Did You Hear? is a weekly examination of headlines in the entertainment industry and a take on what they could mean for the future of the industry and (often), the little geeky bubble that we occupy.
Winter Soldier is Coming
Remember when Loki was getting his own tv show? Then Scarlet Witch – with a heavy emphasis placed on her romantic relationship with Vision? Because the Disney streaming service is upon up? And there aren’t already seven Marvel television shows scattered across different networks – to say nothing of the animated series?
Yeah, there’s gunna be more.
Variety is reporting that Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson are the next heroes in line for the small screen treatment.
That is pretty much all that’s known about this show and it has about as much details as the previously announced shows. Kevin Feige is set to helm, budgets are expected to be higher Malcolm Spellman (Empire), was recently tapped to write. Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie (who play Barnes and Wilson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe respectively), are not confirmed to be reprising their roles.
Nor are there any indications about when the series will begin production or whether or not Marvel Studios will flip-flop once again and have the events of the show and the movies tie into each other or not.
It’s a piece of news that is theoretically something to be excited about if you are a fan of either the Winter Soldier or Falcon, although I find it difficult to spin out of control with enthusiasm when there are so few certainties – and I’m still watching Daredevil!
The Witcher is (also) Coming
The first look at Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia from the upcoming Witcher Netflix series (set to film in Hungary later this year), has hit the internet. The photo is obviously a costume test and doesn’t reveal much of anything, but it’s stunningly accurate to the game. As a fan of screen accurate comic book costumes this is nothing but exciting as far as I am concerned!
Frozen 2 – the Wait Never Bothered Us Anyway
Per Variety we are closer than ever to shivering and sobbing through the continuing adventures of Elsa and Anna. Disney has reportedly bumped up the release date for the much clamoured for Frozen 2. The sequel is now set to hit cinemas worldwide on November 22, 2019 – where it had previously been slated for release on November 27.
… which when we pause to do the math is actually less than a week sliding in at a mere five days early.
Without being able to see the full schedule of releases presently scheduled for November 2019, the move feels like nothing more than a show of confidence on behalf of Disney than anything else. Variety had previously reported that Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld, Across the Universe), and Sterling K. Brown (Black Panther, This is Us), were in talks to join the cast of the movie. The moving of the date neither confirms nor denies whether or not these two all-star talents have joined Frozen 2, but a bump up in release dates would imply that production is well underway and the studio has every confidence that their production timeline is clipping along at a healthy pace.
Penny Dreadful is Also Getting a Sequel
Since we are living in an age where franchising is a must and no property is allowed to stand alone or rest 
after its closing beats, it should not have come as a surprise when Variety broke the news that Showtime had ordered a sequel for their period genre hit – Penny Dreadful.
City of Angels is the current title of the new show and lets you know that the show will be set in Los Angeles in 1938. No doubt both the film industry and the criminal underbelly will feature prominently. Makes you wonder if Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips will be tapped to consult.
The show is supposed to draw more on the Mexican folklore that is so pervasive in the area, according to Variety:
“Penny Dreadful: City of Angels” is set in 1938 Los Angeles, a time and place deeply infused with Mexican-American folklore and social tension. Rooted in the conflict between characters connected to the deity Santa Muerte and others allied with the Devil, the new series will explore a mix of the supernatural and the reality of the time period.
Showtime’s President of Programming, Gary Levine, said in a statement:
We were so thrilled when John Logan came to us with this wildly original take on the Penny Dreadful mythology that explores both the human spirit and the spirit world here in California. ’Penny Dreadful City of Angels’ promises to be an extraordinary saga of familial love set against the terrifying monsters that are around us and within us.
Production is slated to begin in 2019.
Satan Sues Sabrina
Archie Comics’ latest television offering, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, took Netflix by storm this past weekend in a torrent of witchery and Satanic imagery that was first popularized in the original horror comic book series. It doesn’t come as a huge surprise that there was some party bound to take issue with some of the more vicious changes to the traditional Sabrina the Teenage Witch mythology, but I honestly expected it to be from a group of concerned mothers or the like. The truth is a might further afield.
Co-founder and spokesperson for the Satanic Temple has publicly stated that he will be taking legal action against Chilling Adventures of Sabrina due to what he views as an issue with the show’s design of Baphomet – a deity closely associated with the Satanic Temple.
Per Greaves, the design of the imagery in the show infringes on the Temple’s image that is protected under copyright. The statue is a prominent feature of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Greaves is worried its fictionalization will damage their religion by inciting a new age of “Satanic panic”.
In light of the historical Satanic panic of the 1980s the concern is not a trivial one, however, in spite of reportedly retaining lawyers, I think Greaves probably has an uphill banner. Whether or not the statue of Baphomet is ultimately removed from the show – the demand being made – it is not likely to be possible until production of a second season is underway.
From Castlevania to Zelda?
Adi Shankar is a fan-turned-producer who has joined the list of industry stars making big career announcements via his official Instagram account:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpibkaZn3oJ/
While the announcement hasn’t been made at the time of the writing of this article outlets all over the internet from The Wrap to LRM are jumping straight to the conclusion that this heralds the announcement of Shankar’s Zelda adaptation that The Wrap mentioned in an earlier interview with the producer.
It’s maybe not fair to dive too deep into speculation until we have it in the form of an official announcement that Zelda is getting the television treatment at the hands of Shankar. The prevailing concern seems to be: will Link speak?
In another post Shankar did confirm that his Netflix project, Castlevania, has been greelint for a third season:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpm_aV_gor0/
Discworld will be The Watch
Terry Prachett’s Discworld franchise has, supposedly, been in development for quite some time. It now appears that BBC America is going to be the one to bring us just that in the form of a show called The Watch.
Said Sarah Barnett, BBC America President:
The Watch has been startlingly reimagined for television by writer Simon Allen, while still cleaving to the humor, heart and ingenuity of Terry Pratchett’s incomparably original work. BBC America embraces what’s fresh and exhilarating in TV; we believe The Watch will astonish audiences.
Co-Producer Simon Allen (Three Musketeers):
With events in our own world making the insanity of Discworld seem outrageously familiar, there couldn’t be a better time to bring Terry’s fun, fire, and fury back to the small screen or a better place than BBC America. I’m grateful to them, BBC Studios and especially Rob Wilkins at Narrativia who has been a constant source of inspiration on this epic and emotional journey.
The Watch is a distinctly British but defiantly global exhilarating thriller that is disruptive in its approach to the fantasy genre and also big on the themes of mortality, inclusion, alternative facts and justice. It’s a dizzying riot of hope, joy, suspense and audaciously dark humor. We can’t wait to work with BBC America to bring it all to life for existing fans and brand new audiences.
Executive Producer Rob Wilkins added:
Many years ago Terry made the brave decision to allow brand new Watch stories to be told with his existing characters. It’s taken a long time for anything to happen because we guard these characters with our very lives! So many of Terry’s biggest ideas seem more vital and urgent now than ever before and I am thrilled to be working with Simon and such a talented team, who understand the unique genius of their creator. They have really keyed into the subversive qualities of Terry’s voice and they clearly adore Discworld as much as I and millions of fans around the world do.
Discworld is defined by its density and starting with such a small, specific corner of the world has the potential to crack open the world to Prachett’s expansive world in a comprehensive way.
