M. Night Shyamalan’s upcoming ‘Old’ is a cinematic adaption of ‘Sandcastle,’ a graphic novel written by Pierre Oscar Lévy and illustrated by Frederik Peeters.
According to the premise, a “family on a tropical vacation discovers that the secluded beach they are relaxing on for a few hours is somehow causing them to age rapidly, reducing their entire lives into a single day.”
In a recent panel at the Tribeca Festival, ‘The Village’ director discussed the inspiration behind ‘Old’ and why it is one of his most “him” movies.
“No one has ever seen anything like it.., in its tone and the way it’s just, I mean, it’s like nothing else,” he said, The Hollywood Reporter reports.
“My father’s very old right now. He has dementia. He comes and goes,” Shyamalan continued. “And the kids are now directing and singing concerts and, you know, when did this happen? So I made a movie about that feeling.”
Shyamalan compared ‘Old’ to ‘Unbreakable,’ his 2000 film featuring Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson.
“I’m deciding on the minor note; how to end on a minor note,” he explained. “Unbreakable ends on a kind of a dip, right? He goes to the dark note, that minor note at the end. The guy you thought was the best friend is the villain. … The minor note sticks to you forever.”
Bragging about his safety measures during the pandemic lockdowns, Shyamalan broke down how hurricane season played a bigger disruption as they shot on location in the Dominican Republic.
“The beach had been eroded away,” Shyamalan said. “There was no beach for our beach movie.” He added, “We got very lucky. By day one, part of the beach came back, so we shot on that side and then we became very versed with nature, like the tides and storms out 100 miles away and how many times the water comes up per day.”
‘Old’ is set to be released on July 23, 2021, by Universal Pictures. You can watch the trailer below:
M. Night Shyamalan Discusses Inspiration Behind New Film ‘Old’
The Comic Book Industry Needs to Choose Between Twitter Clout and Sales
It’s a tale of two comic book industries. Manga sales and comic book crowdfunding numbers are at an all-time high.
Yet the comic book direct market tells a markedly different story.
The pandemic has hastened the demise of the American comic book shop. The Big Two, Marvel Comics and DC Comics are scrambling to find alternative distribution after Diamond Comic Distributors left publishers, retailers and fans high and dry with an unexpected shutdown.
In 2020 DC Comics gutted editorial via several rounds of layoffs, and unceremiously cancelled many series. With the impending merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, it’s very likely that even more layoffs will hit the aging comic book publisher.
Things are so bad at DC, that there are rumors of a third-party coming in to take over comic book production, while Warner retains the movie and TV rights.
Twitter is not the real world.
The North American comic book industry is at a crossroads, and it needs to decide between chasing sales… or chasing the approval of an increasingly anti-capitalist Twitter.
And if you ask comic book Twitter how the comic book industry is, they’ll likely say it’s “all fine here,” despite mountains of evidence to the contrary.
How do you go to comic shops when they're all closing down? Totally the sign of a healthy and profitable industry huh? https://t.co/NVH9yQyjnk pic.twitter.com/M01FJZnXKt
— Pimp Master Broda (@PimpMasterYoda1) June 21, 2021
“Comic Book Twitter” is mostly made up of comic book freelancers, journalists and fans or hangers-on of said pros and journalists.
Some offer daily (or hourly) hot takes on comics and what the industry should be in their eyes, but the truth is you’ll probably find very few “average consumers” on Twitter.
According to industry superstar Mark Millar, the vast majority of the comic book buying audience isn’t on Twitter.
Here's an amazing stat I heard yesterday: Only 10% of comic buyers have a Twitter account & only half of those accounts are actually active. Thus, 95% of the comic-book audience is not on Twitter, which must be mind-blowing for the company marketing departments.
— Millarworld (@mrmarkmillar) May 28, 2021
Also factor in that the average person follows so many people comic promos are easy to miss and you quickly realise Twitter is really just a fun way to meet & chat with people who share our various passions as opposed to a genuine marketing tool.
— Millarworld (@mrmarkmillar) May 28, 2021
Millar, who is one of the most successful comic book creators in the modern industry, received pushback from a comic book journalist.
Chris Arrant from Newsarama thought Millar’s claim was “weird” and asked where he got it from. Millar replied it was from someone “from marketing at one of the Big Two.”
Good pal of mine from marketing at one of the Big Two. I was really surprised by this too, but he said it’s even on the slide from their according to their parent company deep dives and makes little impact on units, which is fascinating.
— Millarworld (@mrmarkmillar) May 28, 2021
For several years now, the comic book industry has seemingly been chasing Twitter clout and using Twitter popularity and trending political talking points as a roadmap for new projects going forward.
And it hasn’t been working out very well for them.
Twitter is notoriously popular among journalists, and it would seem that a feedback loop has been created where journalists, pros who are vocal Twitter users and the accounts that support them have created a system where they dictate the content comic publishers are producing.
And again, direct market content is flatlining in sales.
Keanu Reeves’ BRZRKR made millions for Boom! Studios. They ignored Twitter and comics journalists and were rewarded. You can be, too! (Image: Boom! Studios)People still want comics. They just don’t want YOUR comics.
But it doesn’t take a mathematician to look at the sales of manga and the massive uptick in crowdfunding to see that consumers are going elsewhere for comics.
Manga accounted for all of the Top 20 adult graphic novel sales in April and May of 2021. Recent comics crowdfunding campaigns have netted hundreds of thousands of dollars and even MILLIONS in the case of Boom! Studios BRZRKR and Todd McFarlane’s Spawn Kickstarter campaigns.
This success comes despite attempts by Twitter — and the media that spends entirely too much time on Twitter — trying to shame Boom! Studios out of using Kickstarter to crowdfund BRZRKR, with the argument being that publishers shouldn’t use crowdfunding because it was only for small press creators who didn’t have any other options.
The same tactic was used against Archie Comics in 2015, but they caved to the Twitter outrage mob.
Boom! Studios wisely ignored Comic Book Twitter and went on to sell over 600,000 copies of BRZRKR.
Journalists are slowly coming around to accept Kickstarter as a viable sales channel for comics, but they’re weirdly ignoring IndieGoGo likely due to political bias (IndieGoGo has seen an uptick in conservative comics crowdfunders due to a… situation.)
Are Comics Publishers Starting to LEARN that Twitter and Journos Often Aren’t Concerned About Their Bottom Lines?
There are rumblings that comics publishers are starting to wise up, and are actively trying to ferret out creators and journalists who are, in fact, anti-consumer.
This is, of course, pure scuttlebutt. But looking at some anecdotal evidence, it may be that comics publishers are trying to once again focus on publishing marketable comics, and are leaving Twitter and comics journo opinions in the dust.
But it’s being reported that DC Comics is no longer sending review copies to some outlets, and press credentials are also being investigated.
Whatever the case may be, it seems that the comic book industry will need to start ignoring Twitter and some media outlets if they want to survive.
It’s not your customer base. It never was.
Manga and crowdfunding are eating your lunch, comics. Either you fix the problem or you starve. Your choice.
The customers are there. You just need to choose them over Twitter clout.
New Transformers Film Will Reveal Maximals, Predacons, and Terrorcons
Paramount Pictures revealed some interesting information about the seventh installment of the Transformers franchise which will be released under the title ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.’
The movie is being directed by Steven Caple Jr., producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, as well as the film’s stars Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback offered insight into the upcoming science fiction flick during a virtual showcase, Deadline reports.
The movie will take place in 1994 Brooklyn, New York, and will be a follow-up to the hit film ‘Bumblebee.’ It is rumored to ignore the Michael Bay features.
The film will borrow from ‘Beast Wars,’ a sequel CGI animated series to the 1984 ‘Transformers’ cartoon, and will feature the Maximals battling their arch-enemies the Predacons who are allied with the “new threat” Terrorcons.
“In their disguise, [Maximals take on] animal form,” Caple explained. “So…in our film, they’re these prehistoric animals that travel through time and space, and we find them here on Earth.”
“The Predacons in our film are more reptilian in nature. We’ve seen a few in other Transformers films, but [in the new film], we get to see another side of them,” continued the ‘Creed II’ director. “It’s all about building a backstory to these characters, and we’ll see that more on the Predacon and Terracon side.”
Di Bonaventura chimed in, “You’re going to see villians you’ve never seen, Autobots you’ve never seen, elements we’ve never done before.” He added, “One of the driving decisions along the way is, ‘Have we done that before?’ whether that’s an action scene or a character.”
Aside from these confirmations, Peter Cullen will return to voice the iconic leader of the Autobots Optimus Prime, reprising his role from the previous films as well as the original animated series. Collider confirms that Bumblebee, Arcee, Mirage, and Nightbird will also be featured in the film.
It is worth noting that in the original series, both the Predacons and the Terrorcons were not their own race of Transformers on Cybertron. The Predacons were a Combiner subgroup led by Razorclaw and could merge into Predaking. Later, they take over the Decepticons sometime after the events of the “Rebirth” prior to the Beast Wars.
Likewise, the Terrorcons are lead by Hun-Gurrr and his team can combine into Abominus. In both the original series, they were a proud Decepticon team under Megatron and not a standalone group. In fact, in the Japanese continuation series “Zone,” Abominus is summoned by the Decepticons as one of their “Nine Great Generals.”
Lon Chaney Jr.’s Wolfman Howls Again Thanks To NECA
It’s hard to believe that many of the Universal Monsters have been around for over eight decades. Dracula is celebrating his 90th, and the Wolfman has reached the 80th. Maybe Universal can finally get the Dark Universe off the ground one day…
NECA is producing the Ultimate Wolf Man action figure to celebrate nearly a century of frights and special effects. Highly articulated and sporting amazingly detailed head sculpts, this thing is badass!
For the 80th anniversary of Universal’s horror film classic, NECA is excited to reveal The Wolf Man in Ultimate action figure form!
Starring Lon Chaney Jr., 1941’s The Wolf Man is critically acclaimed for Chaney’s moving performance and the special effects. The sculpt captures the human and monster sides of this complicated character with interchangeable heads, hands, and lower legs. The figure stands in 7” scale, features the authorized likeness of Lon Chaney Jr, and also includes wolf cane, animal trap and stand accessories.
The 7″ figure will come with the following accessories:
- 3x Alternate Heads (human, wolf, and growling)
- 2x Pairs of Lower Legs (human and wolf)
- 2x Pairs of Hands (human and wolf)
- 1x Right Hand (fist)
- Wolf Head Cane
- Animal Trap
- Base
The Wolfman will miss Halloween, unfortunately. The figure is due out in November of this year. Head over to Entertainment Earth to pre-order. The classic Universal monster will run you $32.99.
Lon Chaney Jr. made it easy for audiences to sympathize with his character’s plight in whatever movie he starred in. Whether it was the cursed Larry Talbot in the Wolfman or the stressed but kindly Bruno in Spider Baby, you could not help but relate to the man.
I’d really love to see NECA do an Abbott & Costello triple pack with some classic monsters. Come to think of it, I don’t think many licensed items are featuring the classic comedy duo. A few items exist, but not a lot. This would be a great time to bring their likenesses back to the public.
What other classic monsters from Universal and other studios would you like to see made into premium figures? The Invisible Man (it would be an empty box)? Maybe do ‘past and present’ two-packs with the original monster and its newer incarnation. Of course, if it were the Mummy, I’d prefer Boris’s and the ’99 counterpart. Let us know in the comments.
[Source: NECA]
Studio Chizu Drops New Trailer For Anime Film ‘Belle’
Japanese animator Hosoda Mamoru and his film company Studio Chizu released a new ninety-second trailer for their upcoming anime ‘Ryū to Sobakasu no Hime,’ known in international markets as ‘Belle: The Princess of Dragons and Freckles’ or simply ‘Belle.’
The official synopsis explains that the “protagonist, Suzu, is a 17-year old high school girl, who lives in the countryside of Kochi Prefecture with her father, after losing her mother at a young age. She loves singing with her mother more than anything else, but as a result of her mother’s death was no longer able to sing. It wasn’t long before she and her father grew more and more distant from each other, and Suzu closed her heart to the rest of the world. When Suzu felt that writing music was her only purpose left in life, she then discovers the massive online space known as “U,” where she takes on her persona, Belle.
Check out the new trailer:
Singer-songwriter Kaho Nakamura will voice Suzu as well as sing some of the musical numbers.
Paris-based sales company Charades is re-teaming with Studio Chizu after the success with Hosoda’s “Mirai,” which would go on to be nominated at the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes.
“I’ve been following closely the evolution of Mamoru Hosoda’s brilliant work over the past years. His voice keeps surprising us, film after film,” said Charades exec Yohann Comte told Variety. “We are eager to discover his new take on the topical and universal themes he masters. We are very proud to handle the sales of his most ambitious film to date.”
According to Cartoon Brew, Chizu explains, “Director Hosoda uses the digital world as a backdrop to delve into themes of modern society, basing the story on his more recent insights. Coming of age, family ties, love between parents and children, friendship that transcends species, the links between our lives.”
They add, “Of the various themes, Mamoru Hosoda’s recurring concept is “People in difficult situations bravely pushing themselves forward and striving for a better future.” In 2020, people all over the world have faced a crisis like never before, but the year is finally coming to an end. Director Hosoda will spin a tale of hope and courage that will be an inspiration for everyone around the world in 2021.”
Facebook’s VR-Based Ads Cancelled Due To Pushback?
Ads are inescapable now. As more devices become connected to the internet in one way or another, companies are finding ways to turn that new digital space into moneymakers. If it has wifi, get ready for some sales pitch to appear somewhere.
My new TV? Yup, the menu system has ads. Paying for XBOX Live? Ads galore as soon as I log in. The same happens on the Playstation, but at a less intrusive level. I paid for a game, and suddenly I see random ads for game-related and totally unrelated merchandise, TV shows, or movies.
A bright spot is shining in this dreary world of overly familiar adverts. There is a company out there that heard the complaints of the customer base and actually listened. You know, that thing companies should do instead of getting snarky on social media.
Via PCMag, Resolution Games, the makers of a VR game called Blaston, decided to step away from implementing Facebook’s VR-based advertisements. Rather than subjecting Oculus Quest gamers to commercials in a game they paid for, and Resolution Games said, “No. Thanks anyway.”
Check out this tweet from the game’s official Twitter account:
After listening to player feedback, we realize that Blaston isn’t the best fit for this type of advertising test. Therefore, we no longer plan to implement the test. We look forward to seeing you in the arena and hope you try the Crackdown Update that went live today!
— Blaston (@BlastonGame) June 21, 2021
I’ve not played Blaston yet. So, I cannot tell you how any in-game ads would affect the overall experience. Nevertheless, Resolution Games should be commended for listening to the customer base. They were quite vocal.
While the Facebook ads won’t be in Blaston, they may show up in one of Resolution Games’ free titles. In a follow-up tweet in the same thread, the developer made the following statement:
To make it clear, we realize that Blaston isn’t the best fit for this type of advertising test. As an alternative, we are looking to see if it is feasible to move this small, temporary test to our free game, Bait! sometime in the future.
— Blaston (@BlastonGame) June 21, 2021
Facebook’s VR advertisements are still in the testing phase. If you’ve used the social media site before, you’ve seen the number of ads. Some are intrusive. Some know way too much about you. Some even advertise companies and schemes that border on illegal.
Have you played Blaston? What would you think if ads started showing up in games you paid for? Let us know in the comments.
[Source: PCMag]
Jennifer Lopez Joins Cast Of Netflix Sci-Fi Thriller ‘Atlas’
‘Second Act’ star Jennifer Lopez is joining the cast of an upcoming Netflix science thriller ‘Atlas.’ This film is part of a first-look deal that the celebrity signed with the streaming service.
According to Deadline, the “film follows Atlas, a woman fighting for humanity in a future where an AI soldier has determined the only way to end war is to end humanity. To outthink this rogue AI, Atlas must work with the one thing she fears most — another AI.”
The film is being written by Aron Eli Coleite based on an original script from Leo Sardarian with Joby Harold and Tory Tunnell from Safehouse Pictures producing.
‘San Andreas’ and ‘Rampage’ director Brad Peyton will be at the helm of the movie. He praised Lopez and the rest of the filmmakers.
Peyton said, “I’m so honored to be working with Jennifer, Elaine and the rest of the team at Nuyorican Productions along with our partners Joby and Tory at Safehouse.”
“Having the chance to direct Jennifer in the title role of this movie is a dream come true, as I know she’ll bring the incredible strength, depth and authenticity we’ve all come to admire from her work,” he continued. “Furthermore, Jeff and I are so excited to be back working with Scott, Ori and the entire team at Netflix. They have been nothing short of amazing to work with and we are blessed to have the opportunity to make another movie on the service.”
This movie is part of the deal signed by Jennifer Lopez and her production company Nuyorican Productions with Netflix Productions, announced in June 2021.
“I am excited to announce my new partnership with Netflix,” Lopez said in a statement. “I believe there is no better home for us than a forward leaning content creation company that seeks to defy conventional wisdom and directly market to the millions across the globe who no longer view art and entertainment with the kind of boundaries and limitations of the past. We at Nuyorican Productions are thrilled to find like-minded partners in Ted Sarandos, Scott Stuber, Bela Bajaria and the whole team and look forward to getting to work right away.”
Check Out Playmobil’s Huge Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise Playset!
While looking through what is new at Entertainment Earth, and then I saw it. A listing for the NCC-1701 in Playmobil form! The problem? No pictures. Off to the internet I went and found some via Preterniadotcom. Holy crap, is this thing huge!
It’s almost four feet long! Check out the pics below if the Tweet from Preternia got pulled.
Playmobil Star Trek 42" x 18" U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 Playset is up for preorder at Entertainment Earth ($499.99 + free shipping) – https://t.co/1twoCaBYWC pic.twitter.com/jjEM0JdGv8
— Preternia (@preterniadotcom) June 17, 2021
Here’s what you’re getting for $499.99:
- This U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 measures 42-inches long x 18-inches wide!
- Control the lights and sounds with your smart device!
- Opens to reveal the bridge and engineering play areas.
- Includes Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy, Scotty, Uhura, Sulu, and Chekov figures.
- Display it on the stand or suspend it from the ceiling!
- Where’s Captain Kirk? He’s on the bridge of this astonishing Playmobil 70548 Star Trek
U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 Playset! Possibly the biggest and most deluxe Playmobil playset created up to this point, the 42-inch long x 18-inch wide starship features electronic lights and sounds you control with your smart device. It includes a display cradle and wire for ceiling suspension if that’s your preferred means of display. The ship, figures, and accessories are modeled after The Original Series, so you’ll get Captain James T. Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy, Ensign Chekov, Lt. Uhura, Lt. Sulu, and of course, Chief Engineer Montgomery “Scotty” Scott. That’s an awful lot of fun in one big box! 136 pieces. Ages 10 and up. The saucer section of the Enterprise opens to show a full 1966-style bridge play environment. What’s more, the body of the ship opens on the side to reveal the engineering room! Additional details, including electronics, are to be announced later, so don’t miss this sensational playset
- Electronic lights and sounds controlled by your smart device via an exclusive app
- Includes seven unique figures – Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy, Scotty, Uhura, Sulu, and Chekov
- Opens to reveal the bridge and engineering play areas
- Includes a display stand and all you need to suspend it from the ceiling
- Measures 42-inches long x 18-inches wide
The Playmobil U.S.S. Enterprise playset will be out in September. Click here to pre-order.
[Source: Entertainment Earth]
Castlevania Advance Collection Leaked Via The Australian Ratings Board?
A story popped over at GameSpot saying that a Castlevania Advance Collection may be on the way. The source? A page on the Australian government’s website. Yes. Since Australia is strict on their game, there’s a government entity that rates each title that comes into the country.
If you’re a gamer, that’s one country you’d dislike living in. The games being censored or banned just because of digital violence and boobs? Ugh.
Back on the topic at hand. The rating page showed a title called Castlevania Advance Collection. It does not list which system, how many titles, or a release date. But, at least we know that the thing is most likely real.
Here’s what appears on the page, just in case it disappears:
Regardless, the big story here is we’ll be getting another Castlevania Collection!
Considering the first Anniversary Collection had eight titles in all, it would be weird for this one to be limited to just the following three:
- Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
- Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance
- Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
If I had to guess, Symphony of the Night and Rondo of Blood would be thrown in to make the overall release feel a bit more robust. Though most of those three games are great, I wouldn’t necessarily pick it up as is.
Check out Top Hat Gaming Man’s video where he looks at all the portable versions of Castlevania, from the GameBoy to the 3DS.
Which titles are you hoping to see in the Advance Collection? Should the N64 titles be included? Let us know in the comments.
[Source: GameSpot]
Robotech Is Getting Digitally Remastered For Upcoming Blu-Ray Release
Cult classic anime series ‘Robotech’ is getting a digital overhaul for an upcoming DVD release of all three seasons. Harmony Gold and Funimation made the announcement adding that they will be streaming all eighty-nine episodes.
“First up, we’re excited to announce that Robotech will be arriving on Blu-ray on September 28 in Dolby TrueHD for the very first time through a special, exclusive collector’s edition of the series from Funimation in the United States and Canada,” Funimation wrote on their website.
The collection will include all 85 episodes of ‘Robotech: The Series,’ four military-style patches, as well as an “exclusive dual pack of figures, including a variant of Roy Focker’s Transforming Robotech – VF-1S and Roy Fokker in Pilot Uniform.”
Suit up! #Robotech heads to HD home video (including an exclusive collector's edition!), streaming and awesome new merch this fall!@Funimation has more here: https://t.co/bbrDay0MXp#80s #anime pic.twitter.com/niFjDBp2Ot
— ROBOTECH (@RobotechNews) June 21, 2021
“Oh, and did we mention? We’ve remastered the ENTIRE series in high definition, all while retaining the series’ original aspect ratio. This release will contain the original film grain and is true to the original DVD box set release,” Funimation added. “A standard edition release for the United States and Canada is also planned for each part of Robotech, starting with Robotech: The Macross Saga on September 28, followed by The Masters on November 16 and The New Generation on December 14.”
“Next up is streaming. This fall, the entirety of ‘Robotech: The Series’ will join the expansive Funimation catalog. All of it will stream in English dubbed format—and yes, it will be the remastered version!” They added, “Oh, and as a special bonus, we’re also adding ‘Robotech II: The Sentinels’ and ‘Robotech the Shadow Chronicles’ in standard definition.”
Funimation will also release the classic Game Boy Advance game ‘Robotech: The Macross Saga’ for Nintendo Switch with an HD upgrade.
The official Robotech News website added, “Since Robotech premiered, the action-adventure sensation shaped an entire generation of anime fans. Since then, it’s grown into a global phenomenon, spawning films, toys, games, and much more. Funimation now has rights to merchandise and bolstering franchise at retail with expanded programs and will begin to roll out these products this summer, including the new Robotech game on Switch.”
“Robotech is a beloved series and an integral part of anime history,” said Mitchel Berger, Funimation Global Group’s Senior Vice President of Commerce. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to engage the original passionate fans from decades ago and also expose a whole new generation to this classic series.”
Robotech has always been a popular staple among the “mech” genre and no doubt it is preparing to ramp up its content for legacy fans and potential newcomers.
