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Friday, January 30, 2015

DANGEROUS HABITS Episode 010: "Quid Pro Quo" is Up!


"Identify yourself.  Face me like a real man, not with your hand up another's ass like a bloody puppet."

After a slight delay due to medical reasons, my friend and co-host Karen Lindsay and I are back with the next episode of Dangerous Habits: The Constantine Podcast!

We give our thoughts on "Quid Pro Quo," the tenth episode of NBC's Constantine, including things like Karen on the Disabled List, Huey Lewis and the News, the big spotlight on Chas Chandler, John kissing Chas, the Justice League supervillain Felix Faust, the original graphic novel Hellblazer: All His Engines, Renee's issues with John as "The Other Woman," Mark Margolis on Breaking Bad and Person of Interest, Chas as a Hydra agent, Chas' 47 lives, mediums well done, the female Ghostbusters, the Justice League of Geeks, stuff about Achilles, occult fave Aleister Crowley, the debut of Predator Cat on the Twitter masheen, John manipulating Chas, the Monkey King from Hellblazer #84, the '70s game show Match Game, tea vs. coffee, Constantine hashtags, and more!

You can check out the episode HERE and for those of you who use iTunes, we're already available HERE, so please subscribe and rate us! If direct download MP3s are more your thing, you can find those HERE as well. In addition, we have our Dangerous Habits show page on Facebook, which you can check out HERE. And we're also on Twitter using the account @DangerousHabit5 because some bloody arse already claimed @DangerousHabits.

Be sure to share these with all of your friends, enemies, demons, angels, sorcerers, ghosts, whomever, and help build our new podcast into something special. Oh, and send us your thoughts about the show or the podcast via Twitter and Facebook. As soon as we get some more, we'll be reading them on the podcast.

Don't forget to watch the next episode, "A Whole World Out There," tonight on NBC, then keep checking iTunes, Libsyn and the Southgate Media Group website for our next Constantine review!


Thursday, January 29, 2015

A.K.A. JESSICA JONES Casts Rachael Taylor as Hellcat


Jessica Jones is making friends.

The Hollywood Reporter has word that the upcoming Netflix series A.K.A. Jessica Jones has cast Rachael Taylor in the role of Patricia "Trish" Walker, better known to Marvel Comics fans as Patsy Walker, a.k.a. the Avenger called Hellcat.

According to the article, Walker is "Jessica's best friend, who works as a syndicated radio talk show host, former model and child TV star known to her adoring fans as 'Patsy' Walker. As Jessica's closest friend, Trish helps her embark on the most dangerous case of Jessica's career."

Taylor, 30, is probably best known as Maggie Madsen in the 2007 film Transformers.  In addition, she's appeared on the television series Crisis, 666 Park Avenue, Charlie's Angels (2011), and Grey's Anatomy.  This will be her second Marvel Comics-related role, after her appearance in the 2005 movie adaptation of Man-Thing.

Created in 1944 by Ruth Atkinson, Patsy Walker first appeared in Miss America Magazine #2 a teen romantic-comedy character until she was reconceived as a superhero in 1972's Amazing Adventures (vol.2) #13 by writer Steve Englehart.  She later hooked up with the Avengers on a couple of adventures, took Tigra's old costume as The Cat, and formally adopted the superhero identity of Hellcat in 1976's The Avengers (vol.1) #144.

Hellcat switched over to join the Defenders in 1977 and eventually met Daimon Hellstrom, the Son of Satan, whom she later married.  Becoming an occult investigator, Patsy was driven mad and ended her life through suicide before being resurrected in Thunderbolts 2000 Annual.  After briefly rejoining the Defenders, Patsy has recently assisted her fellow Avenger Jennifer Walters, a.k.a. She-Hulk, on various cases as a private investigator for her law firm.

A.K.A. Jessica Jones is scheduled to debut on Netflix sometime in late 2015 or early 2016.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

SUPERGIRL Casts Mehcad Brooks as Jimmy Olsen


Supergirl has a love interest...and he's none other than Superman's pal!

The Hollywood Reporter revealed that the upcoming CBS series Supergirl has cast Mehcad Brooks as classic DC Comics character Jimmy Olsen.  Brooks joins Melissa Benoist in the hourlong drama.

Olsen is described in the article as "a photographer at CatCo.,
where Kara works.  He's the 
salt of the earth and this only makes Kara crush on him even more.  The character has recently been living and working in National City though the reason is still a secret.  As Kara emerges as Supergirl they grow closer."

Brooks, 34, is probably best known as Matthew Applewhite on the ABC series Desperate Housewives and as Eggs on the HBO series True Blood.  In addition, Brooks has appeared in the film About Last Night and on episodes of Necessary Roughness, Alcatraz, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Dollhouse, The Game, Ghost Whisperer and Cold Case.


Created in 1938 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Jimmy Olsen first appeared in Action Comics (vol.1) #6 as an unnamed "office boy" with a bow tie until he was formally introduced as Jimmy Olsen on the Superman radio show The Adventures of Superman in 1940.  Jimmy first appeared as a named character in Superman (vol.1) #13 in 1941, where he became a cub reporter and photographer for the Daily Planet newspaper as a co-worker with Clark Kent, Lois Lane and Perry White.

Brooks will be the latest in a long line of actors to play Jimmy Olsen, beginning with Jack Kelk and Jack Grimes on the Adventures of Superman radio show, followed by Tommy Bond in the film serials Superman (1948) and Atom Man vs. Superman, Jack Larson on the television series Adventures of Superman, Marc McClure in the four Superman films starring Christopher Reeve and the 1984 film Supergirl, Michael Landes and Justin Whalin on the TV series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Sam Huntington in the film Superman Returns, and Aaron Ashmore on the TV series Smallville.

Supergirl will presumably debut on CBS sometime this September or October.

ARROW's Katie Cassidy Discusses Taking Over as Black Canary


Well, better late than never.

After frustrating Arrow fans as a clueless love interest in Season 1 and as a pill-popping alcoholic in Season 2, Katie Cassidy's character Laurel Lance finally suited up as her comic book alter ego Black Canary in last week's episode "Left Behind."  The development seemed a little uncertain because of Laurel's sister Sara fighting crime as The Canary, with many fans feeling that Sara should remain as the show's official version of Black Canary. However, with Sara's death earlier this season, it seems Laurel is indeed the chosen one, and no one is more pleased about that than Cassidy...

"I can’t tell you how happy it made me," Cassidy said to Entertainment Weekly.  "I remember at the end of Season 2, they needed to fit Sara’s (Caity Lotz) jacket on me and I started to cry when I put it on.  I’ve been waiting for this for so long.  I’m so happy and honored.  From day one, I knew that eventually that’s where they were planning to go with the character, but I didn’t know when and it’s television, anything can happen.  Honestly, there’s no words that can even explain lucky, excited, grateful, thrilled I am.  For the Black Canary fans, I hope they’re happy with my performance and my take on the character. I hope people are happy."

However, it sounds like Laurel's new road as a superhero is going to be a rocky one with some character conflicts.  "Even though it’s messy, you can tell there’s fire," remarked Cassidy.  "She has some skill, but she’s not trained.  But then she proves herself because she has so much heart and drive.  Arsenal (Colton Haynes) is the first person to come around to it."

After the trilogy of Oliver's disappearance and what happens to Starling City in his absence is over, Laurel will face off against Sara in an episode called "Canaries," which features the return of Caity Lotz...somehow.

"You’ll be surprised how much Sara is a part of Laurel in Season 3 in her going from avenging her sister’s death to honoring her sister’s death to becoming her sister," said Cassidy.  "Sara is so much a part of Season 3 as a character even though she’s physically not there.  It stays with her and the show.  It’s what gets Laurel out on the streets.  It’s what she wants to do.  She has a choice.  The difference between Sara and Laurel is that Sara didn’t have a choice.  When her and Oliver were on the island, she had to go through that with him.  Laurel has a choice.  She takes her sister’s position, but she it comes from her heart and again avenging her sister’s death and honoring her sister."

And on the subject of Sara's murderer, Thea Queen (Willa Holland), Cassidy added that fans will be "surprised by her reaction."  And there's also Ra’s al Ghul (Matt Nable) to deal with since Laurel believes he killed Oliver.  "She will seek vengeance on those who she feels deserves it," said Cassidy.

Arrow airs on The CW Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EST.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

First FANTASTIC FOUR Reboot Trailer Is Not Very Fantastic


Well, that was...interesting.

After months of posts on the interwebz from outraged Fantastic Four fans, the first teaser trailer to Josh Trank's Fantastic Four reboot finally dropped to an overall "Meh."  The good news is, the trailer isn't completely horrible and actually has some impressive visuals along with a strong science fiction emphasis.

The bad news is, it's not the Fantastic Four.  At least, not the one Marvel and its fans want.

With the Marvel logo nice and prominent (and oh, how they must love that), sad piano music begins to play and a rumbly Reg E. Cathy asks "How did we get this far?  Human beings have an immeasure desire to discover...to invent...to build.  Our future depends on us furthering these ideals, a responsibility that rests on the shoulders of generations to come."

And at this point, as sad violin music accompanies the sad piano, you start to wonder if you're watching a trailer for the sequel to Christopher Nolan's Interstellar instead.

We see Reed Richards (Miles Teller), apparently fresh out of high school and looking around at what appears to be an impressive research facility.  Susan Storm (Kate Mara) is intently analyzing various global monitoring screens while rocking some Beats by Dre headphones.  Ben Grimm (Jamie Bell) appears to be trying out for high school baseball (note the school bus in the background), while Johnny Storm (Michael B. Jordan) seems to be working on his car inside a garage that looks like my college apartment living room.

"But with every new discovery," continues Voiceover Guy as we see the Four don spacesuits and enter a dimensional travel machine as Susan and Johnny's father Dr. Storm (Reg E. Cathey) looks on with grave concern, "there is risk...there is sacrifice...and there are consequences."

We then see the Four either crawling around slowly on the ground, bursting out from a big rock (Hi, Ben!), venting flame out of his special space-wacey suit (Hi, Johnny!), or stretching his left arm towards something off screen (Hi, Reed!) before the FANT4STIC...errr, Fantastic Four title comes up.

Lastly, we see programmer and blogger (I kid you not) Victor Domashev (Toby Kebbell), lying stretched out on a medical table as Reed looks on.  "Be ready for what's coming," whispers Doctor Doomashev.

"What is coming?" asks Reed.

"The answers," replies Doctor Doomashev as we hear some dramatic nail hammering noises, and see the Fantastic Four (with Ben all nice and rocky as The Thing) looking up at a huge stream of energy shooting upward from a series of stone pillars and ripping open the sky.

Yes, even the Fantastic Four is now dark and gritty.  Thanks, Hollywood.

If you'd like to see the full trailer, you can check it out below thanks to JoBlo.com's official YouTube account...




Fantastic Four is scheduled to arrive in theaters on August 7, 2015.

Monday, January 26, 2015

Fox Confirms X-MEN TV Series in Negotiations


A fiver says it'll be called Westchester.

TV Insider has word that negotiations are in process for a possible X-Men television series, based on the Marvel Comics superteam created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.  This follows on rumors since last fall that the project was in development.

"It's in negotiations," Fox Entertainment chairman Gary Newman confirmed.  "We're cautiously optimistic, we had a good meeting with (Marvel).  That will not be on a fast track creatively.  This is just the deal, now we have to find the creative."

The problem is, while 20th Century Fox controls the film rights to the X-Men characters, the comic itself is owned by Marvel, which is now owned by Fox's rival Disney.  A live-action television series would require Marvel's approval.  According to the article, the talks are focusing on deal points first, so there's no writer and no firm concept yet, although online speculation claims the series might be based on the X-Men spinoff comic series X-Factor.) In addition, because the possible series will take time to develop, Newman doesn't believe a show would be ready before the 2016-2017 TV season.

Simon Kinberg, writer of the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past, told Collider last April that an X-Men TV franchise was just a matter of time.  "We're still in this place of figuring out what the future of the franchise will be," said Kinberg, "but when you look at S.H.I.E.L.D. to some extent and what Marvel is doing now with Daredevil and other shows on Netflix, it makes sense to tell some of these stories in TV."

This would be the second time the X-Men will appear in live-action on television, after Fox aired the Generation X TV movie in 1996, which was based on the X-Men spinoff comic that included past and present X-Men members Banshee, Emma Frost, Jubilee and M.  In addition, the much-beloved X-Men animated series aired on Fox for five seasons from 1992-97.

A.K.A. JESSICA JONES Casts David Tennant as the Purple Man


David Tennant in a Marvel TV series?  Oh, yes!

Marvel has officially announced that the upcoming Netflix series A.K.A. Jessica Jones has cast David Tennant as Zebediah Kilgrave, better known to comics fans as the villainous Purple Man.  Kilgrave is described in the announcement as "An enigmatic figure from Jessica’s past, Kilgrave’s reappearance will send shockwaves through the former super hero’s world."

Tennant is best known for his role of the Tenth Doctor on the BBC series Doctor Who, which he starred in from 2005-2010 and recently reprised in 2013 for the fiftieth anniversary special, "The Day of the Doctor."  He's also known for the role of DI Alec Hardy in the series Broadchurch, which he reprised as as Detective Emmett Carver for the US version Gracepoint.  Tennant has also appeared in the films Fright Night (2011), How to Train Your Dragon, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as Barty Crouch, Jr.

"I'm so honored and excited by the prospect of David inhabiting this multifaceted character," said executive producer/showrunner Melissa Rosenberg.  "He can deliver the most heart-wrenching moment to the driest of lines, and all points in between. He'll make Kilgrave a truly original villain."

"Anyone familiar with David's work knows he brings an incredible level of dedication to any role he inhabits, a level we knew we would need from the man playing Kilgrave," said Jeph Loeb, executive producer/Marvel’s head of television.  "While most know him for his roles as a hero, we can’t wait to unleash a whole new side of this talented actor."


Created in 1964 by Stan Lee and Joe Orlando, the Purple Man first appeared in Daredevil (vol.1) #4 as Zebediah Killgrave (note the extra "L") as an international spy who was sent to infiltrate a chemical refinery.  During the mission, Killgrave was accidentally doused with a chemical that turned his hair and skin purple.  After being caught outright and questioned, Killgrave discovered that the nerve gas had given him the ability to command the wills of other people.

Primarily an enemy of Daredevil, the Purple Man was revealed to have considerable history with Jessica Jones.  During the time when she was the superhero Jewel, Killgrave used his mind control powers to subdue her, forcing her to live with him while psychologically torturing her for several months.  He ultimately sent her off to kill Daredevil, but Jones became confused and mistook the Scarlet Witch for Daredevil, attacking her instead. Jones was beaten into a coma by the Avengers, before they discovered that she was mind-controlled.  The incident with the Purple Man left Jones so traumatized that she left her life as a superhero behind and became a private investigator.

A.K.A. Jessica Jones will premiere on Netflix sometime in late 2015 or early 2016.

Friday, January 23, 2015

HANNIBAL Season 3 Trailer is Served


The third course is being prepared.

After months of anticipation, the first trailer for the third season of NBC's Hannibal has finally debuted.  The stellar television series based on the novel Red Dragon by Thomas Harris hasn't been a huge ratings hit for NBC, but is one of the few network shows with broad critical acclaim and did well enough to earn another season of thirteen episodes.

When last we left the series, FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne) confronted Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) and was severely wounded following a brutal pantry fight.  Dr. Alana Bloom (Caroline Dhavernas) was pushed out of a window by Abigail Hobbs (Kacey Rohl), leaving her seriously injured.  Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) found Abigail, only to end up stabbed by Hannibal with a linoleum knife before Lecter sliced Abigail's throat.  Leaving everyone bleeding out, Hannibal was last seen boarding a plane to France with Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier (Gillian Anderson).

The new two-minute trailer opens with Will waking up in a hospital bed as he speaks in an ominous voiceover, saying "Our minds can concoct all sorts of scenarios when we don't want to believe something.  We construct fairy tales...and we accept them."

We get our first look at Tao Okamato as Chiyoh, the ward of Lady Murasaki from Harris' novel Hannibal Rising.  "Hannibal took someone from you," Chiyoh says to Will.  "Are you here to take someone from him?"  Will then asks Chiyoh if she knows where Hannibal is.

Next, we see Hannibal about to speak to an audience of art patrons before a projected image of the William Blake painting The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed in Sun, followed by fleeting images of Bedelia anxiously descending a staircase, Will in a graveyard, Hannibal shaking hands with the art patrons, Will being escorted down a set of steps by a rifle-wielding Chiyoh, Hannibal creepily touching Bedelia's shoulder, and Hannibal doing research from a series of ancient medical books.

Lastly, we see Will confront Hannibal in a set of darkened catacombs.  "Hannibal," says Will, "I forgive you."  Hannibal pauses for a moment before turning to leave.

If you'd like to see the trailer, you can check it out below thanks to the official Hannibal YouTube account.  Please note, however, that the audio only plays in the right audio channel.



Hannibal is expected to return for Season 3 on NBC sometime this summer.

X-MEN: APOCALYPSE Casts New Cyclops, Storm & Jean Grey


So, does this make them X-Men: Second Class?

X-Men: Apocalypse director Bryan Singer revealed late yesterday that he has found his new, younger versions of Cyclops, Storm and Jean Grey in the form of Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp and Sophie Turner, respectively.  The news came from Singer's official Twitter account with the following post:


Turner, 18, is the best known of the three, thanks to her role of Sansa Stark on the HBO series Game of Thrones.  This will be her first major film role, although she has appeared in the movies Another Me, Barely Lethal and Alone.

Sheridan, 18, has appeared in the films The Tree of Life, Mud, Last Man Standing and Dark Places.  His future films include The Forger, Last Days in the Desert and Scouts vs. Zombies.

Shipp, 23, is best known for her role as Aaliyah Haughton in the TV movie Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B.  She's also appeared in the movies Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel and Straight Outta Compton.  Her television roles include House of Anubis, Ray Donovan and the soap opera Days of Our Lives.


The three will take over the roles from Halle Berry, Famke Janssen and James Marsden, who previously appeared in X-Men, X2: X-Men United, X-Men: The Last Stand and last summer's X-Men: Days of Future Past.  

X-Men: Apocalypse is scheduled to arrive in theaters on May 27, 2016.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

SUPERGIRL Casts Melissa Benoist as Kara Zor-El


We have ourselves a Girl of Steel.

Entertainment Weekly reports that the upcoming CBS series Supergirl has cast Melissa Benoist in the lead role of DC Comics' Supergirl/Kara Zor-El/Kara Danvers.  The character is officially described as "Born on the planet Krypton, Kara Zor-El escaped amid its destruction years ago. Since arriving on Earth, she’s been hiding the powers she shares with her famous cousin. But now at age 24, she decides to embrace her superhuman abilities and be the hero she was always meant to be."

The 26-year-old Benoist is best known as Marley Rose on the FOX series Glee, but has also appeared on episodes of Homeland, The Good Wife, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Blue Bloods.  She will also appear in the upcoming 2015 Danny Collins.

At the TCA press tour earlier this month, CBS Entertainment chairman Nina Tassler informed critics that Supergirl will be a crime procedural.  "The beauty of it is now with shows like Good Wife and Madam Secretary, you can have serialized story elements woven into a case of the week," she said.  "She’s a crime solver, so she’s going to have to solve a crime. She’s going to get a bad guy."

Tassler also described the CBS version of Supergirl as "a very strong, independent young woman.  She’s coming into her own.  She’s dealing with family issues.  She’s dealing with work issues.  It’s a female empowerment story. If you look at the strong female characters we have on the air, it really is resonant of that…We’re big feminists.  It’s her intellect, it’s her skill, it’s her smarts.  It’s all of those elements.  It’s not just her strength, which she does have."

Created in 1959 by Otto Binder, Al Plastino and Curt Swan, Supergirl first appeared in Action Comics (vol.1) #252 as Kara Zor-El, the daughter of Jor-El's brother Zor-El and cousin to Superman. She was the last survivor of Argo City, which had survived the destruction of the planet Krypton until meteorites of Green Kryptonite penetrated Argo City's protective barrier. Sent to Earth by Zor-El to be raised by her cousin, Kara acquired powers similar to Superman and adopted the secret identity of Linda Lee, a young girl at Midvale Orphanage. 

In the current New 52 continuity, Kara's ship lands as part of a meteor shower in Smallville, Kansas, but burrows through the Earth and emerges in Siberia. Kara has no memory of the destruction of Krypton and believes herself to be dreaming. The military tracks her arrival, and a group of American soldiers in mechanized suits immediately attack her. Her powers start emerging as the fight goes on and terrify the surprised Kara. Superman arrives after she defeats the soldiers and tries to convince Kara that he is her cousin, but Kara, still believing that only three days have passed since she last saw baby Kal, accuses him of being an imposter and attacks him. Eventually, Kara accepts that Krypton has been destroyed and that Superman is indeed her grown-up cousin.

This will be the second time Supergirl has been depicted in live-action television, after Laura Vandervoort on the WB/CW series Smallville. Previously, Helen Slater portrayed the character in the 1984 film Supergirl that was a spinoff from the Superman films starring Christopher Reeve. The character has also appeared a number of times in animation, including Superman: The Animated Series and Justice League Unlimited (voiced by Nicholle Tom), and the Super Best Friends Forever DC Nation animated shorts (voiced by Nicole Sullivan).

Presumably, Supergirl will debut on CBS sometime in September or October.

Anthony Mackie Discusses CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR


One of the best things about last summer's Captain America: The Winter Soldier was the introduction of Anthony Mackie as The Falcon/Sam Wilson.  And thankfully, Mackie will return for the next film, Captain America: Civil War, based on the Marvel Comics limited series Civil War by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven.

I Am Rogue spoke with Mackie about the third Captain America film, which covered topics like Mackie's familiarity with Civil War, Robert Downey's Jr.'s involvement, a possible new costume for The Falcon, and more.  Here are some of the highlights...

I Am Rogue: Have you read the graphic novel Civil War by Mark Millar and artist Steven McNiven?

Anthony Mackie: I have. You know, I'm not sure how close it will stay because I haven't read anything. I just found out literally this week. I haven't gotten a script or an outline. I don't know how much of it I'm going to be in. I have no idea how they are going to use me. But you know, the Civil War comic book, there is so much there. I don't know how they are going to condense it and make it into a movie because it is a civil war. It's epic! Look at the way it's going now when they announced Phase 3, with Black Panther and Dr. Strange coming into the fold. I have no idea what they are going to do with this movie. I just know that Cap 3 has to be better than Cap 2. So I know Cap 3 is going to be mind-blowing.

IAR: Were you excited when you heard that Black Panther would be introduced in Captain America: Civil War?


Mackie: I was. I was very, very excited. When we were shooting Cap 2 I would always have conversations with them about Black Panther because I wanted to stress the importance of that character to the movie going populous. I couldn't be happier that they cast Chadwick (Boseman). He's a remarkable young man. I've known him off and on for over ten years now. I first met him in '98 at Howard (University) down in D.C. I've only known him from a far. But the more I've heard of him from people who are in his inner circle, the more I've been proud of the fact that someone who did the work, and did their due diligence, is being rewarded at a rate like this in his career because he truly deserves it.

IAR: How important do you think it was for Marvel to get Robert Downey Jr. to star in Captain America: Civil War?

Mackie: It's huge! It's funny, I've met Robert a few times and I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know what he would be like because he is such a mega star and has had so many phases of his career. I have to say, he couldn't be more of a down to Earth, fun to be around, cool, smart person. Every time you talk to him, it's just mind-blowing the stories he tells, and the way he looks at this Iron Man phenomenon and how it's helping him in the third phase of his career to open doors to do projects that he has wanted to do forever but couldn't. The great thing about these Marvel movies is that everybody in the world sees them. Not just everybody in California and New York, everybody in the world! That’s something that an actor can only dream of having that opportunity.

IAR: Will the Falcon's costume look similar to how it did in Winter Soldier, or more like his classic costume from the comic books?

Mackie: I want my bird, man. I want my bird! The thing is, you know I've been emailing with people over at Marvel. I've putting it out there in the ethos that I'm going to have a new and improved costume and come out all flashy in spandex. So I'm hoping that I get a new and improved costume. That's my whole thing. I've just been saying it, hoping that they'll read it and say, "Alright, we have to give Anthony a new costume." Please, dress me up in spandex!

IAR: Finally, did you shoot a scene for Avengers: Age of Ultron? Will you be appearing in that sequel before audiences see you in Civil War?

Mackie: I hope. At this point, I have not. I hope, I hope, I hope, I hope. They're doing reshoots and that's why I'm letting them know I'm available. So whatever weekend they want me there, I'll fly myself out and shoot whatever scene they want me in. Even if it's like, "Oh man, it's Iron Man and Hulk." But I heard today in one of the interviews that someone thought I was in Ant-Man. I hope so! I hope I'm in Ant-Man. I hope I'm in Hulk 3, I hope I'm in Thor 3, and Guardians of the Galaxy 2. Me and Groot can boogie!


Following the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron, the collective governments of the world pass an act designed to regulate all superhuman activity. This polarizes opinion amongst the Avengers, causing two factions to side with Iron Man (Downey Jr.) or Captain America (Evans), which causes an epic battle between former allies.

Captain America: Civil War is scheduled to open in theaters on May 6, 2016.


Wednesday, January 21, 2015

DANGEROUS HABITS 09: "The Saint of Last Resorts Part 2" is Up!


"I'm John Constantine.  I do stupid in spades."

My friend and co-host Karen Lindsay and I are back from the long hiatus with the next episode of Dangerous Habits: The Constantine Podcast!

We give our thoughts on "The Saint of Last Resorts, Part 2," the ninth episode of NBC's Constantine, including things like picking up with the Part 1 cliffhanger, Constantine's brilliant "Hail Mary" plan, Buzzkill Manny's disapproval said plan, Karen's Pazuzu Tortilla poisoning, the rather dimwitted Resurrection Crusade, the Mexican SWAT team's tactleneck sweaters, why the earlier timeslot doesn't matter, the Hellblazer comic storyline "Hard Time," Voting for Julio, the easily defeated Original Tempter from the Garden of Eden, how demons function on the mortal plane, why Zed is better at prison breaks than Chas, topless nuns, why Anne Marie has no reason to criticize Constantine about doing things for attention, listener email, podcast crushes on Karen, options to move Constantine to another network, and more!

You can check out the episode HERE and for those of you who use iTunes, we're already available HERE, so please subscribe and rate us! If direct download MP3s are more your thing, you can find those HERE as well. In addition, we have our Dangerous Habits show page on Facebook, which you can check out HERE. And we're also on Twitter using the account @DangerousHabit5 because some bloody arse already claimed @DangerousHabits.

Be sure to share these with all of your friends, enemies, demons, angels, sorcerers, ghosts, whomever, and help build our new podcast into something special. Oh, and send us your thoughts about the show or the podcast via Twitter and Facebook. As soon as we get some more, we'll be reading them on the podcast.

Don't forget to watch the next episode, "Quid Pro Quo," this Friday on NBC, then keep checking iTunes, Libsyn and the Southgate Media Group website for our next Constantine review!


Marvel Universe to Merge with Ultimate Universe in Semi-Reboot


It's not a reboot.  Well...not completely, anyway.

The Marvel Universe, a.k.a. the 616 Universe, is coming to an end...at least as we currently know it.  During a live press event held at Midtown Comics yesterday, Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso and Senior Vice President of Publishing and Executive Editor Tom Brevoort confirmed that Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic's upcoming eight-issue limited series Secret Wars will represent the end of both the Marvel Universe and the Ultimate Universe.

The story kicks off in Secret Wars #0, a Free Comic Book Day offering that features two worlds going in and one or no worlds coming out because of the "Incursion" event Hickman has been exploring in his Avengers and New Avengers titles.  The Ultimate Universe will fold into the 616 Universe and "Once we hit Secret Wars #1, there is no Marvel Universe, Ultimate Universe, or any other.  It's all Battleworld," said Brevoort.

"We are taking the best and biggest pieces of [Marvel history] and seeing how easily they coexist with one another," said Alonso, responding to a press question about this being a reboot.  "We don't expect all our moves to make everyone happy, but we think it will make for a really fascinating read through Secret Wars and beyond."  Alonso also teased the possibility of bringing back dead characters.  "If we wanted to resurrect Gwen Stacy," he said, smiling, "this would be the place to do it."

In addition to the long-running Incursion threat, Marvel has made a number of creative moves in recent months that hinted at a possible continuity reboot, such as the murders of Wolverine, Namor the Sub-Mariner and The Watcher, Nick Fury taking over for The Watcher as a character called The Unseen, the Ultimate Universe being featured in The All-New X-Men, the cancellation of Fantastic Four, various Spider-Men and Women from multiple universes appearing in the "Spider-Verse" event, and others.

Alonso confirmed that Marvel will launch a "wealth" of new series, both ongoing and minis, during Secret Wars.

"All the bits and pieces all the little sections of earths within incursion zones, all pieces that have remained, will be fused into a gigantic organism which will be Battleworld," said Brevoort.  "And this will set up all the building blocks of the New Marvel Universe.  Every world we’re going to introduce you to, every piece is a building block for the MU moving forward.  None of these are Elseworlds or What Ifs, they are not set in the past or future, and not in alternate reality.  This is the reality of the Marvel Universe."

"Every creative team has known this was coming," said Brevoort.  "We've had a line of demarcation in the sand.  Get your most immediate business done by this point because we're going into Secret Wars and it's going to have an impact on everything.  Most of those creators are working on books during Secret Wars. They may not be exactly the same book. There may not be a Guardians of the Galaxy book, but there's probably going to be something that involves some bit of that business, or stuff that may be done in Guardians in the future.  Everything is going to kind of change and shift as we go.  We're not entirely ready yet to map it all out for you."

Secret Wars #0 will arrive in comic stores for Free Comic Book Day on May 2, 2015.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Robbie Amell & Victor Garber Discuss THE FLASH's Firestorm


Get ready for more of the nuclear man.

With little glimpses of Ronnie Raymond in a few episodes of The CW series The Flash, we're about to learn a lot more about what happened to him in Episode 13, "The Nuclear Man."  The episode features Robbie Amell as Ronnie along with Firestorm's other half, Victor Garber as Dr. Martin Stein.

Comic Book Resources spoke with Amell and Garber at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena, discussing their characters and teasing what fans might see in the near future.  Here are some of the highlights:

CBR: What's the dynamic like between the two characters? In the comics, there's usually a lot of banter back and forth, often to humorous effect -- how does it play out on the show?

Amell: We haven't gotten to do too many scenes like that yet, but from what we've shot, there's definitely a frustration with each other. We spend a lot [of time] in my head, battling for control. You spend a year that close to somebody, you need some time apart, so I think a little bit of the humor comes from us wanting nothing to do with each other, and being brought back together and having to team up to help out Flash. I'm really excited for future episodes, where we will get to have a little more fun together.


Garber: In my second episode, we come together knowing that we have a responsibility, and we both take that seriously. Frustration happens at first -- where I just say, "You're an idiot, I just want to get out of here" -- but then, as things progress, we realize that we have a responsibility, and we both accept that. From there on, of course, there will be banter and conflicts, which is what makes it fun.

CBR: Viewers haven't seen Martin Stein on screen yet. There's an idea of what the character might be like based on the comics, but Victor, what can you tell us about him on the show?

Garber: He is sort of a reluctant hero. He's somebody who came into this without meaning to, this conjoining experience, and then, when we are finally separated, he's sort of at a loss. He doesn't know quite who he is or what he is. I think it's a process of rediscovering his atoms, and finding himself again. He's a really smart guy who the Flash enlists for help. Barry comes to him, and they have a great meeting. I think he becomes sort of an advisor, mentor guy.

CBR: Robbie, we've seen the character of Ronnie Raymond already be two different things -- in the flashbacks, he has his life together, and then he's gone through a transformation and is definitely lost. Now it looks like he's moving to a third place, a more heroic area, as Firestorm. What's that been like for you, playing a character that in a short time, has had a wide range?

Amell: I got to have my introduction episode, with the flashbacks, quick scenes with Danielle -- all we really wanted to do was establish this relationship between the two of them, so people care when he gets killed trying to save her. The nice thing was, the producers let us have a little freedom with the lines, do our best to flirt and establish this connection on camera.

But most of my character so far has been this schizophrenic homeless guy, who's really nothing like Ronnie Raymond at all. The nice thing is, that character will soon be a thing of the past, and it's back to, like you said, a more heroic version of the first guy you saw. I like that he's a little goofier -- Danielle's character always says he's the only guy that can make her laugh. It's nice to play around with a character that's a little more lighthearted, even after going through all of this transformation.


CBR: Also on the panel, we saw the clearest view yet of the Firestorm costume.

Amell: It's got a lot of evolution to go through. It will definitely evolve. Right now, it just happens to be the wardrobe I was wearing when the splicer gets put on. The splicer is really the only piece of the costume that I think will be consistent, and that'll be a staple. I think the rest of it is interchangeable.

Garber: They're going to have more money next season, so they'll change it. [Laughs]

CBR: Sort of on that note -- obviously, both of these shows have been very successful for The CW, and there's acknowledged talks of further spinoffs. Firestorm has had his own comic several times in the past, has his own name value -- do you have any indication of a future life for the two of you together beyond "The Flash"?

Garber: Honestly, we really don't. Like Greg [Berlanti] was saying, there's a lot of talking going on, and I'm sure that we're part of that, but we're not privy to any of that.

Amell: They don't tell us crap. You guys will probably know before we do.

Garber: Really, I think all will be revealed at the same time, and it will come as a surprise to all of us.

Amell: I was the first person that told Stephen Arrow got picked up, because I happened to see it on Deadline. I called him, and he was like, "What are you talking about?" He had already booked it, they shot the pilot, but the announcement it got picked up, I saw it, I called him -- and then his phone started ringing. Sometimes it goes out to the trades before the closest people to it.

CBR: How soon will viewers see both of you together on The Flash?

Amell: You'll see us in February. The show comes back -- I think it airs five episodes straight without a break, and you'll see us a couple times in there. The episodes are really great for both of our characters, and our combined character. It's really a back story. One of them is called "The Nuclear Man," I believe.

The Flash returns to The CW tonight at 8 p.m. EST.

Sunday, January 18, 2015

NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE Episode 017: "Earthshock" is Up!


"For some people, small, beautiful events are what life is all about."

My good friend and co-host Jesse Jackson and I are back with another episode of Next Stop Everywhere: The Doctor Who Podcast!  And this time, we reverse the polarity back to the Peter Davison classic, "Earthshock"!

Exploring this 1982 classic from Season 19 of the original series of Doctor Who, Jesse and I discuss things like the death of a companion, Adric as the Wesley Crusher of Doctor Who, defending the Fifth Doctor, the TARDIS looking battered and beaten up, how the Fifth Doctor gained so many companions, why the Cybermen's return in 1982 was a big deal, David Banks as The Doctor, Peter Davison as the youngest Doctor ever (at the time), the Dallas Cowboys losing yet another playoff game, the silent closing credits, the mouth on legs, Jesse's Reversing of Reverse the Polarity segment, and more!

And for those who still aren't aware of this yet, we're available on iTunes RIGHT HERE as well as Stitcher RIGHT HERE, so please subscribe and tell your friends about us. If you're looking for direct MP3 downloads, you can find them RIGHT HERE as well. Oh, and don't forget we have an officially official Next Stop Everywhere Facebook page and Twitter account, so be sure to Like and/or Follow us, okay?

Be sure to come on back for our review of the Colin Baker classic, "The Mark of the Rani," and look for more of Next Stop Everywhere on iTunes, Libsyn, Stitcher and the Southgate Media Group website!

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Fox Confirms Talks to Reopen THE X-FILES


The truth, it seems, is still out there.

Entertainment Weekly has word that Fox has confirmed previous rumors that they are in discussions to bring back The X-Files, the much-beloved science fiction/horror television drama starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson that ran on Fox for nine seasons from 1993 to 2002.

According to the article, Fox chairman and CEOs Dana Walden and Gary Newman say they have been in talks with series creator Chris Carter about reviving the series.  The executives also revealed they hope to have Duchovny and Anderson reprise their roles.

"It’s true that we’ve had some conversations on X-Files," said Newman.  "We’re hopeful of being able to bring that back at some point."

Walden added, "Gary and I both worked [at 20th Century Fox Television] through the entire run of The X Files.  It was a great experience.  We’ve maintained good relationships with Chris, David and Gillian.  We’re very hopeful, but it’s hard.  The actors are very busy.  They have a lot going on.  Chris has a lot on his plate, so it’s just trying to carve out the time."

Amazon recently passed on Carter’s new post-apocalyptic series project The After, so the writer-producer may have some time on his hands.  Duchovny, now 54, has an upcoming NBC event series, Aquarius, while Anderson, now 46, has a recurring role on NBC’s Hannibal.  Presumably, both actors would have to be contractually cleared of their commitments to NBC before signing on for an X-Files relaunch.

The last time the idea of bringing back The X-Files was mentioned was back in 2013, when Duchovny and Anderson said they were open to return for a third X-Files feature film during a 20th anniversary panel discussion.  Since then, all X-Philes have had to enjoy are reruns of the TV series on Chiller and El Rey Network, along with the excellent The X-Files Season 10 comic book series from IDW Publishing.


Thursday, January 15, 2015

SUICIDE SQUAD Replacing Tom Hardy with Jake Gyllenhaal as Rick Flag


Well, at least there wasn't a skull explosive involved...

The Wrap reports that Jake Gyllenhaal is being courted for the role of Rick Flag in David Ayer's upcoming film adaptation of DC Comics' Suicide Squad.  Gyllenhaal would replace Tom Hardy, who was forced to exit the project because Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s The Revenant is running over schedule into mid-March, after which Hardy will be needed to promote WB’s Mad Max: Fury Road, which comes out on May 15th.  Suicide Squad is expected to start production in April.

According to the article, Gyllenhaal is Ayer’s favorite to play Flag, having previously worked with the director on End of Watch, which led to roles in the Warner Bros. thriller Prisoners and Nightcrawler, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination.  In addition, Gyllenhaal is known for his previous films Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Zodiac, Brokeback Mountain, The Day After Tomorrow, Donnie Darko and October Sky.


Created in 1959 by Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru, Rick Flag, Jr. first appeared in The Brave and the Bold (vol.1) #25 as the leader of the original Suicide Squad, which consisted of Flag, his girlfriend Karin Grace, Dr. Hugh Evans and Jess Bright.  The four were non-powered adventurers fighting superpowered opponents, with adventures that involved conflict with dinosaurs, giants, and other monstrous creatures.  In the team's final mission, Dr. Evans dies, and Jess Bright is captured by forces of the Soviet Union and transformed into the monstrous Koshchei.

After being sent to infiltrate the Forgotten Heroes as a spy for the government, Flag was then recruited to lead the new Suicide Squad formed by Amanda Waller, a role he reluctantly assumed.  Immediately, Rick showed signs of instability, which were worsened when Karin Grace became the team's medic.  Flag hated working with the criminals under his command and his mental instability soon worsened.  He later learned that he is not the son of Rick Flag Sr., but actually a soldier named Anthony Miller who was brainwashed by General Wade Eiling into believing he was Flag's son.

Suicide Squad is currently scheduled to be released on August 5, 2016.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

THE FLASH Casts Devon Graye as The Trickster


Looks like Mark Hamill has a new apprentice...

ComicBook.com has revealed that the hit CW series The Flash has cast Devon Graye as DC Comics character Axel Walker, better known to Flash fans as the second Trickster.

Graye will join Hamill, who is reprising his 1990-91 television role of James Jesse, the original Trickster, in Episode 17 of the show's first season.  The episode was originally described "In this new iteration, The Trickster is an anarchist terrorist con man serving a life sentence in Iron Heights who helps Barry (Grant Gustin) and Det. West (Jesse L. Martin) to foil the city-wide attacks of a wannabe Trickster eagerly following in the original's deadly footsteps.  The episode will reunite him with John Wesley Shipp who went up against him as the original 'Flash' on the CBS version."

The 27-year-old actor is best known as the teenaged Dexter Morgan on the Showtime series Dexter.  He's also had various guest appearances on the television series American Horror Story: Asylum, Body of Proof, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Leverage, CSI: Miami, and Bones.

Created in 2002 by Geoff Johns and Scott Kolins, Axel Walker first appeared in The Flash (vol.2) #183 as a teenager who stole all of the first Trickster's gadgets while James Jesse was working for the FBI.  After briefly joining the supervillain Blacksmith, the second Trickster was invited to join the Rogues under Captain Cold's leadership.

In the current New 52 continuity, the Trickster was a member of the Black Razors, a team that dealt with an invasion by the Daemonites.  Now with the Rogues, Walker attempted to reason with Grodd during an invasion of Central City and ended up losing his right hand.

The Flash airs Tuesday nights on The CW at 8:00 p.m. EST.