Movies

During Hollywood’s golden age, top stars weren’t just actors; they understood how movies were made. They were skilled performers who knew how to connect with viewers through the camera. Since the old studio system-which created and controlled stars through contracts-ended, the idea of stardom has become more fragmented and changed significantly. For a while, many believed Hollywood had lost its ability to create stars in the traditional way. Instead, established intellectual property (IP) became-and still is-the most important thing. Now, a star’s value is determined by their ability to secure funding and production for films, and their films’ performance on streaming platforms, along with their presence on social media, are absolutely critical.

Lastly, del Toro completed his Frankenstein film, which will be released in theaters and on Netflix this fall. Now the comparisons can start: between Dr. Victor Frankenstein (portrayed by Oscar Isaac in del Toro’s adaptation), who is driven by the desire to create life, and del Toro himself, who was equally passionate about bringing his vision for the movie to the screen!

Viewers already got a glimpse of Frankenstein with a short teaser, but the trailer you see above is the complete first look. Guillermo del Toro described Elordi’s monster as beautiful, though it’s hard to understand why from this footage. We do see the creature being assembled and displaying impressive power, but his complete design remains a mystery. Let’s analyze what this trailer suggests for the upcoming horror film, which will be available to Netflix subscribers on home video in November.

During a conversation with Brandon Davis, the host of Phase Hero: A Film & TV Podcast, James Gunn mentioned that Michael Gathegi’s Mister Terrific will have an important part to play in the DCU after being featured in Superman.

But first, we have five main pod storylines to break down. Let’s get into it.

For instance… is he having a secret affair with Sister Sage? The episode begins with a flashback to a month earlier, showing Cipher caring for his father – feeding and bathing him – and then allowing him to watch while Cipher engages in sexual activity. It appears some kind of control or manipulation is happening, as if Cipher Junior is merely a body being used by Cipher Senior to overcome his physical limitations. Later, Sage appears to hint at their schemes involving Marie. She seems completely involved, perhaps as an equal collaborator. Both she and Cipher aim to push Marie to train intensely, with the ultimate goal of surpassing Homelander as the most powerful supe.

The sixth episode of Peacemaker Season 2 took a surprising turn by revealing that the seemingly perfect alternate dimension the main character visits is actually Earth X, a world controlled by Nazis. While some fans predicted this twist, others were genuinely shocked. (It seems the folks at Fortnite were also surprised – they quickly removed the character’s dance emote from Season 2 after the reveal.)

In an interview with TV Line, Hoffman discussed how the recent reveal that Oliver (Martin Short) spent his childhood in foster care in Flatbush adds depth to both the latest episode and his overall character. Hoffman remembered, “We had considered this for a while. I really liked the idea of showing that his outgoing, charismatic personality – the ‘Bon Vivant,’ as it were – wasn’t just natural, but developed as a way to cope with a difficult upbringing. That contrast was fascinating to me.”

I’m really excited to hear that James Mangold has signed a big deal with Paramount Pictures! He’s going to be developing, directing, and producing films for them, which is fantastic news for his career. But, honestly, it also has some interesting consequences for Lucasfilm. You see, last year they announced he was going to be the creative lead on Dawn of the Jedi, a Star Wars project that promised to delve into the very beginnings of the Force. It’s a bit of a shift, and I’m curious to see how this all plays out.

More to come…