With 2020 now firmly in the rearview mirror, ToB can now return to it's regularly scheduled programming. Or at least as close to it as we can get! It's been a few weeks since a full news show, so there's a lot to discuss. Julian, Dan, and Jeremy break down the biggest stories in the world of film and television, not the least of which being that Warner Bros is apparently doubling down on 'Harry Potter'. They've installed a new VP to oversee the franchise and a live-action series is in early development at HBO Max. On top of that, rumours are swirling about the possible return of Chris Evans' Captain America to the MCU. Plus, Snyder confirms that his Justice League will not be a 4-part series afterall, and instead will be a 4 hour film. Oh did we mention that Amazon's 'Lord of the Rings' series got an official synopsis? Well the guys are covering that too! All that and so much more on this week's Tower of Babble Podcast.
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Show Notes
Movies
James Bond: No Time to Die release date is moved to Oct 8th, 2021. One among many movies still on the move on the release calendar as COVID marches on.
‘Godzilla vs Kong’ trailer.
Paramount is moving forward with their new ‘Transformers‘ film.
Seth MacFarlane wants to remake ‘The Naked Gun’ with Liam Neeson in the lead role.
Netflix has surpassed 200 million subscribers and took in $6.6 billion in revenue in Q4 of 2020. All positive news for the streamer on the tails of it’s announcement of it’s 2021 movie slate.
‘John Wick’ 4 and 5 will shoot back to back and they are hoping to start filming this year.
‘Mortal Kombat’ movie stills are released.
Knuckles is set to appear in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’,
Disney
Feige reveals that with the start of Phase 4, with the release of Wandavision, that it’s “all about beginnings” and won’t feature an ‘Avengers’ movie. However, he did confirm that ‘The Avengers’ will return “at some point”.
Chris Evans is reportedly returning to the MCU as Captain America.
An R-Rated ‘Deadpool 3’ is coming to the MCU with Ryan Reynolds currently overseeing the script.
Matt Damon has reportedly been cast in ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’
Ethan Hawke is set to play the villain in Marvel’s ‘Moon Knight’.
‘Loki’ S2 is reportedly already in development.
Alan Tudyk reveals that he won’t be appearing as K-2SO in ‘Andor’ but that there are plans for the character. Perhaps hinting at more than 1 season for ‘Andor’.
Warner Bros
Zack Snyder reveals that his ‘Justice League’ will be a 4 hour movie afterall, and NOT a 4-part miniseries.
DC Films president, Walter Hamada, has signed an extension to his contract that will keep him as head of DC Films until at least 2023.
Ray Fisher is no longer a part of the ‘Flash’ film and has parted ways with DC Films.
Warner Bros have appointed a new executive, Tom Ascheim, to oversee and expand the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise. This includes a live action ‘Harry Potter’ series in the works at HBO Max.
Rumour: due in part to the handling of the ‘Tenet’ release, Chris Nolan is unlikely to return to Warner Bros for his next picture. He was apparently “disappointed” by the studio’s hybrid release strategy.
Joel Kinnaman says that ‘The Suicide Squad’ will be the “the biggest budget R-rated movie that’s ever been made”.
Warner Bros is looking at Tom Holland or Timothee Chalamet to play a young Willy Wonka in their prequel movie called ‘Wonka’.
Wonder Woman 1984 review
TV
It’s been 10 years since the last ‘Game of Thrones’ book has been released. Meanwhile, HBO is looking to develop a prequel series on Robert’s Rebellion,
HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’ will be directed by indie darling Kantemir Balagov (Beanpole).
Production has begun on ‘Ted Lasso’ S2.
Amazon’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ series has an official synopsis:
“Amazon Studios’ forthcoming series brings to screens for the very first time the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth’s history. This epic drama is set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ and will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness. Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of the elf-capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the furthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone.”
What We’ve Been Watching
Wandavision
Wonder Woman 1984
Sonic the Hedgehog
