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07/18/22 @ 11:05 am EST
Fire and Ice returns! The beloved sword and sorcery masterpiece of artwork, animation, and storytelling is making its way back to the hearts and hands of fans thanks to a new partnership between Dynamite Entertainment, the Frazetta Girls brand, and Bakshi Productions for both new comic books and tabletop games. With the coming 2023 marking 40 years since the 1983 release of the original film, now more than ever is the time to celebrate and continue the legacy of this innovative and memorable film. Dynamite is working alongside the Frazetta family and Bakshi Productions with talented creators to craft a truly special set of follow ups that will delight fans new and old. “My grandpa introduced me to his film, Fire and Ice when I was in grade school," said Sara Frazetta. "Watching movies together, especially Fire and Ice, bonded our relationship. We felt the intensity of the scenes together. We were transported into the world he created. It was magical. Fire and Ice has remained in my top favorite films of all time and to be able to reignite the property with the Bakshi family and Dynamite is incredibly exciting!” "Bakshi Productions is excited to work with the Frazetta Girls and Dynamite Comics to create new Fire & Ice media," shared Eddie Bakshi. "It is an honor to again explore the fantastic world that Frank Frazetta and Ralph Bakshi created. I know that Bakshi fans have been waiting a long time for more Fire & Ice material, and that’s what we plan to give them." Dynamite CEO and Publisher Nick Barrucci added, " Fire and Ice is a seminal classic animated feature that is beloved by fans and creators alike. In having discussions with Sara Frazetta, and having brought up my love of the movie, she stated that we could have further conversations with Joe Weber, Sara Frazetta, and Eddie Bakshi to see if we could work on a creative direction that everyone would be happy with to expand on the series. It was important to all of us that we bring something new and grew the fantastic tapestry that came before. Fortunately we all agreed on the direction of the series, and are bringing the fans the back story of these incredible characters that will build on the movie. Then when the opportunity came to release a game based on the movie, that was just icing on the cake. I speak for myself and the team at Dynamite when I say that we are honored to work with the Frazetta family who are comic book royalty, and the legacy of the Bakshi family. We can't wait for fans and retailers to see the series as it's released." A comic book series is set to debut that will serve as a prequel and continue the themes and ideas of the original film. That ended with the barbarian hero Larn and his beloved Princess Teegra embracing in their victory and survival against the fearsome evil queen Juliana and her demented son Nekron. While their mysterious ertswhile ally Darkwolf looked on from afar. Could fans get to see these characters again, or be introduced to a barbaric and fantastical cast of newcomers? These secrets will be revealed in time as the projects come to fruition. Further creative team information will be revealed soon, but the comic series will feature a cover presenting Frank Frazetta's original masterpiece painting created for the development and eventual poster for the movie. Superstar artists with a love of the mythos will be announced closer to the solicitation date. In addition to a thrilling comic book prequel, Fire and Ice will also be coming to gamers' tabletops! The expansive fantasy mythos and memorable characters will translate perfectly to the roleplaying sphere where these tropes are beloved by gamers who play the likes of Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder as more, with many games taking inspiration from Fire and Ice and Bakshi's other fantasy films. The exact format and design of the game is to be revealed. Fire and Ice was the match made in heaven collaboration between Bakshi and Frazetta. The two developed the concept together and the film's art style was based on Frazetta's work, brought to life through Bakshi's animation. They then called in comics scribes and Conan the Barbarian veterans Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway to handle the script. Frazetta was then also closely involved in production, from casting to the rotoscoping filming sessions. In its day the film was heralded as if a comic book was brought to the big screen, and now Dynamite is bringing it back to some of its major inspirations in other media. The original Fire and Ice film was directed by the master animation director Ralph Bakshi. Beyond innovative for his time, Bakshi revolutionized adult animation and techniques like rotoscoping and unique mixes of animation with live action photography. Breaking out in 1972 with his adaptation of Robert Crumb's raunchy comic feature Fritz the Cat, Bakshi would go on to create a trio of beloved sword and sorcery films in Fire and Ice, Wizards, and his adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. Frank Frazetta is considered the Godfather of fantasy art and continues to influence countless painters and illustrators to this day. Early in his career he worked in traditional comic book and strip illustration in the "Golden Age", such as a string of Shining Knight features for DC Comics. As his career progressed, he moved to a focus on painting and creating covers for classic novels, film posters, and some comic books as well. Within comics he was associated with Warren Publishing's Creepy, Eerie, and the now published by Dynamite Vampirella. His paintings on subjects like his "Death Dealer" have become iconic across merchandising and the original paintings are some of the most sought after art pieces in the world. “I’m tremendously excited to see the return of Fire and Ice, and while I know this project will evoke powerful feelings of nostalgia to longtime Frazetta and comics fans, this world fits perfectly with the realms of fantasy that are incredibly popular right now," said editor Matt Idelson. "Really, it’s a perfect marriage." More details will be revealed soon! 09/08/24 @ 9:35 am EST
The upcoming film, The Killer’s Game, includes a reunion of two of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Dave Bautista and Pom Klementieff both appear in the new film and the former wrestler turned actor talked with ComicBook.com about the possibility of working with other Guardians actors, possibly over with James Gunn at DC Studios. “I hope so, yeah. That’s kind of my goal. I really want, because I’ve done another project outside of Guardians with Karen Gillan, and I’ve done work with Pom now. I would like to work with Chris [Pratt] and Zoe [Saldana] outside of the Marvel Universe, as well.” Bautista has made it clear that he is open to working with DC as well. “I guess it has to be the right part. But I’m very open to it, and I love James and I would do anything to work with him.” Bautista and Gillan appeared together in the 2019 film, Stuber along with another MCU alum, Kumail Nanjiani.  09/07/24 @ 12:18 pm EST
Marvel Studios is getting a bit stylish with their newest trailer for Agatha All Along. The quick clip is done in the style of a 60s/70s horror film reminiscent of Night of the Living Dead. They give the same film look and even work in the title pun that were standard for the trailers of that era. And in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, actor Joe Locke who will be playing “Teen” in the series, addressed having to keep the secret of his character… and perhaps why rumors and spoilers are bad. Locke said, “One of the things I love about Marvel is you keep all these secrets that are really frustrating at first, especially when you’re doing things like this [press day]. But the reason you keep them is because if you were to tell them, then it wouldn’t have the same effect when it all comes out. The secrets are secrets for a reason, and Teen’s backstory is an interesting one. If I was able to talk about it now, it would ruin the whole point of the show, and that is what keeps me being able to keep a secret. Otherwise, I’d just tell you everything.”  09/07/24 @ 11:46 am EST
With The Penguin debuting on September 19th, more and more information about the series has been coming out. Just last week we learned about the titles and episode lengths for the first four episodes and now we get the final four as well. Keep in mind that one of the big complaints about MCU series have been the short episode run times, I don’t think that will be a problem with this show. Episode 1 which picks up right after the events of The Batman will be called After Hours and runs 1 hour 7 minutes. Episode 2, Inside Man runs 56 minutes, episode 3, Bliss, runs 59 minutes and episode 4, Cent’anni runs 58 minutes. For those curious, Cent’anni is an Italian toast that wishes health and happiness for 100 years. Now the new episodes we’ve learned about are Episode 5, Homecoming, which runs 54 minutes, episode 6, Gold Summit, running 52 minutes, episode 7, Top Hat, the shortest episode at 46 minutes and the season finale, Great or Little Thing which clocks in at 1 hour and 8 minutes. And while I could try and read things into each title, the one that jumps out to me is Top Hat, perhaps a nod to the characters comic book design that originally included a tuxedo, top hat and umbrella. A new image of The Penguin appears on Total Film magazine this week.  09/07/24 @ 11:02 am EST
The Vision series seems to be heating up as The Hollywood Reporter is saying that Picard actor Todd Stashwick is joining the cast. Stashwick recently played Captain Liam Shaw in the third season of Picard, where he worked with writer Terry Matalas, who will be the showrunner for Vision. It’s all about who you know, right? The series has been rumored since the end of WandaVision and is expected to finally tell viewers what happened to the rebuilt, all-white version of the Vision that we last saw in the season finale after having a philosophical discussion about the Ship of Theseus. Word is that Stashwick will play an assassin who is hunting the Vision for his technology. Paul Bettany will be returning as the titular android while it’s also been reported that James Spader will return as Ultron who we last saw in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Both in the comics and the MCU, Ultron is credited for building the Vision, but in the comics he’s imprinted with the brainwaves of Simon Williams aka Wonder Man while in the films, Tony Stark’s AI Jarvis was uploaded into the Vibranium body. This series has not been officially announced as of yet.  09/06/24 @ 10:42 pm EST
Disney+ is in early development on Phantom, a YA movie reimagination of the classic novel The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, Deadline is reporting. The project hails from Disney Branded Entertainment and Kenny Ortega, who has led two major Disney franchises with High School Musical and The Descendants. Phantom is very green at this time but has the potential to become a franchise similar to The Descendants if it moves forward. This marks Ortega’s return to Disney following the conclusion of his deal with Netflix. He will direct and executive produce Phantom under his production banner The KO Company. The spec script was written by Giovanni M. Porta (At Midnight) from a story by Porta and Eric Bromberg. 09/06/24 @ 10:38 pm EST
BOOM! Studios today revealed a first look at THE CREEPING BELOW #1, the premiere issue of the new original series by Harvey and Eisner-Award winning, New York Times bestselling author Brian Azzarello, along with acclaimed artist Vanesa Del Rey (The Empty Man, Redlands), colorist Hilary Jenkins (Black Badge, Grass Kings), and letterer AndWorld Design (Something is Killing the Children). Discover a revenge story about black metal, magic, and Norse mythology to life in the beautiful and brutal new series, coming October 2024. The gods above, the creeping below. BOOM! Studios invites you to witness this violent, electrifying descent into a bloody, black metal infused revenge saga. When Val, an American metalhead attending a music festival abroad in Oslo, is victimized and killed at the hands of a charismatically evil local black metal band, the Old Gods of Norse Mythology raise her up and guide along the path of brutal vengeance in the name of women everywhere. But will she walk the warriors path, or become something far more terrible? THE CREEPING BELOW #1 features main cover art by Vanesa Del Rey, and variant covers by highly acclaimed illustrators Maria Llovet (Faithless), Mike Deodato Jr. (Berserker Unbound), and Jae Lee (The Dark Tower) & June Chung. THE CREEPING BELOW is the newest release from BOOM! Studios’ eponymous imprint, home to critically acclaimed original series, including BRZRKR by Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, and Ron Garney; Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera; bestselling horror anthology Hello Darkness; Grim by Stephanie Phillips and Flaviano; Stuff of Nightmares by R.L. Stine and A.L. Kaplan; A Vicious Circle by Mattson Tomlin and Lee Bermejo; Ghostlore by Cullen Bunn and Leomacs; Rare Flavours by Ram V and Filipe Andrade; Underheist by David and Maria Lapham; Animal Pound by Tom King and Peter Gross; Minor Arcana by Jeff Lemire; and the upcoming Vicarious by Ryan Parrott and Eleonora Carlini. The imprint also publishes popular licensed properties, including Dune: House Corrino from Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, and Simone Ragazzoni; Mighty Morphin Power Rangers by Melissa Flores and Simona Di Gianfelice; and The Expanse: Dragon Tooth by Andy Diggle, Rubine, and Francesco Pisa. THE CREEPING BELOW #1 will be available in comic shops October 2, 2024. It is available for pre-order at your local comic shop. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including Kindle, iBooks, and Google Play. Creeping Below, The #1 A Main: AUG240015 Creeping Below, The #1 B Variant: AUG240016 Creeping Below, The #1 C 1:10 INCV: AUG240017 Creeping Below, The #1 D 1:25 INCV: AUG240018 Creeping Below, The #1 E 1:50 INCV: AUG240019 Creeping Below, The #1 F FOC Reveal Variant: AUG240020 Creeping Below, The #1 G Unlockable Variant: AUG240021         
... 09/06/24 @ 12:40 pm EST
Things are getting hairy for Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner in the first teaser trailer for Wolf Man. Universal Pictures is set to release director Leigh Whannell‘s horror feature in theaters Jan. 17, 2025. The film is a reimagining of the classic monster franchise that launched with 1941’s The Wolf Man. The new version centers on a man whose family is hunted by a deadly predator. “It sounded like an animal,” Abbott says in the trailer. “But I swear to God, it was standing on two feet.” Later, a young girl asks, “What’s wrong with Daddy?” (via The Hollywood Reporter) Trailer: https://youtu.be/ZZ2xPwXJpLM 09/06/24 @ 12:30 pm EST
Warner Bros is officially reporting $13M for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. High exit scores from fans last night at 4 1/2 stars on Comscore/Screen Engine’s PostTrak and 5 stars from both parents and kids under 12. Currently, the projection for the sequel is $90M — with potential for upside. Females made a date with the Michael Keaton-Jenna Ortega-Winona Ryder sequel at 59% with 73% being over 25. Girls also outnumbered boys, 62% to 38% among the kids. A very strong turnout by Latino and Hispanic moviegoers last night at 36%. RelishMix says that the social media reach for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is 41% ahead of action comedy sci-fi genre norms with 508.6M followers across TikTok, Facebook, X, YouTube and Instagram combined. (via Deadline) 09/06/24 @ 12:25 pm EST
An epic new run of Marvel’s Armored Avenger kicks off this October! IRON MAN will be written by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Spencer Ackerman (Reign of Terror; DC’s Waller vs. Wildstorm) in his exciting Marvel debut and drawn by rising star Julius Ohta (Hellverine, Alien) with colors by Alex Sinclair. Today, fans can get a sneak peek at Tony Stark’s upcoming adventures in the new IRON MAN #1 trailer, featuring never-before-seen artwork. Roxxon and A.I.M. team up to take on Stark Unlimited! But they’re ready for the old Tony Stark. This one? He’s a lot angrier than he used to be. Iron Man is going to war! He’s determined to never hit rock bottom again—his old enemies will face an Iron Man more than willing to fight back, play dirty, and unleash every bit of his intellect to bring them down! When the best of his own technology fails him, Tony will build a brand-new armor that you can see in action in the new trailer! Dubbed the “Improvised Iron Man,” readers will see it assembled throughout the series as Tony does what he does best—tinkering and upgrading it to counter anything the world throws at him. “Down to the armor Iron Man is wearing, Tony is in pure survival mode from jump,” Ackerman explained. “The stakes start out very high and escalate from there. A big theme of this run is going to be scale — the pursuit of it, the maintenance of it, the cost of it. We've seen Tony cross some very serious moral lines in the past. Now we're going to scale them up.” Check out the trailer and preorder IRON MAN #1 at your local comic shop today! 
09/05/24 @ 9:26 pm EST
After more than 35 years, Tim Burton finally found the secret ingredient needed to bring Beetlejuice back to life once again. While promoting Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, which premieres Sept. 6 in theaters, returning stars Michael Keaton and Catherine O’Hara credited Jenna Ortega for helping the director see his long-awaited sequel to fruition after first working together on Netflix‘s Wednesday. Noting that the actress “literally didn’t exist” yet when the original 1988 movie premiered, Keaton said to Burton for USA Today, “She gets born, you end up doing a thing with her. Then you go, wait a minute. Her? It? If she’s not around, we may never make this thing.” Beetlejuice Beetlejuice sees Lydia return home with her daughter Astrid (Ortega) and boyfriend Rory (Justin Theroux) following the death of her father Charles (played in the original by Jeffrey Jones). The funeral reunites Lydia with her stepmother Delia (O’Hara reprising her role) as Beetlejuice returns to wreak havoc once again. (via Deadline) |
