NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE 117: "Time and the Rani" is Up!

"You're going to take some getting used to."
"I'll grow on you, Mel.  I'll grow on you."

-- Melanie "Mel" Bush and The Seventh Doctor, Doctor Who: "Time and the Rani"

After finally returning from the Time Vortex, my partner in time Jesse Jackson and I are back with a new episode of Next Stop Everywhere!  This time, we review "Time and the Rani", the first serial of Doctor Who Season 24 in 1987, featuring Sylvester McCoy's first story as the Seventh Doctor, Bonnie Langford as Melanie "Mel" Bush, and Kate O'Mara as The Rani!

In this episode, Jesse and I discuss things like the return of Jesse as Captain Grumpy, my 2 a.m. email from Jesse, watching Doctor Who Series 11 on Sundays, Jodie Whittaker's first episode "The Woman Who Fell to Earth", trying to figure out when we'll record our Series 11 episodes, our upcoming new co-host Karen Lindsay getting kidney stones, Jodie Whittaker's Thirteenth Doctor sounding like the Ninth Doctor but acting like the Eleventh Doctor, BBC America not having any classic Doctors in their "13 Days of Doctor Who" marathon, Pip and Jane Baker writing "Time and the Rani" without knowing who the Seventh Doctor was or what his personality was supposed to be, Sylvester McCoy's Colin Baker wig, Jesse wanting to put classic Doctor Who out of its misery, Sylvester McCoy's charm, Bonnie Langford's Mel not meeting her potential, Kate O'Mara's big '80s hair, the McCoy era's Doctor Who logo and new CGI effects, the Rani's overly involved plan, the Rani impersonating Mel, Dan Aykroyd's Saturday Night Live catchphrase "Jane, you ignorant slut," the Rani's spinning globes of death, Sylvester McCoy wanting to ditch his question-mark pullover, my Reverse the Reverse the Polarity segment, new listener feedback from Paul from Australia, David K. Proctor, Holly from Wisconsin, Fred Firestine & Ken Schaefer, and more!

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Be sure to come back in two weeks as Jesse and I go back into the TARDIS and review "The Christmas Invasion", the 2005 Christmas Special featuring David Tennant's first story as the Tenth Doctor, Billie Piper as Rose Tyler, Noel Clarke as Mickey Smith, and Camille Coduri as Jackie Tyler!  Look for more of Next Stop Everywhere on iTunes, Google Play Music, YouTube, Libsyn, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and the official Southgate Media Group website!

BIRDS OF PREY Casts Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Black Canary & Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress

The Birds of Prey are ready to take flight.

Deadline is reporting that Warner Bros. has decided on who will play DC Comics superheroes Black Canary and Huntress in the upcoming film adaptation of Birds of Prey, joining Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn.  The film will be directed by Cathy Yan

Jurnee Smollett-Bell, 31, will play Dinah Laurel Lance, better known as Black Canary.  Smollett-Bell is probably best known as Nicole Wright on the HBO series True Blood and as Jess Merriweather on the series Friday Night Lights.  Her other films include Hands of Stone, Gridiron Gang, Eve's Bayou, and Jack, while her other TV appearances include episodes of Underground, Parenthood, Grey's Anatomy, House, ER, NYPD Blue, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, and Full House.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead, 33, is playing Helena Bertinelli, a.k.a. The Huntress.  Winstead is best known as Ramona Flowers in the movie Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and as Lucy Gennero-McClane in Live Free or Die Hard and A Good Day to Die Hard.  Her other films include 10 Cloverfield Lane, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, The Thing (2011), Death Proof, Sky High, Final Destination 3, and The Ring Two.  In addition, her TV appearances include episodes of Fargo, The Returned, Tru Calling, Wolf Lake, and Passions.

According to the article, Winstead was up against Sofia Boutella, Cristin Milioti, and Margaret Qualley for Huntress, while the role of Black Canary was between Smollett-Bell and Gugu Mbatha-Raw.

Created in 1947 by Robert Kanigher and Carmine Infantino, Black Canary first appeared in Flash Comics #86 as Dinah Drake, a florist who operated as a crimefighting vigilante on Earth-2 and eventually joined the Justice Society of America before moving to Earth-1 and joining the Justice League of America.  There, she began a relationship with JLA colleague Green Arrow and discovered that she has developed an ultrasonic scream, the "Canary Cry."  In 1983's Justice League of America (vol.1) #219, it was revealed that the JLA's Black Canary was actually Dinah Laurel Lance, the daughter of Dinah Drake and her husband Larry Lance.  In 1995, Black Canary was recruited by Oracle, the former Batgirl, as an operative for a covert-mission team that became unofficially known as the Birds of Prey.

As for the Huntress, she was created in 1977 by Paul Levitz and Joe Staton, first appearing in DC Super-Stars #17 as Helena Wayne, the daughter of the Earth-2 Batman and Catwoman.  A criminal named Silky Cernak blackmailed his old boss Selina Kyle into resuming action once again as Catwoman, an act which eventually led to her death.  Helena, vowing to bring Cernak to justice, created a costume for herself, fashioned some weapons from her parents' equipment (including her eventual trademark, a crossbow), and set out to bring him in.  After accomplishing this, Helena decided to continue to fight crime as The Huntress.  She soon joined the Justice Society of America and later Infinity, Inc., but was killed in 1986 during the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths.  In 1989, Joey Cavalieri and Joe Staton revamped the character in The Huntress (vol.1) #1 as Helena Bertinelli, who was born into one of Gotham City's most prominent Mafia families.  Her parents, Guido and Carmela, sent her to a boarding school and assign a bodyguard for her protection where she learned all forms of combat.  After witnessing the mob-ordered murder of her parents at the age of 19, she vowed to put an end to the Mafia as the Huntress.  In 2003, writer Gail Simone added Huntress to the Birds of Prey, after being recruited by Oracle to rescue the critically injured Black Canary.

This will be the second time the Birds of Prey will appear in live action, after the short-lived Birds of Prey television series, which aired on the WB network from 2002-2003 and starred Ashley Scott as Huntress and Rachel Skarsten as Dinah Lance.

Birds of Prey is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on February 7, 2020.

Marvel Studios Taps Chloé Zhao to Direct THE ETERNALS

Waiting for this movie will feel eternal.

The Hollywood Reporter has word that Marvel Studios has chosen Chloé Zhao as director for The Eternals, based on the classic Marvel comic series created by Jack Kirby.

According to the article, the search narrowed in the last few weeks, with a shortlist consisting of Watchmen TV pilot director Nicole Kassell, Travis Knight (Bumblebee, Kubo and the Two Strings), along with Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra (Birds of Passage).  Zhao "was already well known to Marvel as she went down the road with the company on Black Widow, the standalone featuring Scarlett Johansson's spy heroine.  That gig ultimately went to Cate Shortland."

In addition, the article states the film will include "the love story between Ikaris, a man fueled by cosmic energy, and Sersi, who relishes moving amongst humans."

Zhao, 36, is a Chinese film director, screenwriter, and producer who directed the acclaimed independent films The Rider and Songs My Brothers Taught Me.

Created in 1976 by Jack Kirby, the Eternals first appeared in The Eternals (vol.1) #1 as an offshoot of the evolutionary process that created sentient life on Earth.  When the Celestials visited Earth five million years ago and performed genetic experiments on early proto-humanity, they created two divergent races: the long-lived Eternals, and the genetically unstable and monstrously grotesque Deviants.  These experiments also led to the capacity for super-powered mutations in humans.  They also performed this experiment on other planets (such as the Kree and Skrull homeworlds) with similar results.

Eternals can be killed if their molecules are dispersed over a large enough area and there are few Eternals due to their low birth rate.  Even though Eternals and humans are capable of having children together when they mate, when a child is born of such a union the baby will always be human.  Eternals have sworn to protect humans from their cousins, the Deviants, and also have higher technology than the human race.  

The Eternals faced a civil war over if they should conquer other races.  One side was led by Kronos, who said they shouldn't, while the other was lead by Uranos.  Kronos' side won, causing Uranos to leave Earth and travel to Uranus, where he and the rest built a civilization.  Uranos and his group built a spaceship and attempted to return to Earth to start another war, but they were attacked by a Kree ship.  The survivors among Uranos' group were forced to land on Titan, Saturn's moon, giving rise to an Eternal civilization there.  The Kree captured one of the Eternals and did experiments on him, which led the Kree to go to Earth and experiment on humans.  This led to another offshoot of humanity, the Inhumans, that were powerful but not on the Eternals' level.

When the Celestials returned to judge the worthiness of their creations, the Eternals found themselves clashing with the Deviants again, and decided to publicly reveal their existence to humanity.  Kronos' son Zuras feared what would happen if the Celestials judged unfavorably.  They encountered the Asgardian god Thor, and were attacked by Thor's father Odin and the Olympian gods, who tried to prevent their interfering with the gods' plans to attack the Celestials.  Eventually, the Eternals decided to help the gods and formed a Uni-Mind to assist the assault on the Celestials.  They were forced to dissolve back into Eternals by the Celestials, and the shock of the attack killed Zuras.  Before his spirit fully left the material plane, he instructed his daughter Thena to take his people to explore space.  Most of the Eternals did so in the form of a Uni-Mind, but a handful – those most heavily involved in Earthly affairs – remained behind on Earth.  Since then, the Eternals have helped Earth's heroes, particularly the Avengers, against several menaces.

CBS All Access Reveals STAR TREK: SHORT TREKS Mini-Episodes

Get ready to discover more of Star Trek: Discovery.

CBS All Access has revealed the episodes for Star Trek: Short Treks, a new series of four stand-alone mini-episodes leading up for the Season 2 premiere of Star Trek: Discovery in early 2019.  Each mini-episode will run approximately 10 to 15 minutes and "will be an opportunity for fans to dive deeper into key themes and characters that fit into the Star Trek: Discovery and expanding Star Trek universe."

Each of the Star Trek: Short Treks episode will center on a key character, including familiar faces from Star Trek: Discovery:  Mary Wiseman (Tilly), Doug Jones (Saru), and Rainn Wilson (Harry Mudd), as well as a new character unfamiliar to fans, Craft, played by Aldis Hodge.

The four installments of Star Trek: Short Treks will roll out as follows:

"Runaway" – Thursday, October 4, 2018

Onboard the U.S.S. Discovery, Ensign Tilly (Mary Wiseman) encounters an unexpected visitor in need of help.  However, this unlikely pair may have more in common than meets the eye.  Written by Jenny Lumet & Alex Kurtzman.  Directed by Maja Vrvilo.

"Calypso" – Thursday, November 8, 2018

After waking up in an unfamiliar sickbay, Craft (Aldis Hodge) finds himself to be on board a deserted ship, his only companion and hope for survival, an A.I. computer interface. Teleplay by Michael Chabon.  Story by Sean Cochran and Michael Chabon.  Directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi.

"The Brightest Star" – Thursday, December 6, 2018

Before he was the first Kelpien to join Starfleet, Saru (Doug Jones) lived a simple life on his home planet Kaminar with his father and sister.  Young Saru, full of ingenuity and a level of curiosity uncommon among his people, yearns to find out what lies beyond his village, leading him on an unexpected path.  Written by Bo Yeon Kim & Erika Lippoldt.  Directed by Douglas Aarniokoski.

"The Escape Artist" – Thursday, January 3, 2019

Harry Mudd (Rainn Wilson), back to his old tricks of stealing and double-dealing, finds himself in a precarious position aboard a hostile ship—just in time to try out his latest con. Written by Michael McMahan.  Directed by Rainn Wilson.

In addition, CBS All Access released the following video teaser for Star Trek: Short Treks on their official YouTube account, which you can check out below...

STARGIRL Casts Brec Bassinger as...Stargirl

There's a Stargirl waiting in the sky. 

Deadline has word that the upcoming DC Universe series Stargirl, based on the DC Comics superhero, has cast Brec Bassinger in the lead role of Stargirl/Courtney Whitmore. The series will be thirteen episodes and will be written and executive produced by Geoff Johns, who co-created the character and based her on his deceased sister Courtney.

The official description for Stargirl states Courtney is "smart, athletic and above all else kind. This high school teenager’s seemingly perfect life hits a major speedbump when her mother gets married and her new family moves from Los Angeles, California to Blue Valley, Nebraska.  Struggling to adapt to a new school, make new friends and deal with a new step-family, Courtney discovers her step-father has a secret -- he used to be the sidekick to a superhero.  'Borrowing' the long-lost hero’s cosmic staff, Courtney becomes the unlikely inspiration for an entirely new generation of superheroes."

Stargirl follows High School sophomore Courtney Whitmore, who inspires an unlikely group of young heroes to stop the villains of the past. This new DC Universe series reimagines Stargirl and the very first superhero team, the Justice Society of America, in a fun, exciting and unpredictable series premiering in 2019, produced by Warner Bros. Television, Mad Ghost Productions and Berlanti Productions.

"There is no other character in comic books more special to me than Stargirl," said Johns, "and after searching far and wide, I can say there is no other actor on the planet that embodies her more than Brec Bassinger. Brec’s warmth, strength, humor and positive energy are core to who Courtney Whitmore is. I’m so grateful she’s signed on for the role."

Bassinger, 19, is best known as Bella Dawson on the Nickelodeon series Bella and the Bulldogs, and has appeared episodes of the TV series The Goldbergs, School of Rock, and The Haunted Hathaways.

Created in 1999 by Geoff Johns and Lee Moder, Stargirl first appeared in DCU Heroes Secret Files #1 as Courtney Whitmore, the stepdaughter of Pat Dugan, who once worked with the original Star-Spangled Kid, Sylvester Pemberton, as his crimefighting partner Stripesy.  Courtney found the original Star-Spangled Kid's gear in her stepfather's belongings and donned the costume to annoy Dugan, resenting his marrying her mother and moving the family from Los Angeles to Blue Valley, Nebraska.  Dugan, a skilled mechanic, designed and built S.T.R.I.P.E., a robotic suit that he used to accompany and protect her.

Courtney later joined the Justice Society of America, and after being given Starman Jack Knight's cosmic staff, she changed her identity to Stargirl.  She soon discovered her biological father (Sam Kurtis) working as a common thug for an incarnation of the Royal Flush Gang.  They later confronted one another during one of the Royal Flush Gang's robberies.  Courtney was later approached by the Shade, who informed her that her biological father was dead.  This tragedy, and her experience of the relationship between Liberty Belle and Jesse Quick, prompted her to re-evaluate her family life.  She realized that she couldn't hate her biological father for his failings as a father and as a man, and also learned to accept Pat Dugan as her only real father figure.

In the current New 52 continuity, Stargirl joined the new Justice League of America, chosen by Amanda Waller as the public face of the JLA's PR campaign.  After the disbandment of the JLA following the Forever Evil crossover event, Stargirl joined Justice League United.

Bassinger will be the third actress to portray Stargirl in live-action, after Britt Irvin in several episodes of the WB/CW series Smallville, and Sarah Grey in the CW series Legends of Tomorrow.  The character has also appeared on the animated series Justice League Unlimited (voiced by Giselle Loren), Batman: The Brave and the Bold (voiced by Hope Levy), and Justice League Action (voiced by Natalie Lander).

Stargirl is expected to debut on DC Universe sometime in 2019.

New DOCTOR WHO Series 11 Trailer Shows Who's in Charge

When people need help, the Doctor never refuses.

The second trailer for Doctor Who Series 11 has been released, giving fans another glimpse of what to expect when the BBC series returns early next month.

The new 60-second full trailer opens with a shot of an asteroid field, followed by a sped-up sunrise of twin suns on a planet with two moons.  This is followed by an overhead shot of a parked alien spacecraft, and the Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) emerging from a small sandstorm.

"I'm the Doctor," she says to someone off-camera.  "When people need help, I never refuse."

In a separate scene, the Doctor and her companions, Ryan Sinclair (Tosin Cole), Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill) and Graham O'Brien (Bradley Walsh), are arguing about what to do next with an unidentified man.

"What do we do?" asks Yasmin.

"Why are you asking her?" asks the off-camera man.

"'Cause she's in charge, bro," replies Ryan.

"Says who?" asks the skeptical man.

"Says us," Yasmin, Ryan and Graham reply in unison.

In another scene, the Doctor tells her companions "Let's get a shift on!" just before they all start running and dodging laser weapon fire.

At that moment, the song "Glorious" by Macklemore featuring Skylar Grey begins to play as we're barraged by quick flashes of Graham pressing a detonator with his thumb and causing an explosion, the Doctor staggering through corridors that are sparking for some reason, Ryan opening a cabinet and being shocked by something, the Doctor and her companions silhouetted against an alien coastline, the Doctor wearing welding goggles, and the Doctor and her companions walking through a London park while the Doctor studies her Sonic Screwdriver.

Next, we see the Doctor, still wearing the Twelfth Doctor's shredded clothes, telling someone off-camera, "I'm just a traveler."  This is followed by glimpses of the Doctor entering a room where her companions and two other men are waiting, and the Doctor using her Sonic Screwdriver as Ryan and another young woman look on.  "Sometimes I see things need fixing, do what I can."

Then, we see the Doctor and some armed people being confronted at night by a giant black spider-like creature, followed by Ryan and Graham running from said creature.

This is followed by Yasmin kicking a tied-up bag of clothes or a small blanket down a corridor, the spaceship from earlier dropping out of warp in space, the Doctor watching as a strange mass of cables scuttles along above her, and finally, the Doctor in a bright white room, kissing her hand and waving goodbye to someone off-screen.

If you'd like to view the new trailer, you can check it out below, thanks to the official Doctor Who account on YouTube...




Doctor Who returns to BBC America for Series 11 on Sunday, October 7th.

GHOSTWOOD 041: "The Last Evening" is Up!

"One more question, Jacques.  You know, Leo told me all about that night up at the cabin with the girls.  I’m curious about the chip, how’d that happen?"

"(Laughs) It was that crazy bird."

"Bird?"

"It had a thing for Laura.  Sayin' her name all the time like he’s in love or somethin'.  So we’re all partying, girls are all getting pretty high, everybody’s pretty crazy."

"You, Laura and Ronette."

"Leo lets Waldo out of the cage and the bird, he lands on her shoulder.  (Laughs) Laura, she’s all tied up.  Oh, she like that.  The bird, he starts peckin' on her shoulder, peckin' like, love pecks or somethin', (Laughs) you know what I mean.  So Leo, he’s doin' a number on her and Laura, she’s screamin' about the damn bird.  So Leo takes out a chip, puts it in her mouth, and says 'Bite the bullet, baby, bite the bullet'.  (Laughs)"

"Thanks for clearing that up."

-- Dale Cooper and Jacques Renault, Twin Peaks: "The Last Evening"

It is happening again...My co-host with the most Xan Sprouse and I are back with a new episode of Ghostwood: The Twin Peaks Podcast!  This time, we continue our commentary tracks as we watch "The Last Evening," the Twin Peaks Season One finale, featuring the arrest and murder of Jacques Renault, the Packard Sawmill going up in flames, and the cliffhanger shooting of Special Agent Dale Cooper!

LET'S ROCK!

In our latest episode, Xan and I discuss things like the MC Chris "Twin Peaks" song, my Star Trek: The Next Generation Monopoly set, the passing of Burt Reynolds, Grandpa Beers, Paul Williams as The Penguin, the results of my first ten Twin Peaks 2018 trading card packs, "The Last Evening" deleted scene, Xan's hatred of Claude Rains, tuning out the floor-sweeping scene in "The Return", Dr. Jacoby's drink umbrella collection, Dr. Jacoby's parallel to Miriam Sullivan, Cooper playing blackjack, Blackie's card tricks, the creepy close-up on Jacques' mouth, Leo liking his women blinded by shampoo, Jack Palance in Batman, Andy's most badass moment ever, me being a Latchkey Kid to the extreme, Leo blaming Shelly for breaking his non-existent heart, Nadine's suicide attempt, Hank Jennings having antlers, Josie Packard's new AB+ lipstick shade, more of Catherine being a sociopath, Andy finding out Lucy is pregnant, Hank manipulating Norma's emotions, James making Cooper a mix tape, Leo not being able to set a VCR clock, One Eyed Jack's hunchback seamstress, Cooper literally leaving Andy hanging, the John Justice Wheeler Saga vs. the James Hurley Saga, Xan preparing for her trip to South Africa, and more!

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Be sure to come back in three weeks as Xan and I continue our commentary tracks as we watch "May the Giant Be with You," the Twin Peaks Season Two premiere, featuring the first appearance of Carel Struycken as The Giant, Audrey Horne's awkward encounter with her father at One Eyed Jack's, and Ronette Pulaski waking up from her coma!  Look for more of Ghostwood: The Twin Peaks Podcast on iTunes, YouTube, Libsyn, and the official Southgate Media Group website!

First CAPTAIN MARVEL Trailer Teases Young Nick Fury & The Skrulls

She's not what you think she is.

Marvel Studios has released the first trailer for Captain Marvel, the upcoming film based on the Marvel Comics character, starring Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn.

The one-minute, 55-second teaser trailer opens with Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers (Larson), a former U.S. Air Force pilot, plummeting to Earth from high above and crashing into...a Blockbuster Video store.  Yep, this is the '90s, all right.

As Captain Marvel recovers while surrounded by VHS tapes, we hear a voiceover from Nick Fury (Jackson), who says, "War is a universal language.  I know a renegade soldier when I see one.  It never occurred to me that one might come from above."

We see Carol wearing a S.H.I.E.L.D. ball cap exploring a secret facility, as Nick Fury continues with his voiceover.  "Space invasion...big car chase...Truth be told, I was ready to hang it up, 'till I met you today."

The much younger, '90s Nick Fury comes into full view as we cut to a scene of he and Carol driving along a remote desert road.  "So," Fury begins, "you're not from around here."

"It's hard to explain," replies Carol.

She continues in a voiceover.  "I keep having these...memories," she says as we see a fleeting image of Carol in a flight uniform with her fellow pilot, Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch), the mother of another Captain Marvel from the comics, Monica Rambeau.  "I see flashes.  I think I had a life here...but I can't tell if it's real."

We see another quick image of Captain Marvel hanging upside down, forcibly restrained, as an alien device is doing something to her mind.  We also see Captain Marvel with other members of the Kree military group known as Starforce, followed by a brief shot of Mar-Vell (Jude Law), Carol's mentor and commander in Starforce.

As we glimpse the film's big bad Talos (Mendelsohn) and some other alien shapeshifter Skrulls on a beach, we hear Fury's voiceover say, "We have no idea what threats are out there."  Captain Marvel sizes up an old woman on a bus, and (presumably knowing she's actually a Skrull in disguise), suddenly punches her hard.

We see a fleeting image of a much younger, '90s Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg), Fury continues with "You can't do this alone.  We need you."  More images follow, including Captain Marvel and other Starforce members traveling underwater, with Carol wearing the helmet from the comics that gives her hair a "fauxhawk" look.

In a separate scene, Carol tells someone, "I'm not what you think I am."

The trailer ends with very dramatic music, as Captain Marvel powers up with glowing energy, her eyes blazing with power, and gets ready to pound some Skrulls.

If you'd like to check out the trailer, you can view it below thanks to the official Marvel Entertainment account on YouTube...



Captain Marvel is scheduled to arrive in theaters on March 8, 2019.

JOKER Recasts Brett Cullen as Batman's Father, Thomas Wayne

Looks like someone else will get to be murdered in Crime Alley instead.

ComicBook.com is reporting that Todd Phillips' upcoming Joker origin movie starring Joaquin Phoenix has recast Brett Cullen as DC Comics character Dr. Thomas Wayne, the father of Batman himself, Bruce Wayne.  In addition to Phoenix, Cullen joins a cast that includes Robery De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Marc Maron, and Frances Conroy.

Last month, Alec Baldwin was cast as Thomas Wayne, but shortly dropped out due to a scheduling conflict.  According to previous reports, this version of Thomas Wayne will depict him as "a cheesy and tanned businessman who is more in the mold of a 1980s Donald Trump."

Cullen, 62, has appeared in dozens of films, including The Dark Knight Rises as Congressman Byron Gilley, Ghost Rider as Barton Blaze, Apollo 13, Wyatt Earp, Red Dawn (2012), The Runaways, 42, and National Security.  His television appearances include episodes of Lost, The Incredible Hulk, Tales from the Crypt, M*A*S*H, V: The Series, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The Outer Limits (1998), Under the Dome, Castle, Ally McBeal, Walker, Texas Ranger, Once and Again, Without a Trace, Cold Case, Falcon Crest, Monk, CSI: Miami, NCIS, Desperate Housewives, The Young Riders, Criminal Minds, Ghost Whisperer, Private Practice, Ugly Betty, and Friday Night Lights.

Created in 1939 by Bill Finger, Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson, Thomas Wayne first appeared in Detective Comics (vol.1) #33 as a gifted physician and philanthropist to Gotham City, who inherited the Wayne family fortune after Patrick Wayne.  In the maxi-series Batman: The Long Halloween, a flashback revealed that Thomas Wayne saved the life of gangster Carmine Falcone.  Falcone's father, Vincent Falcone, came to Wayne Manor and begged Thomas to save his dying son, who had been shot by rival gangster Luigi Maroni.  Thomas wanted to take the younger Falcone to the hospital, but Vincent insisted that nobody know about the shooting.  After saving Carmine's life, he was offered a reward or favor, but refused to accept any form of payment.

One night, when exiting a movie theatre, Thomas and his wife Martha Wayne were murdered by a mugger named Joe Chill, right in front of their son Bruce. This tragedy shocked Gotham and led to Park Row, the street where the murders occurred, being labeled Crime Alley.  The Wayne murders were the main cause of much of the corruption and crime in Gotham City.  Once it became clear that even wealthy, important people could be murdered so easily, citizens began to lose faith in the police, and the police themselves started to lose faith in their importance, leading to corruption within the force.  More importantly, however, the murders deeply affected Bruce as a child, later serving as the motivation for Bruce to eventually to fight crime as the superhero Batman.

Cullen will be the sixth actor to portray Thomas Wayne on screen, after David Baxt in the 1989 film Batman, Michael Scranton in the film Batman Forever, Linus Roache in the film Batman Begins, Grayson McCouch in the Fox series Gotham, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan in the movie Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Joker is currently expected to arrive in theaters on October 4, 2019.

The CW Arrowverse Casts Elizabeth Tulloch as Lois Lane

Hi, Lois Lane.  Welcome to the planet.

Deadline has word that The CW Arrowverse has cast Elizabeth "Bitsie" Tulloch as legendary DC Comics character Lois Lane.  The character will make her debut as part of the annual DC Arrowverse crossover involving CW shows The Flash, Arrow and Supergirl.

It's not known how many episodes Tulloch will appear as Lois, but Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman will be featured in all three episodes.

In an earlier statement from August, Supergirl executive producers Jessica Queller and Robert Rovner said, "We couldn't be more excited to introduce Lois Lane to the Arrowverse.  This dogged, determined and brave reporter will make for a strong partner to Superman and amazing addition to our universe of DC characters."

Tulloch, 38, is probably best known as Juliette Silverton/Eve on the NBC series Grimm.  She has appeared in the films Concussion and The Artist, and on episodes of Portlandia, Tyranny, Outlaw, Moonlight, House, Cold Case, and The West Wing.

Created in 1938 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Lois Lane first appeared in Action Comics (vol.1) #1 as an aggressive, career-minded reporter for the Daily Star (the newspaper's name was changed to the Daily Planet in Action Comics (vol.1) #23 in 1940).  After Clark Kent joined the paper and Superman debuted around the same time, Lois found herself attracted to Superman but displeased with her new journalistic competition in the form of Kent.  Starting early as the 1940s, Lois began to suspect that Clark Kent was Superman, and started to make various attempts at uncovering his secret identity, all of which backfired because of Superman's efforts.

In 1986, after DC Comics rebooted its entire continuity following the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths, writer/artist John Byrne revamped Lois in the miniseries The Man of Steel (vol.1) as a former Army brat and tough-as-nails reporter who rarely needed rescuing.  She was depicted as strong, opinionated, yet sensitive.  Another major change made was that Lois did not fall in love with just Superman, although she was attracted to him.  Lois initially resented the rookie Clark Kent getting the story on Superman as his first piece when she had spent ages trying to get an interview.  Following Clark's brief rampage under the influence of the Eradicator, Lois was hesitant to forgive Clark for "selling out" to Collin Thornton and running Newstime Magazine, but forgave him in a span of mere minutes when he returned to "grovel for his job back".  Clark elected to repay Lois by finally letting go of his self-imposed inhibitions and passionately kissed her. The two became a couple, and eventually, Lois accepted a proposal of marriage.

Before they were able to be married, however, Superman died in Lois' arms after a battle royal with the monster Doomsday.  After a period of time, Superman returned to life, and both he and Lois resumed their relationship.  Upon discovering Clark still had her wedding ring within a handkerchief, Lois warmly broke down, teasing Clark and finally agreeing to become his wife.  In 1996, Lois and Clark were finally married in the comic book Superman: The Wedding Album.

In 2011, DC once again rebooted its entire continuity with The New 52, but just four years later, the pre-Flashpoint Lois and Clark returned in the miniseries Convergence, with had them dealing with the impending birth of their child, as Superman is called to protect the city.  Their son, Jonathan Samuel Kent, was born shortly after and eventually began to develop superpowers of his own as he grew older and learned the truth about his parents' true origins.

Tulloch will be the eighth actress to portray Lois Lane in live action, after Noel Neill in the movie serials Superman (1948) and Atom Man vs. Superman, and Adventures of Superman TV series; Phyllis Coates in the movie Superman and the Mole Men and Adventures of Superman; Margot Kidder in the four Superman films starring Christopher Reeve; Teri Hatcher in the TV series Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman; Erica Durance in the TV series Smallville; Kate Bosworth in the film Superman Returns; and Amy Adams in the movies Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Justice League.

The three-night Arrowverse crossover event begins with The Flash on December 9th, followed by Arrow on December 10th, and ending with Supergirl on December 11th.

Henry Cavill Out as Superman, WB Shifts Focus to SUPERGIRL Movie

Henry Cavill is up, up...and away.

The Hollywood Reporter has word that Warner Bros. is parting ways with Henry Cavill, who portrayed DC Comics' legendary character Superman in Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Justice League.

According to the article, Warner Bros. had been trying to get Cavill to do a Superman cameo in the upcoming DC Extended Universe movie Shazam!, but contract talks between Cavill's representatives and Warner Bros. broke down, affecting other potential Superman appearances.

One of THR's sources at Warner Bros. said the Shazam! deal fell apart because of scheduling conflicts, supported by previous reports that Cavill recently signed on to star in the Netflix series The Witcher.  However, another THR source stated that the Witcher commitment came after the impasse, suggesting a change in Warner Bros.' strategy.  "There's a recognition that some parts of the previous movies didn't work," said their studio insider.  Another source said Warner Bros. is attempting a "reset button with the DC universe", moving the cinematic universe in another direction. 

A statement from a Warner Bros. spokesperson remarked, "While no decisions have been made regarding any upcoming Superman films, we’ve always had great respect for and a great relationship with Henry Cavill, and that remains unchanged."

Cavill, 35, was cast as Superman in January 2011 for Man of Steel and recently appeared in the hit film Mission: Impossible--Fallout.  He's also appeared in the films The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Stardust, Immortals, The Cold Light of Day, Tristan & Isolde, Hellraiser: Hellworld, and The Count of Monte Cristo (2002).  He also played Charles Brandon on the Showtime series The Tudors.

In addition, the article claims the studio has shifted its focus to developing the Supergirl movie, which will be an origin story.  They also state that Warner Bros. isn't likely to make a solo Superman film for at least several years, according their source.  "Superman is like James Bond," said the source, "and after a certain run you have to look at new actors."

SWAMP THING Reportedly Casts Derek Mears as...Swamp Thing

Do not bring your evil here.

Splash Report has revealed that the upcoming DC Universe series Swamp Thing, based on the DC Comics elemental creature, is considering Derek Mears for the title role.  It remains unclear, however, who will be playing Dr. Alec Holland, the scientist whose consciousness and memories form the basis for Swamp Thing.

Swamp Thing follows Abby Arcane (Crystal Reed) as she investigates what seems to be a deadly swamp-born virus in a small town in Louisiana but soon discovers that the swamp holds mystical and terrifying secrets.  When unexplainable and chilling horrors emerge from the murky marsh, no one is safe.

The live-action DC Universe adaptation will be executive produced by Len Wiseman (Sleepy Hollow) who will also direct the pilot. Mark Verheiden (Battlestar Galactica, Netflix’s Daredevil) and Gary Dauberman (It) are attached to co-write the series and act as showrunners, with James Wan (Aquaman) set to executive produce the series alongside Verheiden, Dauberman, and Michael Clear.  The series is set to start filming this fall in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Mears, 46, is best known as Jason Vorhees in the 2009 reboot of Friday the 13th, the supervillain Dwarfstar on The CW's The Flash, and as Renzo in the 2017 revival of Twin Peaks.  He's also appeared in the movies Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014), Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, and Predators.  His other television appearances include episodes of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Comedy Bang! Bang!, Community, E.R., and The Shield.

Created in 1971 by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson, Swamp Thing first appeared in House of Secrets #92 as Alex Olsen, a talented young scientist in early 1900's Louisiana, who was married to a woman named Linda.  Alex's assistant, Damian Ridge, was secretly in love with Linda and plotted the death of his friend.  He tampered with Olsen's chemicals, killing him in the explosion and dumped his body in the nearby swamp. Ridge used Linda's grief to convince her to marry him, only to one day become confronted with Alex Olsen again, now a risen humanoid pile of vegetable matter.  Olsen killed Ridge, but Linda did not recognize him and ran away leaving Olsen to wander the swamps alone as a monster.

The character was reinvented by Wein and Wrightson a year in Swamp Thing (vol.1) #1 as Dr. Alec Holland, a scientist who worked in a secret facility located in the Louisiana swamplands with his wife, Linda.  Together, they invented a bio-restorative formula that could solve any nations' food shortage problems.  Two thugs working for Nathan Ellery, head of the criminal organization The Conclave, barged into Alec's lab, knocked him out, and planted a bomb in the facility.  Alec woke up as the bomb exploded, and in flames, he ran into the swamp.  His body was drenched in the bio-restorative formula, and this affected the plant life of the swamp, imbuing it with Alec's consciousness and memories.  The newly conscious plant life formed a semblance of a human and rose up from the bog as the Swamp Thing, the latest in a long line of Earth elementals created when The Green is in need of protection.

The Swamp Thing originally thought that he was Alec Holland, transformed by the freak accident into a monster.  He sought to regain his human body, but often met opposition in the form of Anton Arcane and his ever-growing legion of "Un-Men".  After finally defeating Arcane, Swamp Thing was set upon by General Sunderland's men in a covert military operation.  The resulting attack blastws a hole in Swamp Thing's head and destroyed the lives of many of his friends.  Sunderland brought the Swamp Thing's body back to Sunderland Corporation to study and unlock the secret of the Bio-Restorative Formula.

Sunderland hired Jason Woodrue, the Floronic Man, to study Swamp Thing's body, which he stored in a cryochest.  Over the course of his research, Floronic Man deduced that Swamp Thing is a plant that thinks it's Alec Holland, while the real Alec Holland died in the explosion.  Sunderland and Floronic Man parted on bad terms, so the scientist used Sunderland's automated computer systems to raise the thermostat in Swamp Thing's cryochest.  This allowed Swamp Thing's body to regenerate, and in his search for Sunderland, he stumbled across the Floronic Man's report, which sent him into a mindless rage.  He killed Sunderland and set off for the swamps.

Later on, Swamp Thing formed a close friendship with Anton Arcane's niece, Abby Cable. Her husband Matthew grew resentful of her disinterest in sex and turned to alcohol, further pushing her toward the Swamp Thing.  She asks for his help when her autistic students at Elysium Lawns are tormented by Kamara, the Monkey-King, and on the same night the demon attacked, Matthew left to help Abby.  However, his alcoholism caused him to crash his car, mortally wounding him.  To stay alive, he made a pact with the spirit of Anton Arcane, who possessed his body.  After weeks, Abby realized that the man she thought was her husband was actually her uncle Anton.  Her feeling of disgust sent her into a horrible shock.  Swamp Thing confronted the possessed Matthew, and with the guidance of the monster, discovered Abby's body.  

Enraged that Arcane sent the "soul" of his niece to Hell, Swamp Thing beat Arcane to a pulp, allowing Matthew's trapped spirit to cast the soul of the sorcerer out of his body and back to the netherworld.  This returned Matthew's control of his body, but left him comatose.  To set things right, Swamp Thing traveled into The Green, the Spirit World, and Hell, all to reclaim Abby's soul.  He was forced to fight off a legion of the damned, including Anton Arcane, but he prevailed again with the help of Etrigan the Demon.  After Abby returned to life, Swamp Thing and Abby confessed their love for each other.  To celebrate the beginning of their relationship, Swamp Thing grew hallucinogenic tubers for Abby to eat, enabling her to see the world as he does.

Mears will be the second actor to portray Swamp Thing in live action, after Dick Durock in the films Swamp Thing and The Return of Swamp Thing, and the 1990 Swamp Thing TV series.  The character has also appeared in various animated projects, including the Swamp Thing animated series (voiced by Len Carlson), Justice League Dark (voiced by Roger R. Cross), Batman and Harley Quinn (voiced by John DiMaggio), and Justice League Action (voiced by Mark Hamill).

Swamp Thing is expected to debut on DC Universe sometime in 2019.