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June 10, 2017
A Farewell to Batman: Rounding up the Tributes to Adam West From Friends and Fans
Today, we are all mourning the loss of the man who, for many of us, was our very first superhero. Batman actor Adam West passed away at age 88, after a brief battle with leukemia. Although 88 is a full life by anyone’s measure, Adam West always seemed so joyous and youthful that it feels as if a much younger man had passed.
Although Adam West’s time as Batman was relatively brief (1966-68), its pop culture influence lasted much, much longer. As we all mourn the man who the Caped Crusader a household name, the outpouring of sympathy has been coming in from all across social media, starting with his co-stars from Batman ’66, former Boy Wonder Burt Ward (Robin) and Julie Newmar, the original Catwoman.
Also paying tribute is the man who gave West a second wind career wise, by casting him as the Mayor on his series Family Guy, creator Seth MacFarlane. You can read his colleagues’s tributes down below:
Burt Ward said in a statement, via Deadline
“I am devastated at the loss of one my very dearest friends. Adam and I had a special friendship for more than 50 years. We shared some of the most fun times of our lives together. Our families have deep love and respect for each other. This is a terribly unexpected loss of my lifelong friend. I will forever miss him. There are several fine actors who have portrayed Batman in films. In my eyes, there was only one real Batman that is and always will be Adam West. He was truly the Bright Knight.”
Julie Newmar, Batman‘s original Catwoman (via Deadline)
“Stellar, exemplar, a king to the end. He was bright, witty and fun to work with. I will miss him in the physical world and savor him always in the world of imagination and creativity. He meant so much to people – A friend said: ‘The father that we wanted.’ That is a great gift, no matter how you live it.”
Seth MacFarlane, Family Guy creator (via Deadline)
Family Guy has lost its mayor, and I have lost a friend. Adam West was a joy to work with, and the kind of guy you always wanted to be around. His positivity, good nature, and sense of fun were undeniable, and it was always a big jolt of the best kind of energy when he walked in to record the show. He knew comedy, and he knew humanity. I am beyond fortunate to have had the privilege of working with him, and he will be profoundly missed by all of us. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have given, Mr. Mayor. You’re irreplaceable.”
The tributes have been pouring in from all over social media, including many from other actors who have followed West and did their best to fill his enormous bat-boots.
Goodbye my friend pic.twitter.com/VxdRwnCCSM
— Kevin Conroy (@RealKevinConroy) June 10, 2017
Ah dear Adam West. He was always so kind when we met. A real gent. Once when I was a kid we found ourselves in front the batmobile. I got in
— Val Kilmer (@valkilmer) June 10, 2017
RIP Adam West. You will always be Batman
— Will Arnett™ (@arnettwill) June 10, 2017
The comics community has responded with their sympathies, including Frank Miller, the creator who did the most to “darken up” the image of Batman in the wake of Adam West’s portrayal, who was nevertheless a huge fan himself:
Adam West kept Batman alive and thrilled my generation. It’s a sad day.
— Frank Miller (@FrankMillerInk) June 10, 2017
Words can’t express how much of an impact Adam West had my childhood. I lived to see his show… https://t.co/66bT1VFUqi
— Jim Lee (@JimLee) June 10, 2017
Extremely saddened to hear about Adam West’s passing. Had the privilege of meeting him a couple years ago and he was inspiring in person too
— Scott Snyder (@Ssnyder1835) June 10, 2017
Sad Sad day losing Adam West today! https://t.co/awWkvwrZh1
— Neal Adams (@nealadamsdotcom) June 10, 2017
And then there are all the folks for whom Adam West was their very first Batman, who sparked a love of comics in them that led to the careers that they have now.
I am shattered, but, I’ll always be grateful for the bit of cosmic magic that allowed my boyhood hero to become my close friend. RIP Adam. pic.twitter.com/cMxmrldCKl
— Ralph Garman (@RalphGarman) June 10, 2017
A post shared by Kevin Smith (@thatkevinsmith) on Jun 10, 2017 at 9:13am PDT
Although I haven’t often talked about it, before I could barely read, YOU were the reason I fell in love with superheroes. #RIPAdamWest pic.twitter.com/R9MFlMyZIT
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) June 10, 2017
#AdamWest was such a wonderful actor & so kind, I’m so lucky to have worked w/ him & tell him how much he meant to me & millions of fans. pic.twitter.com/Bu0OOaRgX9
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) June 10, 2017
Rest in Peace Adam West. We met once in 1987 and I was too embarrassed and too foolishly “cool” to tell you what you meant to my childhood.
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) June 10, 2017
Farewell Adam West. You were MY Batman. Such a super funny, cool, charismatic actor. Loved the show as a kid, still love the show now. POW! pic.twitter.com/6QAZnOhtMs
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) June 10, 2017
Holy heartbreak Batman. Adam West was a big part of my childhood. We were acquaintances in my adulthood. A wonderful man who will b missed.
— Jamie Lee Curtis (@jamieleecurtis) June 10, 2017
Mr. West, thank you for all those afternoons you helped me and other 70’s kids dream about the fun of being a hero. RIP, good sir.
— Greg Berlanti (@GBerlanti) June 10, 2017
Do you have a favorite episode of Batman or Family Guy where Adam West really shines the most for you? Be sure to leave us your own tribute for the late Adam West down below in the comments.
Images: DC Comics/Warner Brothers/Fox TV
STAR WARS: BATTLEFRONT II Trailer Sends Darth Maul, Rey, and More Into War
EA is giving E3 an early start today with its live-stream presentation, and fans who were waiting for the next glimpse of Star Wars: Battlefront II were not disappointed. The new trailer has been revealed, and it depicts an epic battle on Theed, the capitol city of Naboo.
Star Wars: Battlefront II‘s “Assault on Theed” mission does evoke the prequel films, but it doesn’t stop there. In the latest footage, the Clone Army attempts to retake the city from the battle droids, only to find Darth Maul waiting to tear them apart. However, heroes and villains from all eras are available to fight, and we also see Yoda leap into action, as well as a rematch between Rey and Kylo Ren.
The trailer also includes new footage from the solo campaign, which will allow the player to control Iden Versio, a member of the Empire’s elite special forces known as Inferno Squad, who takes it upon herself to avenge the death of the Emperor and the destruction of the second Death Star. And in one of the creepier visuals, we see how Iden maintained contact with the Emperor back when he was still alive.
Via Polygon, additional gameplay footage from Battlefront II has been posted on Vimeo, which features the players in control of Darth Maul and Rey on Theed. And although they were separated by several decades in the films, they can fight each other in this arena.
What do you think about the new footage from Star Wars: Battlefront II? Use the Force and share your thoughts below!
Image: EA
We’ll have to get Rahul Kohli back too.
Learn how to Start a Fire With a Plastic Bag and Some Water
Every so often we have to step back and just appreciate just how awesome YouTube really is. No matter what you want to share or learn, there’s usually a place for you on YouTube. Over the past few years, Derek Muller from Veritasium and Grant “The King of Random” Thompson have displayed their unique takes on education through their respective channels and — in a recent video — joined forces to show us how all how to start a fire with water and a sandwich bag.
In the video, Thompson explains the process you’ll need to follow in order to show off on your next camping trip and Muller explains a bit of the science. By pinching off the water-filled bag and twisting it until it bulges a bit from the pressure you’re essentially making a bi-convex spherical lens. In other words, a magnifying glass. Getting some sun on it and aiming its focal length at some properly prepared tinder will have it smoking in no time.
Image: Wikimedia Commons | Dr Bob
Thompson continues to defend his royal random status by showing us some more tricks in transferring the smoldering tinder to a bigger bundle and getting it to really ignite. Once he’s gently flipped the hot powered tinder into a bundle of larger dry grasses he doesn’t blow on it to get it more oxygen. Instead, he holds it at arm’s length and spins in a slow and steady manner allowing an even airflow into the bundle without the risk of blowing the coals away.
And even while the magic of YouTube editing may be in play here, the whole process seems surprisingly quick and something we’ll definitely remember should we find ourselves lost in the wilderness after eating a sandwich.
What do you think of the video? Do you have a better method? Let’s discuss in the comments below!
Featured Image: Veritasium
NEED FOR SPEED PAYBACK Looks Like Fast and Furious Fun
If the popularity of the Fast and Furious franchise, and game series like Mario Kart, Forza, and Need for Speed are anything to go by, we know one thing for certain: people love the fast-paced freedom of fun racing experience. If there’s one publisher that recognizes that, it’s the folks over at EA. The company hit the ground running at E3 this year with new announcements for popular franchises like Battlefield, FIFA, Madden and last but not least, Need for Speed. The trailer for Need for Speed Payback really got our hearts racing. Check it out below!
If the first thing thing that came to mind when you saw the clip was the Fast and Furious franchise, you’re not alone. The action-packed sneak peek felt like a blood relative to the popular film series, and I’m kind of digging it. In the extended gameplay clip, we see a crew of drivers communicating with each other and pulling off an epic car heist in the desert. I’m curious to see if the team’s relationships with each other are going to develop over the course of the game. The plot definitely feels a lot more cinematic than past iterations.
While we don’t know too much about the title yet, the video’s description gives us a taste of what’s going on in the clip at the top of the page, as well as what to expect when the game hits the streets at the end of the year:
“The crew (Tyler, Jess and Mac) have learned that The House are transporting a car equipped with a new piece of technology that may be a key component in bringing them down. This calls for one thing: acquire the car, get hold of the tech and dent The House’s plans. The Highway Heist is one of the set piece moments that takes place within *Need for Speed *Payback’s single player campaign which follows the story of Tyler, Jess and Mac as they set out to bring down The House.”
Maybe taking a page out of the Fast franchise is a good step. Sure, it didn’t work out so well when EA’s Need For Speed hit the silver screen with the self-titled film starring Aaron Paul (back in 2014), but I think we can all agree that actually playing it in game form looks pretty fun. Need for Speed Payback is set to launch on Xbox One, PS4, and PC on November 10, 2017.
What do you think of the trailer? Are you digging the Fast and the Furious vibe? Let us know in the comments below!
Image Credit: EA
The War Comes to the Eastern Front in BATTLEFIELD 1 DLC
Battlefield 1 was one of our favorite games of 2016 (read our review here). Its focus on first-person shooter fundamentals was not only refreshing, but also a ton of fun. Well, 2017 is bringing more to the virtual battlefield with a brand new expansion titled “In the Name of the Tsar.” That’s right, during today’s EA Play event, the news dropped that we’ll be heading to the Eastern Front of WWI in the new content. Take a gander at the epic clip below.
This DLC is set to launch some time in September and will include eight new maps, extra weapons, and even more vehicles. That’s a whole lot of content! It will most likely bring new life to the online scene. And in a new twist, you’ll also be joining the Women’s Battalion of Death. Battlefield 1 is already impressively diverse when it comes to its online maps, so adding even more maps will only make the multiplayer better.
Expect more news and a better look at the new maps before it officially launches. Don’t forget that other DLC will also be dropping later this year for the game, so you shouldn’t expect to be putting the controller down any time soon.
What do you think about the new DLC announcement? Are you still playing online? How about the location of the maps? Will this entice you to return to Battlefield? What weapons and vehicles are you hoping make their way into the game? Shoot your thoughts into the comments section below!
Image: EA
Get Your First Look at ANTHEM, Bioware’s Next Big Video Game Project
Between Mass Effect and Dragon Age, Bioware is responsible for making some of the best RPG-hybrid video games around — and for years, the company’s main Edmonton studio has hard at work at a super secret new IP known only as “Project Dylan.” Now, at long last and after so much speculation, we know the game’s real title: Anthem.
Rumors about this new IP first began to surface in 2012, just after Mass Effect 3 was released. Now, five years later, the the first-ever teaser trailer was finally revealed on Saturday at EA’s 2017 E3 press conference. Unfortunately it’s still pretty shrouded in mystery, but apparently more details about the game will emerge on Sunday’s Microsoft Xbox briefing. For now, at least we have this super-slick teaser trailer to obsess over for the next 24 hours.
“The wall. It’s our armor,” the cryptic voice-over says. “It protects us from what lies beyond. But out there, you either live with the choices you make or die trying to change them.” Huh, does that remind anybody else of Attack on Titan, or just me? It’s also been rumored that Anthem will be Bioware’s take on science-fiction fantasy hybrid titles like Destiny, and I’m definitely getting that vibe from this trailer, too…
Anthem will reportedly be released sometime between April 2018 and May 2019; hopefully the Microsoft press conference will give us a more concrete release date. In the comments below, let us know your first impressions of this new IP, and keep checking in for more E3 coverage on Nerdist!
Image: Bioware
MARY AND THE WITCH’S FLOWER Looks Like the Perfect Fantasy Film
We already live in a world where Studio Ghibli‘s Hayao Miyazaki has decided to come out of retirement to direct a CG-animated film about a caterpillar (and there’s a documentary about it!); however, that doesn’t mean we’ve stopped being excited for the studio that sought to fill the presumed void left by Ghibli. Studio Ponoc was founded by former Ghibli producer Yoshiaki Nishimura and its first feature, Mary and the Witch’s Flower, is coming out soon, directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi (who directed Ghibli’s The Secret World of Arrietty and When Marnie Was There). The third trailer was recently released in Japanese, and even though we don’t speak the language, we’re blown away by the visuals.
It certainly looks like Studio Ponoc (whose name is a Croatian word which means “midnight,” but specifically in reference to the “beginning of a new day”) is pulling out all the stops with their debut feature. It certainly treads similar Studio Ghibli ground by focusing on a young witch making her way in the world, but there’s an energy and a pace that the much more lyrical Miyazaki and company films didn’t usually possess.
Of the directors at Studio Ghibli besides co-founders Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, Yonebayashi was clearly the standout, putting his own visual flare and stamp on the house style. He’s clearly taking what he learned under Miyazaki and making it his own with Mary, and we’re on tenterhooks waiting for our chance to see it. We’ll have to wait a bit, though; Mary and the Witch’s Flower is coming out in Japan on July 8, but probably won’t make its way to North America for a bit.
While we’re waiting, though, let’s look at another trailer! Because, damn this movie looks beautiful.
Let us know what you think the comments below!
Images: Studio Ponoc/Toho
Kyle Anderson is the Associate Editor for Nerdist. He’s the writer of Studio Ghibli retrospectives Miyazaki Masterclass, Takahata Textbook, and Ghibli Bits. Follow him on Twitter!
June 9, 2017
The Todd Glass Show #301: Fred Stoller
Todd is joined by good friend of the show, Fred Stoller!
Like The Todd Glass Show on Facebook, follow @ToddGlass, Eric Ohlsen and Lyricist Joe on Twitter, buy his album Thin Pig and buy his book The Todd Glass Situation!
WYNONNA EARP’s Dominique Provost-Chalkley Talks “Bloody Good” Season Two
Wynonna Earp officially kicks off its second season tonight, and it looks like things are getting even more complicated for our favorite gunslinging heir and her team. Wynonna (Melanie Scrofano) may have led the charge deep into the heart of Black Badge territory to rescue an imprisoned Agent Dolls (Shamier Anderson), but when it came time to cut and run, Team Earp literally found itself making a deal with the devil, begrudgingly signing a contract in blood to work directly with the shady agency. Meanwhile, Waverly’s (Dominique Provost-Chalkley) dark side is beginning to emerge, potentially at the cost of her new relationship with Nicole (Kat Barrell). And as for Doc (Tim Rozon)? Well, he’s up to something suspicious, but when is he ever not cooking up shenanigans?
Long story short: a ton of stuff happened in the premiere, but luckily we’ve got some experts on hand–the people behind Wynonna Earp–who will go in-depth with us to break down season two episodes and give us some behind-the-scenes info. This week, Nerdist had the opportunity to talk to Waverly Earp herself, Dominique Provost-Chalkley about a myriad of topics including playing a darker version of her character, dropping in fun Easter eggs for the Earper fandom and what’s changing about the show this season.
Nerdist: Did your approach to the character change at all for season two?
Dominique Provost-Chalkley: I spoke to Emily [Andras, Wynonna Earp Executive Producer] a little bit about this before we started because I didn’t know what she had in mind, in terms of how touching this black goo affected Waverly when her eyes aren’t black. In general, I think it’s quite nice because it came at a really perfect time for Waverly and her development as a young woman, because she’s getting braver and getting less apologetic for herself anyway towards the end of the season. She comes into her own. It’s kind of perfect timing because I feel like she’s going in that direction but just touching the goo accelerates that, and so I wanted to make sure that right from the get-go there was almost a power that ran through her, an adrenaline underneath that maybe she didn’t have before.
N: How much collaboration do you have with Emily and the writers in terms of hashing out Waverly?
PC: Emily’s really great. She’s always ready to answer the phone whenever you need her, even if it’s a silly question or if you’ve missed something just to make sure that we’re on the same page. I find it incredibly helpful to hear her view because she’s the writer, she’s the creator. She has it in her mind and it’s our job to make it come to life. Really, we don’t know much until the scripts come out and then I tend to work through it, come up with my ideas, really flesh them out and then have a true understanding of that particular part of Waverly’s journey. To be honest, we have worked out by this point where these characters are. Last year we were starting from scratch in making them come to life and embodying them. Now I feel like there’s a mutual trust between actor and writer. If I’m going down the wrong road, Emily will steer me back. I think having that understanding between the two of you makes it a really safe place for you to play, and I hope we’ve created something really fun.
N: What do you think the biggest change is for the sister dynamic between Wynonna and Waverly now heading into season two?
PC: I was really happy to see that we get great sister moments in the second season. I think a lot of people related to that. At the end of last season, obviously, Wynonna just shot Willa. It’s an extremely tricky time for [Waverly]. The stakes are so high and there’s a lot of grieving that needs to be done yet we don’t have time for that. Waverley’s got something else going on that, at the beginning, Wynonna doesn’t even know about. Wynonna needs Waverly now more than ever and maybe Waverly can’t give her what she needs. And they’re way more connected than they ever have been previously, so that’s a little confusing [for Wynonna]. In the second season, it gets stronger and more powerful the more they go through, and it’s a beautiful relationship to see blossom because it is so complex.
N: The relationships between women is one of my favorite things about this show.
PC: It’s amazing, and it’s so rare. There were a few moments this season–I won’t give any spoilers away–where I’d look around and we were doing a fight scene or something really awesome, and it was three women or four women. That was it. No men there. It’s normality for our show, and it’s such a rarity. You don’t see that on TV. It’s so important to be able to represent that and to have all of these incredibly strong female characters. I think that’s extremely powerful.
N: Were you surprised at all by the fan reception to your character, to the relationship between Waverly and Nicole, and how the fans rallied around the pairing?
PC: I was really, really surprised and also extremely happy because when you’re part of something as an actress, you only see your parts. You get a feeling and a sense of what you’re making but there’s something really special when you watch it back and see it all come together. It’s hard to predict how audiences are going to respond, but all I know is I felt like we were creating something really awesome–not only because I was nurturing the relationship between Waverly and Nicole, something I felt extremely important and certainly isn’t done as much as it should be. I was pleasantly surprised and overwhelmed by the amount of positivity that came from it, and I think it solidified my opinion of the fact that we’re doing something really awesome, and long may it continue.
N: There’s a bit in the premiere in which Waverly goes undercover using a British accent, and that made me chuckle, because I don’t think a lot of people know what your real accent sounds like.
PC: It’s genius, isn’t it? I remember Emily saw the reaction the fans were giving when they found out I was actually British. She was toying with the idea for a while of making Dark Waverly British when she was possessed by the tentacle. I loved that as a concept, but I think it would have been too comical in that situation. She picked the perfect way of doing it. It’s a little nod to the fans. She writes not only for us, but she also writes for the fans, so there’s little things that come out through the season, little treats that maybe wouldn’t have been in there if it wasn’t for the fan reaction, and how much that means to us.
N: Speaking of what we can expect moving forward, is there anything you can tease? Any hints?
D: It’s tricky to be non-specific! But I will say that this season is so epic and the mythology expands. There’s a lot more that we need to deal with, not just Revenants, and we form way more of a team. There are new characters that are introduced that bring different dynamics to the show. It’s extremely exciting and I think the show itself really comes into its own. It’s a unique genre and at the beginning of the first season we were finding our feet with it. We were all coming together–writers, actors, everybody– to set the tone of the show. We’ve already established all of that now, so we can really get going straight from the first episode and it continues to build momentum. There’s a lot that happens, and it’s really bloody good.
Images via Syfy.
BLACK PANTHER Teaser Trailer Steps Into the Spotlight
The moment is finally here! After fans got a look at Chadwick Boseman as King T’Challa in a poster this morning, Marvel Studios dropped the first teaser trailer for next year’s Black Panther during Game 4 of the NBA Finals tonight. Though we’ve been pumped for Ryan Coogler’s take on the character since its announcement, this teaser absolutely blew us away and left us wanting–nay, demanding–more.
The trailer opens with a chained Klaw (Andy Serkis) being interrogated by Everett K. Ross (Martin Freeman). Klaw asks Ross what exactly he knows about the African nation of Wakanda. See, Ross believes Wakanda is a simple textile country where the residents wear cool outfits. While this is technically true, Klaw insists it’s all a front to hide something called “El Dorado,” and he’s the only person to see it and make it out alive.
From here, we see Black Panther take out a group of soldiers in the jungle. This quick scene displays T’Challa’s abilities for newcomers, including his cat-like agility and the impenetrable qualities of his Vibranium suit.
The beat for Run the Jewels’ “Legend Has It” begins to drop right when we get our first good look at the futuristic architecture in Wakanda, and it only serves to pump us up. In flashes, many the film’s stellar cast members appear, such as Lupita Nyong’o as potential love interest Nakia, Michael B. Jordan as the villainous Erik Killmonger, Angela Bassett as T’Challa’s mother Ramonda, and the King’s personal security force, the Dora Milaje (who definitely need their own movie, just like the Amazons).
As we noted in our write-up of the first footage a few weeks ago, all of the Wakandan characters don brightly colored robes, ceremonial armor, and vibrant tunics that look like they’re straight off the comic book page.
Our one epic action scene shows Black Panther leaping from one crashing car to the top of another in slow motion as the logo closes the festivities. C’mon Marvel, you can’t tease us with such awesomeness and not expect us to plead for more!
So, what’s the final verdict on the Black Panther trailer? Was it what you were expecting? Or did it also leave you wanting more? Let your voice be heard in the comments below!
Image: Marvel Studios
Tim Adams is a freelance writer who loves comics and the TV and movies that feature them. Follow him on Twitter!
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