Movie and TV show reviews

The following press release comes from NBC/Universal:

In “Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” we find six characters forming the Fantastic Four team, including the original four heroes who have been synonymous with popularity for six decades. Additionally, two famous characters from the team’s extensive comic book history will debut in a movie setting for the first time.

During an interview with Chris Appelhans and Maggie Kang, the creative minds behind “KPop Demon Hunters”, I delved into the intricate process of synchronizing music with animation. They chuckled as they admitted that this is a challenging task. Yet, they’ve perfected it through a streamlined workflow with their editors, which Chris Appelhans outlined as follows:

I’ve just finished watching “Predator: Killer of Killers”, a fresh animated series within the legendary sci-fi franchise. The 2025 film, available on Hulu for subscribers, consists of three tales centered around warriors from various time periods facing off against predators. After being captured, frozen in time, and then revived to fight as gladiator-like contestants for an alien species, they are eventually returned. If I’m candid, it’s quite enjoyable!

This year, a fresh character from the Marvel Cinematic Universe is set to star in its comic book premiere. It’s been unveiled that Tom Holland’s Night Monkey will be included in the upcoming Marvel Comics saga called “Battleworld,” available on shelves as early as September.

James Gunn, one of the co-CEOs at DC Studios, has confirmed that the Clayface movie scheduled for 2026 within the DC Universe will carry an R-rating. Given his past experience with R-rated comic book adaptations like The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker, and Creature Commandos, it’s evident that Gunn aims to push the boundaries in terms of violence, gore, and frightening elements as he leads the next phase of DC storytelling. This suggests that Warner Bros. may be prepared to present more adult-oriented adventures in the future.

Known for his intense portrayal of Frank Castle in both Disney+, Netflix’s Daredevil series and the Punisher spinoff, Jon Bernthal is all set to reprise this role in the upcoming Marvel-Sony production, Spider-Man: Brand New Day. This movie will extend his presence within the Marvel cinematic universe and represents a significant change in tone for the Tom Holland-led Spider-Man films, potentially guiding them towards a darker direction.

Given the challenge of donning his Murderbot costume, it’s telling that this scene was particularly tough for him during the 2025 TV series filming. During a conversation with Skarsgård at Apple TV+’s press event for Murderbot, I was curious: what was his secret to maintaining such a deadpan expression? He shared his method:

In simpler terms, the actor found it difficult to perform during this scene due to the challenges of wearing the Murderbot costume. When asked about his strategy for keeping a serious face, he revealed his technique.

Starting from The Fantastic Four on July 25th and potentially ending with Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027, the MCU’s concluding Multiverse saga is set to explore various superpowered families and connections across generations. This includes adoptive relationships, chosen families, rivalries among siblings, and parent-child dynamics. Phase 6 might turn out to be one of the most emotionally resonant chapters in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In a somewhat disappointing turn for fans, Olga Kurylenko’s character in the Thunderbolts scene of Black Widow didn’t have her full identity revealed. Her mask, featuring a skull theme, only retracted momentarily to allow Antonia to deliver her line before quickly returning to cover her face again. Furthermore, it seems that Marvel intentionally kept Kurylenko out of the spotlight in promotional materials such as posters, trailers, TV spots, and promo art for the movie. This deliberate choice was taken a step further when certain previews were edited to create an illusion of Taskmaster’s survival.