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Source: Warner Bros. Pictures / Warner Bros. Pictures
Joaquin Phoenix’s iteration of the Joker in Todd Phillips’ 2019 film centered around the iconic Batman villain was arguably the greatest version of the Clown Prince of Crime moviegoers had seen to date (Heath Ledger is up there too). And though the film was originally said to be a one-off affair, fans of the film demanded more. Now, we’re getting a sneak peak of what to expect in the follow-up to the cult classic that captivated a comic book nation just a few years ago.
After months of anticipation, Warner Bros. has just released the first trailer for the upcoming JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX, which once again stars Phoenix as the titular character and Lady Gaga as the new Harley Quinn of the DCEU. Breaking ground as the first musical live-action comic book film made, the film will pick up where Joker left off as he was institutionalized at Arkham Asylum where he ultimately meets his counterpart in Harley Quinn (Lady Gaga) who feeds off his crazy as he does hers.
Though plot details aren’t really known, it seems like the film will be a sort of Natural Born Killers affair as the two ultimately break out of Arkham Asylum and wreck havoc on the streets of Gotham City while singing show tunes and dancing away the pain of their past as they evade the law.
Seems like a hit to us.
Check out the trailer for JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX below, and let us know if you’ll be checking it out when it hits theaters Oct. 4.
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Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
It’s that time of the year when New Yorkers spot people dressed up as their favorite superheroes, supervillains, and pop culture icons taking a ride on the train because New York Comic Con is back.
The annual celebration of all things geeky is back and in full effect at the Jacob K. Javits Center. The event officially kicked off on Thursday, October 12, marking the second full convention at maximum capacity since the COVID-19 pandemic and all restrictions were lifted.
Like we always do, HipHopWired/Cassius Life is on the scene and on the prowl for the best cosplay, and we most definitely spotted some winners.
While roaming the halls of the giant convention center, we spied a Doctor Strange (pictured above) and Tony Stark cosplays that could serve as stunt doubles for the actual cast members from the Marvel films.
Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
They weren’t the only Marvel characters in the Javits Center. Loki, Thor’s villainous brother, is enjoying newfound popularity thanks to Tom Hiddleston’s portrayal of the comic book character in the movies, and the Disney+ series has become a favorite among cosplayers.
Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
No surprise, fresh off the popularity of the Greta Gerwig film starring Margot Robbie, we ran into plenty of Barbie cosplay. We didn’t see any Kens out, but there is still Friday, Saturday, and possibly Sunday to see someone showing they are “Kenough.”
Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
Cosplayers As Video Game Characters
The world of video games was also well-represented at NYCC. We ran across what we believe is the best Call of Duty cosplay we have ever seen.
Just look at the cosplay of Simon “Ghost” Riley below. It’s impressive.
Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
We also saw a great cosplay of the Mindflayer from the popular video game Baldur’s Gate 3, an excellent play on Joel from the PlayStation-exclusive video game and hit HBO series The Last of Us.
Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
This was only day one, so keep it locked on HipHopWired and Cassius Life for more photos from NYCC weekend.
Hit the gallery below for more cosplay photos.
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Photos: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez
1. LEGO Green Goblin
Source:@PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
New York Comic Con 2023 Cosplay Day 1 cosplay,nycc,new york comic con
2. Wolverine
Source:@PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
New York Comic Con 2023 Cosplay Day 1 cosplay,nycc,new york comic con
3. Princess Leia
Source:@PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
New York Comic Con 2023 Cosplay Day 1 cosplay,nycc,new york comic con
4. Annakin Skywalker
Source:@PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
New York Comic Con 2023 Cosplay Day 1 cosplay,nycc,new york comic con
5. Moon Girl
Source:@PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
New York Comic Con 2023 Cosplay Day 1 cosplay,nycc,new york comic con
6. Barbies
Source:@PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
New York Comic Con 2023 Cosplay Day 1 cosplay,nycc,new york comic con
7. Spider-Punk (Hobie Brown)
Source:@PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
New York Comic Con 2023 Cosplay Day 1 cosplay,nycc,new york comic con
8. Pokémon Trainer
Source:@PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
New York Comic Con 2023 Cosplay Day 1 cosplay,nycc,new york comic con
9. New York Comic Con 2023 Cosplay Day 1
Source:@PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
New York Comic Con 2023 Cosplay Day 1 cosplay,nycc,new york comic con
10. Boastful Loki & Alligator Loki
Source:@PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
New York Comic Con 2023 Cosplay Day 1 cosplay,nycc,new york comic con
11. The Winter Soldier
Source:@PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
New York Comic Con 2023 Cosplay Day 1 cosplay,nycc,new york comic con
12. Doctor Strange
Source:@PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
New York Comic Con 2023 Cosplay Day 1 cosplay,nycc,new york comic con
13. Han Solo
Source:@PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
New York Comic Con 2023 Cosplay Day 1 cosplay,nycc,new york comic con
14. Samara Morgan (The Ring)
Source:@PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
New York Comic Con 2023 Cosplay Day 1 cosplay,nycc,new york comic con
15. New York Comic Con 2023 Cosplay Day 1
Source:@PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
New York Comic Con 2023 Cosplay Day 1 cosplay,nycc,new york comic con
16. Joel (The Last of Us)
Source:@PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
New York Comic Con 2023 Cosplay Day 1 cosplay,nycc,new york comic con
17. Billy The Puppet (Saw)
Source:@PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
New York Comic Con 2023 Cosplay Day 1 cosplay,nycc,new york comic con
18. The Joker
Source:@PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
New York Comic Con 2023 Cosplay Day 1 cosplay,nycc,new york comic con
19. Rey (Star Wars)
Source:@PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
New York Comic Con 2023 Cosplay Day 1 cosplay,nycc,new york comic con
20. Catwoman
Source:@PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
New York Comic Con 2023 Cosplay Day 1 cosplay,nycc,new york comic con
21. Captain Price (Call of Duty)
Source:@PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
New York Comic Con 2023 Cosplay Day 1 cosplay,nycc,new york comic con
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Source: SFX Magazine / Getty / Alan Moore
Alan Moore is fed up with comic book films and is putting the royalty checks from them he no longer wants to good use.
Spotted on Variety via The Telegraph, Alan Moore, comic book visionary who penned classic works like Watchmen, V For Vendetta, and Batman: The Killing Joke, is no longer accepting his royalty checks for films and television series based on his works from DC Comics and instead told the iconic comic book distributor to give them to Black Lives Matter.
Per Variety:
The Telegraph asked Moore if reports were true about him taking all of the money he makes from film and TV series and dividing it among the writers and other creatives, to which the writer answered: “I no longer wish it to even be shared with them. I don’t really feel, with the recent films, that they have stood by what I assumed were their original principles. So I asked for DC Comics to send all of the money from any future TV series or films to Black Lives Matter.”
Moore told The Telegraph that he is no longer interested in money. In past interviews, he has been openly critical of superhero films, calling them a “blight” on cinema and “also to culture to a degree.”
He wasn’t done. In a 2022 interview with The Guardian, he called adults being excited about superhero films an “infantilization” that can act as “a precursor to fascism.”
Ouch.
Alan Moore Is Not Here For Adults Infatuation With Comic Books & Superhero Films
He was also worried about “hundreds of thousands of adults lining up to see characters and situations that had been created to entertain the 12-year-old boys — and it was always boys — of 50 years ago,” noting he never thought superheroes were something adults should care about.
“I didn’t really think that superheroes were adult fare,” Moore continues. “I think that this was a misunderstanding born of what happened in the 1980s — to which I must put my hand up to a considerable share of the blame, though it was not intentional — when things like ‘Watchmen’ were first appearing. There were an awful lot of headlines saying ‘Comics Have Grown Up’. I tend to think that, no, comics hadn’t grown up. There were a few titles that were more adult than people were used to…I will always love and adore the comics medium, but the comics industry and all of the stuff attached to it just became unbearable.”
Another thing Moore takes issue with is the term “graphic novels,” he pointed out in his latest interview with The Telegraph.
“Now they’re called ‘graphic novels,’ which sounds sophisticated, and you can charge a lot more for them,” he added. “These innocent and inventive and imaginative superhero characters from the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s are being recycled to a modern audience as if they were adult fare.”
Well, he’s definitely not interested in seeing James Gunn’s new DCU.
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Photo: SFX Magazine / Getty
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It’s been weeks since the highly-anticipated DC film, The Flash, flopped something spectacularly at the box office. And though that might’ve made it that much harder for James Gunn to get his rebooted DC Universe up and running, that isn’t keeping Warner Bros from going full steam ahead with their next DC film, Blue Beetle.
Source: Warner Bros. / Warner Bros.
On Tuesday (July 12), Warner Bros. released its latest trailer for the Angel Manuel Soto-directed feature in hopes of building some buzz for the forthcoming film, and truth be told, it seems pretty damn entertaining. Starring Xolo Maridueña as the titular character, the trailer finally gives us a glimpse of the Blue Beetle squaring off against the film’s villain, Conrad Carapax aka The Indestructible Man (Raoul Max Trujillo). After seemingly getting his ass handed to him by Carapax, the Blue Beetle seems to finally be getting ahold of things only to realize that his family is now targeted by government-backed mercenaries (led by Susan Sarandon), who want the alien tech that’s taken over his body.
Filled with out of this world action sequences and comedic moments, DC’s Blue Beetle seems like it might actually be one of DC’s most entertaining films yet, but that’s not saying much, so take that how you will. Also having grandma let off 100 rounds using an alien gatling gun might’ve been overkill. No, it definitely was overkill. DC might’ve shot themselves in the foot with that scene. Just sayin’.
Check out the latest trailer for Blue Beetle below, and let us know if you’ll be checking for this when it hits theaters on Aug. 18.
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To many fanboys, Ben Affleck had the best iteration of The Dark Knight in Zack Snyder’s Batman V. Superman and The Justice League, but if you ask the Bawsten actor himself, he didn’t care much for the experience he had in the DC Universe and doesn’t plan on returning anytime soon.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Oscar winner explained that though the DC films he was a part of have established a cult following years after their release, he felt that the Justice League “stories became somewhat repetitive to me and less interesting.” After that debacle that Joss Whedon put together on the fly, we can’t blame Ben for feeling that way. The Zack Snyder cut of the film was superior though not exactly mind-blowing.
Continuing to explain his beef with Whedon’s remixed version of The Justice League, Ben said “You could teach a seminar on all the reasons why this is how not to do it. Ranging from production to bad decisions to horrible personal tragedy, and just ending with the most monstrous taste in my mouth. The genius, and the silver lining, is that Zack Snyder eventually went to AT&T and was like, “Look, I can get you four hours of content.” And it’s principally just all the slow motion that he shot in black-and-white. And one day of shooting with me and him. He was like, “Do you want to come shoot in my backyard?” I was like, “I think there are unions, Zack. I think we have to make a deal.” But I went and did it. And now [Zack Snyder’s Justice League] is my highest-rated movie on IMDb.”
Keep in mind Zack only got the chance to finish the film he started because of years of fan support and demands that he right the wrong that Whedon gave us after taking over the Justice League when Snyder stepped down due to personal reasons. The Whedon experience was so taxing on Ben that he admits that it led to him drinking too much during production and questioning whether he was content with where his career and life was at the moment.
Luckily Ben is in a better place now, but that doesn’t mean he’s down to return to the DC Universe even if it was in a directing gig for which he’s already won an Oscar in 2013’s Argo.
“I would not direct something for the [James] Gunn DC. Absolutely not. I have nothing against James Gunn. Nice guy, sure he’s going to do a great job. I just wouldn’t want to go in and direct in the way they’re doing that. I’m not interested in that.”
Not even in a directing capacity?! Ben must have really had a bad time being involved in those DC productions. that being said the way that James Gunn is running that ship, we doubt he’d want Ben Affleck to be a part of anything. Just sayin.’
Will you be missing Ben Affleck’s Bruce Wayne/Batman in the DC Universe? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Source: Variety / Getty
Now that Henry Cavill’s out as the Man of Steel, James Gunn is looking to ensure the next Superman sets the proper tone for his new DC Universe. Thus, he’ll be writing and directing the upcoming Superman: Legacy film.
Deadline is reporting that the head honcho of Warner Bros. DC Studios division will be taking the helm of DC’s most important project for the rebooted DC Universe that has led to the “firing” of Cavill, Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (Black Adam) and Jason Momoa (Aquaman). Looking to kick off his “Chapter One, Gods and Monsters” of the DC Universe, James Gunn and his Co-Chairman & CEO Peter Safran are looking to add younger actors who can carry the DC franchise for the next decade and beyond and needless to say, they’ll need a young Superman to get that done (no shots to the 39-year-old Cavill).
Gunn announced back in the fall when he took the DC job that was penning a new Superman movie — something Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav is eager to see — and that Henry Cavill would not be returning as the Man of Steel as the project deals with the character’s early days.
Superman: Legacy tells the story of Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned. Gunn already has mentioned on social that his Superman will be younger than his 40s.
No word on who’ll be filling the big red boots (not that MSCHF bullsh*t), but whoever ends up taking on the role will have his work cut out for him as fans absolutely loved Henry Cavill’s interpretation of the iconic superhero. That being said, Gunn is open to keeping Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman while it’s rumored that Jason Momoa will be recast as Lobo in upcoming DC projects.
As fast as rumors that Gunn would be working Robert Pattinson’s Batman into his DC universe, it’s now being said that the Twilight Dark Knight might end up being part of DC’s version of the Multiverse and operating in its own reality. That may mean that a new Batman may end up getting cast to eventually cross paths with whoever the new Superman may be.
While plot and villain details about the new Superman film have yet to be revealed, you can bet that Gunn will deliver something to remember as he has an entire universe of film franchises riding on it. Ditto for Joker: Folie à Deux.
What do y’all think about James Gunn writing and directing the new Superman: Legacy movie? Let us know in the comment section below.
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Source: ANGELA WEISS / Getty
Since taking up duties as head of the DC Universe over at Warner Bros., James Gunn has ruffled many fans’ feathers with the way he’s been shaking things up. That includes moves such as canceling Wonder Woman 3 and putting the kibosh on Henry Cavill’s return as Superman just weeks after Cavill announced he’d be returning as the Man of Steel.
Interestingly enough, former wrestler turned actor, David Bautista saw an opportunity in the chaos. According to The Insider, the actor largely known as Drax The Destroyer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe pitched Gunn on the idea of taking on the mask of Bane in his rebooted DC Universe.
With word that Bautista’s iteration of Drax will be coming to an end in James Gunn’s upcoming Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 3, it would leave David Bautista with some time on his hands for the foreseeable future. And Bane is a character he’s had his eyes on playing for quite some time now.
However, it doesn’t seem like becoming the iconic Batman villain is in the cards for Bautista. As it stands, Gunn is looking to inject some young blood into his revamped DC film franchises. And that’s a big strike against the 54-year-old actor.
“I have had conversations with James about that but I think the direction he’s leaning in, completely rebooting that whole universe, he’s starting from scratch and starting younger and fresher and I think you need to do that,” the actor told Insider over the weekend while doing press for his upcoming movie, “Knock at the Cabin.”
It would’ve been cool to see a Bautista Bane go up against Robert Pattinson’s Batman. The difference in their physical sizes alone would’ve made for some interesting cinematic fight scenes. But alas, it is not meant to be. Being the stand-up guy that he is, Bautista understands why it wouldn’t work out for him. And he acknowledges it’s too late for him to take on the role of another comic book character for the long haul.
“I think for the DC Universe to be revived, you need to start from scratch, and I think you need to start with younger actors,” Bautista, 54, continued. “You need to start to plan for the next 15 years, and I just don’t think you can do that with me. And I understand that. And, also, I have to say that I appreciate that because I don’t want to play a character that I can’t bring justice to it. I don’t think at this point in my career that I can bring justice to Bane anymore. I just don’t know if I could handle the physical part, and I don’t think I would have the longevity to plan ahead for films. So, I just don’t know if I’d be that guy.”
We have faith that he could be Bane for at least two films. But at the end of the day, we ain’t calling the shots. We’re sure Bautista will eventually pop up somewhere in the DC Universe. Probably for a one-shot affair or something.
What do y’all think? Is David Bautista too old to play Bane in the DC Universe or should James Gunn have given him a chance? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Photo: Getty
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Source: DC / DC
As if Henry Cavill’s retirement as Superman wasn’t bad enough, now DC fans have more reason to be sad as it’s been announced that both the Titans and Doom Patrol series will be coming to an end in their next season on HBO Max.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the current fourth seasons will be the last for both of the fan-favorite comic book drama series. But ultimately it didn’t come as a surprise to the show’s producers given the shakeups that have been made ever since James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios at Warner Bros. From canceling Wonder Woman 3 (saw that one coming) to stripping Henry Cavill of Superman’s red cape (that one hurt), Gunn and Safran have been making huge changes to the DC Universe and this may be the latest move made as they gear up for a total reboot of the struggling comic book film universe.
Though many fans will be disappointed to see these shows go, HBO Max does plan on giving them a proper sendoff to satisfy viewers and comic book fans alike.
“While these will be the final seasons of Titans and Doom Patrol, we are very proud of these series and excited for fans to see their climactic endings,” an HBO Max spokesperson said in a statement to THR. “We are grateful to Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television for making such thrilling, action-packed, heartfelt series. We thank Titans showrunner Greg Walker, executive producers Greg Berlanti, Akiva Goldsman, Sarah Schechter, Geoff Johns, Richard Hatem, and the team at Weed Road Pictures. For Doom Patrol, we celebrate showrunner Jeremy Carver and executive producers Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Geoff Johns, Chris Dingess and Tamara Becher-Wilkinson. For four seasons, fans have fallen in love with the Titans and Doom Patrol, investing in their trials and tribulations, and in their legendary battles saving the world time and time again.”
Back in 2018 Titans hit the scene with a bang as fans immediately fell in love with the television series which premiered on DC Universe and ultimately lead to a Doom Patrol spinoff series a year later. Now that both have fallen victim to the Gunn regime, we can only wonder if these characters will ever be “reborn” with new actors or they’ll be joining the Justice League as memories of a DC Universe that struggled to get off the ground in a Marvel dominated film market. Still, the Titans team are proud of what they’ve created the past few years and aren’t upset about how things played out in the end.
“I’m immensely proud of our gifted cast, crew and writing staff and their efforts in bringing to life all 49 episodes over the last five-plus years,” Titans exec producer Walker said. “I couldn’t have asked for better partners in Berlanti Productions, Warner Bros. Television, and HBO Max, and from the beginning, Geoff Johns and Akiva Goldsman. I’m incredibly grateful for their unyielding trust throughout this process. Lastly, I have to thank our incredible fans for their continued support, engagement, and the passionate community they’ve built around our show. We have six episodes left to unleash upon the world that we hope will give our beloved characters the creative closure we all know they deserve.”
Are you upset that Titans and Doom Patrol won’t be returning for more? Let us know in the comments section below.
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