David Lynch, Visionary Filmmaker and Director of TWIN PEAKS, Dies at 78

 
And now it's dark.

David Lynch, the visionary director, writer and actor whose imagination and creativity explored places both wonderful and strange, died today at the age of 78.

Lynch's family announced his death in a Facebook post, following the announcement last year that he had been diagnosed with emphysema after a lifetime of smoking, and would likely not be able to leave his house to direct any longer.

Lynch received critical acclaim for his films, which are often distinguished by their surrealist, dreamlike qualities.  His first feature-length film was the independent surrealist film Eraserhead (1977), which found success as a midnight movie. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for the biographical drama The Elephant Man (1980), Best Director for the neo-noir thriller Blue Velvet (1986), and Best Director for the surrealist mystery Mulholland Drive (2001). His romantic crime drama Wild at Heart (1990) won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. In addition, he also directed the space opera adaptation Dune (1984), the surrealist neo-noir Lost Highway (1997), the biographical drama The Straight Story (1999), and the experimental film Inland Empire (2006). In 2019, Lynch was given the Academy Honorary Award at the Academy Awards for "for fearlessly breaking boundaries in pursuit of his singular cinematic vision."

Lynch and Mark Frost created the ABC series Twin Peaks (1990–91), which was nominated for five Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series, and Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series. Lynch co-wrote and directed its film prequel, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992), and its revival series Twin Peaks: The Return (2017). The revival was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series or Movie and Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series or Movie. In addition to directing the series, Lynch also portrayed FBI Deputy Director Gordon Cole, Special Agent Dale Cooper's supervisor.

In a post on Instagram, Twin Peaks, Dune and Blue Velvet star Kyle MacLachlan remarked, "David was in tune with the universe and his own imagination on a level that seemed to be the best version of human. He was not interested in answers because he understood that questions are the drive that make us who we are. They are our breath. While the world has lost a remarkable artist, I’ve lost a dear friend who imagined a future for me and allowed me to travel in worlds I could never have conceived on my own."

THE FANDOM ZONE 311: "The Iron Pot" Is Up!

 
"There are complex mating rituals between humans you don't understand, Bogdana. No one loves a woman who makes things too easy."
-- Eric Frankenstein to Bogdana, Creature Commandos -- "The Iron Pot"

Hello again, everyone! DJ Nik and I are back for another new episode of The Fandom Zone Podcast! This time, we discuss "The Iron Pot", the fifth episode from Creature Commandos Season One, starring the voices of Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., David Harbour as Eric Frankenstein, and Alan Tudyk as Clayface and Dr. Phosphorus!

In this episode, DJ Nik and I talk about things like Nik coming off a very big sports day, Creature Commandos getting a second season, our concern about Season One ending on a cliffhanger, Eric Frankenstein being a dichotomy of a character, Eric needing to let the Bride go, wondering how Clayface's appearance here will connect to Mike Flanagan's upcoming Clayface film, wondering if the Clayface film will be the DC Universe's version of The Substance, some comics background on Clayface, the variation on the Frankenstein story with Eric befriending a blind woman, Eric being too fixated on the Bride to remain with Bogdana, Eric choosing to kill Bogdana so she won't die alone, wondering what happened to Bogdana's dog after it followed Eric at the end, "Amanda McPherson" being really interested in the Themyscirans being lesbians, seeing cats on a leash in the real world, wondering when Clayface actually replaced Amanda McPherson, Clayface being an Xbox gamer, one last "Wassup!" for Alexi, looking forward to Nina Mazursky's spotlight episode, Eric not caring if Rick Flag Sr. dies and only looking out for his own self-interest, wondering if Rick's death will send Princess Ilana over the edge, our favorite quotes of the episode, my upcoming story for DC Comics' anthology DC's Lex and the City, Nik joining me on Next Stop Everywhere: The Doctor Who Podcast, hoping G.I. Robot returns in the Nina Mazursky spotlight episode, and more! 

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Be sure to come back next week when DJ Nik and I discuss "Priyatel Skelet", the sixth episode from Creature Commandos Season One, on The Fandom Zone Podcast!

DRUNK CINEMA 071: "After Hours" Is Up!

 
"Why don't you just go home?"
"Pal, I've been asking myself that all night."
-- Street Pickup and Paul Hackett, After Hours

Hello again, movie fans!  My wonderful co-host Xan Sprouse and I are back with a new episode of Drunk Cinema! This time, we watch After Hours, the 1985 dark comedy directed by Martin Scorcese, featuring Griffin Dunne as Paul Hackett, Rosanna Arquette as Marcy Franklin, Verna Bloom as June, and Teri Garr as Julie!

This time, Xan and I discuss things like Xan and I podcasting together for eight years, my getting Kiefer Sutherland's autograph for Xan at GalaxyCon 2024, paying tribute to the late Teri Garr, Griffin Dunne in Who's That Girl?, a real-life gangster from Johnny Dangerously offering to take care of the guy who killed Griffin Dunne's sister, Teri Garr as Roberta Lincoln in the Star Trek episode "Assignment: Earth", the C.H.U.D. acronym, the joys of MS-DOS, using a credit card to pay for cabs in the 1980s, Paul giving Kiki a massage, paper mache sex, the Wizard of Oz references you don't make during sex, mobs going after burglars, Teri Garr being in the Monkees movie Head, Cheech and Chong as art thieves, Greg Gumbel and Olivia Hussey dying on the same day, my growing up listening to "Is That All There Is?" by Peggy Lee on the Big Chuck & Lil' John Show, new Drunk Mail from Dave Proctor and Christine Peruski, my upcoming story for DC Comics, Tron being incredibly innovative, and more!

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Be sure to come back in two weeks as Xan and I watch Tron, the 1982 science fiction action film directed by Steven Lisberger, featuring Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn, Bruce Boxleitner as Alan Bradley & Tron, Cindy Morgan as Dr. Lora Baines & Yori, and David Warner as Ed Dillinger as Sark!

THE FANDOM ZONE 310: "Chasing Squirrels" Is Up!

 
"The Bride and I have nothing going on between us. She's not my type."
"She's everyone's type! So are you!"
-- Rick Flag Sr. and Eric Frankenstein, Creature Commandos -- "Chasing Squirrels"

Hello again, everyone! DJ Nik and I are back for another new episode of The Fandom Zone Podcast! This time, we discuss "Chasing Squirrels", the fourth episode from Creature Commandos Season One, starring the voices of Sean Gunn as Weasel, Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, Anya Chalotra as Circe, and Linda Cardellini as Elizabeth Bates!

In this episode, DJ Nik and I talk about things like being halfway out of the dark, Nik celebrating Christmas and Hannukah on the same day, getting some backstory on Weasel, James Gunn's ability to breathe life into D-list characters, the episode's social commentary on the police ignoring the little girl and focusing only on Weasel, Linda Cardellini as Velma Dinkley in Scooby-Doo (2002), some comics background on Weasel, Circe, and Betty Bates, weird shit in the Golden Age, the episode's Easter Egg characters shown in Belle Reve's cafeteria, some mythological background on Circe, that awkward moment when Elizabeth Bates demands to see her client Weasel as he returns from a Task Force M mission, Elizabeth Bates being the only person treating Weasel like a regular person, wondering if Weasel's bestial persona is the result of trauma, the creepy old guy watching the kids through binoculars, The Bride impaling Congorilla over and over in the mouth with a metal food tray, Circe showing Amanda Waller a dark vision of the future of what will happen if Ilana Rostovic isn't killed, wondering how Ilana partners up with Grodd, Eric Frankenstein asking Rick Flag Sr. if he's seen When Harry Met Sally and Titanic, wondering if Weasel will side with Rick and Eric to defend Ilana, our favorite quotes of the episode, another request for Creature Commandos feedback, my upcoming story for DC Comics' anthology DC's Lex and the City, Nik being the only person to not see the Superman (2025) trailer, Nik returning to Next Stop Everywhere: The Doctor Who Podcast, and more! 

You can check out episodes of The Fandom Zone using...

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And if that isn't enough for you, you can pick up an officially official Fandom Zone Podcast t-shirt that all the cool kids are wearing from TeePublic HERE as well! Feel free to post a picture on our Facebook page of you or some other cool person you know wearing the shirt!

Be sure to come back next week when DJ Nik and I discuss "The Iron Pot", the fifth episode from Creature Commandos Season One, on The Fandom Zone Podcast!

NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE 331: "The Masque of Mandragora" Is Up!

 
"You know, the worse the situation, the worse your jokes get."
-- Sarah Jane Smith to the Fourth Doctor, Doctor Who: "The Masque of Mandragora"

Hello again, everyone! My partner in time Jesse Jackson and I are back for another new episode of Next Stop Everywhere: The Doctor Who Podcast! This time, we discuss "The Masque of Mandragora", the first serial from Doctor Who Season 14 in 1976, featuring Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor, Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith, Jon Laurimore as Count Federico, and Norman Jones as Hieronymous!

In this episode, Jesse and I discuss things like real life interfering with Jesse's schedule, Sarah Jane being like a Christmas present, Tim Pigott-Smith as Creedy in V for Vendetta, Elisabeth Sladen sticking around longer to make this serial, writer Louis Marks drawing from a number of sources, "The Masque of Mandragora" being filmed in the same location as The Village in The Prisoner, the first appearance of the TARDIS' secondary console room, the Easter Eggs in the secondary console room, the Mandragora Helix returning in Doctor Who Magazine's 1991 comic strip serial "The Mark of Mandragora", Jesse not having a problem with pacing for once, Sarah Jane not having a lot to do in the story, Tom Baker having a blast, Guiliano and Marco also not having a lot to do in this story, why the Mandragora Helix chose the 15th century, Count Federico not really liking Hieronymous, our favorite quotes of the story, new listener feedback from Dave Proctor, Holly Mac and Sandi from Oregon, my upcoming story for DC Comics' anthology DC's Lex and the City #1, the upcoming 2024 Doctor Who Christmas Special, and more!

If you'd like to check out our latest episode, you can find us on...

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And just in time for the new era of Doctor Who, we now have a BRAND NEW Next Stop Everywhere t-shirt, which you can find on TeePublic RIGHT HERE!  This spiffy shirt looks great when you're listening to your favorite Doctor Who podcast and travelling through time and space! Or you could order all sorts of cool Next Stop Everywhere merch there as well!

Be sure to come back in two weeks for the next episode of Next Stop Everywhere as Jesse and I are joined by special guest companions DJ Nik and Holly Mac as we discuss "Joy to the World", the 2024 Doctor Who Christmas Special, featuring Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor, Nicola Coughlan as Joy Almondo, Joel Fry as Trev Simpkins, and Steph de Whalley as Anita Benn!

SUPERGIRL: WOMAN OF TOMORROW Casts Jason Momoa as Lobo

 
The Main Man is coming to the big screen.

Deadline is confirming reports that the upcoming DC Universe film Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, based on the DC Comics character, has cast Jason Momoa as the bounty hunter Lobo. Momoa joins Milly Alcock as Supergirl/Kara Zor-El, Matthias Schoenaerts as the main antagonist Krem, and Eve Ridley as Ruthye Marye Knoll.

Craig Gillespie will direct Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow from a script by Ana Nogueira. The project is based on the 2022 DC Comics limited series of the same name, written by Tom King and drawn by Bilquis Evely.

Momoa, 45, is best known to DC Comics fans as Aquaman/Arthur Curry in the films Aquaman, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and Justice League. He's also appeared as Duncan Idaho in Dune (2021), Khal Drogo on the HBO series Game of Thrones, and as Ronon Dex on Stargate: Atlantis. In addition, Momoa also portrayed the lead role of Conan in the 2011 remake of Conan the Barbarian.  

According to the article, Momoa has been linked to the character before James Gunn came in to lead DC alongside Peter Safran. He’s been vocal in the past about his interest in the part and today confirmed his attachment to the role in a post on Instagram, where he included comments from a previous interview.

Created in 1983 by Roger Slifer and Keith Giffen, Lobo first appeared in Omega Men (vol.1) #3 as a Velorpian whose entire race had been exterminated by the Psions.  Lobo played an important role in the Citadel War, in his capacity as a bounty hunter.  He was hired by the Citadel's human agent Harry Hokum to capture the Euphorian known as Kalista in a bid to learn the secret behind her home world's planetary shield.  Along with fellow bounty hunters Bedlam and Berserk, he raided the mothership belonging to the Omega Men, where upon he engaged in combat with Kalista.  Soon after, Harry Hokum hired Lobo once again, this time to assassinate the Omega Men's interim leader Tigorr.  Lobo never had the opportunity to complete the contract however.

In 1988's Justice League International (vol.1) #18, the character was revamped as a Czarnian whose name comes from a Khund dialect that means "one who devours your entrails and thoroughly enjoys it."  He hailed from the planet Czarnia, which was a virtual paradise that knew nothing of war and the Czarnians were almost immortal.  When Lobo was born, his evil was so frighteningly apparent, the nurse who delivered him went insane and became the planet's first mental patient in ten millennia after the infant Lobo chewed off four of her fingers.  Lobo knew he was one of a kind, but he wanted even more.  Inspired by the idea of genocide, Lobo created a swarm of lethal scorpion-like creatures and set them on his people, wiping out his entire species but himself.

After traveling across the galaxies as an intergalactic bounty hunter, Lobo made his first appearance on the planet Earth when he was hired by Manga Khan to take out the newly formed Justice League International.  However, after Big Barda teleported Lobo across the galaxy, Lobo landed on Earth in the Justice League Embassy.  After a brief altercation with Guy Gardner, Lobo hung around, pretending to be a friend, while waiting for the right moment.   Before he could act, however, Manga Khan canceled his contract.  Since then, he encountered various DC Comics superheroes, operating solo or as a member of L.E.G.I.O.N.

In DC Rebirth, Lobo was reintroduced in the limited series Justice League vs. Suicide Squad as one of the villains freed by Maxwell Lord who was a member of Amanda Waller's first Suicide Squad.  Batman eventually implanted a bomb into Lobo's brain and detonated it, blowing up Lobo's head.  After Lobo regenerated it, he discovered Batman did so to free him from Lord's control, and later accepted Batman's offer to join a new incarnation of the Justice League of America to repay the favor.

Momoa will be the second actor to portray Lobo in live action, after Emmett J. Scanlan on the TV series Krypton. The character has appeared in various animated projects, including Superman: The Animated Series and Justice League (voiced by Brad Garrett), Young Justice (voiced by David Sobolov), and Justice League Action (voiced by John DiMaggio).

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on June 26, 2026.

THE FANDOM ZONE 309: "Cheers to the Tin Man" Is Up!

 
"Friend Nina, my disappointment in having no Nazis to kill when I arrived is lessened by my pleasure that you are alive."
-- G.I. Robot to Nina Mazursky, Creature Commandos -- "Cheers to the Tin Man"

Hello again, everyone! DJ Nik and I are back for another new episode of The Fandom Zone Podcast! This time, we discuss "Cheers to the Tin Man", the third episode from Creature Commandos Season One, starring the voices of Sean Gunn as G.I. Robot, Zoë Chao as Nina Mazursky, Anya Chalotra as Circe, and Michael Rooker as Sam Fitzgibbon!

In this episode, DJ Nik and I talk about things like my playing under the weather, James Gunn probably smiling like G.I. Robot as he wrote the scenes where G.I. Robot massacred Nazis, Michael Rooker as Yondu Udonta in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies and Merle Dixon on The Walking Dead, some comics background on G.I. Robot, Sgt. Rock, and Dr. Will Magnus, G.I. Robot finding acceptance by Easy Company for his talents at killing Nazis, that awkward moment when G.I. Robot goes on a late-night talk show and all he wants to talk about is killing Nazis, soldiers returning from war having difficulty settling back into society, Dr. Will Magnus taking G.I. Robot apart to study him for his Metal Men research, that awkward moment when Sam the lonely military enthusiast befriends G.I. Robot only to turn out to be an alt-right Neo-Nazi, wondering what happened to Sam's cats after G.I. Robot killed him, the great use of "Coin-Operated Boy" by the Dresden Dolls, the latest round of obscure Easter Egg supervillains, wondering how G.I. Robot got due process at his trial without a jury of his peers, G.I. Robot collecting dust and cobwebs during his Belle Reve prison stay, Will Magnus' blackboard teasing the Metal Men, Rick Flag Sr. telling G.I. Robot that the Sons of Themyscira attacking them are Nazis, G.I. Robot getting taken off the board by Circe, G.I. Robot and Nina having a very Drax and Mantis-like pairing, wondering why Nina wasn't killed after the Episode 2 cliffhanger, Weasel and Dr. Phosphorus taking down Circe, Circe telling the Creature Commandos that they've doomed the world, our favorite quotes of the episode, another request for Creature Commandos feedback, my upcoming story for DC Comics' anthology DC's Lex and the City, Nik returning to Next Stop Everywhere: The Doctor Who Podcast, getting Fandom Zone bragging rights, and more! 

You can check out episodes of The Fandom Zone using...

Apple Podcasts -- RIGHT HERE
Direct Download MP3s/Libsyn -- RIGHT HERE
Spotify -- RIGHT HERE
The Fandom Zone on Facebook -- RIGHT HERE
The Fandom Zone on Twitter -- @FandomZoneCast
The Fandom Zone on Instagram -- HERE

And if that isn't enough for you, you can pick up an officially official Fandom Zone Podcast t-shirt that all the cool kids are wearing from TeePublic HERE as well! Feel free to post a picture on our Facebook page of you or some other cool person you know wearing the shirt!

Be sure to come back next week when DJ Nik and I discuss "Chasing Squirrels", the fourth episode from Creature Commandos Season One on The Fandom Zone Podcast!