Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 2011

LEGION’s Noah Hawley Announces DOCTOR DOOM Movie

When it was first announced Noah Hawley would be bringing the world of the Coen Brothers Fargo to FX, many said it was a terrible idea. Now Fargo is one of the best, most respected shows on television. Then when word spread that he was going to try and match that success by developing the comic book pages of Legion for the small screen, many said it wouldn’t work. Instead Legion became one of the most unique, amazing new shows of the year.

But is there anything Hawley can’t do? Are there limits to what even a talented writer and show runner such as himself can pull off? Like, could he really do the impossible and make a good Fantastic Four movie?

We’re going to find out–kinda. Because as Variety reports, today at the end of the first ever Legion panel at San Diego Comic-Son, Hawley made an very unexpected, but very exciting announcement about a new film he is working on for Fox:

“I’ll just say two words. The first one is ‘Doctor’ and the next one is ‘Doom.'”

A Noah Hawley Doctor Doom movie? To that we’ll just say two words. The first one is “duh” and the next one is “aaaamn.”

After the, ahem, struggles at Fox to launch the Fantastic Four franchise, tackling it from the point of view of one of the great comic book villains is a great strategy to turn the property around. And if anyone can make it work, it’s Noah Hawley. This time around no one should doubt that.

What do you make of this news? Do you predict doom for the film, or will it be another hit for Hawley? Tell us in the comments below.

Images: Fox

STARGATE Returns with STARGATE ORIGINS Live-Action Series

Twenty years ago, Stargate SG-1 debuted on Showtime and transformed the single film into an enduring live-action TV franchise that spanned three series. And while it’s been six years since Stargate Universe came to an end, MGM is finally ready to open the iris for a brand new series.

 

At the Stargate SG-1 20th anniversary panel at Comic-Con International, MGM revealed that a new Stargate series, Stargate Origins, is slated to begin filming next month. The leading character will be Catherine Langford, the young woman who witnessed her father, Professor Paul Langford, uncover the Stargate in Giza in 1928, as seen in the film. In 1996, Catherine hired Daniel Jackson to translate the symbols on the Stargate, which marked the beginning of the larger story.

It’s not clear if Stargate Origins is a reboot of the TV series timeline or a retcon, as Stargate SG-1 established that Catherine did not go through the gate until much later in life, but she did lose her fiancée, Ernest Littlefield, to an early experiment with the gate. According to MGM, the new series will follow Catherine as she “embarks on an unexpected adventure to unlock the mystery of what lies beyond the Stargate in order to save Earth from unimaginable darkness. ”

Stargate Origins will be a ten-episode event series, written by Mark Ilvedson and Justin Michael Terry, with Mercedes Bryce Morgan lined up as the director. Since production is starting next month, casting news should be available soon. The other major reveal of the panel is that Stargate Origins will be produced directly for Stargate Command, a new online home for the franchise.

As you may have suspected, Stargate Command will be a subscription service and it will presumably host the previous TV series as well as other content from the franchise’s history. We wouldn’t be surprised if Stargate Origins is only the beginning of their plans for new content. But it may be some time before we learn more. Stargate Command isn’t scheduled to officially launch until this fall.

Are you excited about the return of Stargate? Let us know in the comment section below!

Images: MGM

ARCHER Meets Eggsy from KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE

Over the years, there’s been no shortage of movies and TV featuring classy super spies. In recent years, there are two in particular that stand out as part of the new generation. Former secret agent, drug runner, and current private detective Sterling Archer and street-tough super spy Gary “Eggsy” Unwin. Now, their drastically different worlds just collided in a mashup to promote the new film Kingsman: The Golden Circle.

The video titled “#TBT to That Time Archer Met Kingsman” shows Eggsy finishing a mission and heading back to Kingsman headquarters. There, he runs into the devil-may-care Archer who has found the hidden weapons and gear behind the fitting rooms. Frankly, using that first hook as a switch makes us think that room is constantly discovered by civilians. The two then trade un-pleasantries, Archer quips that their name means something different stateside, and–as he’s known to do–drinks entirely too much and passes out.

Fortunately for Eggsy, Archer and his team aren’t the American spies that he’ll be working with in the new film that hits heaters in September. Though, seeing the Kingsman have to deal with Archer and his often alcohol-fueled antics would make for some entertaining television. Perhaps, someday, we’ll get an entire crossover episode or even a season considering how often the folks from Archer switch careers.

What do you think of this spy mashup? Let’s discuss in the comments below!

Image: 20th Century Fox

THE FINAL MASTER is a Supreme Display of Martial Arts and Filmmaking Skill (Fantasia Review)

From its very first scene, Xu Haofeng’s The Final Master establishes itself as a fast-fisted, quick-witted story set in the lush antiquity of 1930s Tianjin. It’s a display not only of a wide range of martial arts styles and weapon mastery, but also of storytelling, production design and style.

The Grandmaster (King Shih-Chieh) is retiring soon and wants to secure a legacy, so he agrees to advise a Wing Chun master Chen (Liao Fan) who wants to open a school to see Wing Chun flourish. If you’ve seen even one martial arts movie, you already know what he’s got to do: defeat eight established schools to secure a place at the table.

There’s a hitch, though. As an outsider, he needs to find a local apprentice to fight for him.

Chen marries a waitress named Zhao (Song Jia) and finds a student in the devil-may-care laborer Geng Liangchen (Song Yang), who inserts himself into their lives while trying to hit on The Master’s new bride. He proves to be a prodigy, and bodies soon start hitting the mat, but they all become entangled in local politics that have greater concerns than whether an outsider gets to open a martial arts academy.

The fights in The Final Master are at the highest level of choreography and execution. A fantastic, astonishing display of fast, clean combat married with clear-eyed cinematography from Wang Tianlin, letting us appreciate the full scope of each fight. Patient editing by Xu and He Sisi lets each bout breathe and gets flashy only to heighten the impact of the many, many, many blows. They’re percussive and balletic and absolutely thrilling.

They also utilize a dizzying range of weapons, anchored by The Master’s favored butterfly swords and ranging from bamboo poles to halberds to tomahawks to blades as tall and wide as the men wielding them. Laio proves more than capable of showing us what it means to be the best fighter, taking out scores of attackers, sometimes with a puppy in one hand. Yes, The Master fights a group of men while holding a puppy. Yes, it is insanely awesome. And cute.

The Final Master also has a wry sense of humor that runs throughout its dialogue, its battles, and the romance between The Master and Zhao. Laio and Song Jia’s chemistry is the stuff of classic Hollywood. Their sarcasm and antagonism toward one another hides a genuine tenderness beneath the surface. After looking longingly at his initial proposal, Zhao flippantly rebukes him with an eye roll and a mic-drop one-liner, but while their marriage is initially one of mutual social convenience, they quickly develop a tandem affection.

Yet their romance is one spoke on a gorgeously balanced wheel. The wit hits as hard as its fists, creating an extraordinary movie that sticks the landing on its romance, humor, drama, and action. The rare complete package.

We get to unwrap that package inside an open, internationally-curious China in which Art Deco modernity collides with the Dynastic opulence of the past. From a bowling alley where young boys return your ball and rest your pins, to the streets where cars roll alongside horse carriages, this is a Tianjin bursting with privileged culture and dusty day laborers. There are Belorussian dangers, French pastries, and dreams of Brazilian chocolate. All of it is wonderfully vivid enough to transport you completely into the past.

There’s also a cool, vibe-y score from An Wei that uses horns and a Hammond organ to create a modern counterpart to the period setting. It also offers The Master and his student a chance to look ridiculously badass after beating down bad guys.

Despite its standardized set up, The Final Master thankfully doesn’t follow a typical path. There are more stories to juggle than The Master’s school aspirations, so the extended, 8-school tournament of the high concept doesn’t doom the film to ping pong between training sequences and formal fights. Instead, Geng’s victories over the local school champions are shown as brief, sharp displays of his prowess. Like Liao, Song Fang is game to show off his Kung Fu finesse.

In fact, every actor does excellent work. The charismatic Jiang Wenli is a VIP as the sly, assured Master Zou, who has her hand on pieces across the chessboard. Her cool-headed command is a pleasant breeze flowing through The Final Master even though she wants to see our flawed hero killed or run out of town.

The film stumbles only slightly as it attempts to draw its stories of local intrigue and personal interest together, but it’s forgivable given the intensity of the climax which puts The Master on the wrong side of an entire town with 19 separate martial arts schools. Or, rather, in an alleyway blocked off by 19 separate martial arts schools. No biggie.

The Final Master is an exceptionally good action flick. Kung Fu at its absolute finest with a classic story and solid performances to boot.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 butterfly burritos

Images: Heyi Pictures

PACIFIC RIM 2 First Look and Figures Give Us a Look at New and Improved Jaegers

Those of us who enjoyed the first Pacific Rim haven’t exactly had an easy past few years. Though a dynamo at the box office in China, Guillermo del Toro’s robots-versus-monsters flick didn’t fare exceptionally well here in America, nor did it garner especial praise from the critical community. As a result, the prospect of a sequel has been somewhat inconsistent, even past the point of official announcement. As such, it’s quite a relief to see tangible proof that a new Pacific Rim movie is coming, both in the form of action figures and a new teaser video, all of which debuted at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con.

On today’s Nerdist News, we’re tapping into exactly what we can mine from these first glimpses of Pacific Rim 2, which bumps franchise newbie John Boyega up to the starring position, and seems to shift the position of the first film’s all powerful Jaegers just a tad. Whereas Pacific Rim situated the Jaeger mechanism as a maligned and antiquated piece of military tech, Pacific Rim 2 looks to be assimilating the cyborgs into its future society in a manner none too dissimilar to our own heavily-obsessed-over technologies.

Not only have the Jaeger’s upgraded their role in the Pacific Rim world, but they also seem to have upgraded their gizmos. This time around, we’re looking at a sleeker and more refined brand of Jaeger, as well as features including (if you look closely enough) a H-L-3-Y-3-S-Gravity Sling. If that sounds familiar, it’s probably because you’ve been playing a bit of Half Life 3 lately. And that’s hardly the only extra-textual reference planted in the new trailer; the Jaegers’ gun looks a bit too similar to a Half Life 2 gravity gun to be sheer coincidence.

But of course we have much yet to learn about Pacific Rim 2 and its new and improved Jaegers. Let us know what you think of this first look at the sequel!

Editor’s note: This episode of Nerdist News is sponsored by Tor Books.

Rocko Comes to 2017 in the ROCKO’S MODERN LIFE Movie Trailer

With all of Nickelodeon‘s reboots of our favorite ’90s cartoons, sometimes it feels like we’ve woken up in a different decade. But that is quite literally what happens to the gang from Rocko’s Modern Life in the first trailer for their all new movie.

Today Nick debuted the first footage from Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling during a panel for the beloved animated series at San Diego Comic-Con. On hand were the original voice actors Carlos Alazraqui (Rocko), Tom Kenny (Heffer), Doug Lawrence (Filbert), and Charlie Adler (Mr. Big Head and Mrs. Big Head), as well as series creator Joe Murray and the new movie’s director Cosmo Segurson.

They discussed the show’s past and future, but the highlight was this first look at the movie, where Rocko finds out that the 21st century is a little too fast paced for his liking. And also his safety.

Hey we’re going to need that pizza taco ASAP.

But while we’re hungry to go back to this cartoon world, poor Rocko isn’t, because while everyone seems to be enjoying the world of technology and energy drinks, he’s struggling to make sense of it all.

“Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling brings the characters back to Earth after being lost in outer space since 1996. Rocko has trouble accepting this 21st century modern life, while Heffer and Filburt embrace every aspect of new technology, social media and the endless diversity of food trucks. Rocko whole-heartedly believes that his nostalgia for the past can save him from the tortures of the modern world.”

The more things change, the more they stay the same. But we can’t blame Rocko, we wish it were still the ’90s too.

Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling comes to Nickelodeon in 2018.

What character are you most excited to see again? Tell us in the comments below.

Images: Nickelodeon

SHAZAM! Will Be DC’s Next DCEU Film

The next DCEU film to enter production will be Shazam! Thanks to our friends at The Hollywood Reporter, we now know that director David F. Sandberg’s film will begin shooting in early 2018 for release in 2019. Shazam! follows young orphan Billy Batson (who is not Batman’s son) who gains the power of the Living Lightning and becomes the hero Shazam. Originally, the character was called Captain Marvel, but you can imagine the licensing issues that DC ran into there.

After the success of the extremely hopeful and positive Wonder Woman, it appears DC will be leaning a bit further into its lighter side. Since Shazam is a kid in the body of a near-god, we hope to see some of the childlike wonder and glee that would come with a kid attaining superhuman abilities. The Wonder Woman comparison goes further than that, though, as Shazam’s power comes from various mythical gods and heroes, such as Zeus, Ares, and Hercules. Can you say team up movie? Maybe we’ll even see Wonder Woman mentor the young hero, much like the relationship between Iron Man and Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Homecoming.

We do not know yet if Dwayne Johnson will appear to play villain Black Adam in the film, though it’s likely considering Black Adam is Shazam’s nemesis. Johnson was recently cast to play the villain in the Black Adam spinoff film, which is also in development.

How badly do you want to see Shazam onscreen? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter.

Image: DC Comics

CONAN Ended Up in WONDER WOMAN’s Themyscira on His Way To Comic-Con

Themyscira, home of Wonder Woman, is a magical land without men. The Amazons who live there only know about the opposite gender from legends and scrolls. But after Conan O’Brien accidentally ended up on the island…well technically they have now met a man, just not exactly the kind the they had in mind.

This week Conan is once again hosting his show at Comic-Con in San Diego, but on his drive down to “Conan Con” with Andy Richter, the two got into a spat over whose musical preferences should reign supreme. After being kicked out of the truck, Conan used his “World War I Plane Finder” app to locate a new method of transportation. However, instead of flying south to San Diego, he went astray and crashed near the beautiful island of Themyscira. Most men would kill to wash ashore on such a place, but unfortunately for Conan, none of the women who live there were impressed by him. Or even positive he was a man.

Harsh. In fairness, he just got out of the water and that does make a difference. Do they not get Seinfeld on Themyscira?

We can’t defend Conan on the no-tip-on-takeout thing though. You can’t even throw a buck or two for the host? They work hard too, Conan.

So yeah, maybe Conan didn’t get the Steve Trevor treatment. And yes, maybe he was completely emasculated by a bunch of warrior women. And sure, he might have ruined the concept of men forever on Themyscira.

But at least he got to listen to some sweet tunes in Andy’s truck. Even if on Themyscira he learned he’s not sexy. Cause they made sure he knows it.

Images: TBS

Everything We Know About the WONDER WOMAN Sequel

Mattel Reveals JUSTICE LEAGUE Barbies (Exclusive)

For almost sixty years now, Barbie has been a Jane of all trades, having had careers as a school teacher, a pop star, a super model, and even an astronaut that one time. Name an occupation, and Barbie has probably had her turn at the wheel at some point. And now, Barbie is getting her chance to be one of the iconic superheroes of the Justice League!

When Zack Snyder’s Justice League movie finally hits the big screen in November, it’ll feature not just one of DC Comics’ royal women, but two: Wonder Woman, warrior princess of the Amazons, and Mera, queen of Atlantis, and wife of Aquaman.

Now the folks at Mattel are revealing brand new Barbie dolls based on the badass ladies of the League, with the royal warriors featuring the likenesses of actresses Gal Gadot and Amber Heard.

Inspired by the upcoming Warner Bros. live-action feature film, these fully articulated dolls are sculpted in each movie actor’s likeness and feature Barbie as the DC Expanded Universe’s royal superheroines. Each doll wears her signature costume from the film, and comes with accessories that remain true to their big screen inspirations. Both Wonder Woman and Mera will retail for $39.95 and will be sold individually this fall.

You can check out the new superhero Barbies down below in our gallery, and in person at the Mattel booth at San Diego Comic-Con.

What do you think of these new Justice League Barbies? And who do you hope joins their ranks in future waves? Be sure to let us know down below in the comments.

Images: Mattel / Warner Brothers

GAME OF THRONES Showrunners Announce New HBO Show CONFEDERATE

I always just assumed that once David Benioff and D.B. Weiss finished making Game Of Thrones, they would grab their jolly buddy George R. R. Martin and ride off toward Essos, never to be heard from again ’round these parts–that is what I would do, anyway, after I created and completed the most successful TV show ever (would prob leave GRRM behind though, not confident we’d be homies). But Benioff and Weiss aren’t so much as taking a victory lap; HBO announced that the duo will be tackling a new show called Confederate after the final season of Game Of Thrones wraps. The Thrones showrunners will write and showrun the new series as well.

A departure from the vibrant, maximalist fantasy world of Thrones, Confederate will tackle revisionist American history, focusing on the Third American Civil War after the South successfully seceded from the union in the 19th century. Originally conceived as a feature film years ago, the writing duo decided TV was (obviously) the best way to handle their likely complex story. According to a press release: “The story follows a broad swath of characters on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Demilitarized Zone – freedom fighters, slave hunters, politicians, abolitionists, journalists, the executives of a slave-holding conglomerate and the families of people in their thrall.”

Though the aesthetic of the show sounds vastly different than Game Of Thrones–more like The Man In The High Castle meets Justified—Confederate will likely weave together an enormous tapestry of characters, regions, and politics, which is what these two do best after all.

Well, are you guys looking forward to Confederate? I am already sold on it, but can someone please get John Hawkes a regular role on this show?

Image: HBO