Civil War will balance its dark moments with some superhero humor. The long-awaited Jumanji reboot gets a director. Chris Pine talks Wonder Woman. The Magicians will lean into the horror elements of the books. Plus, more superheroes in DC TV shows, and ridiculously meta Deadpool adverts. Spoilers Now!
Star Wars: Rogue One
Making Star Wars have further updates on the oft-rumored presence of Darth Vader in the film. They’re claiming that a crack team of designers has been brought together to recreate Darth Vader’s suit as it appeared in A New Hope for the character’s appearance, and that James Earl Jones will be returning to voice the character (as he had done so for recent appearances in Star Wars Rebels). As ever, take rumors like this with an eye for skepticism—but there does seem to be some reason to believe that Vader will play a pretty important role in the background of the film.
Captain America: Civil War
The Russos continue their recent discussion of the film, saying that they’re going to balance out the grim nature of the Civil War with humor provided from the likes of Ant-Man and Spider-Man:
There’s a good portion of [Civil War] that’s actually funnier than Winter Soldier, because there are characters in that film, that come from worlds where the tone is more comedic. Not all the characters in that movie have the same history as the Avengers. They’re coming at the problem of the film, not embedded with that baggage.
They’re not tied to the central arc of the movie with the same motivation as the other characters, so they can be lighter. I think there are a lot lighter moments because there are much darker moments as well. We did have to work very hard at that.
[Collider]
Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2
James Gunn has announced that the final draft of the script has been finished. [CBR]
Han Solo Anthology
J.J. Abrams has a little bit of advice for the many, many actors vying for the role of the young smuggler:
Watch ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark,’. It’ll all be right there.
[Variety]
Jumanji
Jake Kasdan will direct this reboot of the action film based around a board game coming to life. The movie is set for a Dec. 25, 2016 release date, meaning that Kasdan will have a tight schedule. The script was written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, and rewritten by Scott Rosenberg and Fringe’s Jeff Pinkner. [Deadline]
Alien: Covenant
Ridley Scott wants the movie to be a hard R, to scare people as much as the original Alien did:
I think I’m going to do a pretty hard R .I always remember walking down the edge in Saint Louis when we were previewing [Alien], I couldn’t sit through the film one more time. I walked down the edge into the kitchen scene when John Hurt started to bring up his breakfast. That moment, I realized how pretty scary the film was… I felt a sense of responsibility that I had gone too far because it was extreme. I’m going to try and do that again this year, but much worse.
Wonder Woman
Chris Pine discusses the World War One setting of the film, as well as Steve Trevor’s personality;
Steve Trevor is a rogue-ish, cynical realist who’s seen the awful brutish nature of modern civilization. He’s a worldly guy, a charming guy and it’s going to be a great, fun film. There are some incredibly deep, interesting and morally relevant themes.
It’s a period we don’t see often; it’s usually World War II. Our costume design is incredible. We have scenes with, like, 500 extras all in period dress. I’d never been on a film with extras casting as beautifully done as it is here. It highlights a really important point. When background casting is done well, it can make or break a scene. I’ve got people in deep background that have entire lives. It’s awesome, it’s actual make-believe land.
Deadpool
Defying even its most meta advertising ideas of the past, here’s another billboard that pokes fun at the absurd emoji-based poster that was revealed earlier this week. Skullpoopl!
Daredevil
Showrunner Doug Petrie responds to Frank Miller’s recent criticism that the Elektra who appears in the second season will not be the “true” Elektra (i.e, Miller has nothing to do with this iteration of the character):
God bless him, it’s his prerogative. I’m a huge fan of what he did, so the [criticism] doesn’t go both ways. I wouldn’t say, ‘What does Frank Miller know?’ I’m so inspired by him and what he achieved and I’m trying to take it further and enrich her. She’s an empowered woman with her own agency, she’s nobody’s victim.
[EW]
The Magicians
Responding to a question about the level of horror imagery in the show during the Television Critics Association press tour, Executive Producer John McNamara says the show will lean heavily into the horror elements of the books:
The thing about Lev’s books that drew me, because I’m not a huge fantasy fan … everything truly terrifying in these books is what humans to do to each other. So we’re going to lean right into that. Hard. I find the books hilarious, and that’s one of the most fun things to adapt and play with. It’s not pastiche or camp or satire, but the books are very self-aware and extremely funny. The release of writing funny right after horror is … probably the best day job you can have.
[Deadline]
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Glee alum Adam Lambert has been cast as Eddie—the party-crasher played by Meatloaf in the original—in Fox’s TV remake. [Deadline]
Legends of Tomorrow/DC TV
During a panel for Legends at the Television Critics Association press tour, Geoff Johns hinted that one of the myriad DC comics TV shows is going to make an oblique reference to the Legion of Superheroes, a super team from the 30th century in the comics:
You’ll see a hint of the Legion on one of our shows.
[TV Line]
Marc Guggenheim has revealed the title of episode 10, “Progeny”.
The X-Files
Here’s a synopsis for “Mulder & Scully Meet the Were-Monster”:
When a dead body is found in the woods, Mulder and Scully are called in to investigate whether it was an animal attack, a serial killer or just maybe a strange creature as described by eyewitnesses. Meanwhile, Mulder is able to confront some of his own demons about feeling disillusioned with his life’s work in the all-new “Mulder & Scully Meet the Were-monster” episode of THE X-FILES.
Marvel
No, this has nothing to do with the comic book company—Ridley Scott will produce Marvel, an adaptation of George Pendle‘s nonfiction book Strange Angel, about the real life of Jet Propulsion Laboratory co-founder and black magic devotee Jack Parsons. [Deadline]
Agent Carter
Here’s a few pictures of “Better Angels”, teasing the return of Howard Stark—more at the link. [CBR]
iZombie
Finally, here’s some pictures from the brilliantly-titled “50 Shades of Grey Matter”. You can see more at the link. [Spoiler TV]
Additional reporting by Gordon Jackson and Charlie Jane Anders. Image: Star Wars: Rogue One.