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11/27/13 @ 3:35 pm EST
Coming in January this year, Legenderry: A Steampunk Adventure will see writer Bill Willingham and artist Sergio Fernandez Davila take on a host of Dynamite’s most recognizable characters for a seven-issue re-imagining. Not only will the story have characters as diverse as Green Hornet, Vampirella, The Six Million Dollar Man and Red Sonja all in the same story – the story will be set inside a giant world created by the creative team, based around the steampunk genre. To find out more about the series, I spoke to Willingham about how the project came about, how he built up this new world for the series, and his plans for the characters going forward. The Beat: Legenderry: A Steampunk Adventure takes characters from a whole range of genres and contexts and places them within one steampunk world. How did you first come onboard a project like this?
Bill: It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a place where I had enough room in my schedule to work on something new. That time is still not quite upon us, but Nick and I have been itching to work on a book together for Dynamite for years now. I wasn’t able to bring something brand-new and creator owned to the table since there’s a lot of work to put into building a new series from the ground up. Initially, I wanted to work on a series that borrowed characters that no one else was using at the time to avoid having to deal with continuity and where they all are in their current books. All of the characters that appear in Legenderry are characters that are currently being used, so Nick got a little creative and that’s where the steampulp idea came from – a place where I could create new versions of these characters in my own way that was separate from everything else going on. The Beat: How do you view the concept of steampunk, personally? Have you written within the style before?
Bill: I have not written within the genre before, but not really for any other reason than I dislike the term “steampunk”. The “steampunk” genre embodies brilliant aspects from the works of HG Wells and Jules Verne who wrote of adventurers, discovery and action. They were not punks. Punks instead fit into the subgenre of cyberpunks because cocky punks are exactly who they were and one of the reasons that I never warmed up to the genre as a whole. I call the genre steampulp since it more accurately describes the vibe that I’m going for, but I expect that the time to change the name of the genre has long past and my redubbing of it won’t catch on. The Beat: How much input did you have in the individual design of the characters, and of the general aesthetic of the miniseries itself?
Bill: As much as I wanted. At least that’s the impression I got, but I haven’t yet really had to test the limits, since the character designs and art were so well done from the starting gate that I asked for very few changes. I requested things like, “I’d like to see her hair a bit longer, or his coat a bit longer, or I see Zorro’s sword as being a skosh thinner.” Nothing major. Also, so far, I’ve never had to ask for a correction of any of the artwork Sergio has done for the actual story. He seems to start at wonderful and adds quality from there. The Beat: When you take on a story like this, how carefully do you plan out the World which the characters inhabit? How important is it to you that you get the details of the city, and the society, and make sure everything fits together?
Bill: The world building part of any story, especially for a tale set in an entirely invented world, is perhaps the most important part of said story, at least in the planning and pre-planning stages. It’s also the most rewarding part for me. It’s like putting together an intricate 5000 piece jigsaw puzzle, with no picture on the box to guide you. It’s a combination of decision making and then extrapolating all of the possible results of those decisions. I love it. Getting all of the details right is vital. If I can’t make the world, and every important part of it, interesting and detailed and engaging to me, I can’t ask a reader to believe in it. The Beat: Are there any details in particular which you’re excited to see realized in the story? Bill: A few. First the look of The Big City (that’s actually its name), where the story starts out. Having the art in for the first two issues, I already see that Sergio has delivered more than my notes and imagination asked for. I got just a glimpse of the skyship Victory at the end of Issue Two and that again delivered wonderfully on my expectations. We’ve yet to get to Landing, the Miracle Science City, which comes along in issue four (or is it five?), which is the steampunk era view of what the future must look like. The Beat: Was it tricky to fit certain characters into the same universe? I can’t imagine fitting The Six Million Dollar Man into a Victorian setting would be easy, for example.
Bill: I thought fitting the Six Million Dollar Man into this world would indeed be the greatest challenge of the bunch. He turned out to be the most fun to adapt and is currently my favorite character in this world of the best possible characters. The Beat: Will you be getting inside the head of any of the characters like Vampirella, Red Sonja, Green Hornet, etc. – or will the story be viewing them from a distance?
Bill: Yes. Deeply so in at least one instance. But I’ll divulge no details. Sorry. The Beat: The story seems to be a large-scale mystery, with pieces being put together each issue. What kicks off the narrative of Legenderry?
Bill: It is a mystery, yes, which is to say, it’s a mystery who the villains are and what they want with the MacGuffin character, the woman who leads us from one of our heroes to the next. But it’s also a chase against time, where the adventure leads us on a tour of the entire world of Legenderry. The Beat: We’ll be following a young woman as she interacts with various characters in turn throughout the series – do you view her as the guide for the reader? The classic stories associated with steampunk are usually works by people like H.G. Wells, which are all about a guide/adventurer heading off and introducing the reader to all kinds of new ideas and sights.
Bill: I so want to answer this question in detail, but I’ve already said too much about her. She’s not the guide. She’s the treasure everyone seems to be after. But why? The Beat: Although this is a complete seven-issue storyline, do you think you could ever be tempted back for another story set in this world, at some point in the future?
Bill: Yes. Why create a whole world just for seven issues of anything? I always want to explore further. http://comicsbeat.com/interview-bill-willingham-creates-a-legenderry-world/
05/08/24 @ 5:10 pm EST
Oscar winner Russell Crowe (Gladiator) will re-team with his Unhinged director Derrick Borte on the action-thriller Bear Country. Crowe will play aging but formidable club owner Manco Kapak who has been robbed by a masked gunman. Now, his aspirations of selling his club and riding off into the sunset alongside his girlfriend appear more distant than ever. Cartel bosses are breathing down his neck and a young upstart has been posing as the new guy in town eager to purchase the club. Borte, alongside Daniel Forte (American Dreamer), wrote the screenplay based on the Thomas Perry novel, Strip. A Higher Standard will handle sales at the Cannes market. The production is due to begin principal photography in October on the Gold Coast of Australia. (via Deadline) 05/08/24 @ 5:09 pm EST
The actress, best known for her key role in You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, has been cast as the titular heroine in Nickelodeon Studios’ new live-action Dora the Explorer feature being made for Paramount+ and Nickelodeon.Alberto Belli, who directed Disney+ holiday feature The Naughty Nine and episodes of Disney show Ultra Violet and Black Scorpion, is helming the new production that has a working title of Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado.Written by J.T. Billings , the script follows as Dora, her cousin Diego and their new friends trek through perilous dangers of the Amazonian jungle in search of the ancient treasure of Sol Dorado in order to keep this powerful treasure out of enemy hands. (via THR) 05/08/24 @ 1:54 pm EST
BOOM! Studios today revealed a first look at LAWFUL #1, the brand new fantasy series by renowned and award-winning author Greg Pak (Mech Cadets, Planet Hulk), acclaimed artist Diego Galindo (Stranger Things: The Voyage, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers), colorist Irma Kniivila (Ronin Island), and letterer Simon Bowland, about moral imperfection and monstrous consequences, available June 2024. Magical meets modernity in a walled city with strangely familiar architecture, where two young heroes with a sense of adventure get a grim reminder of their reality… Because every mistake, every lie, every misdeed one makes in this world will cause them to transform into a monster. Bit by bit, one small change at a time. In the eyes of society, there is no distinction between being lawful and doing the right thing.'LAWFUL #1 features a main cover by fan favorite artist Qistina Khalidah (Power Rangers) and variant covers by Miguel Mercado (House of Slaughter) and Erica Henderson (The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl). LAWFUL 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; Grim by Stephanie Phillips and Flaviano; Stuff of Nightmares by R.L. Stine and A.L. Kaplan; Damn Them All by Simon Spurrier and Charlie Adlard; Once Upon a Time at the End of the World by Jason Aaron, Alexandre Tefenkgi, Leila del Duca, and Nick Dragotta; Know Your Station by Sarah Gailey and Liana Kangas; A Vicious Circle by Mattson Tomlin and Lee Bermejo; The Neighbors by Jude Ellison S. Doyle and Letizia Cadonici; Ghostlore by Cullen Bunn and Leomacs; Sirens of the City by Joanne Starer and Khary Randolph; Coda by Simon Spurrier and Matías Bergara; Rare Flavours by Ram V and Filipe Andrade; Underheist by David and Maria Lapham; and Animal Pound by Tom King and Peter Gross. The imprint also publishes popular licensed properties, including Dune: House Corrino from Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, and Simone Ragazzon; Mighty Morphin Power Rangers by Melissa Flores and Simona Di Gianfelice; and The Expanse: Dragon Tooth by Andy Diggle and Rubine. LAWFUL #1 will be available in comic shops June 12, 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. Lawful #1 A Main: APR240015 Lawful #1 B Variant: APR240016 Lawful #1 C 1:10 INCV: APR240017 Lawful #1 D 1:25 INCV: APR240018 Lawful #1 E Unlockable Variant: APR240019         
... 05/08/24 @ 1:47 pm EST
Just in time for the character’s 50th anniversary, the Wolverine legend begins anew! Following Krakoa’s tragic fall and the brutal “Sabretooth War” storyline currently unfolding in the final issues of Benjamin Percy’s Wolverine run, Logan will turn his back on humanity, mutantkind, and the X-Men in an all-new ongoing WOLVERINE series by acclaimed writer Saladin Ahmed (Daredevil) and Marvel Stormbreaker artist Martín Cóccolo (Immortal Thor). Ahmed and Cóccolo’s new run begins deep in the Canadian wilderness where Wolverine reunites with his wolf pack and embraces the beast within! But Wolverine’s more than an animal—he’s a soldier. And a new war is brewing. As Nightcrawler struggles to remind Logan that he’s part of a family, Logan’s exile is violently disturbed by his most hated foes, and with each battle, a new existential threat gathers strength. This ancient villain has been bubbling under the surface of the Marvel Universe since the days of myth, and once unleashed, will dramatically alter the scope of Wolverine’s storied history and force him to prove himself a hero like never before. There’s a killer in the woods – and as Wolverine’s attempt at peace is shattered, an old enemy will re-emerge as a new villain rises that will bring Logan to the brink of his berserker rage. But Nightcrawler knows his old friend is capable of doing what’s right, and before long, Logan will have to unleash his claws, push his healing factor to the limit and demonstrate he’s the best there is at what he does once and for all – nice be damned! Note to collectors: the new series kicks off with a key first appearance and a major addition to the lore of Wolverine! “When I was a kid, Wolverine was the coolest character in comics,” Ahmed shared. “That hasn't changed a whole lot for me, so when Marvel approached me about a new solo Logan book, it was an instant YES.” “Logan is simultaneously a mythic hero, an abused animal, and a man of flesh, blood, and adamantium,” he continued. “Our story is about what happens when these parts of him all pull in opposite directions – and threaten to rip Logan to pieces that won't come back together again.” “I could talk for hours about why I decided to take this relaunch, but you want my real answer? It's Wolverine. That’s it,” Cóccolo shared. “It's a dream come true for me, and I can't believe I get to tell my younger self every day that I'm drawing WOLVERINE. Saladin's exploration of the character and the story is incredibly exciting as a concept as well as visually engaging, and I can't wait for people to finally see it!” Check out Cóccolo’s main cover now and stay tuned for more news about the series in the months ahead! 
... 05/08/24 @ 10:58 am EST
Travis Kelce‘s foray into Hollywood continues with his first major acting job: a role in Ryan Murphy‘s high-profile new FX horror series Grotesquerie. Deadline is reporting that the NFL star — and global celebrity due to his relationship with Taylor Swift — has been cast opposite Niecy Nash-Betts, Courtney B. Vance and Lesley Manville in the upcoming series, which has just started production. Reps for FX, Murphy and producing studio 20th Television declined comment. As is the case with all Murphy projects, details about Grotesquerie are scarce, with no cast members beyond Nash-Betts, Vance and Manville confirmed for the drama, slated for a fall premiere. Grotesquerie is a follow-up to Kelce’s acting debut as host of Saturday Night Live in March 2023. He also made a cameo alongside Swift on the NBC late-night sketch comedy series this past fall. 05/07/24 @ 5:14 pm EST
Don’t say we didn’t warn you—the Eisner Award nominated horror anthology is back and CREEPIER than ever! Today Skybound and Image Comics announced a third volume of Creepshow, the hugely popular comic book anthology based on Greg Nicotero’s hit Shudder TV series produced and licensed by Cartel Entertainment. Creepshow Volume 3 #1, featuring stories by comics talent Chip Zdarsky (Batman), Kagan McLeod (Kaptara), and James Stokoe (Godzilla), will arrive in comic book shops on September 25, 2024. In the spirit of all iterations of Creepshow in pop culture, every issue of the Creepshow comic series comes packed with two spine-chilling stories from your favorite creators. Each issue of the five-part anthology will feature different creative teams from the worlds of comics, books, film, television, and beyond. Every uniquely horrifying standalone story is guaranteed to SCARE YOU TO DEATH. In the debut issue of the third volume, writer Chip Zdarsky and artist Kagan McLeod bring you the terrifying tale of a repressed housewife who decides to take matters into her own hands and rescue her daughter from a local psychedelic cult…but the true terror is not what anyone expects! Then, James Stokoe introduces a chilling mystery of a severed human hand, and the lengths one writer will go to discover the truth, learning that perhaps he is not the author of this story.... In addition to the main cover by Martín Morazzo and Chris O’Halloran (Ice Cream Man), Creepshow Vol. 3 #1 comes with an impressive lineup of variant covers, including an open to order cover by James Stokoe and the launch of a set of 1:10 incentive connecting covers by Steve Beach (Action Comics). Creepshow Volume 3’s superstar creative roster will also include John Ridley (12 Years a Slave), Mike Carey (Lucifer), Jorge Fornés (Batman), John Arcudi (BPRD), Ed Brisson (The Displaced), Stefano Raffaele (Detective Comics), Chris Condon (That Texas Blood) and many others to be announced. Creepshow Volume 3 #1 (of 5) (SRP $3.99) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play on Wednesday, September 25, 2024. The full list of covers is below: Creepshow Vol. 3 #1 Cover A by Martín Morazzo and Chris O’Halloran (Lunar Code Coming Soon) Creepshow Vol. 3 #1 Cover B by James Stokoe (Lunar Code Coming Soon) Creepshow Vol. 3 #1 Cover C (1:10 Incentive Variant) (Connecting) by Steve Beach (Lunar Code Coming Soon) 
... 05/07/24 @ 5:06 pm EST
While the X-Men’s mission forces them to work outside the law, certain teams have found ways to fight for mutant rights within the system as officially sanctioned strike forces! In the upcoming From the Ashes era, that tradition continues in a new volume of X-FACTOR from Eisner winning writer Mark Russell (Fantastic Four: Life Story, The Flintstones) and acclaimed X-Men artist Bob Quinn (Captain America, Knights of X). Formed by the government in response to a post-Krakoa outbreak of mutant paramilitary, ops squads, and mercenary teams, X-FACTOR will be co-led by Angel and Havok and include recruits like Pyro, Frenzy, Feral, and more. Part special agents for missions that require an arsenal of superpowers and part celebrity propaganda machine, X-FACTOR will wage war against emerging factions like the Mutant Underground and X-Term. Whether they believe in their actions or are just doing it for a check, the members of X-Factor are no fools when it comes to shady politics. As hidden agendas rear their ugly head, they’ll fight against the dark consequences and disastrous public opinion from the inside! FAME, FORTUNE, MUTANTS! From the ashes of Krakoa, a new mutant arms race sweeps the globe! International governments are building their own mutant armies. But only America’s X-Factor has the most powerful, most patriotic, most marketable mutant heroes to stem the tide and make the world safe for democracy! Join them as they go from one death-defying mission to another. Who will die? Who will fall in love? Who will be the first to sell out? Like, comment and subscribe to find out! “The thing I've always loved about the X-Men is that they're characters first, super heroes second,” Russell shared. “So being able to write characters like Havok and Angel and Frenzy in a post-Krakoa reality is an opportunity to write about what I really care about, which is how do we help each other survive the apathy of the world we live in?” “It’s so exciting to be back and drawing mutants in the X-Men universe again, and doubly exciting to work with Mark again,” Quinn added. “To my mind, Mark’s mix of humor and ability to shine a light on the peculiarities of modern society make him the perfect writer to tackle the relaunch of X-FACTOR. Drawing this team and every unexpected twist and turn of the story has been a blast so far, and I can’t wait for readers to get their hands on it.” Mutant sell-outs or mutant role models? You be the judge! Check out the main cover and preorder X-FACTOR #1 at your local comic shop today! 
... 05/07/24 @ 11:14 am EST
“Wednesday” Season 2 is officially in production in Ireland, with Netflix revealing the full cast for the new season of the hit series. Jenna Ortega will of course be returning as Wednesday Addams, while Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzmán, Isaac Ordonez, and Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo will all be upped to series regulars for Season 2. Zeta-Jones plays Morticia, while Guzmán plays Gomez and Ordonez plays Pugsley. Emma Myers, Joy Sunday, Hunter Doohan, Victor Dorobantu, Moosa Mostafa, and Georgie Farmer will also be returning, as will Fred Armisen and Jamie McShane in guest roles. Noticeably absent from the announcement is Percy Hynes White, who starred in Season 1 as Xavier Thorpe. In 2023, Hynes White decried a “campaign of misinformation” after allegations of sexual assault were made against him on social media. (via Variety) For more on the cast, click here. 05/07/24 @ 11:06 am EST
The third installment in the hit shark thriller franchise 47 Meters Down is launching at the Cannes market. Series creator Johannes Roberts and screenwriter Ernest Riera, who wrote the first two films, have co-written the third installment: 47 Meters Down: The Wreck. Veteran horror director Patrick Lussier (My Bloody Valentine) will direct. FilmNation, the sales agent on the franchise’s second installment, 47 Meters Down: Uncaged, is returning to launch worldwide sales in Cannes. The story will follow a father who is determined to rebuild his relationship with his daughter as they bond during a scuba diving in beautiful tropical waters while exploring a famous shipwreck. But soon after their descent, their master diver has an accident leaving them alone and unprotected inside the labyrinth of the wreck. As tensions rise and oxygen dwindles, the pair must use their newfound bond to escape the wreck and the relentless barrage of bloodthirsty great white sharks. Production is being lined up for the fall with casting discussions underway. (via Deadline) 05/07/24 @ 11:00 am EST
Everything Everywhere All at Once Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh has found her next major starring vehicle in Blade Runner 2099, Prime Video‘s limited series following up the 2017 movie sequel Blade Runner 2049. Details of Yeoh’s role are under wraps, as is the show’s plot. But it marks the latest expansion of the sci-fi franchise based on Philip K. Dick’s seminal novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, which kicked off with Ridley Scott’s classic 1982 film, Blade Runner. Production recently began overseas, following a delay of nearly a year due to the double strikes of 2023. While it originally had been set to shoot in Belfast, the show wound up relocating to Prague following the work stoppage. Jonathan van Tulleken (Shōgun) is directing the first two episodes. (via Deadline) |
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