release date in sight for Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.

Nothing has been scrapped. The reels are coming along nicely.

— Christopher Miller (@chrizmillr) September 10, 2024

Don’t really ever want to weigh in on this sort of stuff BUT would you ever believe there could sometimes be stuff on the internet that might not always be particularly accurate? Hmmmm…

🤔 https://t.co/OfXXZKvled

— Daniel Pemberton (also on BluSky same name) (@DANIELPEMBERTON) September 10, 2024

Via The Hollywood Reporter, we’ve learned that Spider-Verse co-writer and producer Chris Miller has said the following via social media. “Nothing has been scrapped. The reels are coming along nicely.” Meanwhile, composer Daniel Pemberton said “Don’t really ever want to weigh in on this sort of stuff, BUT would you ever believe there could sometimes be stuff on the internet that might not always be particularly accurate? Hmmm.” Both creators are assuring the fans that they are not starting from scratch with the third part of this trilogy.

Sony Animation

Of course, Beyond is still not on any schedule. While it may be true that they’re not starting over as rumors suggest, there are clearly changes going on. When Across the Spider-Verse did significantly larger box office than Into the Spider-Verse, as well as getting similar critical praise, the pressure was on to stick the landing. So we might not be waiting to find out what happened to Miles Morales until 2027. Yet, it might still be 2026. It would be quite a coincidence if the MCU’s Multiverse Saga and Sony Animation’s Spider-Verse saga both ended within months of each other. Regardless, a recent report suggests that Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse will definitely not be arriving in 2025. But that might not be a bad thing, as the report also notes that Sony is “taking a lot of tender loving care with the next Spider-Verse animated movie.”

Hopefully soon, we’ll get concrete information from Sony Animation on when Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse officially hits theaters.

Originally published September 10, 2024.

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28 DAYS LATER Isn’t Streaming Nor Available for Purchase, But It’s Coming to Digital Soon

The recent trailer for 28 Years Later has fans of the franchise buzzing for many reasons. First there’s the ongoing speculation that Cillian Murphy will appear in the film as a zombie version of Jim considering there’s one in the trailer who looks just like him. But fans are also ready to go back in time and check out 28 Days Later, the apocalypse film that started it all. Unfortunately and strangely, 28 Days Later isn’t available on any streaming platform and you cannot purchase it on DVD nor Blu-ray. That’s such a bummer considering there is obvious renewed interest in the film. Thankfully, Sony Pictures is making 28 Days Later available on digital beginning December 18, and it’s available to preorder on digital today.

Searchlight Pictures

There’s currently a link to sign up to get notified about the preorder. While this is good news, it does speak to the merits of owning physical media in today’s streaming age. If something leaves streaming for whatever reason(s) and goes out of print, you can have the comfort of knowing that you own it and can watch whenever you feel like it. Either way, having the chance to own a digital copy of 28 Days Later is a step in the right direction, even though having it streaming would rock too. Maybe a physical copy with commentary and other goodies will come in 2025 as we get closer to 28 Years Later’s release.

As mentioned, 28 Days Later will become available on digital on December 18.

Originally published on December 11, 2024.

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