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!
Tim Drake is Coming to Titans!
(before I get into this I want to share the incredibly bias I am about to proceed with: Tim Drake!Robin is my very favourite superhero in the entire world)
Late Thursday it was announced not only that Titans is moving forward into its third season in earnest, but we are getting more Robins than ever! Titans was the first show to give us a live action Jason Todd (who is going to graduate to the role of Red Hood in season three), and it will not be adding Tim Drake to the roster.
Fans will recall Batman: the Animated Series also feature Tim Drake. The character bore a passing resemblance to the comic book character with heavy Jason Todd traits sprinkled in.
At first blush it appears Titans is taking a similar tact. Jay Lycurgo (I May Destroy You), has been cast in the role of Tim Drake with the following description released from WB:
Drake is described as a streetwise kid who’s managed to grow up on the toughest streets without losing his indelible belief in heroism. His easy-going demeanor is backed up by a near-genius mind, a natural detective with a perception of detail far beyond his years. Fans of the “Batman” comics will recall that Drake served with Batman as the third Robin.
FUN FACT: as Variety points out, Lycurgo is also slated to appear in The Batman although his role has yet to be revealed …
… hmmm!
Is WB finally going to let their DC Comics television and film crossover despite years of resistance?
This news also comes on the heels of Savannah Welch (The Transcendents), in the role of Barbara Gordon 
giving us the most complete Batfamily in live action to date!
Needless to say, I’m incredibly excited! Hop over to my Twitter for the real time reactions!
Per Variety
Lupin Returns to Netflix This Summer
Major Spoilers podcast and Finally Friday listeners have heard Stephen and myself espouse the virtues of George Kay’s French language television series Lupin (based on the classic Arsène Lupin novels). The series stars Omar Sy (X-Men: Days of Future Past), and was the most-watched original series on Netflix before Bridgerton overtook it yesterday.
Netflix announced on Thursday the second half of Lupin would drop in “Summer 2021” which is frustratingly vague for fans.
The series was shot as a single production with all episodes originally being made at the same time and then metered out to audiences in unique seasons. Streaming fans may remember His Dark Materials did the same thing with their first and second season in order to keep the young series leads at the same height from episode-to-episode (a problem Lost in Space faced).
For a foreign series this is huge. It was a big deal last year at the beginning of the lockdown efforts when American Netflix received streaming rights to Canada’s Kim’s Convenience with a shorter turn around than ever before due to the show’s popularity with American audiences. Not only is Lupin a foreign production – it is a foreign language production – which is huge and speaks to the types of content audiences are looking for in streaming entertainment.
Tom Swift Casts Its Lead
The CW’s Nancy Drew fans can expect more of what they love from the network in the upcoming Tom Swift series. According to Variety actor Tian Richards (Being Mary Jane, Dumplin’), has been cast in the role and will debut on an upcoming episode of Nancy Drew before jumping over to lead his own series.
According to Variety Tom Swift will be as follows:
The standalone series would follow the titular Black, gay, billionaire inventor who is thrust into a world of sci-fi conspiracy and unexplained phenomena after the shocking disappearance of his father. He takes to the road on a quest to unravel the truth, leaving behind the comforts of his usual moneyed lifestyle, all while fighting to stay one step ahead of an Illuminati-scale group hell-bent on stopping him.
All of his own drama spinning out of a rivalry with Drew.
It seem as the CW rolled out their slate of show in the Arrowverse they are now rolling out their YA mystery-verse? Drewverse? Tom Swift is based on the children’s science fiction adventure series from the early 20th century by Edward Stratemeyer. If you are looking forward to this new show it appears you have some reading to do, Spoilerite!
Zorro Returns …. Again!
Variety reported earlier this week that pulp hero, Zorro, is posed to make his return to the small screen.
John Gertz (who produced The Mask of Zorro), has teamed up with Secuoya Studios on a television series currently titled El Zorro.
Why now? You may be asking. David Martinez (director of fiction, Secuoya Studios), had this to say:
This is one of the biggest IPs, not only in the Spanish-speaking territories, but the world,” including a “large female presence.”
Not much else is known about the series, save Velvet Collection scribe Carlos Portela has completed an unspecified number of scripts.
Zorro has not only been a staple of film and television for almost a century, but his influence can be felt through the breadth of popular culture – perhaps most obviously in Batman. I think the potential of a Spanish-language Zorro show is incredibly exciting! We will definitely be covering the production as more news arrives.
