BATWOMAN TV Pilot Casts Rachel Skarsten as the Villainous Alice

Batwoman is about to have a bad family reunion.

Deadline has revealed that the CW pilot Batwoman, based on the DC Comics superhero, has cast Rachel Skarsten as Elizabeth "Beth" Kane, better known as the psychotic supervillain Alice.

According to the article, Alice is described as "If Batwoman had a Joker, it would be Alice, the leader of her Lewis Carroll–inspired Wonderland Gang.  Swinging unpredictably between maniacal and charming, Alice has made it her mission to undermine Gotham’s sense of security."

The pilot for the proposed series, starring Ruby Rose as Batwoman/Kate Kane, is written by writer Caroline Dries (The Vampire Diaries) and directed by David Nutter.  Armed with a passion for social justice and a flair for speaking her mind, Kate Kane soars onto the streets of Gotham as Batwoman, an out lesbian and highly trained street fighter primed to snuff out the failing city’s criminal resurgence.

Skarsten, 33, is a Canadian actress best known as Dinah Lance on the WB series Birds of Prey, as Tamsin on the Syfy series Lost Girl, and as Elizabeth I on the CW series Reign.  She's also appeared in the movies Molly's Game and Fifty Shades of Grey, and on episodes of the TV series Wynonna Earp, Imposters, Transporter: The Series, Beauty and the Beast (2012), Flashpoint, and The Famous Jett Jackson.

Created in 2009 by Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III, Alice first appeared in Detective Comics (vol.1) #854 as Elizabeth "Beth" Kane, the twin sister of Kate Kane.  At the age of twelve, Beth Kane, her mother, and Kate were abducted by unknown assailants.  During their kidnapping, her mother was killed and the body of a child was found during Kate's rescue that was thought to be Beth.  It would later be revealed that the body belonged to an unidentified girl.

Years later, after Kate had become the superhero Batwoman, she investigated the new leader of the Religion of Crime, discovering almost everything about the new leader, except for who the mysteriously appointed heir was.  Batwoman confronted the supervillain Alice for the first time, just before her grand debut to the members of the cult.  Alice was subdued and taken to a rooftop for interrogation.  However, Alice avoided answering any questions by only communicating through speaking verses taken from the Lewis Carroll novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. This enraged Batwoman and the two struggled once more, with Alice getting the drop on the vigilante by producing a poisoned razor blade from her mouth and slashing her across the face with it.  Alice then attempted to stab Batwoman and made a lucky escape, leaving Batwoman fumbling through the woods while intoxicated and hallucinating from the poison.

A short time later, Alice called Batwoman on her father's phone to bait her with the hopes of killing her, as the Religion of Crime has always planned.  While on a jet, Colonel Jacob Kane, Batwoman's father, was threatened by Alice with a gun, but he recognized her as his daughter, Beth.  Alice quickly covered her face and turned away from him.  Batwoman soon boarded the aircraft, quickly took out Alice's forces, and freed her father.  Alice attempted to get rid of Batwoman by coming at her with a knife, then attacked her with a brief spray of hand gun bullets.  After a scuffle, Alice almost fell from the plane, but was saved by a grappling hook.  However, when Batwoman attempted to apprehend her, Alice fired bullets at Batwoman once again.  Batwoman was forced to tackle her, knocking them both from the jet's wing.  Batwoman managed to grab hold of both the wing and Alice before she fell.  Alice then produced a knife with her free hand, intent on stabbing Batwoman's arm to free herself.  Batwoman pleaded with her not to do it, knowing fall would kill her.  Alice then spoke normally for the first time, not in verse from Lewis Carroll, saying "You have our father's eyes."  She then stabbed Batwoman's arm, with the resulting pain forcing her to let Alice fall to the water below.

Later, Batwoman tested her blood against that of Alice's, to prove that she was in fact her sister, Beth Kane.  Kate believed that Alice/Beth Kane was dead as a result of the fall from the plane, but the police never recovered Beth's body.

GOTHAM Prequel PENNYWORTH is "R-Rated", Will Avoid Batman Villains

Alfred's swinging '60s won't swing towards Batman villains.

Deadline has a new report from the Television Critics Association, with Gotham and Pennyworth executive Danny Cannon providing some new details on what to expect with Epix's upcoming Alfred Pennyworth drama series starring Jack Bannon as Alfred and Ben Aldridge as Thomas Wayne.

Pennyworth will focus on Bruce Wayne's legendary butler, Alfred Pennyworth, a former British SAS soldier who forms a security company and goes to work with Thomas Wayne, Bruce's billionaire father, in 1960s London.  The 10-episode first season will also be executive produced and written by Gotham's Bruno Heller.

According to the article, Cannon described his vision for Pennyworth, noting, "It's twentysomething years before Gotham, it’s a very different world.  His is the DC version of 1960s London.  13 degrees history is different: It’s not the England we know.  It looks and feels like, but if you look a little closer, [you ask], 'Why is that like that?  Why is that building there?  What war is he talking about?'"

Cannon also promised a completely "unhinged, R-rated" series, especially compared to the often-campy Gotham.  Instead of featuring the ancestors of Batman villains like The Joker, The Riddler or Catwoman, Pennyworth will explore "archetypal villains and classic villains of British literature.  They’re all available to us."  When asked about seeing someone like Jack the Ripper, Cannon replied, "Jack the Ripper was 1880s, but he has descendants."

Paloma Faith will play Alfred’s main adversary, Bet Sykes, a character not from DC Comics, who is described as a "spirited, sadistic and sharp-tongued villain."  Bet's sister, Peggy Sykes (Polly Walker), is "one of Lancashire’s busiest and most successful dominatrixes.  The sensible matriarch in a family of maniacs, Peggy is fiercely loyal, endlessly resourceful and lives by her own strange but rigorous moral code."  In addition, Jason Flemyng will play another villain named Lord Harwood.

Cannon also mentioned that the show's test audience reacted well to what they saw.  He remarked, "We had a test audience and there were only so many who knew it was a DC-related series.  It was incredibly positive and that’s because the characters are being drawn out. There’s so much to draw from and so much to imagine.  You didn’t really know [Alfred’s] backstory."

Pennyworth is expected to debut on Epix sometime in June 2019.

LEGION Casts Harry Lloyd as Professor X, Stephanie Corneliussen as Gabrielle Haller

David Haller has finally found his parents.

The official Legion Twitter account has revealed that the upcoming third and final season of the FX series, based on the Marvel Comics character, has cast Harry Lloyd as Professor X/ Charles Xavier and Stephanie Corneliussen as Gabrielle Haller.  Both characters are the parents of Legion/David Haller, played by Dan Stevens.

Lloyd, 35, is an English actor best known as Viserys Targaryen on the HBO series Game of Thrones and as Jeremy Baines in the Doctor Who two-parter "Human Nature/The Family of Blood".  In addition, he's played Will Scarlet in the 2006 Robin Hood TV series, and has appeared in episodes of Counterpart, Wolf Hall, Manhattan, Heroes and Villains, and The Bill.  His films include The Wife, The Theory of Everything, The Iron Lady, Jane Eyre, and Narcopolis.

Corneliussen, 31, is a Danish actress best known as Joanna Wellick on the USA series Mr. Robot.  In addition, she's played Valentina Vostok on the CW series Legends of Tomorrow and appeared in the movie Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters.  Her other television appearances include episodes of Deception, The Exes, Bad Judge, and Royal Pains.

Created in 1963 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Professor X first appeared in The X-Men (vol.1) #1 as Professor Charles Xavier, the son of a wealthy nuclear scientist who developed powerful telepathic mutant abilities after his mother remarried following the death of his father in an accident.  Earning a Professorship in genetics and other science fields, Xavier began traveling around the world as an adventurer after leaving the army.  In Cairo, he met a young girl named Ororo Munroe (later known as Storm), who was a pickpocket, and the Shadow King, a powerful mutant who posed as Egyptian crime lord Amahl Farouk.  Xavier defeated the Shadow King, barely escaping with his life.  This encounter led to Xavier's decision to devote his life to protecting humanity from evil mutants and safeguarding innocent mutants from human oppression.  To that end, he founded Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters and the mutant superhero team known as The X-Men.

Lloyd will the third actor to portray Professor X in live action, after Sir Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy in various X-Men films.  The character also appeared in various animated projects, including X-Men: The Animated Series (voiced by Cedric Smith), X-Men: Evolution (voiced by David Kaye), and Wolverine and the X-Men (voiced by Jim Ward).

Gabrielle Haller was created in 1982 by Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum, first appearing in The Uncanny X-Men (vol.1) #161 as a woman driven into a catatonic coma by the trauma she experienced.  At a clinic in Haifa, Israel, Xavier used his mental powers to break her out of her catatonia and the two fell in love while he saw to her recovery for weeks, with the help of hospital volunteer and their mutual friend, Magnus (the future Magneto).  Over some time, the two amicably ended their relationship.  Soon after, Charles left Israel, unaware that Gabrielle was pregnant with his child.  Years later, Gabrielle became the Israeli ambassador to Great Britain, living in Paris with her young son, David.  During a terrorist attack at her home claiming the life of David's stepfather, Daniel Shomron, David's mutant powers activated, ending with him killing the terrorists and being traumatized in the process.  Haller turned to Dr. Moira MacTaggert, an associate and former lover of Xavier's, for help with David, who suffered from dissociative identity disorder and powerful psionic mutant abilities.  MacTaggert was forced to turn to Xavier for his assistance, which ultimately led to the revelation that he is David's father.

Legion will return for Season 3 on FX sometime this June.

STARGIRL Casts Meg DeLacy as Shiv

Stargirl has found her arch-enemy.

Deadline has word that the upcoming DC Universe series Stargirl, based on the DC Comics character, has cast Meg DeLacy as Cindy Burman, better known to DC fans as the supervillain Shiv.

According to the article, Cindy is described as "Blue Valley High’s most popular student… and its most feared.  Secretly the daughter of Dragon King (played by Nelson Lee), a longtime enemy of the Justice Society of America, Cindy is determined to follow in her father’s footsteps."

Stargirl is centered on Courtney Whitmore (Brec Bassinger), a struggling high-schooler who relocates to Blue Valley, Nebraska when her mom gets married.  After discovering her new stepfather was Starman’s sidekick Stripesy, Courtney uses his old Cosmic Staff to become Stargirl and inspire an unlikely group of young heroes to fight villains of the past.

DeLacy is probably best known as Grace Mullen on the Freeform series The Fosters.  She's also appeared in the movies F*&% the Prom, Austin Found and The Blackout, along with episodes of the TV series Zac and Mia, Chicago P.D., The Disappearing Girl, Recovery Road, and Side Effects.

Created in 1999 by Geoff Johns and Lee Moder, Shiv first appeared in Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. #1 as Cindy Burman, the daughter of the supervillain and war criminal Dragon King.  The Dragon King sent his daughter Cindy to be educated in the best schools in the world.  Cindy underwent constant gruelling training regimens, and was tortured for any or no reason to "toughen her up".  Furthermore, she was subjected to various surgeries and cybernetic implants to make her deadlier – occasionally without anaesthesia.  Never wanting anything more than to please her father, she followed in his criminal footsteps as the deadly blade-wielding Shiv.

When Dragon King made their home in Blue Valley, Nebraska, Cindy and her father went up against the new Star-Spangled Kid (Courtney Whitmore) and her step-father (and former All-Star Squadron member) S.T.R.I.P.E. (Pat Dugan).  Shiv publicly launched the Dragon King’s plan in Blue Valley, appearing during the halftime of a football match and wrecking everything.  Shiv took out S.T.R.I.P.E. with her dragon staff and nearly drowned the Star-Spangled Kid – but Whitmore ultimately defeated her after a brutal fight.

Still battered and bleeding, Shiv was dragged away screaming by servants of her father to be operated upon once again.  This time, her skeleton was reinforced and her limbs were hacked away to be replaced by super-strong cybernetic prosthetics.  The lab of the Dragon King’s head scientist, Dr. Graft, was then invaded by the Star-Spangled Kid, S.T.R.I.P.E. and their ally, the Shining Knight (Sir Justin).  Seizing the occasion, Cindy escaped from her cell and then forced Graft’s assistant to tell her the real name of the Star-Spangled Kid.

The war between the three heroes and the Dragon King escalated, with Shiv leading the King’s troops in the field.  The Shining Knight, Shiv and the Dragon King were caught in an explosion that hurled Burman away and seemingly killed the King.  By the time Shiv recovered from the blast, the battle was over.  In shock, she swore that she would avenge the death of her father.  At this point, the horrific Johnny Sorrow appeared and recruited her for his Injustice Society.

Shiv served in several versions of the Injustice Society.  Though Sorrow was clearly inhuman and murderously insane, the damaged Shiv adopted him as her new father figure, making it trivially easy for Sorrow to manipulate her.  Shiv repeatedly clashed with the Society’s designated enemies, the Justice Society of America.  However, she eventually discovered that Whitmore, now known as Stargirl, had grown more powerful than her.  She attempted to murder Whitmore with a large-caliber firearm, despite Sorrow’s orders to take Stargirl alive.  The insane Sorrow wanted to elope with Whitmore, and to that end, he betrayed Shiv and the rest of the Society.  This forced Shiv and her colleagues to ally with their Justice Society foes to fight the mystical entity known as the King of Tears, which Sorrow had summoned.  The King of Tears was repelled, but the unconscious Injustice Society members were arrested and imprisoned.

Stargirl is currently expected to debut on DC Universe on August 9, 2019.

Matt Reeves' THE BATMAN Gets Release Date, Ben Affleck Not Returning

The third time isn't the charm for Batfleck.

Deadline is reporting that Warner Bros.' next Batman movie, The Batman, will arrive on June 25, 2021, and will not star Ben Affleck as Batman/Bruce Wayne.

The Batman will be written and directed by Matt Reeves, who was first reported as the project's director back in February 2017.  The article also states that The Batman will not be based on the classic Batman storyline "Year One" by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli, but will feature a younger Batman.

A previous interview by The Hollywood Reporter revealed Reeves's vision for the film.  "It's very much a point of view-driven, noir Batman tale," said Reeves.  "It's told very squarely on his shoulders, and I hope it's going to be a story that will be thrilling but also emotional."  In addition, Reeves stated Batman will be "more in his detective mode than we've seen in the films."

Affleck, now 46, previously appeared as Batman/Bruce Wayne in the movies Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League.  Various reports claimed he was unsure about returning for The Batman, and Deadline's article observed that Affleck is busy at the moment.  Currently, he's starring in and producing the feature adaptation of Kate Alice Marshall‘s novel I Am Still Alive, and is starring in Warner Bros.’ Gavin O’Connor drama Torrance.

Regardless, Affleck expressed his support for Matt Reeves' The Batman on Twitter, with the following post:

Excited for #TheBatman in Summer 2021 and to see @MattReevesLA vision come to life. https://t.co/GNgyJroMIO

— Ben Affleck (@BenAffleck) January 31, 2019

GHOSTWOOD 049: "Drive With a Dead Girl" is Up!

"Look, I’ve had enough of the mumbo jumbo.  I’ve had enough of the dreams, the visions, the dwarves, the giants, Tibet, and the rest of the hocus-pocus."

-- Sheriff Harry S. Truman to Special Agent Dale Cooper, Twin Peaks: "Drive With a Dead Girl"

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 "Drive With a Dead Girl," the eighth episode from Twin Peaks Season Two in 1990, featuring the introduction of Vivian and Ernie "The Professor" Niles, Pete Martell visiting Ben Horne in jail, and Leland Palmer going for a drive in his convertible!

LET'S ROCK!

In our latest episode, Xan and I discuss things like Xan rocking some new eyewear, BOB enjoying the ride inside Leland, the man with a zipped-up gym bag, The Hidden, Mark Frost's brother Scott, how I approach canon, Melissa McCarthy as Sookie St. James on Gilmore Girls, David Fincher's sister Emily as Louise Dombrowski, wondering why Maddy never appeared in the Black Lodge even though she was killed by BOB, my Northern Exposure book Chris-in-the-Morning: Love, Life and the Whole Karmic Enchilada, Leland/BOB hitting golf balls in his living room, Xan having a hard time with Ben brushing his teeth in jail, Jerry Horne being the worst lawyer ever, wondering how Ben kept his cigar lighter in jail, a flashback with young Ben and Jerry watching Louise Dombrowski dancing with a flashlight, Hawk's great comeback to Gwen's racist comment, Leland singing in the reign of terror, Jessica Lange in American Horror Story: Freakshow, Cooper trying to engage in locker room talk with Ben, Madchen Amick still looking good while covered in baby food, waiting for the Law of Averages to kick in on Bobby's get-rich-quick schemes, Vivian taking a bite off Toad's plate, Vivian and Ernie deserving one another, Deputy Expendable not checking the corner, Hank laying his sob story on Norma, Andy thinking Gwen's baby is Lucy's, Pete tormenting Ben with a giant cassette player, Ben's jail cell tantrum, the Leland Palmer School of Driving, BOB almost hitting Cooper with Leland's golf club, Gwen not respecting Andy's personal space, Ben being formally charged with Laura's murder, Hank not knowing how to be a gentleman while having dinner, neither of us liking warm milk, Audrey seeing Cooper with his shirt off, the discovery of Maddy's body, trying to figure out the Twin Peaks illegal drugs food chain, wanting Judy Greer in Twin Peaks Season 4, trying to persuade Xan to guest host on Next Stop Everywhere: The Doctor Who Podcast, Xan sending me a cool magnet, and more!

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

iTunes -- RIGHT HERE

Direct MP3 downloads/Libsyn -- RIGHT HERE

YouTube -- RIGHT HERE

Ghostwood's Facebook page

Ghostwood's Twitter account

Be sure to come back in two weeks for our big 50th episode, as Xan and I continue our commentary tracks as we watch "Arbitrary Law," the ninth episode from Twin Peaks Season Two in 1990, featuring a return to Mrs. Tremond's apartment, Catherine visiting Ben in jail as Mr. Tojamura, and the tragic conclusion of the "Who killed Laura Palmer?" mystery!  Look for more of Ghostwood: The Twin Peaks Podcast on iTunes, YouTube, Libsyn, and the official Southgate Media Group website!

NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE 131: "Genesis of the Daleks" is Up!

"Well, what are you waiting for?!"
"Just touch these two strands together, and the Daleks are finished...Have I that right?"
"To destroy the Daleks?  You can't doubt it!"
"Well, I do!  You see, some things could be better with the Daleks.  Many future worlds will become allies because of the fear of the Daleks!"
"It isn't like that!"
"Well, the final responsibility is mine, and mine alone.  You see, if someone who knew the future pointed out a child to you, and told you that that child would grow up totally evil to be a ruthless dictator who would destroy millions of lives...could you then kill that child?"
-- Sarah Jane Smith and the Fourth Doctor, Doctor Who: "Genesis of the Daleks"

Reunited once again, my OG partner in time Jesse Jackson and I finally discuss "Genesis of the Daleks", the fourth serial from Season 12 in 1975, featuring Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor, Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith, Ian Marter as Harry Sullivan, and the first appearance of Davros!

In this episode, Jesse and I discuss things like requests for Fred Firestine to return to Next Stop Everywhere, the secret origin of the Daleks, Russell T Davies considering "Genesis of the Daleks" to be the opening salvo in the Time War, James Robinson's Starman comic book series, Michael Wisher's various Doctor Who connections, A Fish Called Wanda, Jesse getting the full context of the "Have I that right?" scene, Davros interrogating the Doctor to get knowledge of the Daleks' future defeats, wondering why Davros is the only Kaled to show any sign of radiation mutation, the Time Lords wearing raised black collars, wondering why the Doctor is willing to alter the Daleks' timeline, watching longer classic stories in two or three chunks, The Good Place, the cliffhanger where Sarah Jane falls, Sarah Jane debating the Doctor about exterminating the Daleks, Jesse shipping Sarah Jane and Harry Sullivan, Harry being a James Bond-like companion, Michael Wisher's Davros being the same as Julian Bleach's Davros, the Daleks being a metaphor for the Nazis and Davros being an Josef Mengele allusion, people with horrible ambitions taking control over weak-minded people throughout history, the Daleks inevitably turning on Davros, our favorite lines of the story, my Reverse the Reverse the Polarity segment, some feedback from Holly from Wisconsin and Paul from Australia, Michelle Ryan as Death in the Sandman fan film Black Sand, Jesse scaling back his Next Stop Everywhere schedule, a brief Karen update, and more!

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

Google Play Music -- RIGHT HERE

iTunes -- RIGHT HERE

Stitcher -- RIGHT HERE

Direct MP3 downloads/Libsyn --  RIGHT HERE

Next Stop Everywhere's Facebook page

Next Stop Everywhere's Twitter account

Next Stop Everywhere's Instagram account

And hey, if you'd like to pick up the officially official Next Stop Everywhere t-shirt, you can find it on TeePublic right HERE!  Help support the show and feel free to post pictures on our Facebook page of you or some other cool person you know wearing the shirt!

Be sure to come back in two weeks as special guest companion Lee Leonard and I discuss "Inferno", the fourth serial from Season 7 in 1970, featuring Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor, Caroline John as Liz Shaw, Nicholas Courtney as Brigadier Alastair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, and John Levene as Sergeant John Benton!  Look for more of Next Stop Everywhere on iTunes, Google Play Music, YouTube, Libsyn, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and the official Southgate Media Group website!