This has been a big, weird, transitional year for Spider-Man movie fans. Last May, they were waiting for the sequel to The Amazing Spider-Man – directed by Marc Webb and starring Andrew Garfield – to hit theaters. Sony was expecting to launch its own shared universe, with Spider-Man spinoffs that included Sinister Six, Venom, and an untitled all-female superhero movie. Then, when ASM2 released to worse reviews/box office returns than any previous Spider-Man film, all those plans went off the rails. It didn’t help that Sony Pictures had a rough year generally, one that culminated in an unfortunate hacking scandal that aired all the company’s embarrassing business.

By the time 2015 started, Sony was looking to make bold moves with their company, and one of those moves included teaming up with Marvel to introduce an ALL-NEW Spider-Man to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, first in Captain America: Civil War and then in his own film. Now, some five months later, 19-year-old Tom Holland (Wolf Hall) has been cast in the role.

Here’s what we know about the standalone film so far: it won’t include an origin story (thank the lord) and it will feature a very young Peter Parker in high school. There are other rumors floating around about Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) appearing in the film to recruit Spider-Man for The Avengers, but nothing has been confirmed on that front. However, now that Kevin Feige is starting to do press for the soon-to-be-released Ant-Man, we can probably expect some new information to be revealed here and there.

Case in point: Devin Faraci of Birth.Movies.Death recently talked to Kevin Feige about whether or not we’d see the “soap opera aspect” of Spider-Man in the upcoming movie, to which Feige said:

It’s the soap opera in high school, and those supporting characters, that are interesting. Just as we hadn’t seen a heist movie in a long time, or a shrinking movie in a long time, we haven’t seen a John Hughes movie in a long time. Not that we can make a John Hughes movie – only John Hughes could – but we’re inspired by him, and merging that with the superhero genre in a way we haven’t done before excites us.

Faraci points this out, but it’s worth repeating – the “soap opera aspect” of Spider-Man was incredibly vital to the character and the comics as they were originally conceived. Even Bryan Bendis’ Ultimate reboot was, first and foremost, a soap opera. In fact, the soap opera stuff was such a big deal for Marvel Comics that they (rather clumsily) retconned Peter Parker’s marriage to Mary Jane out of existence just so he could return to life as a single man. And yet, it’s probably fair to say that none of the Spider-Man movies have felt much like a soap opera. I love Spider-Man 2, but even it is far more concerned with Spider-Man and Dr. Octopus than the personal drama between Peter Parker, his aunt, his friends, and his multiple love interests. But that’s the sort of thing that makes Spider-Man so interesting! It’s like how none of the Batman movies have depicted him as an actual detective, despite the fact that that’s his main thing – he’s the world’s greatest detective!

Hearing that Kevin Feige wants to turn to John Hughes for inspiration is music to my ears. That’s the kind of point of view that the last two movies were sorely missing. Does anyone care about the mysterious secret of Peter Parker’s parents? No, not a single person. Does anyone want Peter Parker’s origin to be changed so he has special spider DNA from the get-go? No, that pretty much ruins his everyman status. I’d even wager that people don’t care about big computer-generated super battles with multiple effects-heavy villains unless there’s enough personal drama to back all that up.

Spider-Man, in concept, has a lot in common with 1980s teen dramedies like the ones John Hughes was known for making. It’s about the social hierarchy of high school. It’s about coming of age and falling in love and friendship. It’s about bullies who aren’t black-and-white evil, but are a little more interesting and complicated. That’s what I want to see in a high school-set Spider-Man movie, and then, in between scenes of high schoolers being high schoolers, Spidey can punch as many animal-themed supervillains as he wants.

Will it be enough to put the box office over the top in a way that the last film didn’t? I think so. Then again, I think just seeing a Spider-Man movie trailer that says “from the studio that brought you The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy” will do that.

Marvel’s New ‘Spider-Man’ Movie Will Be Inspired By John Hughes

The final installment of CD Projekt Red’s role-playing franchise continues to see strong performance on the Playstation 4 as it has now been confirmed that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is experiencing exceptional digital sales on Sony’s next-gen console. The official Playstation Blog revealed late last week that The Witcher 3 managed to beat out all other titles last month in order to become the Playstation Store’s top-selling title in May.

“The Witcher 3! The universally loved open world adventure from CD Projekt RED is garnering massive praise from players and critics everywhere, earning it the prestigious number one spot on our PlayStation Store PS4 top sellers chart.”

While The Witcher 3 took the top spot on the PS4, Mortal Kombat X came in second on the overall PS4 digital sales charts. The Witcher 3 actually dethroned the newest entry of the classic fighter as Mortal Kombat X held the No. 1 rank on the list in April.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Since The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is only available on current-gen platforms, CD Projekt Red’s latest release wasn’t competition for opposing Playstation 3 games. Thanks to a recent PS Store sale, BioWare’s Mass Effect Trilogy dominated PS3 digital sales in May.

“Enough folks nabbed Mass Effect Trilogy when it was on sale (can’t argue with that $4.80 price tag) to send it rocketing to the top of the PS3 chart.”

Several games that have long held a position on the PSN sales charts are still holding their ground. Joining The Witcher 3 as high-selling PS4 games, Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto V and Destiny also earned spots on the list. Meanwhile, GTA V barely managed to stay in the top 20 for the Playstation 3 and Destiny has completely fallen off the sales charts for Sony’s last-gen platform.

However, Bungie’s online shooter was still well represented last month since House of Wolves, the second expansion for Destiny, was the most-sold DLC in May for both the Playstation 4 and Playstaton 3. The title’s first expansion, was also still among the top 10 selling add-ons.

Minecraft: Console Editions

Creative survival games were also big sellers last month as both Minecraft and Terraria were seen in the top charts for the PS4, PS3, and PS Vita. The Playstation 4 edition of Don’t Starve also saw a surge of digital sales in May.

Gamers will likely continue to see The Witcher 3 claim its place in the Playstation sales charts in the coming months. With CD Projekt Red’s commitment to support the game over the next two years, gamers will have a reason to keep interested in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for quite some time. The developer also strives to improve the game through free title updates, the most recent of which was released over the weekend.

Did you pick up The Witcher 3 on the Playstation 4 last month?

‘The Witcher 3’ Leads PS4 Sales In May, While ‘Minecraft’ And ‘Terraria’ Perform Well Across All Sony Platforms

DC has refreshed its stable of comics once again, putting its characters in new situations— and most of them have gotten a new look to celebrate. But as usual with superhero makeovers, some are less successful than others. So we’re going to put on our fashion-hats and rate what’s hot and what’s not in the DC Universe!

Superman

Pros: One of Superman’s big new themes going into this shake up is an attempt to humanise him a little more—reduced powers, an exposed identity, this is a Superman at his most human. So his uniform has been informed likewise: gone is the cape, gone is the suit. Instead, this Clark Kent jumps around in a branded Supes T-Shirt and jeans. Let’s be real though. The best thing about this update is that we’ve briefly tossed aside one of the biggest faux-pas of the New 52 redesign: the dreaded lack of red pants on the outside of Superman’s suit.

Cons: This is definitely one of the most radical changes in the line up, but at the same time… it’s just a bit boring. Nothing particuarly screams “hero” about a T-shirt and jeans. If anything, Clark looks like an extremely buff Superman fan rather than Superman himself. But the most egregious change for me? The haircut. Getting rid of the Classic Clark Curl has happened a few times before, but I’m not sure I can handle a buzzed Superman.

Rating: Three Buzzcuts out of Five

Batman

Pros: Batman’s look is iconic, yes. That’s kind of the point. But I kind of love the insanity of doing something so extreme with the Batsuit—and turning it into this Police-branded mechsuit with Bunny ears is definitely insane.

For the more faithful Bat-Fan, our new Batman Jim Gordon also has a far more traditional Batsuit (also sans cape—did DC hire Edna Mode recently?) that he wears inside the suit—and it looks very slick.

Cons: Allow me to be a bit contradictory. While I like that this new Batsuit is doing something we’ve not seen done with the Batman aesthetic—one that’s changed so little over the years—at the same time, it’s too much. It’s comically proportioned, and feels way too “out there” to be something cooked up by the GCPD, and yes, the Bunny ears are nowhere near Batty enough.

Plus, the biggest con of all? For some reason, putting Jim Gordon into this suit has meant we suffer the most tragic loss of them all: his moustache is no more.

RIP, Jim’s Moustache.

Rating: Mechsuit – Two Robot Bunnies out of Five, Stealth Suit – Four Robot Bunnies out of Five

Wonder Woman

Pros: Now balancing roles as a Justice League member, the God of War and Queen of Themiscyra, Diana’s upgraded into something beyond her star-spangled short shorts and into something a little more battle-ready. Wonder Woman has never looked so ready to kick butt!

Cons: But… it’s also a bit egregious. The armor, while nice, also look awkward in places (especially at the pauldrons), and the wristblades are just ‘90s extremities that look out of place on the overall suit. I quite liked this look when it was announced—but honestly, what’s dampened it for me was seeing some of the original plans for Diana’s new look that DC unveiled recently. Turns out, there were much better ways to reduce the amount of exposed flesh on Wonder Woman and make her look like a modern character.

Rating: Two Wristblades out of Five

Aquaman

Pros: It includes elements of armor, without making it too bulky to make it unrealistic for someone who spends most of their time under water. This new Arthur Curry look is an Aquaman who’s ready to battle. The longer hair, tribal patterns on the armor and darker aesthetic also call to mind the character’s upcoming cinematic look.

Cons: Although I do like that they attempted to keep the original Aquaman colors, it clashes with the dark armor of the top half and makes Arthur look like he forgot the bottom half of his new outfit. Also, as several readers pointed out when this costume was unveiled, his new belt does an unintentionally hilarious job of highlighting Aquaman’s wang. Ooh err.

Rating: Three Bulges out of Five

The Flash

Pros: Once again, another character design that draws on a live-action adaptation. The Flash’s new look adopts a similar two-scarlet-tone to the suit of The Flash TV show, breaking up the otherwise relatively plain costume in an interesting way—it even removes the white background from the Flash emblem, just like the show.

Cons: The one area the costume doesn’t borrow from The Flash is the bit that doesn’t quite work for me: The all-yellow boots clash much more against the darker reds than they used to. But the silliest thing has to be the over lightning effects that spread out of the costume when the Flash uses the speedforce now. It’s always been an element of the Flash aesthetic, but here, especially in the above image, it just looks like he’s exuding ‘90’s exTREEEEEEMEness out of his body. It’s a bit much, and not a great Speed Force representation, and it dampens the overall look of the Flash.

Rating: Three EXTREEEMES out of Five

Reverse Flash

Pros: Speaking of The Flash, Professor Zoom’s new costume is pretty much going back to the classic look after the New 52 offered a radical, monstrous black-and-red alternative—one very much inspired by Harrison Wells/Eobard Thawne’s look on TV. Unlike the flash, the overt black lightning works perfectly for Zoom’saesthetic, and it matches up to his new suit nicely. He’s supposed to be extreme, he’s the Reverse Flash.

Cons: I don’t really have any qualms. Weirdly enough, thismight be my favourite new look of them all!

Rating: Four Reverse-EXTREEEMES out of Five

Green Arrow

Pros: The armored look of the New 52 has been eschewed for a more casual looking, svelte getup for Oliver Queen that probably works a bit more for the Emerald Archer. The dark green aesthetic brings to mind Arrow of course, but aside from that,it’s a decent changeup for Ollie.

Cons: Although the top and bottom halves of the initially revealed design were a bit disjointed, that’s been rectified as of Green Arrow#41, so I guess my major complaint for Green Arrow’s new look is once again, a hairy-one: and hoo boy, is Ollie’s new mullet reaching Arrow-Flashback-Wig levels of terrible. Thank god he still has a hood to put on, because without it we’d be looking at that damn mullet all the time.

Rating: You have failed this city. (Two out of Five)

Lex Luthor

Pros: The floating disc-dealio he flies around on now is pretty cool, and I like that the garish Luthor color palette of neon green and bright purple (such a lovely, reserved fellow is our Lex) of his old bulky power armor has been maintained. Once again, Lex represents a sort of streamlining and bulking down that is a hallmark of this wave of redesigns. It certainly helps keep the characters looking sleek and modern.

Cons: This is almost a pro for me (I’m a bit weird), but the weird ‘90s cyberpunk look, right down to the ridiculous shades is such a clash with the otherwise modern approach that it looks hilariously silly rather than interesting. Plus, it’s one again the addition of a duster to body armor that puts me off. Seriously, DC. Stop trying to make this happen.

Rating: Two Dystopian Futures out of Five

Green Lantern

Pros: It’s… got some green on it, I guess? Actually the lantern Gauntlet looks pretty nice, admittedly.

Cons: Oh, Mr. Jordan. This is not a good look for you. Gone is the classic lantern suit, replaced by a similar white body suit mostly covered up by a hooded duster that makes Hal look more like a magical space hobo than a defender of the galaxy. There’s too much going on, and honestly the acquiescence to “He’s the Green Lantern, there has to be green on him somewhere” has worked against the overall look. The bodysuit+tatty coat/cloak is a bit too much.

Rating: One Cosmic Hobo out of Five

Cyborg

Pros: I commented when this look was revealed that it sort of looked like that new Terminator from Terminator Genisys, and that kind of look works for Cyborg extremely well. For a man mostly made of tech now, Cyborg looks slick and modern, after trimming quite a bit of excess armor. It’s a stripped down look, and it works excellently for Vic. The metallic muscular look really embodied the mix of flesh and metal that the character is, and it looks great.

Cons: Once again, another look I don’t really have any qualms with (unless people don’t want to be reminded of the new Terminator film? I guess the judgement on that will have to wait until it’s out.

Rating: Four T-800’s out of Five

And the Loser is…

For me, it’s gotta be Hal. I mean, I get what they’re trying to do—how it all ties into the idea of him being a renegade and all that, but it’s just a mess. I’ve repeatedly turned back to how some of these looks feel like they’ve leapt straight out of a ‘90s comic book, but I think that shines through the most in this new Green Lantern. It’s trying way too hard to look gritty and grim, and instead it just looks, well, ridiculous. Congratulations Hal Jordan, I guess!

Disagree? Think there’s a far worse (or far better) costume update out there in DC’s new comics that’s not covered here? As always, let us know in the comments.

Which DC Comics Character Has The Most Ridiculous New Costume?

“Hey, can you come look at this?”These are the words of a crazy man, standing five inches away from his television set, clutching a bowl of dinner cereal for dear life, mouth agape with a mixture of intense focus, borderline delirium, and soggy cheerios. I am the crazy man, by the way, and this is me last night, speaking to a friend, who does not watch “Game of Thrones,” but has keener powers of observation than anyone I’ve met outside of McGruff the Crime Dog.*

more: Don’t Worry, Game Of Thrones Didn’t REALLY Kill Jon Snow, And Here’s Why

I’m asking for her help because I need to look at what I’m watching. I need her to tell me I’m not crazy. I need her to look into the eyes of the late Jon Snow, and I need her to confirm that what I’m seeing is real.

The morning after the season five finale’s brutal cliffhanger ending, in which Jon Snow is betrayed and murdered by his fellow members of the Night’s Watch, I wrote about the many reasons why Jon simply cannot be dead. More to the point, he might be dead now, but he won’t be dead forever. Like others who have read the George R.R. Martin novels “Thrones” takes its cues from, I’ve been thinking about Jon’s resurrection for the better part of four years now. It’s not just a possibility. It’s an inevitability. It. Is. Known.

But what if it isn’t known? What if Melisandre isn’t going to take a page out of the Thoros of Myr playbook and give Jon the Beric Dondarrion treatment? There’s no sign of Ghost in Jon’s death scene, so warging into his dire wolf is off the table, right? Kit Harington and the producers of the show all insist that Jon is dead and is “not coming back next season,” which is a filthy lie concocted in J.J. Abrams’ secret John Harrison Long Khan Laboratory … unless it’s the truth?

If Jon Snow is dead, I have some late stage grieving in my future next year. For now, I have obsession, looking for anything to support all of us who believe the 998th Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch will get over his case of the Mostly Deads. And thanks to you, I have help.

Multiple folks who read my take on why Jon is still alive reached out to me online and asked me to take a closer look at something that happens at the end of the scene.

At Chris’ urging, I rolled the tape, and rolled it again, and rolled it some more. I kept rolling until I could roll no further on my own. I called in back-up in the form of Detective Friend, and got the verification I needed: Jon Snow’s eyes do indeed change color as the camera zooms down upon his face.

I don’t see his eyes turning Targaryen purple, but there is certainly a color change. Perhaps it’s just a trick of the light, as the ice-blue hue of the snow becomes more pronounced the closer the camera zooms in on Jon’s face. But his eyes appear a lighter shade than normal, no question about it.

Here it is without all the shadows:

And here’s what Harington looks like in real life:

IS THIS REAL LIFE? Did Jon Snow’s eyes change from Kit’s normal dark brown to a lighter hue — an icy green, as I’m seeing it? Am I just seeing things, or is there something here?

Let’s roll with “something here,” for the sake of argument. What would the eye color change even mean? Insert shrug emoticon here. It could mean a whole lot (Jon’s R+L colors and destiny finally emerging, Jon actually warging into Ghost, Jon turning into some White Walker hybrid something-or-other, what have you), or it could mean a whole lot of nothing. Could just be a trick of the light, much like Melisandre’s prophetic powers appear to be.

It also could be nothing, and “Game of Thrones” has simply driven some of us (see: me) insane.

The pics don’t do the argument as much justice as the experience of watching it five inches in front of your screen, witnessing the transformation of Jon’s eyes before your very eyes. Go and check it out for yourself, and tell me I’m crazy — or go crazy with me. It’s a long off-season, folks. Let’s have fun with it. Someone certainly has to.

* I have never actually met McGruff the Crime Dog.

‘Game Of Thrones’: You Definitely Missed This Clue To Jon Snow’s Return From The Dead

As has been long promised, 2015 is shaping up to be a record-breaking year in movie history, with tons of sequels, origin stories, and event pictures stuffing the ledgers of Hollywood studios across town. Yet after the recent info dump from CinemaCon in Las Vegas, it looks like we’re going to be in store for an even bigger year in 2017!

LEGO Batman

The LEGO Movie allowed Will Arnett’s portrayal of Batman to steal the show, and in the spirit of their famous video game franchise, LEGO is taking another IP for a spin in building block form. While the storyline is still mostly under wraps, there’s still been some crumbs promising hilarity as well as a tribute to every portrayal of Batman thus far. Lord and Miller passed the directing gig to Chris McKay, but even just their producer’s muscles should ensure this one will be enjoyable for all of the LEGO Movie fans they made last year.

Release Date: 2/10/17

The Wolverine 2

Hugh Jackman says that he’s got one last Wolverine picture in him, and that last film is coming in 2017. We have no clue what this film is going to be about or who else is going to star in it, all we know is James Mangold will be reprising his directing duties after his successful tenure on The Wolverine. It’s not a lot to go on, but with the two most successful components of the last film’s success in play, it’s hard not to be excited that they’ll be sending Wolverine off with a bang.

Release Date: 3/3/17

Kong: Skull Island

A reboot of King Kong would normally get laughed at in this day and age. Which is why the fact that Legendary got the rights to the character was the first sign that things were going the right way, as they know how to take an outdated, often mocked classic monster and turn them into a modern menace. Throw in Michael Keaton, J.K Simmons, and Tom Hiddleston into the mix, and we have a sneaking suspicion that this film will do well enough that Godzilla just might get to meet his Legendary playmate.

Release Date: 3/10/17

Beauty & The Beast

After fans flocked to see Cinderella on the big screen this past March, Beauty And The Beast seems ready to replicate that glorious success in 2017. With its cast set and ready to go, director Bill Condon is following in Kenneth Brannagh’s footsteps and reviving a page of our childhood in live action. Emma Watson and Dan Stevens lead a cast that includes everyone from Luke Evans and Josh Gad to the golden trio of Emma Thompson, Kevin Kline, and Sir Ian McKellen. All of the stars look to be aligning, and Beauty And The Beast already sounds like it’ll be a delight for children and adults.

Release Date: 3/17/17

Fast & Furious 8

There was legitimate doubt that we’d even get a Furious 8, especially after the fitting ending Paul Walker’s character was given at the end of Furious 7. With his character’s finale looking like it doubled as a series finale, fans thought they’d never see Dom and the rest of the crew back in action. Thankfully, Vin Diesel himself confirmed that Furious 8 is fueling up for another go in the same slot it filled this year. Who will be back? We’re not sure yet. But honestly, if anyone was going to tell us that the show was going to go on, it had to be Vin himself.

Release Date: 4/14/17

Guardians Of The Galaxy 2

Admit it, you miss Rocket Raccoon already. There’s only so many times you can watch your Guardians Of The Galaxy Blu-ray before you go mad over having to wait so long for the sequel. Still, the sequel is indeed happening, and James Gunn promises the father of all conflicts in this next one. No, literally, it’s all about the dads in this one – he said it himself. With the entire crew back among the stars, the trouble they could get into is as limitless as Star Lord’s ego. Whatever it is, though, it just might lead to some complications for The Avengers down the road.

Release Date: 5/5/17

Star Wars: Episode VIII

If there’s any Star Wars announcement that excited the fan base more than J.J. Abrams being announced as the director, it most certainly has to be the announcement that Rian Johnson would be taking over for the middle installment of the continuing trilogy. With his work on such dark masterpieces as Brick and Looper, Johnson’s sensibilities are cut out for the phase in the Star Wars trilogy that usually is reserved for somber and brooding uncertainty. Considering that The First Order will more than likely be just getting started with their villainous ways, and that Darth Vader helmet still requiring an explanation, Star Wars: Episode VIII is going to be a hell of a follow up to The Force Awakens.

Release Date: 5/26/17

Toy Story 4

Toy Story 4 is the idea that makes no damned sense, yet makes perfect sense at the same time. While Toy Story 3 put an emotional bow on the saga of Andy, it also introduced Bonnie and her new lease on life for Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the toy box gang. With each short and special that’s been produced in the past couple of years, we’ve gradually been primed for another film outing, and while this entry is supposedly going to be dealing with a different batch of friends than we’re used to, we wouldn’t be surprised if our old friends came back in some form or another during the new story’s course.

Release Date: 6/16/17

Wonder Woman

Determined not to let a little bit of a production shake up get in their way, Warner Bros. is still plugging away on a Wonder Woman film slated for June 2017. Gal Gadot has obviously been working her ass off to get into shape as the titular Amazonian, and with Batman v. Superman: Dawn Of Justice introducing her character properly, we’ll be ready to see her take center stage by the time the release window rolls around. Which is a very good thing, considering her standalone adventure will probably be the catalyst for another important DC film that comes a couple of months after this one.

Release Date: 6/23/17

Untitled Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes Sequel

With Humanity and The Apes properly divided, and the military assumed to be heading to the ruins of San Francisco, the sequel to Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes looks like it will be one of diplomacy and/or war games. Matt Reeves’ 2014 sequel blew the doors off of a saga that was once known for its vastly diminished returns between sequels, yet in this case, the complete opposite is true. The series is as strong as ever, and the third frame in Caesar’s rise to world domination promises to be as nuanced and brutal as the last.

Release Date: 7/14/17

Untitled Spider-Man

While everyone is trying to figure out who the next Peter Parker will be, all of the other fans in the world are giddy over the fact that Spider Man is heading home to Marvel Studios for the first time! Untitled Spider Man is the only name we have to go on, but we do know that this movie will bring us back to Peter Parker’s high school days, and will continue whatever threads we see form during his initial appearance in Captain America: Civil War. Whoever gets to play the famed web-slinger is in for a hell of a ride, but if that first appearance goes well enough, we might breathe a little easier knowing that this new solo adventure will be as “Amazing” as we hope.

Release Date: 7/28/17

Pacific Rim 2

Jaeger and Kaiju are ready to tear up the old town again, as Pacific Rim 2 has recently been postponed to August 8. No big deal, though, as this will give Guillermo Del Toro plenty of time to work out the story and the production angle on a sequel that was clamored for by the fans. In fact, it’s pleasing to know that Universal is once again giving Uncle Guillermo another shot at making one of his franchises a household name, as the last time they did that they produced Hellboy II: The Golden Army. If Pacific Rim 2 is as good as the Hellboy sequel was, this just might be the movie event of 2017.

Release Date: 8/4/17

Thor: Ragnarok

From the looks and sounds of The Avengers: Age Of Ultron, it seems as if Thor is going to be put through the ringer. He’d have to be in order to go back to Asgard, which will probably make him even more enraged when he finds out that his delinquent adopted brother has taken over their homeland. All we need to hear is those sentences above, and we’re already looking forward to Thor: Ragnarok. Our fingers are crossed that the third time is a charm, and that Chris Hemsworth will finally get to shine in a Marvel movie that makes us forget the enjoyable, if not weak predecessors in the Thor line of films. All snark aside, the set up for the third flick sounds pretty bad-assed. It will be here soon.

Release Date:11/3/17

Justice League – Part I

And so we land on the last big film of 2017, unless you count The Croods 2 as a big deal. Barring any huge announcements in the next couple of months, Justice League – Part I is going to be the feather in the cap of 2017’s hat. With DC’s building blocks already in play, it looks like we’re going to see the darkest, grittiest version of the Justice League we’ve seen since… well, since ever. The fact that we’re even getting a Justice League film is exciting enough, considering we’ve been teased so many times in the past. While it still needs to win us over with all that happens before it, Justice League still has a spot on our list – and in our hearts – because it’s the stuff that geeks are made of.

Release Date:11/17/17

Much has been made in the last two months of actor Mark Ruffalo’s comments about the future of the Marvel superhero Hulk on the big screen. In an interview with Collider, Ruffalo stated, “As far as a Hulk movie, a standalone Hulk movie, Marvel doesn’t really have the rights to that yet. That’s still Universal’s property, so there’s that issue. That’s a big impediment to moving forward with that.” And ever since, fans and media outlets have been speculating about Marvel not owning the rights to the Hulk on film, and there’s been a lot of guesswork about what precisely Ruffalo was referring to. Since the details of these rights deals are rarely made public in all their little nuances, the uncertainty about precisely who owns what and — most importantly — why Marvel hasn’t made a Hulk sequel yet continues to vex fans and press alike. So let me clear it all up for everyone once and for all, with the specific correct details for you.

Hulk 4

Marvel regained the film production rights to the Hulk in 2005, after Universal’s license of the character lapsed due to failure to enter production on a sequel to 2003′s Ang Lee film Hulk. In February 2006, Morton Handel — then-chairman of Marvel Entertainment – said during an earnings report announcement, “Several watershed events in 2005 have set the stage for the next phase of Marvel’s growth. … We are actively working on scripts for Captain America, Ant-Man and Nick Fury… In addition, the rights for Hulk and Iron Man reverted back to Marvel.” Later in 2006, Marvel successfully regained the film production rights to Captain America and Thor as well.

But despite obtaining the cinematic rights to make Hulk movies, Marvel did not obtain distribution rights. Universal held those rights, and today I can confirm the exact situation is that Universal currently retains the right of first refusal to distribute any Hulk films in the future. If for some reason Universal chose to forgo distribution, then Disney would immediately pick up the distribution rights for the Hulk movie. So Universal has no claim at all to the production rights, and their distribution rights are dependent on exercising their option, which remains in full effect at the moment.

Those thinking that the Universal distribution rights are the major obstacle to getting a Hulk sequel seem to forget that Marvel released Iron Man 2 with Paramount distributing the picture. Paramount in fact distributed Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Captain America: The First Avenger, and Thor. Meanwhile, Marvel entered an agreement with Sony to share Spider-Man production rights in a plan that lets Marvel use the wall-crawler for team-ups only, while Sony still produces and distributes solo Spidey flicks. Marvel clearly isn’t going to refuse arrangements with other studios to share characters or share distribution, if and when the studio wants to make a movie.

So the claims that distribution rights alone would be enough to make Marvel refuse to release another Hulk movie don’t make much sense. If they wanted to make the movie, they’d either buy the distribution rights from Universal, reach a deal in which Universal agrees to decline distribution in exchange for some other arrangement with Marvel or Disney (for example, Disney co-financing another project with Universal, Disney allowing Universal to distribute some other film instead, Disney changing the release date of one of their films to open the calendar up for a Universal movie, and so on), or they’d just release a film and live with the distribution deal as they did with Iron Man 2 and lots of other films (as they’re doing by sharing Spider-Man).

It’s not entirely irrelevant that Universal has distribution rights to the Hulk solo movies, and of course Marvel would prefer to release all of their content under their own banner and not have to share profits. That’s just good business sense. But it’s also good business sense to not cut off your nose to spite your face, and Marvel has consistently been willing and able to make deals and release films under shared licensing or distribution if and when that fits into their plans and is the best way to make the movies they want to make.

The real primary reasons Marvel has postponed any plans for a solo Hulk movie are threefold.

First and foremost, despite the amazing success Marvel has enjoyed and the fact they clearly dominate the superhero film genre with blockbuster releases, 2008′s The Incredible Hulk stands out as the single Marvel release that we honestly have to admit performed weakly at the box office. With just $263 million in worldwide theatrical receipts, the film barely improves upon the equally disappointing box office performance of its predecessor film Hulk, which took $245 million in 2003.

The earlier film had a $137 million budget and the later production cost $150 million, so the proximity of their box office is mirrored in the closeness of their respective budgets as well. The brand didn’t grow, in other words, and both films failed to break even in theatrical dollars. The Incredible Hulk did enjoy a very healthy roughly $120+ million on worldwide home entertainment, but that is offset quite a bit by marketing costs that came in at about $80+ million.

If Marvel is going to invest $150-200 million in a superhero movie, they need to feel confident they’ll see more than perhaps $40 million in eventual profit a few years down the road. They can invest that sort of money into properties they know or strongly suspect will deliver huge returns, so expecting them to invest in a franchise that’s twice failed to even cover its own expenses at the box office isn’t very reasonable.

The Hulk character has proven immensely popular in the Marvel Avengers team-up films, but he doesn’t have to shoulder an entire film and isn’t on screen for most of the running time. Which brings us to the second primary reason Marvel hasn’t made a Hulk sequel film — the character seems to work better and be more popular as a value-added addition to other films. Saving the Hulk to turn him into a “special event” character whom audiences only get to see as an extra element in Marvel’s biggest productions raises his profile and ensures people don’t get tired of him. It also allows the movies to exploit his strengths as a character with far less concern about any potential weaknesses.

And let’s be clear, some weaknesses do exist — at face value, and as perceived by the mainstream public who buy tickets, the Hulk is primarily a big super-strong monster-hero. Which has terrific value as a supporting character in a larger story, but (again, speaking about mainstream public perceptions here) might feel harder to imagine remaining as enjoyable to watch for the entirety of a two-hour film. When solo Hulk movies tried to save the “Hulk-out” moments to avoid oversaturating the films with “big angry monster smashing things and fighting,” audiences clearly weren’t as impressed, despite the fact those were actually good films (I love The Incredible Hulk, it’s essentially a throwback to old Universal classic monster movies).

I think there’s a real impression at the studio that trying a solo movie focused on the Hulk being the Hulk most of the time in the story is a highly risky project. Making a sequel that works will require some unique angles to approach the character in a way that retains everything about his Avengers appearances that make them so beloved, while avoiding all the things about usual Hulk solo stories that audiences seem largely uninterested in.

Finally, there is the simple matter of budgeting. A movie with the Hulk would necessarily include him staying in Hulk form a large portion of the time — again, two previous solo films that had more relatively limited Hulk screen time performed poorly, and any new film has to up the ante and really offer something huge for the Hulk to face off against. With the Hulk as an entirely CGI character, it would mean a lot longer production time and higher costs for the extensive visual effects necessary to create such a large character consistently on film for a two hour movie. And again, whatever shows up to anger him and bring him to battle will have to be worthy of the Hulk we’ve come to know and love, meaning a threat level almost equivalent to an Avengers movie.

The biggest and best modern Hulk stories with potential for big-screen adaptation, according to fan sentiment and press attention, are Planet Hulk and World War Hulk. In either case, or any similar scenario, we’re talking about a large amount of visual effects work and large cast, so the budget for such a project would be close to $200 million if not more. It needs a great story with a compelling new arc for the Hulk that convinces audiences there’s more to him than they’ve seen so far, a threat level that turns this into a really big event-level movie on par with the previous event movies he’s been reserved for, and lots of marketing to build the hype and buzz around the release to ensure a big opening weekend and long legs.

That sort of expense is difficult for Marvel to swallow right now since history hasn’t been kind to movies that depended on the Hulk as the main character. A $180 million budget film would require another $150 million in heavy marketing, so $330 million is the total price tag and $660 million is the break-even point. To get the sort of returns Marvel can get by investing that money into another property, a Hulk sequel therefore needs to bring in at least $750+ million at the worldwide box office, preferably more. And until that sort of performance seems much more likely than a modest or yet-again-failed theatrical run, Marvel knows better than to go down that road.

Those are the three big reasons we haven’t had a Hulk sequel yet, not because Marvel lacks film rights or because there is just some big problem arising out of distribution arrangements. Yes, distribution rights are a detail to be worked out eventually, but not a big enough obstacle to prevent a sequel if Marvel was ready to make one.

So fans should relax and be patient. Marvel has proven to be one of the most savvy and successful studios in Hollywood. They are very aware of what audiences like and don’t like at this point, and they are very aware of their options for using the Hulk in a variety of different types of stories. For now, they appear to think the Hulk works best for the character, for the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general, and for audiences if he’s used as an added-value element for big event pictures rather than risking all of the good will he’s earned in the last few years by chancing yet another solo film too soon when they aren’t even ready for it in the bigger scheme anyway.

If and when Marvel has the right story to tell, and the Hulk has finally built up so much public affection that a stronger solo performance seems much more likely than another stumble, then and only then will Marvel movie forward with a sequel. It will have to fit into Marvel’s larger plans, which are bigger than any one character. There is a whole universal narrative at work in the Marvel films, and each character and franchise has a role to play. For now, a solo Hulk adventure obviously isn’t in the best interests of what Marvel has in mind. But rest assured, you’ll be seeing more of the Hulk soon enough — and eventually, that will include in another solo outing, when the time is right.

What do you think of the Hulk’s status as a special guest star in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, dear readers? And when the Hulk does inevitably return to the big screen in his own adventure, what should it be? Sound off in the comments below!

Details Of Marvel’s ‘Hulk’ Film Rights – Fans Can Relax About Sequel

New ‘Kung Fu Panda 3′ International Trailer Reveals Villain

DC Comics recruits Will Smith and Common for “Suicide Squad.”

Will Smith and Common are set to star in the forthcoming DC Cinematic Universe film Suicide Squad.

As the third release from DC Cinematic Universe, Suicide Squad departs from the typical style of comic book movies and focuses on a band of super villains as apposed to super heroes.

The plot of the film, which is due in theaters August 5, 2016, surrounds a group of notorious inmates who have been recruited by a government agency to take on covert missions that should ultimately lead to their deaths.

Will Smith plays the role of Floyd Lawton aka Deadshot, a highly skilled mercenary who is a well-known enemy to Batman.

Common’s role has been kept under wraps to the public, but pictures have recently surfaced via Twitter showing him on set in Toronto.

The photos reveal Common as a possible bad guy wearing a leather wardrobe, tattoos and piercings as his attire.

According to JustJared, the rapper’s ensemble is similar to that of the Green Latern villain Abel Tarrant aka The Tattooed Man, though Common’s official role has not been confirmed.

A photo of Will Smith and a photo of Common from the set are as follows:

For additional Common coverage, watch the following DX Daily:

Will Smith & Common Roles In DC Comics Film “Suicide Squad” Detailed

In order to celebrate Green Lantern’s 75th anniversary, DC Comics has announced 25 variant covers that feature Green Lanterns from throughout the character’s history, including Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Alan Scott and Kai-Ro.

According to IGN, the variants will precede the release of “Green Lantern: A Celebration of 75 Years,” which is out on September 30 and collects some of the character’s most legendary storylines from reputed writers and artists.

The titles that will feature Green Lantern variants include:

• “Action Comics” #44 illustrated by Neil Edwards & Jay Leisten; “Aquaman” #44 illustrated by Francis Manapul
• “Batman” #44 illustrated by Tony Daniel
• “Batman Beyond” #4 illustrated by Craig Rousseau
• “Batman/Superman” #24 illustrated by Dave Bullock
• “Black Canary” #4 illustrated by Evan Shaner
• “Catwoman” #44 illustrated by Emanuella Luppacino
• “Cyborg” #3 illustrated by Kenneth Roccafort
• “Deathstroke” #10 illustrated by Dave Johnson
• “Detective Comics” #44 illustrated by Cliff Chiang
• “The Flash” #44 illustrated by Wes Craig
• “Grayson” #12 illustrated by Andrew Robinson
• “Green Arrow” #44 illustrated by Neal Adams
• “Green Lantern” #44 illustrated by Howard Chaykin
• “Harley Quinn” #20 illustrated by Dan Panosian
• “Justice League” #44 illustrated by Ivan Reis & Joe Prado
• “JLA” #4 illustrated by Alex Garner
• “Robin: Son of Batman” #4 illustrated by Howard Porter
• “Sinestro” #15 illustrated by Ryan Sook
• “Starfire” #4 illustrated by Lee Garbett
• “New Suicide Squad” #12 illustrated by Ryan Benjamin
• “Superman” #44 illustrated by Kevin Nowlan
• “Superman/Wonder Woman” #21 illustrated by Joe Quinones
• “Teen Titans” #12 illustrated by Mike McKone
• “Wonder Woman” #44 illustrated by Terry Dodson & Rachel Dodson

DC Comics Announces 25 Green Lantern-Themed Variants for 75th Anniversary

[WARNING: This post contains SPOILERS for Arrow.]

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While The Flash‘s season finale won’t air until next week, Arrow has already finished its third season with this week’s “My Name is Oliver Queen.” The episode wrapped up season 3’s struggle with Ra’s al Ghul and the League of Assassins with a neat and tidy bow, practically coming across as a series finale with how final every development felt. This was especially true of Oliver’s decision to retire the Arrow persona and leave the vigilante business altogether, last seen driving off into the sunset with Felicity while proclaiming how happy he was.

However, we know Arrow is returning next year with its star Stephen Amell, so it shouldn’t be too terribly long before we see Oliver return to his bow and arrows. During the course of season 3, Oliver’s identity as the Arrow was outed, and though Roy eventually took the fall for him, it’s now impossible for Oliver Queen to resume his crime-fighting activities under that guise; especially since Ra’s again framed the Arrow as a killer, tarnishing his reputation. Simply returning next season and donning the Arrow costume would effectively undo all that happened this season, something Amell himself affirmed when recently asked about season 4.

Having a show called Arrow without anyone as the Arrow doesn’t seem all that likely, at least not for long. And while Oliver’s sister, Thea, has recently stepped into the role of Speedy, there’s little doubt that Oliver will return and again take up arms. But if the Arrow persona is truly dead and gone, what new identity will Oliver assume upon his return?

In his earlier interview during the CW’s Upfront presentation, Amell said he doesn’t know what’s in store for Oliver next season when it comes to the future. But in speaking with E!, he goes on to confirm at least one thing he knows for sure about the upcoming season of Arrow:

“Arrow is done. No more Arrow suit. I’ve worn it for the last time.“

Again, the news that the Arrow persona is done for now isn’t all that shocking, but saying he’ll never again don his green leather hood is truly outrageous. After all, it was the outfit that most strongly connected the Arrow to his comic book inspiration Green Arrow. Without it, Oliver isn’t all that indistinguishable from his recent turn as Al Sah-him.

Retiring not only the Arrow persona but the Arrow suit could imply a number of things, one being that Oliver is truly well and done being a masked hero. That’s the least likely scenario, but it is one we could see Arrow toy with for more than just an episode or two (unlike Oliver’s “death” which lasted all of an episode).

What’s more likely is that season 4 of Arrow could be the season where Oliver truly becomes Green Arrow (as The Flash even hinted at with Gideon’s newspaper from the future). The distinction may not seem all that drastic, but the Green Arrow of the comics is different from the man Amell has played for three seasons. Most noticeably, Green Arrow isn’t nearly as dour or brooding as Amell’s Oliver Queen. Since Oliver has finally found happiness in his relationship with Felicity, we may see a happier Oliver in season 4.

Pair a less surly Oliver with a new costume, most likely another green affair, and you’ve got someone closer to the character fans of the Green Arrow comics have been expecting since day one.

What do you guys think? Do Stephen Amell’s comments that he’s worn the Arrow suit for the last time imply he’s hanging up his quiver for good? Or will we see him return next season as a brighter, more fun Green Arrow? Sound off in the comments below!

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Arrow season 4 will premiere this fall along with The Flash season 2 and season 1 of CBS’ Supergirl. The Flash/Arrow spinoff show Legends of Tomorrow will premiere as a midseason replacement in early 2016.

Stephen Amell Says He’s Done Wearing the ‘Arrow’ Suit

Ever since yesterday, Marvel’s been talking about how the next version of their superhero universe will look a whole lot different. And a new teaser image gives a glimpse of even more changes, including a female Wolverine. Time to put on our thinking caps, true believers. 

Is That Tony Stark in the Iron Man Armor?

As previously discussed, the presentation of the Iron Man seen in the Free Comic Book Day All-New, All-Different Avengers story was… coy. It might not be—as some readers think—Tony Stark in the red-and-gold suit at all.

Combined with yesterday’s teases about a new Hulk, the comments about the founding of the Avengers in the image above have folks wondering if it’s Bruce Banner wearing the Iron Man.

Members of the X-Men and Fantastic Four Are Still Around…

Despite their disappearance from merchandise and a nebulous publishing status, characters from Marvel’s First Family and mutant populations are in the newest teaser image. Maybe Marvel’s movie-rights beef with Fox won’t affect their comics output, then. But, it looks like the Thing has a Guardians of the Galaxy uniform on, doesn’t it?

Including a Woman in a Wolverine Suit

There was mention of a new Wolverine in the interviews with Marvel editor-in-chief Axel Alonso yesterday and there she is. Odds are that’s X-23—the female clone of Wolverine—in the character’s superhero togs. She’s been part of the weekly Wolverines comic that’s been happening in the aftermath of Logan’s death. But she’s also standing right next to the alt-universe Old Man Logan version of her forebear. In the latest He’s raising a baby Hulk in the Old Man Logan Secret Wars tie-in comic. Maybe that’s the new Hulk talked up by Marvel?

Why’s Daredevil Hiding His Face Again?

Matt Murdock’s secret identity is a thing of the past in the current iteration of the Daredevil comics. So why’s the Daredevil up there wearing a mask? Could be that it’s not Murdock at all, especially with the weird change to his DD insignia.

Other Characters from the Ultimate Universe Will Be Around After Secret Wars

It’s all but confirmed that Miles Morales will be making the jump from a parallel dimension to the mainline Marvel Universe after Secret Wars. A Fast Company piece notes that Alonso says that the newer Spider-Man won’t be the only one to wind up in the new reality:

Alonso says that some of those Ultimate characters will continue in the main continuity, giving Marvel “an incredible, wide array of options to spice up our universe.”

There’s a lot of other stuff in the new teaser image to wonder about, like a younger-looking Dr. Strange holding a big ol’ battle axe, Squadron Supreme characters Hyperion and Spectrum hovering in the background and Thunderbolts’ character Citizen V making an unexpected return. What do you think it all means? Sound off in the comments below.

Let’s Speculate About the Future of the Marvel Universe

Disney music is the best kind of music. It’s a fact of life. Therefore, by using the powers of logic, Disney musicians have to be the best kind of musicians. So, we decided to rank the musical acts from Disney movies to establish once and for all (in our humble opinion) who’s the best. But, before we begin this rhythmic ranking, we have a couple of rules.

1. The musical acts must perform for an audience, rather than vocalizing their internal feelings via melody.
2. The musical acts do not necessarily have to play an instrument.

Alright, now that we have the business out of the way, let’s begin:

18. Gaston’s Wedding Band – Beauty and the Beast

What band agrees to perform at a wedding where the groom hasn’t proposed to the bride? We feel like there should be a rule against that in the wedding band handbook.

17. The Flowers – Alice in Wonderland

You can learn a lot of things from the flowers, like how to hit extremely high notes and also be kind of rude. They should have spent less time in floral choral school and more time practicing their manners.

16. Kuzco’s Theme Song Guy – The Emperor’s New Groove

We do enjoy Kuzco’s Theme Song Guy’s catchy song all about Kuzco, but we don’t enjoy the fact that his song gets people thrown out of windows.

 15. Elsa’s Coronation Band – Frozen

The tuba guy is our favorite and he should play at every Arendelle event. Overall though, there seems to be a lack of pizzazz from the band as whole, leaving them at the number fifteen spot.

 14. Wheezy – Toy Story 2

Wheezy’s is a true comeback kid story. After being left on the shelf for years without a new squeaker, he finally gets his voice (and his groove) back with a snazzy rendition of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” Hats off to you, Wheezy.

 13. The Cat Band – The Aristocats

Everybody wants to be a cat, and we want to dance to this band all night long. (We also want to find them a cool jazz club play in rather than a dilapidated attic.)

 12. The Pearly Band – Mary Poppins

We never need a reason and never need a rhyme to enjoy the pearly band from Mary Poppins. Their group costume coordination is excellent, and they don’t even bat an eye when Mary and Bert start singing a song called “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”

11. Roger Radcliffe – One Hundred and One Dalmatians

Roger is described as a “musician of sorts” by Pongo, but it’s really Roger’s songwriting skills that land him a spot on our list. While he seems to have a very unorganized work ethic, he does write a really catchy tune about Cruella De Vil, and for that, we love him all the same.

10. Louis and the Firefly Five – The Princess and the Frog

We’d listen to this jazzy band and dance the night away at Tiana’s Palace any day of the week. Plus, we’d get to eat beignets while an alligator plays the trumpet, and that friends, is really cool.

9. Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem – The Muppets

As the house band for The Muppet Show, Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem have seen it all and played it all. They’ve performed with some of the greats, and have truly stood the test of time when it comes to great rock music.

8.  Prota Zoa – Zenon, Girl of the 21st Century

Interplanetary, megastellar, hydrostatic. Our love for Prota Zoa is automatic (and can only be described using space-like words). Plus, he’s the first rock star to perform in space, which gives him extra points on our list.

 7. Bert – Mary Poppins

Any guy that can be his own one-man band and come up with witty rhymes on the spot gets extra kudos in our book. He’s got so much enthusiasm as well, which is why Bert is number seven on our list.

6. The Pub Thugs – Tangled

To be totally honest, we were going to rank the Pug Thugs a lot lower due to the fact they chain up their accordion guy. Upon further examination though, we have to give the thugs credit where credit is due. They spice up their musical number with flame throwing, barrell rolling, a strange goat, and that old guy who makes us laugh every time. These thugs have dreams people, and we appreciate their dedication to their strange hobbies and musicality.

5. Clopin – The Hunchback of Notre Dame

If there’s one thing Clopin knows how to do, it’s put on a production. Whether he’s entertaining the kids with a puppet show, or leading the crowd in “Topsy Turvy”, Clopin brings the energy. He’s also quite acrobatic, which really helps put his showmanship over the top–and into our top five.

 
4. Sebastian and the Sea Creatures – The Little Mermaid

Is there anything this crustacean band leader and his under the sea friends can’t do? Instead of creating a slideshow of reasons why Ariel should enjoy living under water, Sebastian and crew stage an elaborate song and dance number to win her over. If that’s not dedication, we don’t know what is.

3. Lumiere and the Enchanted Objects – Beauty and the Beast

Dining in a castle filled with enchanted objects is great. Dining in a castle filled with enchanted objects that sing you off to sleep as you digest is even better. Lumiere and the enchanted objects do such a great job at welcoming Belle with their song and dance number, that it makes US want to get out of seats every time we watch this scene and dance along. Also, can we try the grey stuff? We hear it’s delicious.

2. Powerline – A Goofy Movie

Powerline may be a surprising number two choice for some, but hear us out on this one. Powerline has major stage presence, amazing dance moves, and a pretty great back-up crew to sing and dance around him. But what sets Powerline apart as our top Disney solo act are his songs. “I2I” and “Stand Out” have been our power jams for years, which proves that these songs, and Powerline, are here to stay.

1. The Muses – Hercules

And the cream of the crop, the tip of the top, are the Muses. These wonderful ladies are the epitome of a Disney musical act. They have great voices, flawless synchronized dance moves, and help narrate the story of Hercules with both gravitas and humor. The Muses are pretty much perfect in every way, which is why they are our number one musical act.

A Definitive Ranking of 18 Disney Musical Acts