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11/03/16 @ 9:33 pm EST
Fabrice Sapolsky talks to Byron Brewer about INTERTWINED #4, on sale in January from Dynamite. Cover by Gerald Parel.  BYRON BREWER: Juan Jin has become the Spirit of the Earth! … Yet here on the earthly plane, he is still wanted as a POI for a murder by the authorities and is being pursued by the Triads. What exactly does being the new “Spirit of the Earth” mean? To Juan Jin? To the rest of us?FABRICE SAPOLSKY: That’s a very good question! At first glance, getting these powers makes Juan’s life more complicated. But it’s a process. He has to go through hell to figure out himself what he wants to do with his life. Again, becoming a Spirit of WuXing isn’t something that happens to everyone. He was chosen. And through exceptional circumstances. For the world, Juan becomes this being who masters everything organic. Everything that comes from the land. He communicates with the Earth, he’s very powerful. BB: Fabrice, if you would, tell us a little more about the “Spirits,” whose pantheon (for lack of a better term) Juan Jin has just joined, and whom he mistrusts at this point.FS: In our story, the Spirits of WuXing have been around forever. First in Asia, then the world. They’re the ones who keep the universe balanced through its five elements (Metal, Water, Earth, Wood, Fire). For generations, one Spirit would die (in battle or of natural causes) and would be replaced by a younger one. Challenges have been many. But for the first time, in this generation, a Spirit is murdered by another Spirit (as chronicled in the very rare issue #0). And we’ll finally learn why. The reason will shock you! And it’ll also propel the series into a very different place. From an action/adventure series to a more social/diversity conscious one. BB: What is the Golden Dragon the Triads seek? Why is it of such import to them?FS: The Golden Dragon is one of the 5 artifacts the Spirits possess. It’s like a Green Lantern battery, to make it simple. Except you don’t recharge your power here. The essence of your power, your spirit is there. The Spirits can function without them. But if they’re all gathered in one hand, they can be used to control the universe. The Spirit of the Earth, who died prior to our story, gave the Golden Dragon to Lady Xia. Because he trusted her. He would always leave it to her when he was spending time in the United States. That explains why she has it in issue #1. And she gives it to Juan because she picked him up as the new Spirit of the Earth. Lady Xia is behind everything (or almost everything). I have to add that the Golden Dragon, or the Black Tortoise or Vermillion Bird didn’t come out of my imagination. I borrowed them to have them fit in our story. In Chinese tradition, the Golden Dragon or Yellow Dragon is tied to the Element of Earth. BB: The Spirits are certainly being overly helpful, or at least trying to be, to our hero. Is there some unknown motivation behind their offers of assistance of which readers are unaware?FS: The remaining Spirits, led by Lady Xia aka the Spirit of Water, have an agenda. I think it’s clear by issue #4 that their intention has always been to restore balance in WuXing since Nei Chang, the Spirit of Metal, has crushed it. One problem at a time. They first decided to pick themselves the new Spirit of the Earth, then to deal with the Spirit of Metal. But when you play with the elements, there’s always a price to pay… BB: Thus far, Intertwined has certainly been a character-driven book. When you plan issues, do you concentrate on character first and then where that takes the plot?FS: It really is a character-driven book. There’s a McGuffin in the story. A revelation that justifies the entire story to even exist. And this revelation (and its consequences) happen in issue #4 and #5! What came first was the reason why I made this book. And I’ll talk more about it next month when people have read issue #4 because it’ll become clear that there were some issues I wanted to talk about. Without giving too much away, let’s say that since I came to live in the United States, I discovered how much communities can live in the same streets, in the same buildings without knowing each other. That melting pot doesn’t really exist. That rejection is easy. And when you get here, you have to identify as something and try to hang with “your people”. That’s not how I was raised nor how I want to live. I strongly believe mixing people from everywhere enriches us. Intertwined is a kind of Trojan horse. A Kung Fu fiction that conveys a vision where lines are blurred and we only see people. I’ll take a moment to talk about Bruce Lee who has been an incredible inspiration for Fred and myself. His philosophy. The way he saw the world. Bruce was born in the U.S. but had hard time blending in in the 1950s and ‘60s in that America. He was also very much Chinese, as reported by the people who knew him and his family. But he saw people behind colors. He believed in humankind. I see so many people talking about ethnicities here. I’m not ignoring the challenges nor negating anything. And I strongly support those who fight for inclusion and equality in rights. Bruce Lee was ahead of his time. He understood that wherever you come from, whatever you looked like, you’re a human being first. A talent. A brother. A sister. A son. A daughter. A mother or a father. We set the action in 1971 because the world was very different obviously, but also more optimistic, despite so many terrible things happening. We’ve lost a lot of that optimism. But I don’t think we have to give up on it. On the contrary, we have to work harder to give a much more open minded world to our kids. Writers… creators… we are dreamers. But we’re also deeply rooted in reality. Fiction proved centuries ago that it could plant seeds of ambition in people’s minds. We went to the moon. We did great things. Humbly, Intertwined brings a little something to the table. Something of our own experiences in life. BB: With issue #4, on sale in January, we are approaching the penultimate issue of this series. Looking back, has the story unfolded pretty much as you intended. (All writers know how characters and stories sometimes take over, lol.)FS: I’ve been pretty much following my initial plan here. There have been some differences, some scenes originally taking place in an issue and moved to other ones. But it’s pretty much the same structure from day one. BB: How awesome has Fred Pham Chuong been with the art on this book? Do you guys work closely together?FS: You said it: awesome. Fred is just an incredible storyteller. We speak nearly every day. We sometimes change the script together. He makes me a stronger creator. We lift each other up. And I want to also mention our color artist, Veronica Lopez. She’s been with us from the beginning and we feel blessed she lends her talent to the series. BB: Fabrice, can you tell us a little of what readers can expect in Intertwinedgoing forward?FS: Revelations! More Kung Fu! And the dramatic return of Juan’s Haitian friends.And GREAT covers by incredible French artists! Gerald Parel drew the cover to issue #4, Roland Boschi is doing #5 and the mighty Olivier Coipel is closing the first story arc’s cover with #6. To my knowledge, it’s the first non-DC, non-Marvel cover Olivier has done in a very, very long time. Not to be missed!
12/06/25 @ 2:03 pm EST
Scarlett Johansson is said to be in negotiations to join the cast of the highly anticipated sequel, The Batman Part 2. While Warner Bros. has not officially revealed which character Johansson would portray, speculation is rife across social media and film forums. Many fans are hoping she will take on the role of a major antagonist or perhaps bring a new dimension to an existing character from the Batman lore. Johansson’s acclaimed work in action and drama—especially her iconic run as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe—positions her as a compelling choice for a complex role in Gotham’s shadowy streets. The Batman Part 2 is currently in pre-production, with filming scheduled to commence in May of next year. The film is targeted for a theatrical release in 2026, although official dates may be subject to change. Director Matt Reeves returns to helm the sequel, ensuring continuity in the vision and tone that made the first installment a critical and box office success. Johansson’s addition is expected to boost the already stellar lineup led by Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Within hours of the announcement, social media platforms lit up with enthusiastic posts and trending hashtags. Speculation is running rampant with guesses of her role ranging from villains like Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn to love interests like Silver St. Cloud and Vickie Vale. One of the more popular suggestions is that Johansson could be playing Andrea Beaumont, a love interest and antagonist from the hit animated film Mask of the Phantasm. The casting has not been confirmed and neither the studio nor Reeves has commented since the story broke. 
12/06/25 @ 1:50 pm EST
In a dramatic shift for the entertainment industry, Netflix has announced its acquisition of Warner Bros, one of Hollywood's most iconic studios. This unprecedented deal marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing evolution of media and streaming services. Netflix, already a leader in streaming content, has been searching for ways to expand its library and production capabilities. Warner Bros, with its vast catalog of beloved films and television franchises—including the Harry Potter, DC, and Looney Tunes properties—represents a treasure trove of content and creative resources. The acquisition signals Netflix's commitment to not only dominating streaming but also to strengthening its influence in theatrical releases and television programming. Though Netflix has been against theatrical releases in the past, in a recent statement they said they planned to continue them for Warner Bros films just with a shorter release window. By purchasing Warner Bros, Netflix gains access to a library of classic and highly profitable intellectual properties. This move allows Netflix to offer exclusive streaming rights to blockbuster franchises, while also leveraging Warner Bros’ production infrastructure. The deal also positions Netflix to compete more directly with other major studios and streaming platforms, such as Disney and Amazon. Industry analysts predict that this acquisition will accelerate the consolidation trend within the entertainment sector. Other studios and streaming services may seek mergers or partnerships to remain competitive. Audiences can likely expect a surge in new content, including reboots, spin-offs, and original productions drawing from Warner Bros' legacy. For Netflix subscribers, the platform could soon become the go-to destination for both new releases and classic favorites. While some industry veterans express concern about further consolidation of media power, others see this as an opportunity for innovation and greater investment in high-quality storytelling. Only time will tell how this landmark deal reshapes Hollywood and the global entertainment landscape.  ... 11/29/25 @ 11:47 am EST
If you’re of a certain age, then you realize that Peter Hammond was not the first live-action Spider-Man to appear on television screens. That honor goes to Jim Hensen puppeteer Danny Seagren who was a regular on both Sesame Street and The Electric Company. Seagren was both a puppeteer and puppet maker and was the right hand of Ernie along with putting on the Big Bird suit on several occasions including an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. He was also the web slinger on the show that started the careers of Rita Moreno and Morgan Freeman as both shows fell under the Children’s Television Workshop. He went on to create puppets for other series like Curiosity Shop, Captain Kangaroo and Who’s Afraid of Opera. “Danny will be greatly missed by his family, friends and those throughout the community he loved living in,” his family said in his obituary. Seagren died on November 10th at the age of 81.  11/29/25 @ 11:31 am EST
Director Shawn Levy has officially hired renowned composer Thomas Newman to craft the score for his upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter film. The collaboration marks a significant moment for the celebrated sci-fi franchise, as Newman steps into a universe long defined by the iconic music of John Williams. His distinguished career includes memorable scores for films such as The Shawshank Redemption, Finding Nemo, and 1917, brings a fresh perspective to the Star Wars saga. Over the years, Newman has earned an impressive 15 Oscar nominations, a testament to his exceptional talent and enduring impact on the film industry. Levy, celebrated for his work on blockbusters like Free Guy and Deadpool and Wolverine, and the hit series Stranger Things, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership. He highlighted Newman's ability to blend sweeping orchestral moments with subtle, character-driven motifs—a style well-suited to the expansive and adventurous spirit of Star Wars. While plot details remain under wraps, Levy and Newman’s collaboration promises a thrilling and emotionally resonant cinematic experience.  11/16/25 @ 12:48 pm EST
While most of the focus over at Marvel Studios is currently on the pair of upcoming Avengers films, Ryan Coogler is ready to return to Wakanda for a third Black Panther film. We’d heard of the possibility of the film originally from Denzel Washington who, while speaking of his potential retirement, mentioned the film as one of his future projects and then when Nate Moore left Marvel last year, he said he would be back producing the third Black Panther film. Now, Coogler himself said while on stage talking about his film Sinners, that Black Panther 3 would be his next movie. The series kicked off with Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa, king of the African Nation of Wakanda and while he reprised the role in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, he sadly passed away shortly after. The sequel dealt with the characters death and passed the mantle on to his sister Shuri played by Letitia Wright who is expected to reprise the role in the upcoming Avenger films, but with talks of a potential soft reboot of the MCU, it’s unclear who will be wearing the mask for the third film.  11/16/25 @ 12:31 pm EST
The most recent news on the DCU has to do with Jimmy Olsen. Variety is reporting that Skyler Gisondo will reprise his role from Superman in a true-crime docuseries style show that focuses on villains in the universe starting with the Flash rogue, Gorilla Grodd. Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault are set to write and showrun with James Gunn and Peter Safran joining them as executive producers. The show is planned for HBO Max and will be a mockumentary style similar to Yacenda and Perrault’s previous series like American Vandal and Players. In the original report, Variety claimed the series would be called DC Crime, something Gunn took to social media to debunk, saying there had never been any project in production called DC Crime, he then added that his saying that doesn’t mean that the rest of the report is false. This sounds like a pretty good confirmation to me.  11/15/25 @ 12:49 pm EST
A new Star Trek film is in the works and Paramount is tapping the team of Jonathan Goldstein and John Frances Daley to write, produce and direct. This news comes shortly after David Ellison, founder of Skydance who recently purchased the studio, told investors that the next Star Trek film would not be a sequel to the Chris Pine/ Zachary Quinto lead series of films. While this hasn’t been 100% confirmed, word is that the new film will be focused on new characters and not directly tied to any previous film or television series. Goldstein and Daley have a good track record when it comes to revitalizing franchises having written Spider-Man: Homecoming for Marvel Studios and wrote and directed Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves which was very well received by fans and critics.  11/15/25 @ 12:32 pm EST
With The Fantastic Four: First Steps having moved to Disney+, the Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby lead team is now first in fans minds. But one person still thinks about the First Family of Marvel presented a decade ago and what went wrong. Miles Teller, who played Reed Richards in Josh Trank’s 2015 version of the property, still thinks about the project and how he believes the problems all came down to one person. Teller was on Sirius XM’s Radio Andy show said, “You saw the movie, right? Your eyes were working during that time? I think it’s unfortunate because so many people worked so hard on that movie. And, honestly, maybe there was one really important person who kind of f***ed it all up.” While Teller didn’t say who that was, he was referring to the person who made the final cut on the film, which was not director Trank. Teller said that he wanted a superhero film on his resume to help show him as a serious leading man, but after seeing the final cut recalled, “I remember talking to one of the studio heads, and I was like, ‘I think we’re in trouble.'” The 2015 version made $167 million worldwide compared to this year’s version which made $521 million. He stopped short of calling for a director’s cut of the film.  11/09/25 @ 2:03 pm EST
The Creeper is a unique character from DC Comics, first introduced in "Showcase #73" in 1968. Created by Steve Ditko, The Creeper’s real name is Jack Ryder, a former television talk show host and investigative journalist in Gotham City. After being attacked during an undercover operation at a costume party, Ryder is injected with a serum by Dr. Yatz and gains superhuman abilities, including enhanced strength, agility, rapid healing, and a pain tolerance bordering on the supernatural. The serum, combined with a bizarre costume, transforms him into The Creeper, a vigilante known for his wild laughter, erratic behavior, and flamboyant appearance—a shock of green hair, yellow skin, and a red mane-like cape. The Creeper remains largely untouched by mainstream media, providing an opportunity to introduce audiences to a fresh face and break away from more established archetypes. His blend of horror, humor, and psychological complexity could create a film that stands out from traditional superhero fare. The Creeper’s unsettling persona and visual style lend themselves well to a film that could blend genres—horror, black comedy, and superhero action. His maniacal laugh and unpredictable methods could inject dark humor and psychological thrills, appealing to fans of films like "Joker" and "Deadpool" while carving out a distinctive identity in the DCU. Jack Ryder’s journey from cynical journalist to bizarre vigilante offers rich storytelling potential. Exploring themes of identity, sanity, and the nature of heroism, a Creeper film could delve into Ryder’s internal struggles and the impact of his dual life, making for a character-driven narrative that resonates with audiences seeking depth and complexity. And with being set in Gotham City, The Creeper’s adventures naturally intersect with the city’s gritty underworld, providing opportunities for noir-style detective storytelling. His background in journalism and investigation can be leveraged to create suspenseful plots involving corruption, criminal conspiracies, and moral ambiguity—making him an ideal protagonist for a film that explores the darker aspects of the DC Universe. The Creeper stands as one of DC Comics’ most unconventional and intriguing characters. His untapped potential, distinctive personality, and ability to straddle multiple genres make him a perfect candidate to lead a film in the new DCU.  ... 11/09/25 @ 1:37 pm EST
Predator: Badlands is doing very well, thanks for asking. The latest film in the long-running franchise set a few high franchise marks including domestic opening with $40M, best worldwide opening with $80M and best Cinemascore with an A-. The film also sits a the top of this week’s box office beating out the 2nd place film, Regretting You, by $32.9M… though that film is in its 3rd week. Other new films opening this week, Sarah’s Oil and Nuremberg, opened in 4th and 5th with just over $4M each. Badlands is the third Predator project for director Dan Trachtenberg, the first Prey showed how he could handle the franchise but then he wanted to follow it up with an animated film, Killer of Killers and then for the first time Badlands make the Predator the protagonist. 
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