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!
Ben Affleck IS Returning as Batman
No for real, for real. Not just in the imaginations of a dedicated group of fans on social media. Yesterday Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom star Jason Mamoa revealed on his official Instagram account that Justice League star Ben Affleck would be going under the cowl once again and reprising his role as the Dark Knight in the upcoming Warner Bros superhero release.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Post-Michael Keaton returning to the role fans had assumed Affleck had hung up the cape for good. Given the personal toll filming Batman V Superman and Justice League took on him it’s difficult to blame Affleck for seemingly retiring from the role in 2019. It will make compelling reading and watching over the next nine months as information trickles out about how this reprisal came to be.
I’d also like to note this is a real return to a role by a character from the Justice League franchise rather than a complete rumour passed off as a news as we saw the week ahead of San Diego Comic-Con. That being clarified, Affleck stepping into the Batsuit again does appear to leave the door open for other actors to negotiate coming back as well in supporting or cameo roles in future DCEU films. On the other hand, Warner Bros appears to recently be invested in bringing back actors to take back up superhero film roles rather than expanding out the DC Cinematic Universe. As someone who enjoyed Affleck’s Batman I’m excited by this news, but I would be more excited if a new actor playing a new character for the first time in a new DC superhero movie had been announced this week.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom opens in cinemas on March 17, 2023 barring future delays.
Marvel Studios Names Phase 5 Directors
The Hollywood Reporter broke major news for the next Phase of the Marvel Cinematic Unvierse this week and it felt like in the long shadow of San Diego Comic-Con it got a touch lost in the fray. Yes, last week we had the announcements of titles and some graphics flashed on a screen, but now we have talent being attached as architects for what this evolution is going to look like.
Per THR:
Marvel also confirmed that Bassam Tariq is directing Blade, scheduled for a Nov. 3, 2023, release; Julius Onah is set for Captain America: New World Order, which will star Anthony Mackie as Captain America and open May 3, 2024; and Jake Schreier (Paper Towns) is directing villain team-up Thunderbolts, which will close out Phase 5 with a July 26, 2024, release. The studio is actively hunting for a filmmaker for Fantastic Four, which in April lost Spider-Man helmer Jon Watts and kicks off Phase 6 on Nov. 8, 2024.
There you have it: Bassam Tariq (Mogul Mowgli), Julius Onah (The Cloverfield Paradox), Jake Schreier (Papertowns, Robot and Frank), and Jon Watts (Spider-Man: No Way Home), are the film directors launching us into the future of Marvel.
If you’re not familiar with any of them I think you have some film homework to do!
All the SDCC Trailers
Since last week I had a sabbatical to attend San Diego Comic-Con I wanted to make sure to collect what I think are the best trailers from SDCC here in one place in case Spoilerites missed any of them:
Wakanda Forever is out here to break out hearts:
Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | Official Teaser
WAKANDA FOREVER – 11.11.22Wakanda Forever Prologue – New Music Available Now – Stream here – https://Hollywoodrecs.lnk.to/BPWFP► Watch Marvel on Disney+: htt…
Not to be outdone Warner Bros and the DC side of the equation dropped an exclusive new peek at Black Adam:
Black Adam – Comic-Con Sneak Peek
“You can be the destroyer of this world, or you can be its savior.” #BlackAdam only in theaters October 21.—————–https://www.facebook.com/blackada…
House of the Dragon caem strong:
House of the Dragon | Official Trailer | HBO Max
All the dragons roar as one. The #HouseoftheDragon trailer has arrived. House of the Dragon premieres August 21 on HBO Max.Download the House of the Dragon a…
And so did The Rings of Power:
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power – SDCC Trailer
Discover the legend that forged the rings. September 2 on Prime Video. #TheRingsOfPowerPrime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power brings to scre…
Rounding out the high fantasy offerings was Sandman:
The Sandman Comic-Con Trailer (HD) Netflix series
There is another world that waits for all of us when we close our eyes and sleep – a place called the Dreaming, where The Sandman, Master of Dreams (Tom Stur…
Were there any videos or trailers you think we missed?
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