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02/09/22 @ 9:18 pm EST
Dynamite Entertainment and Curiosity Ink Media - the family entertainment engine for Grom Social Enterprises, Inc., have secured Montana Poet Laureate M.L. Smoker to write and consult for the Thunderous graphic novel series, debuting in April 2022. 
Her co-writer on the project is Natalie Peeterse, also a poet and independent publisher. The graphic novel is drawn by Dale Deforest, with a cover by artist Oriol Vidal. The original, new intellectual property (IP) franchise follows the unexpected adventures of an indigenous teen’s journey into a special world where new friends and foes are discovered. In this unpredictable and sometimes perilous venture she learns to more fully appreciate, embrace, and champion her family’s proud heritage. The graphic novel will debut in tandem with Independent Book Store Day, a national celebration of independent bookstores to be held on Saturday, April 30. The announcement was made today by Dynamite CEO & Publisher Nick Barrucci and Curiosity Ink Media’s EVP & Publisher, Jon Rosenberg. Thunderous centers on Aiyana, a South Dakota teenager who fails to see a connection between her family’s Indigenous culture and her life in the modern world, resulting in tension with her grandmother, a proud bearer of the family’s history and heritage. As the story progresses, Aiyana finds herself accidentally transported to a new and unfamiliar world where she begins to recognize how understanding her Lakota cultural teachings and stories are the very tools she needs to survive and return home. The book version of Thunderous dovetails into Dynamite’s recently announced publishing program in partnership with Curiosity to develop a slate of printed content rooted in Curiosity’s original IP, as well as cultivating print titles on behalf of other entertainment brands. Dynamite and Curiosity’s alliance with Smoker, Peeterse, and the rest of the creative team builds on the mission of the companies’ partnership to identify and share authentic stories and voices from various milieus. Smoker, a member of the Nakoda, Dakota, and Lakota tribes is currently Poet Laureate for the state of Montana. Her free verse poems focus on personal loss and identity and engage Native American history, language, and culture. Smoker served as Montana’s Director of Indian Education for nearly a decade and, in 2015, was named the Indian Educator of the Year in addition to being appointed to the National Advisory Council on Indian Education by President Barack Obama. She currently works at Education Northwest as a practice expert in Indian Education. She received a regional Emmy award for her work as a writer/consultant on the PBS documentary Indian Relay. “The importance of new narratives that are formed from the creativity, resilience and power of Native American communities are necessary to correct the pervasive and damaging stereotypes, misconceptions and ideas that exist in this country about us,” said Smoker. “I hope this is a story that resonates for many children, but, in particular that some Native youth will see themselves reflected in literature and believe they can be their own authors, painters, musicians, and creators in the future. Because representation matters.” “Forming alliances with indigenous cultural leaders allows us to share stories that are routinely overlooked in popular culture and have the potential to be transformative for young readers,” said Rosenberg. “M.L. Smoker brings an unparalleled authenticity and artistry to storytelling that will bring richness, heart and soul to this new franchise.” “Dynamite is proud to work with so many writers, artists and partners from diverse backgrounds, as our primary goal is to help facilitate and deliver unique compelling stories across all media to fans, and working with Laureate M.L. Smoker and the creative team helps bring awareness and grows the audience,” said Nick Barrucci, Dynamite CEO & Publisher. “I personally cannot wait to read more of Thunderous and what Smoker and the team have crafted, and for many others to experience this wonderful tale.” 02/08/25 @ 1:18 pm EST
If you’re wondering why the suit in Captain America: Brave New World doesn’t look the same as the one Sam Wilson was wearing at the end of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier… you can blame star Anthony Mackie on that one. While costume design changes between films is pretty normal, many felt with the new Cap suit only appearing at the end of the television series, it would at least be around for a while in the film, but Mackie requested the change because the mask was extremely difficult to work in. While speaking to ICN, the veteran MCU actor said, “I told them that I was never wearing that s**t again. That was hard… with the heat, the sweat, the fogged-up glasses. It was impossible. It was my worst nightmare.” There were other issues with the mask/goggle set up previously revealed in the making of the series saying that they had to CG some of the scenes because the mask wouldn’t stay tight against his face, causing parts to bow out around his cheeks and jawline. Look for the new, maskless Captain America in theaters on February 14th.  02/08/25 @ 12:56 pm EST
There was a time that comic book movies and shows were the dirty secrets of the film industry and no one ever mentioned them at awards shows, but times have changed. Last night at the Critic Choice Awards, host Chelsea Handler took shots at a lot of taboo topics in her opening monologue, and it included a joke related to the recent HBO series The Penguin, “Colin spent four hours transforming into the Penguin. Now we know how long it takes to make Colin Farrell unf***able. Still, I would hit those flippers.” And that wasn’t the only time Farrell and the Penguin were mention during the broadcast as he would take home the award for Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television and his co-star Christin Milioti won the Best Actress award for the same category. But the DC universe wasn’t the only one taking home awards, over at Marvel they picked up the Best Animated Series award for X-Men ’97. And Deadpool & Wolverine tied with A Real Pain for the Best Comedy. A pretty good night for comic book properties overall.  02/08/25 @ 12:36 pm EST
A trip to the Critic Choice Awards had Rachel Brosnahan in front of the media who of course asked about her upcoming role as Lois Lane in James Gunn’s Superman. She talked about how a both the character of Superman and the genre are pertinent today: “We’re living in a moment of so much turmoil, both here, abroad. There’s a lot of challenges for everybody in all different pockets of the worlds right now. And for a lot of the complaints that people have sometimes about superhero movies, at their core, they’re about the goodness of people and how good we can be to each other, how the pursuit of truth and justice really are the American way, and that courage and hope can carry us through. And so, I feel like this movie really encapsulates all of that. It’s a hopeful superhero movie, which I feel like is so true to the comics. So, I’m excited for audiences to see it and hopefully have some fun and enjoy the ride with us.” Brosnahan joins David Corenswet and Nicholas Hoult in a new era of Superman opening in theaters July 11th.  02/07/25 @ 8:49 pm EST
Bill Skarsgård (“Nosferatu,” “It”), Murray Bartlett (“The White Lotus,” “Welcome to Chippendales”) and Noah Jupe (“A Quiet Place,” “Honey Boy”) have joined the cast of “The Death of Robin Hood.” The trio of actors join previously announced stars Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer for a film that charts the outlaw’s “last days” that’s written and directed by Michael Sarnoski, the filmmaker behind the critically-acclaimed “Pig” and “A Quiet Place: Day One.” The film finds Jackman’s Robin Hood “grappling with his past after a life of crime and murder,” the official logline explains, “a battleworn loner finds himself gravely injured and in the hands of a mysterious woman, who offers him a chance at salvation.” Principal photography begins this week in Ireland. (via Variety) 02/07/25 @ 8:51 pm EST
Madelyn Cline has joined Johnny Depp and Penélope Cruz in Day Drinker, the action thriller Marc Webb is set to direct for Lionsgate. Cline, who will reprise her starring role in the Netflix series Outer Banks in its upcoming fifth and final season, is also set to star in Sony’s I Know What You Did Last Summer and Amazon MGM’s The Map That Leads to You. Day Drinker marks Depp’s most mainstream project in years following controversies amid his divorce from Amber Heard. It centers on a cruise ship bartender meeting a mysterious day drinker—only for both of them to find themselves entangled in a criminal underbelly, and connected in unexpected ways. The film is produced by Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, producers of the John Wick franchise for Lionsgate, Adam Kolbrenner and Zach Dean. (via The Hollywood Reporter) 02/07/25 @ 1:42 pm EST
Filming has wrapped on Francesca Eastwood (Old) shark thiller The Bay, which Architect is taking to EFM. Above is a first look. Phil Volken’s ocean survival thriller, which filmed in Oahu, Hawaii, follows old friends Emma (Eastwood) and Lani (Dani Oliveros) to Thailand, where they are invited on an eco-boat tour to visit a remote shark sanctuary bay – an awe-inspiring lagoon where imposing, steep-sided rock formations called ‘karsts’ rise from the water line – with the hope of seeing the magnificent tiger sharks who have made the secluded spot their home. In the capable hands of their captain, Mandal (Alexander Wraith), and his rough and ready boatman Ruhan (Tai’mua), the young women are entranced by the beauty of this secret paradise. When a giant female shark, nicknamed Sheena, gets tangled in the bait chain while ramming the motor in an attempt to escape, the two friends end up much closer to nature than they bargained for. Isolated, hemmed in by the imposing landscape, and now fast sinking, with space for only one person on their life-raft, the group must together call on all their resources to survive. SFX and animatronics company Bischoff’s constructed the film’s animatronic shark. (via Deadline) 02/07/25 @ 1:35 pm EST
Today Skybound Comet and Image Comics revealed a new look at 14 interior pages from Family Force V, the prismatic YA graphic novel about your new favorite alien fighting family by Matt Braly (Disney’s Amphibia) and artist Ainsworth Lin. Family Force V will be available everywhere books are sold in June 2025 from Skybound Comet, the original graphic novel imprint aimed at Young Adult (Ages 12+) and Middle Grade (Ages 8-12) audiences, but sure to captivate readers of all ages. Full of action and charm, Family Force V promises to be your next graphic novel obsession. Fighting alien kaiju with your family on a Friday night is a totally normal part of being a teenager...right? Well, it is for Maise who, despite her protests, must continue the family legacy of keeping the world safe, all while trying to get good grades, impress her crush, and balance extracurriculars. But when tragedy strikes, Maise is forced to figure out how to be herself when she feels destined to be someone else for not only her family, but the world. The Skybound Comet slate also includes the upcoming release of Clementine Book Three (ISBN: 978-1-5343-9737-8 SRP $14.99), the highly anticipated and heart-wrenching finale of the Eisner-Award nominated YA trilogy by Tillie Walden (On a Sunbeam, Spinning), coming in June 2025; TRANSFORMERS: Worst Bot Ever - Meet Ballpoint (ISBN: 978-1-5343-2799-3 SRP $12.99), the start of a new OGN series about the misadventures of the bot who is mightier than the sword by Brian “Smitty” Smith (Pea, Bee, and Jay) and Marz Jr. (Void Rivals cover artist), available July 2025 for Middle Grade Readers; and Pizza Witch (ISBN: 978-1-5343-2796-2 SRP $16.99), the graphic novel that cooks up a delicious world of magic for a wide range of readers by Sarah Graley (Glitch, Our Super Adventure) and Stef Purenins (Our Super Adventure), coming in September 2025. Family Force V (ISBN: 978-1-5343-4033-6 SRP $16.99) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday May 28, 2025, and at booksellers, along with digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play on Tuesday, June 10.              
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The team behind “Captain America: Brave New World” recently opened up to The National about introducing Ruth Bat-Seraph (aka Sabra) into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a decision that sparked controversy when news broke in September 2022 that “Unorthodox” Emmy nominee Shira Haas was cast in the role. Sabra is an Israeli superhero and a Mossad agent in the comics. The character’s inclusion in the MCU raised concerns among Palestinians, although Marvel assured fans worldwide that Sabra would be “reworked” for the big screen. Just how Sabra has been reworked for her MCU debut is now being revealed. After months of speculation and rumors that Marvel had dropped the character’s Israeli ties (which then sparked backlash in Israel), “Captain America: Brave New World” producer Nate Moore now confirms Sabra is an Israeli in the final movie. “She’s Israeli, but she’s not Mossad. Now she works in the U.S. government,” Moore said. And it’s not just Sabra’s ties to Mossad that have been cut from the MCU. As Moore explained, the character also no longer has such mutant abilities as superhuman strength and speed. “Captain America: Brave New World” opens in theaters Feb. 14. (via Variety) 02/06/25 @ 9:40 pm EST
After recurring on HBO’s The Franchise, which spoofed Marvel-like superhero movies, Ruaridh Mollica is stepping into the MCU with a series regular role in the Marvel superhero series for Disney+ Vision, reports Deadline. The Vision spinoff, headlined by Paul Bettany, is said to take place after the events in WandaVision where the character made a return after Thanos killed him in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War. The new series is believed to follow Vision (Bettany) as he tries to regain his memory and humanity. Mollica will play a character named Tucker. In addition to Bettany, he joins previously cast James Spader, who reprises his MCU role of Ultron, Todd Stashwick, and Faran Tahir, who will reprise the role of Raza. 02/06/25 @ 9:34 pm EST
Captain America: Brave New World director Julius Onah has opened up about why the long-awaited return of Liv Tyler‘s Betty Ross is happening in a Captain America sequel instead of a Hulk project. Tyler’s Betty Ross was one of the first characters introduced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, making her debut in the franchise’s second installment, The Incredible Hulk, which was released in 2008 during Phase 1. While other Phase 1 heroes, and their supporting characters, returned in Phase 2 for their respective sequels, only Bruce Banner/Hulk — now played by Mark Ruffalo instead of Edward Norton — was brought back, although not for an Incredible Hulk sequel, leaving Betty Ross, her father Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, and the Abomination behind. Speaking with The Official Marvel Podcast, Onah explained why Brave New World was the perfect time to bring Betty Ross back, noting the importance the character plays while onscreen opposite her father, the recently elected U.S. President Ross, now played by Harrison Ford following Hurt’s 2022 death. “It was sort of a no-brainer to bring Liv back,” the filmmaker said. “She just has this real humanity to her. […] The relationship she ends up having with Thaddeus Ross in this film is a real big part of his journey of trying to cement his legacy and redefine who he has been as a human being and as a leader.” Captain America: Brave New World opens in theaters on February 14. (via SuperHeroHype) |
