Between Dave Chappelle’s ground breaking specials, ‘Squid Games’, and Australia’s ‘Why Are You Like This’, Netflix’s stock just keeps going up. This treasure trove of new content is only getting more interesting, especially with the addition of a live action rendition of ‘Cowboy Bebop’. There have been endless attempts at bringing Japans’ most popular anime shows or movies to live action with some blockbusters like ‘DragonBall’, ‘Alita: Battle Angel’, ‘Ghost In The Shell’, ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’, and ‘Speed Racer’. (Remember all of those well loved, wonderfully reviewed classics?). But in what seems to be the beginnings of a turn-around for Anime to live-action misadventures, ‘Cowboy Bebop’ seems to be an honest attempt at making this transition right. When taking a look at the first trailer for this experiment below, you can’t help but think to yourself… “This one actually looks pretty good.”
Benedict Cumberbatch, the star of “Sherlock,” The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and the upcoming The Imitation Game, has, according to Deadline, taken the leading role in Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange. Doctor Strange is based on the character created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, who made his first appearance in 1963′s “Strange Tales” #110. It follows the adventures of Stephen Strange (nodded at in this year’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier), a brilliant neurosurgeon who, following a car accident, loses precision in his hands. His quest to regain his former skills sets Strange on a path to become the “Master of the Mystic Arts.” Although no official release date has been set for the film, the time table for production would lead one to believe that Doctor Strange will land on the July 8, 2016 release date that Marvel has already bookmarked for a theatrical release.
Lionsgate and Saban Brands are partnering to develop and produce an original live-action feature film based on the iconic “Power Rangers” property, it was announced today by creator of “Power Rangers” Haim Saban and Lionsgate Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer. Saban launched “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” as a live-action TV series more than 20 years ago, and the series has been in continuous production ever since. It has subsequently grown into one of the world’s most popular and recognizable brands, with toys, apparel, costumes, video games, DVD’s, comic books and other merchandise.
The two companies noted that, with an extensive and extremely devoted worldwide fan base as well as a deep and detailed mythology, the “Power Rangers” are primed for the big screen. The new film franchise will re-envision the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, a group of high school kids who are infused with unique and cool super powers but must harness and use those powers as a team if they have any hope of saving the world.
“Lionsgate is the perfect home for elevating our Power Rangers brand to the next level,” said Saban. “They have the vision, marketing prowess and incredible track record in launching breakthrough hits from ‘The Hunger Games’ to ‘Twilight’ and ‘Divergent.’ In partnership with the Lionsgate team, we’re confident that we will capture the world of the Power Rangers and translate it into a unique and memorable motion picture phenomenon with a legacy all its own.”
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Haim Saban and his team to maximize the potential of this immensely successful and universally recognized franchise,” said Feltheimer. “The Power Rangers stories and characters have been embraced by generations of audiences for more than 20 years, and today they are more powerful than ever. We have the ideal partner and the perfect brand with which to create a motion picture event that will resonate with moviegoers around the world for years to come.”
The his series launched in 1993, and following its introduction, “Power Rangers” quickly became the most-watched children’s television program in the United States and remains one of the top-rated and longest running boys live-action series in television history. The series follows the adventures of a group of ordinary teens who “morph” into superheroes and save the world from evil. It is seen in more than 150 markets around the world, translated into numerous languages and is a mainstay in the most prominent international children’s programming blocks.
Now here’s a bit of nostalgia for you 80’s babies out there…
For anyone who remembers “Save the cheerleader, save the world.” we all have a new surprise to look forward to. Heroes will be back in 2015 as a 13 episode event titled ‘Heroes: Reborn’. There’s no word as to who (if anyone) from the original cast will be returning, but I’m sure with the massive fanbase the show had, that news will spread quickly when it’s released.
At the Marvel Studios panel in Hall H for this years ComicCon San Diego, writer/director Joss Whedon took to the stage to announce that the official title for the sequel to The Avengers will be Avengers: Age of Ultron. Whedon also revealed a brief logo teaser for the film. Age Of Ultron features favorites from the first “Avengers” film and new Marvel characters never before seen on the big screen. Avengers: Age of Ultron is slated to begin production in March 2014 and open in theaters on May 1, 2015.
Thanos’ cameo at the end of “Marvel’s The Avengers” was tragically brief, but it’s the start of some beautiful things for the purple-skinned death-worshiper. It’s currently rumored that he’ll have a major role to play in Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” movie, and will appear again in the subsequent “Avengers” sequel. But if that’s far too long for you to wait for your next Thanos fix, never fear: he’s getting his own comic book to help pass the time!
“Hell Yeah” writer Joe Keatinge and “Thor” artist Richard Elson are teaming together for “Thanos: Son of Titan,” a five-issue Marvel Comics miniseries launching in October. According to Keatinge, “Son of Titan” is all about “how Thanos came to be” — the perfect entry point for folks who aren’t already familiar with Thanos’ history at Marvel.
“I don’t go Forrest Gump on it, but aspects of the Marvel Universe have been born that directly turn Thanos into who he is,” Keatinge told USA Today’s Brian Truitt. “He ends up at the point where he’s worshiping Death and destroying universes. How do you get to that head space where you’re like, ‘This is what I want to do with the rest of my life?'”
As for what makes Thanos special, “Son of Titan” editor Stephen Wacker said: “He’s just an evil guy. He wants to rule over things. He wants power. It’s just so over the top and operatic — it’s as if Shakespeare wrote an opera.”
Martell Cognac is celebrating its 100th anniversary with the launch of limited-edition Cordon Bleu Centenary in key Asian duty free locations. The Martell Cordon Bleu Centenary edition features the centenary’s visual code, the infinity sign, which also represents the figure 100. The Martell Cordon Bleu Centenary cognac is also available as a special edition, presented in a wooden giftcase with silver trims and a magnetite opening system. The giftcase is engraved with key historical dates relating to Martell Cordon Bleu and decorated with 100 silver metallic squares in honor of the occasion. The case contains a blue lacquered and silver bottle of Martell Cordon Bleu and a “montre” bottle containing a selection of 100% Borderies cognac specially blended by Martell’s cellar master Benoit Fil.
Being a talent manager, I try to keep an eye out for new talent in all places, (Hollywood being no exception) and over the last year or so, I’ve compiled my list of new actors that I feel like will have massive careers. Aside from Chris Pine (Star Trek), one of the people I personally feel is a massively talented actor is Chris Evans (Captain America). So when I read about his new film Puncture about a drug addicted lawyer fighting a case against the odds, I was totally intrigued to see how he’d work the role. The official synopsis is below, and just click the picture above to see the trailer.
Mike Weiss (Chris Evans) is a talented young Houston lawyer and a functioning drug addict. Paul Danziger (co-director Mark Kassen), his longtime friend and partner, is the straightlaced and responsible yin to Mike’s yang. Their mom-and-pop personal-injury law firm is getting by, but things really get interesting when they decide to take on a case involving Vicky (Vinessa Shaw), a local ER nurse, who is pricked by a contaminated needle on the job. As Weiss and Danziger dig deeper into the case, a health care and pharmaceutical conspiracy teeters on exposure and heavyweight attorneys move in on the defense. Out of their league but invested in their own principles, the mounting pressure of the case pushes the two underdog lawyers and their business to the breaking point. Brothers and directors Mark and Adam Kassen bring this real-life story to the screen with all the urgency and passion of the subjects themselves. The result is an effective issue-driven drama that finds its footing in a contemporary David and Goliath story. Produced and co-directed by Adam Kassen and Mark Kassen, PUNCTURE stars Chris Evans, Mark Kassen, Brett Cullen, Marshall Bell, Michael Biehn, Jesse L. Martin, Roxanna Hope, Tess Parker, Kate Burton and Vinessa Shaw. The film was written by Chris Lopata from story by Ela Thier and Paul Danziger and was executive-produced by Jeffrey Gou and Joan Huang, Paul Danziger and Rod de Llano and Craig Cohen.
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