(Left) Milly Alcock in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photo: Ollie Upton / HBO. (Right) DC Comics’ Supergirl from writer Tom King’s ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.’ Photo courtesy of DC.com.
Preview:
Milly Alcock has won the role of Supergirl the DCU.
She will first appear in James Gunn’s ‘Superman: Legacy’.
The character will also lead ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’.
James Gunn has found the person he wants to play Kara Zor-El –– AKA Supergirl, the superpowered young woman who is Superman’s cousin –– in ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’.
Milly Alcock, best known for playing the young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO’s first season of ‘Game of Thrones’ spinoff ‘House of the Dragon’, has landed the much-sought-after role in the DC Universe being overseen by Gunn and his fellow DCU boss/producer Peter Safran.
While such casting announcements –– this one came via The Wrap –– usually sit in the rumor sphere before the studio comments, Gunn has taken to Instagram to confirm Alcock’s presence in the DCU.
‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’ will be a big-scale sci-fi film based on Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s comic run. It features a “darker, harsher” version of Kara Zor-El raised on a surviving chunk of Krypton who sees everyone around her die.
This is what Gunn said at the time of the announcement:
“This is a very different type of Supergirl. In our film, we see the difference between Superman, who was sent to Earth and raised by loving parents from, you know, the time he’s an infant, versus Supergirl, who was raised on a rock chip-off of Krypton and watched everyone around her die and be killed in terrible ways for the first 14 years of her life, and then came to Earth when she was a young girl and is much more hardcore. She’s not exactly the Supergirl we’re used to seeing.”
Who else was in the running for Supergirl?
Emilia Jones in ‘CODA’
Alcock got the role after an audition and a screen test, and the other two main contenders were Emilia Jones (who starred in Oscar winner ‘CODA’ and appeared in last year’s ‘Cat People’), and Meg Donnelly, known for the Disney ‘Zombies’ movies.
Donnelly also had some experience with Supergirl, as she has voiced the role in several animated DC outings.
Milly Alcock in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photo: Ollie Upton / HBO.
‘Superman: Legacy’ has a release date scheduled for July 11th, 2025. Given that it has yet to find a director, the Supergirl movie has yet to lock in a date.
(Left) Writer, director, co-chairmen and co-CEO of DC Studios, James Gunn. Photo courtesy of James Gunn’s Twitter account. (Right) Superman. Photo courtesy of DC Comics.com.
Jason Momoa in ‘Once Upon a Time in Venice.’ Photo: RLJ Entertainment.
Steve Ford (Bruce Willis) is a private detective in Venice Beach, Calif., who’s good with the ladies, bad with the punches and wild about his dog Buddy. When local thugs steal Buddy, Ford turns to Spyder (Momoa), their devious leader, and forges an unlikely alliance. With help from his best friend (John Goodman), Steve pulls out the big guns to retrieve Spyder’s stolen cash and cocaine and save Buddy.
Nate Johnson (Cedric the Entertainer), a Los Angeles man estranged from his wife (Vanessa Williams) and three children, decides to reconnect with his family by taking them with him on a road trip to Missouri for a big family reunion.
Arlen (Suki Waterhouse) is sent to a fenced-off wasteland where undesirables are exiled to when she is kidnapped by a group of cannibals. She escapes and ends up on a journey to reunite a missing girl with her father.
Fuelled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s (Henry Cavill) selfless act, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) and Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) assemble a team of metahumans consisting of Barry Allen (Ezra Miller), Arthur Curry (Momoa) and Victor Stone (Ray Fisher) to face the catastrophic threat of Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds) and the Parademons who are on the hunt for three Mother Boxes on Earth.
(L to R) Isabela Merced and Jason Momoa in ‘Sweet Girl.’ Photo: Netflix.
A man (Momoa) vows to bring justice to those responsible for his wife’s (Adria Arjona) death while protecting the only family he has left, his daughter (Isabela Merced).
While Native American Robert Wolf (Momoa) is being pursued by the FBI for having taken the law into his own hands, when his mother was raped and killed on their reservation he crosses paths with Cash (Robert Homer Mollohan), a down and out musician who is coping with the end of his marriage. An unlikely friendship develops, as they ride together towards the Teton mountain range, where Wolf will spread his mothers ashes.
Six young computer hackers sent to work on a derelict space freighter, are forced to match wits with a vengeful artificial intelligence that would kill to be human.
The coming-of-age story of Cayden Richards (Lucas Till). Forced to hit the road after the murder of his parents, Cayden wanders lost without purpose… Until he meets a certifiable lunatic named Wild Joe (John Piper-Ferguson) who sets him on a path to the ominous town of Lupine Ridge to hunt down the truths of his history. But in the end| who’s really hunting whom?
When his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod (Michael Shannon) has returned and there are no Super Heroes to turn to. In order to save the world that he is in and return to the future that he knows, Barry’s only hope is to race for his life. But will making the ultimate sacrifice be enough to reset the universe?
Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death and wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman (Momoa) down once and for all. To defeat him, Aquaman must turn to his imprisoned brother Orm (Patrick Wilson), the former King of Atlantis, to forge an unlikely alliance in order to save the world from irreversible destruction.
(L to R) Marlow Barkley and Jason Momoa in ‘Slumberland.’ Photo: Netflix.
Slumberland takes audiences to a magical new place, a dreamworld where precocious Nemo (Marlow Barkley) and her eccentric companion Flip (Momoa) embark on the adventure of a lifetime. After her father Peter (Kyle Chandler) is unexpectedly lost at sea, young Nemo’s idyllic Pacific Northwest existence is completely upended when she is sent to live in the city with her well-meaning but deeply awkward uncle Phillip (Chris O’Dowd). Her new school and new routine are challenging by day but at night, a secret map to the fantastical world of Slumberland connects Nemo to Flip, a rough-around-the-edges but lovable outlaw who quickly becomes her partner and guide. She and Flip soon find themselves on an incredible journey traversing dreams and fleeing nightmares, where Nemo begins to hope that she will be reunited with her father once again.
Sylvester Stallone in ‘Bullet to the Head.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
After watching their respective partners die, a cop (Sung Kang) and a hitman (Sylvester Stallone) form an alliance in order to bring down their common enemy (Momoa).
2019’s ‘The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
It’s been five years since everything was awesome and the citizens are facing a huge new threat: LEGO DUPLO® invaders from outer space, wrecking everything faster than they can rebuild.
Jason Momoa in ‘Conan the Barbarian.’ Photo: Lionsgate.
A quest that begins as a personal vendetta for the fierce Cimmerian warrior soon turns into an epic battle against hulking rivals, horrific monsters, and impossible odds, as Conan (Momoa) realizes he is the only hope of saving the great nations of Hyboria from an encroaching reign of supernatural evil.
(L to R) Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill in ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
Fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill) at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before.
Jason Momoa as Dante in ‘Fast X’, directed by Louis Leterrier.
Over many missions and against impossible odds, Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his family have outsmarted, out-nerved and outdriven every foe in their path. Now, they confront the most lethal opponent they’ve ever faced: A terrifying threat emerging from the shadows of the past who’s fueled by blood revenge, and who is determined to shatter this family and destroy everything—and everyone—that Dom loves, forever.
Jason Momoa in ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
Determined to ensure Superman’s (Henry Cavill) ultimate sacrifice was not in vain, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) aligns forces with Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) with plans to recruit a team of metahumans to protect the world from an approaching threat of catastrophic proportions. The task proves more difficult than Bruce imagined, as each of the recruits must face the demons of their own pasts to transcend that which has held them back, allowing them to come together, finally forming an unprecedented league of heroes. Now united, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman (Momoa), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), and The Flash (Ezra Miller) may be too late to save the planet from Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds), DeSaad (Peter Guinness), and Darkseid (Ray Porter) and their dreadful intentions.
Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho in ‘Dune.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence-a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential-only those who can conquer their fear will survive.
(L to R) Jason Momoa and Amber Heard in ‘Aquaman.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
Once home to the most advanced civilization on Earth, Atlantis is now an underwater kingdom ruled by the power-hungry King Orm (Patrick Wilson). With a vast army at his disposal, Orm plans to conquer the remaining oceanic people and then the surface world. Standing in his way is Arthur Curry (Momoa), Orm’s half-human, half-Atlantean brother and true heir to the throne.
(L to R) Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck / Joker and Lady Gaga as Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn in ‘Joker: Folie à Deux.’ Photo: Todd Phillips’ Instagram Account.
Preview:
‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ director Todd Phillips offered new images from the movie.
The pictures show stars Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga.
Phillips’ sequel film will be out in October 2024.
As Todd Phillips continues work on comic book-based sequel ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ as it chugs through the post-production phase (though you can imagine he and his team took a break for the holidays), he’s gifting the world with two new images from the movie.
With Phillips co-writing once again alongside Scott Silver, the new movie promises more bad behavior from Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck, joined this time by Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn.
Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck / Joker in ‘Joker: Folie à Deux.’ Photo: Todd Phillips’ Instagram Account.
Little has been released officially about the new film, but it sees the return of Phoenix’s Fleck, the wannabe comedian struggling with mental health issues who, besieged by disappointment and fueled by rage, slowly segues into a psychopathic killer and agent of chaos.
Fleck ended up in Arkham Asylum –– the infamous facility for psychotic criminals from the ‘Batman’ comic book universe, and the new movie appears to take place to some degree there.
Arkham is where the Joker (usually, at least) meets one Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel, who eventually becomes obsessed with him –– and he, in turn, slowly drives her insane until she becomes Harley Quinn, the character who has long been part of comics canon and most recently on the big screen by Margot Robbie in the ‘Suicide Squad’ movies and her own spin-off.
There will be some carry over from the first movie –– Zazie Beetz is back as Sophie Dumond, the neighbor with whom Arthur had a relationship (at least until, spoiler alert, it was revealed as all in his head).
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Who besides Lady Gaga is new in the ‘Joker’ sequel?
Lady Gaga in Director Todd Phillips’ ‘Joker: Folie à Deux.’ Photo courtesy of Todd Phillips’ Instagram account.
Joaquin Phoenix in Director Todd Phillips’ ‘Joker: Folie à Deux.’ Photo courtesy of Todd Phillips’ Instagram account.
The most fascinating aspect of the new film, especially considering the kitchen sink grot and crime of the original, is that ‘Folie à Deux’ is indeed planned as a musical.
Gaga’s hiring pointed to that, and composer Hildur Guðnadóttir told Variety on a BAFTA red carpet that she was intrigued by the idea.
Here’s what she had to say,
“It’s an interesting decision. And I think it’s really exciting to see how it unfolds. And I think it’s somehow logical at the same time. It’s both logical and also very surprising. For me as well as the audience. So far it’s just been a really beautiful conversation and I’m really excited to see how it unfolds.”
When will ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ be in theaters?
‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ is scheduled to land in theaters on October 4th, 2024. We imagine a teaser will be on the way before too long.
Joaquin Phoenix in 2019’s ‘Joker’ courtesy of Warner Bros.
Directed once again by James Wan (who made the billion-plus success that was the first ‘Aquaman’), it arrives following a wave of delays and changes. So, does the sequel live up to the silly-but-fun original?
Regrettably, we must answer a solid no to the question. ‘The Lost Kingdom’ feels more like a senior handing in a sloppy work project, little concerned with how it’ll be received.
This is superhero storytelling on autopilot, another world-threatening situation, another rote test for the hero, another villain with even less shading than he had in the first movie. And fairly shocking given the people involved and how they managed last time.
Written once again by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, based on a story by not just director Wan but also Momoa and his producing partner Thomas Pa’a Sibbett, this is the sort of film that makes you wonder just why it took so many people to come up with a movie screenplay this basic.
Mired in some very obvious tropes and storylines, ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ is really just the 7500th telling of the “hero tested by returning villain who has found some dark ancient power to help his cause, forcing the protagonist to team up with another former antagonist to save the world”. And if you felt me falling asleep as I wrote that, imagine what I went through during the movie.
This is a film that borrows so heavily from other, better movies –– a dab of ‘The Matrix’ (in Black Manta’s squid-like attack craft), a splash of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ (the backstory for the ancient power at the heart of the story) and just a sprinkling of ‘Black Panther’ (both in Arthur’s clash with someone who feels they should have his job and in a way we won’t explore here).
Aside from a callback to the drumming octopus known as Topo (an element from the comics that served as a one-off joke in the first movie but is here revealed to be an intelligence agent and a source of more occasional humor in this one) there is very little that feels at all fresh or truly interesting here.
The whole affair is tired and repetitive, the treatment of the story beyond rudimentary and the drama only really serving to stitch together set pieces that themselves come across as several different variations on the idea of Aquaman and Patrick Wilson’s Orm running from things or punching them.
Wan, meanwhile, gets to inject some of his usual horror overtones into the movie –– one or two sequences work (such as Black Manta showing up at Aquaman’s father’s house in darkness after he has conspired to shut off the power). But in general, let down by varied quality of the visual effects (for a film that took this long to finish, you have to worry about some sequences that look like they’re from the theme park version of the movie), this is certainly among his lesser movies.
The re-shoots and changes that happened along the way clearly had an effect, and most of what still works about the movie is by sheer luck rather than design.
If there is any real saving grace in the movie, it’s Momoa’s committed performance as the leading man, full of wisecracks (even if he does start to sound like Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man at times) and finding fun chemistry with Wilson’s Orm.
For his part, Wilson gives good snark, fully embracing the idea of the frustrated ruler who can’t stand the doofus who is on what he sees as his rightful throne.
Elsewhere? Poor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is reduced to an afterthought as a villain, who has his vengeful mission but very little else to do. At his side is Randall Park as scientist Dr. Stephen Shin, making the most of a nebbishy stock character and scoring one or two laughs.
And the rest of the heroic characters are barely there –– Temuera Morrison as Aquaman’s father Tom has a couple of solid scenes with his son and grandson, but you have to wonder why Nicole Kidman bothered showing up again as Momoa’s character’s mother beyond a contract and a payday.
Coming out even worse, though, is Amber Heard, who occasionally appears to be added in through visual effects and beyond one helpful moment, has so little to do you can understand Heard’s concerns that her character has been reduced to nearly nothing.
As an ending to the DC universe in its pre-Gunn era, this is like the mess of sticky drinks left on the floor after a party –– there’s no real wrap-up for anything and the usual teasing hint for future stories is pretty much absent.
Given how Wan, Momoa and the rest brought some knowing fun to a character who has been a joke in the past, it’s all the more disappointing that their follow-up is a bombastic but hollow enterprise, a less-than-satisfying end to a movie universe.
‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ receives 6 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the story of ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’?
Having failed to defeat Aquaman (Jason Momoa) the first time, Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all.
This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. To defeat him, Aquaman will turn to his imprisoned brother Orm (Patrick Wilson), the former King of Atlantis, to forge an unlikely alliance. Together, they must set aside their differences in order to protect their kingdom and save Aquaman’s family, and the world, from irreversible destruction.
Who else is in ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’?
The cast for the new superhero outing also includes Amber Heard as Mera, Nicole Kidman as Atlanna, Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus and Randall Park as Dr. Stephen Shin.
(L to R) director Matt Reeves and actor Robert Pattinson on the set of ‘The Batman’
Preview:
DC boss James Gunn has clarified where Matt Reeves’ Batman projects fall in the DCU.
Reeves’ movies and TV shows will fall into different categories.
He’s currently working on ‘The Batman 2’, its Penguin TV spin-off and the Arkham series.
With the previous iteration of the DC Movie and TV universe effectively wrapping up this week via the release of ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’, fans’ attention has naturally been turning to the next evolution of the massive media world, as overseen by current co-chiefs James Gunn and Peter Safran.
And Gunn, not shy of answering questions and offering teases of the future on social media, has been fielding queries about how Matt Reeves’ Batman-based output will factor into that universe.
Currently, Reeves, who released ‘The Batman’ last year, has three projects on the go: a sequel to ‘The Batman’ he’s writing and directing, a spin-off TV series about Colin Farrell’s crime boss Penguin character set in the same world as the movie, and a more mysterious show based in Gotham City’s notorious Arkham Asylum.
Right now, Reeves has written and is intending to start directing the sequel to ‘The Batman’ early next year. A plan to kick off production in November was scrapped after the writers’ strike delayed work on the script and the associated actors’ strike affected cast availability.
Current reports have the film –– which will see the return of Robert Pattinson to the Batsuit –– starting shooting in March, taking aim at a planned October 2025 release.
‘The Batman’ and its sequel fall into what Gunn and Safran have described as “Elseworlds” stories, those which don’t directly take place in the DC Universe continuity that the two filmmakers are building.
Similarly, the Penguin series, on which Reeves is an executive producer (with Lauren LeFranc as showrunner and Craig Zobel as primary director), is set in the same “Elseworlds” locale as the movie it is connected to.
To debut on HBO’s streaming service Max later next year (current word points to fall), the show sees Colin Farrell return the grimy, crime-y world of Oswald Cobblepot as he seeks to secure a grip on power in Gotham’s underworld.
The show was teased in a recent Max video showing the service’s future output.
Set in Gotham City’s notorious prison/ psychiatric hospital where some of the most dangerous criminals are housed, the Arkham series is still shrouded in mystery, though it reportedly evolved from the show about the Gotham City police force that had previously been in development.
Antonio Campos, who served as showrunner on HBO’s critically-acclaimed limited series ‘The Staircase’, is leading development on the Arkham TV show for Reeves. He replaced Terence Winter (‘Boardwalk Empire’) who departed the show over creative differences.
According to Gunn, this series will, unlike Reeves’ other work, have an impact on the DC Universe going forward:
Post by @jamesgunn
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So now you know… Batman and his associated rogues’ gallery is a big enough topic that it can fit wherever it wants. Hopefully Gunn and Safran have a real plan in place and DC doesn’t become a sprawling, chaotic place once again.
Luke Wilson stars in Prime Video’s ‘Merry Little Batman.’
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Luke Wilson about his work on ‘Merry Little Batman,’ playing the Dark Knight, his specific version of the character, his relationship to his son, Damian Wayne, and why this Batman has a beard.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Wilson and director Mike Roth.
Moviefone: To begin with, Luke, you’re Batman! What was it like to voice the iconic character and what was your approach to playing this specific version of the Caped Crusader?
Luke Wilson: Well, that’s what I was just going to say, is I’m a very different version of Batman. I mean, you can tell by just the title of the movie, ‘Little Batman,’ that it’s not going to be this kind of dark dystopian take on it like the most recent ‘The Batman,’ and then the Christian Bale versions, which were so good. But my approach to it was just thinking about friends I have that have smaller kids, and you watch them watch something, and they are very dialed in, in a way that I feel like even you and I as adults, with movies even that we like, we’re just kind of watching and happy. But you watch a little kid, and they’re not even blinking while they watch it. So, I was just trying to put a little energy and fun in my voice, which it’s not that kind of gruff voice. I was just trying to take a fun approach to it.
MF: Can you talk about Bruce Wayne’s overprotective parenting skills and his relationship with his son, Damian Wayne?
LW: I mean, I think my Bruce Wayne as a parent, he’s like a lot of parents, trying to be a good dad, but trying to also be the cool dad, while also having to be the disciplinarian at times. So, I think he’s kind of, at times seems like he can handle crime, he can handle villains, but sometimes with his own son, he can have his hands full and not quite know how to handle it. Like, the idea of I’m going off to fight crime, so I leave Damian behind at the Wayne Mansion, and I’ve left him with the special bracelet so that he can get in touch with me. I was just trying to do a fun version of it. He’s a little overprotective and bumbling at the same time.
MF: Finally, Batman has a beard in this movie, which could be very controversial with hardcore Batman fans. What is your opinion on the Bat-Beard?
LW: I don’t want to say I didn’t get it, but it’s a choice. I certainly hope it wasn’t affected by me going in there for one of the recording sessions and being bearded. But I didn’t quite get the Bat-Beard, because when I first saw the preview, I thought, “Okay, Batman’s got a beard. He’s eventually going to shave this off, or maybe he’s undercover.” But that was a choice by the people that are above me in this process, so I don’t want to put my own job in jeopardy by questioning their artistic choices. I don’t know about the Bat-Beard, but maybe it could become a thing. It’s like I saw the progression from Adam West to Michael Keaton to getting darker with Christian Bale and then the most recent one with Robert Pattinson, so maybe it’s just the way things go.
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What is the plot of ‘Merry Little Batman’?
After Damian Wayne (Yonas Kibreab) is left alone in Wayne Manor on Christmas Eve, he transforms himself into “Little Batman” to safeguard his home and the rest of Gotham City from supervillains during the holiday season.
Seann Gunn will work again with filmmaker brother James Gunn.
He’ll play Maxwell Lord across several DC Studios projects.
The plan is reportedly to introduce him in the background of ‘Superman: Legacy’
We all know James Gunn likes working with friends and family he finds have talent. And among them, his brother Sean has turned out to be among the best.
He has played a variety of roles across the writer/director’s work but might be best known as both Kraglin and providing all the performance capture/initial acting as Rocket Raccoon on the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ trilogy.
But going forward, it appears he’ll be more known as human villain Maxwell Lord.
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Who is Maxwell Lord?
DC Comics’ Maxwell Lord. Photo: DC Comics.
The character’s origins in the DC comic book universe date back to issue #1 of the 1987 ‘Justice League’ comic book series, created by Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire. At first glance, he’s a cunning businessman and an ally to the members of the Justice League, who was fundamental in orchestrating Justice League International. His unsuspecting charm even won over characters such as Blue Beetle and the Martian Manhunter.
But then, in ‘Justice League International’, issue #12, we learn that Lord had been doing the bidding of an evil computer in an attempt to replace all world leaders with robots. Though he did end up destroying the computer and breaking free from its influence, it wasn’t long before Lord became a powerful foe of his own accord: after gaining a metahuman ability in 1988’s
‘Invasion!’ limited series, Lord began to unleash his mind-control powers against humanity.
Pedro Pascal played the character in 2020’s ‘Wonder Woman 1984’, a businessman who discovers a powerful relic that can grant wishes and uses it to snatch power and influence for himself.
Pedro Pascal as Maxwell “Max Lord” Lorenzano in ‘Wonder Woman 1984.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
James Gunn has yet to officially confirm the news, though it’s a fair bet that he’ll keep on working with his brother. Deadline has heard that Sean Gunn’s Lord will be referenced in the background of ‘Superman: Legacy’ (which his brother is about to start directing, with David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Supes and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane).
He’ll have more of a role to play in future movies and, potentially, TV series.
(Left) David Corenswet in Netflix’s ‘The Politician.’ (Right) Rachel Brosnahan on Prime Video’s ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.’
Little is truly known about the plotline at this point, but Gunn has been clear that he’s eschewing the usual exploding home planet Krypton/arrival in Smallville origin story (though those will likely be referenced) in favor of more of a workplace film with Clark showing up to work at the Planet, where Lois will already be an established reporting star.
Peter Safran said this about the new movie during the duo’s big announcement about DC films and series going forward:
“It focuses on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way. He is kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old-fashioned.”
When will ‘Superman: Legacy’ be in theaters?
According to James Gunn, the film remains on track to start shooting next year with a planned release of July 11th, 2025.
(Left) Writer, director, co-chairmen and co-CEO of DC Studios, James Gunn. Photo courtesy of James Gunn’s Twitter account. (Right) Superman. Photo courtesy of DC Comics.com.
‘Merry Little Batman’ premieres on Prime Video December 8th.
‘Merry Little Batman’ is a cute and fun Christmas themed superhero story that places the Dark Knight’s parenting skills front and center and focuses on his relationship with his son and future Robin, Damian Wayne. While the animation is odd and messy, its punk-style and the rock n’ roll soundtrack fits the project well and meshes with Damian’s rebellious attitude. The movie falls into some holiday cliches but is otherwise a fun new take on the Caped Crusader.
The movie begins on Christmas Eve in a new crime free Gotham where Bruce Wayne (Luke Wilson) and his butler Alfred (James Cromwell) are raising Bruce’s 8-year-old son, Damian Wayne. (Yonas Kibreab) With all the super-villains either retired or behind bars, Bruce has hung up the cape and cowl, and is now focusing on being a single dad. But Damian, who also goes by the name “Little Batman” desperately wants to be a superhero like his dad and secretly wishes crime would come back to Gotham. While Bruce does not think Damian is ready for that, he does give him a gift on Christmas Eve, which is his very own utility belt. However, the belt is absent of any of the cool Bat-Gadgets, and Damian is tired of his father treating him like a child.
When a Justice League emergency calls Batman away on Christmas Eve, Damian is left behind with Alfred. But while Alfred runs out to grab hot coco, Damian ends up home alone when burglars attack Wayne Maynor. Damien attempts to protect his home, but soon loses his utility belt and goes on a journey throughout Gotham to retrieve his Christmas gift. However, Damian and Batman both soon realize that it was all a trap set by some of the Dark Knight’s most dangerous enemies to get Batman out of town and take advantage of Damian. Now, the future Robin must protect Gotham and save Christmas before it’s too late, and Bruce must learn to trust his young son.
Director Mike Roth wisely keeps the focus on Damian and his journey while also commenting on Batman’s parenting skills and his relationship with his son. Roth’s use of punk and hip-hop music blends well with the unique animation, to create a fresh look at the Caped Crusader. Working off a strong script from screenwriters Morgan Evans, Jase Ricci, and Etan Cohen, Roth succeeds in creating an unusual, family friendly Christmas-themed Batman movie.
Young actor Yonas Kibreab’s voice is perfect to play this specific version of Damian Wayne, who unlike the comics, was not trained by his grandfather (Ra’s al Ghul) to be an assassin. While there are references to his mother (Talia al Ghul), she does not seem to be part of Damian’s life, as Bruce and Alfred are raising him by themselves. So, this version of Damian is much more of a “normal” kid than the comic book version fans may be used to, and in that sense, Kibreab superbly captures the youth and excitement of this Damian.
Luke Wilson brings his signature charm to the voice role of Batman, and in doing so, shows us a side of the Dark Knight we usually do not see: Batman as a father. This version of Batman is an overprotective parent, and while Wilson’s performance reinforces that idea, the actor never loses the recognizable elements of the character that has made him so popular over the years. James Cromwell lends his voice to an older and wiser Alfred Pennyworth, while Reid Scott plays a bumbling version of Commissioner Gordon.
Brian George voices The Penguin and gives us a familiar interpretation of the character, while Dolph Adomian is clearly channeling Arnold Schwarzenegger from ‘Batman and Robin’ for his voice work. But it’s David Hornsby’s work as The Joker that really makes the character equally intimidating and fun. The Clown Prince of Crime’s masterplan is to convince Robin that he is really a super-villain, and the character almost succeeds, coming across as both creepy and hilarious.
The animation is purposely messy and avant-garde, not unlike ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ or ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.’ While at times it can be jarring, the animation does have a punk youthfulness to it and mostly fits well with the story. Speaking of which, the story does skew very young and while this is a family movie, very young audiences will probably relate to it best.
But the biggest problem with ‘Merry Little Batman’ for Batman purists will be the fact that this version of the character sports a beard. It makes sense, since this Bruce Wayne has been retired from crime fighting for years, the beard helps illustrate the passing of time and Batman’s retired status. But something just doesn’t look right about facial hair poking out of the iconic cowl, and it’s a choice by the filmmakers that just doesn’t work.
In the end, ‘Merry Little Batman’ features a fresh look at Batman as a dad, and a version of Damian Wayne seldomly seen. While the animation is purposely rough and the movie is intended for very young audiences, it still features enough holiday fun for the whole family and a different look at the Batman mythology.
‘Merry Little Batman’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.
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What is the plot of ‘Merry Little Batman’?
After Damian Wayne (Yonas Kibreab) is left alone in Wayne Manor on Christmas Eve, he transforms himself into “Little Batman” to safeguard his home and the rest of Gotham City from supervillains during the holiday season.
Skyler Gisondo has been cast as Jimmy Olsen in ‘Superman: Legacy’.
Sara Sampaio has also joined the movie as Eve Teschmacher.
Director James Gunn has been busy building his cast around stars David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan.
As he looks to get the movie chugging towards production again in the wake of the writers and actors’ strikes, filmmaker James Gunn is quickly building the cast he needs for ‘Superman: Legacy’.
There has been a flurry of new casting of late, with Nicholas Hoult the most recent addition as villain Lex Luthor.
Today brings word that Skyler Gisondo, seen in movies such as ‘Booksmart’ and ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’, has won the role of Jimmy Olsen. Sara Sampaio, meanwhile, will play Luthor’s assistant (and often love interest) Eve Teschmacher.
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What’s the story of ‘Superman: Legacy’?
(Left) Writer, director, co-chairmen and co-CEO of DC Studios, James Gunn. Photo courtesy of James Gunn’s Twitter account. (Right) Superman. Photo courtesy of DC Comics.com.
The exact storyline remains a mystery, but Gunn has been clear that he’s eschewing the usual exploding home planet Krypton/arrival in Smallville origin story (though those will likely be referenced) in favor of more of a workplace film with Clark showing up to work at the Planet, where Lois Lane will already be an established reporting star.
Peter Safran said this about the new movie during the duo’s big announcement about DC films and series going forward:
“It focuses on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way. He is kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old-fashioned.”
Who else is in ‘Superman: Legacy’
(Left) David Corenswet in Netflix’s ‘The Politician.’ (Right) Rachel Brosnahan on Prime Video’s ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.’
Gunn has already found both his Superman and Lois, as David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan were announced before the actors’ strike began.
Shortly after that, we learned that Isabela Merced nabbed the part of Hawkgirl, regular Gunn actor Nathan Fillion would be taking the role of Green Lantern Guy Gardner, with ‘Barry’s Anthony Carrigan winning the character of Metamorpho and ‘Twilight’ veteran Ed Gathegi aboard as Mister Terrific.
More recently (as in, the last week or so), María Gabriela de Faría, who will play The Engineer, and as mentioned above, Nicholas Hoult is on to be Lex Luthor.
Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Olsen debuted in comics form in Superman #13 (November–December 1941) and on the radio.
He traditionally appears as the best friend to Clark Kent (Superman’s cover story) and works as a photojournalist at the Daily Planet alongside Clark and Lois.
Who is Eve Teschmacher?
(Left) Sara Sampaio in ‘Carga.’ (Right) Valerie Perrine as Eve Teschmacher in ‘Superman.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
As opposed to many of the other Superman characters who got their start on the comics page or radio serials, Miss Teschmacher was created for 1978’s ‘Superman’ by director Richard Donner and writer Mario Puzo. Played in that film and sequel ‘Superman II’ by Valerie Perrine (where she was Lex Luthor’s associate), the character also since crossed over into the comics and has appeared in other DC spin-offs, including ‘Supergirl’.
When will ‘Superman: Legacy’ be in theaters?
The new Superman film is scheduled to be in theaters on July 11, 2025.
James Gunn in ‘Superpowered: The DC Story.’ Photograph by Courtesy of Max/Warner Bros.
Zachary Levi attends the World Premiere of ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ in Westwood, CA. Photo: Eric Charbonneau.
Zachary Levi opens up about the superhero film ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ and his future with the franchise. In an interview with The FilmUp Podcast, the actor acknowledges the criticism from movie critics, “I don’t know what the future holds for it all because, unfortunately, the second movie was not well received,” Levi says of the low critics’ score, “The audience score is still quite good, but the critics’ score was very oddly and perplexingly low, and people were insanely unkind.”
Currently, ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ stands at 49% from critics on Rotten Tomoates and an audience score of 86%. For comparison, the 2019 ‘Shazam!’ is certified Fresh on the aggregator site, with a 90% critics’ score and 82% audience score. The film became available on digital less than a month after its theatrical release, grossing $133 million worldwide. The production budget for ‘ Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ was $125 million.
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The actor eludes to reasons why the sequel did not perform as well as its predecessor:
“I think even just the world, from the first movie to the second movie, the world has shifted so much. Social media has shifted so much. Hate, online hate and haters and trolls, and factions and all that has just gotten more galvanized in its toxicity. I think there are people who genuinely, unfortunately, want to destroy certain projects because they don’t like them, or they don’t like me, or they don’t like other people involved in them or whatever.”
Levi questions whether or not he’ll be able to return as Shazam in the new DCU but remains hopeful, “I have no idea where we go from here. I just hope that or believe that history will show… it will be one of those things that people will go back, people will watch ‘Fury of the Gods’ on home streaming or on a plane or whatever, and it will be this movie that they heard so much s**t about and then they will be like, ‘Well, wait a minute.’ ”
Zachary Levi is not the only actor with an uncertain future in the DCU. Fellow actors who held titular characters such as Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, and Dwayne Johnson are unlikely to return to reprise their roles. While certain superheroes have made cameo appearances in recent films such as ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ and ‘The Flash’ it doesn’t cement their return to the DCU since its revamp. We have yet to see a brand-new movie released under the reign of James Gunn and Peter Safran, other than what has been laid out in the initial roadmap promising ‘Superman: Legacy,’ ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow,’ ‘Brave and the Bold,’ ‘Swamp Thing,’ and ‘The Authority.’
