The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Walt Disney Studios and Lucasfilm have enlisted director/writer J.D. Dillard (Sleight, Sweetheart, Devotion) and writer Matt Owens (Luke Cage; The Defenders; Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) to develop a new film set in the greater Star Wars universe. 

While plot details are murky at best, Deadline is reporting that the film may take place on the hidden Sith plant of Exegol, which was introduced last year in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and revealed to be the secret hiding place of the resurrected Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid). – Deadline’s claim has since been debunked by THR’s Borys Kit, who wrote the original story.

It’s uncertain, however, at this point in time whether their potential film will receive a traditional theatrical release or if it’s being prepped for a debut on the Disney+ streaming service. 

It should be noted that this new Dillard/Owens project is a completely new development and has no ties to the Kevin Feige/Kathleen Kennedy-backed project nor does it have any connection to the Rian Johnson trilogy, which is reportedly still in some stage of development. 

Disney has already booked December 16, 2022; December 20, 2024 and December 18, 2026 as potential release dates for future Star Wars films, but it remains uncertain which of these productions will ultimately occupy the aforementioned dates, especially considering the studio seems to be shifting their attention to expanding the franchise via Disney+ rather than rush it back to the big screen after the underwhelming box office returns of J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

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Thandie Newton returns as Maeve Millay. She scored a Primetime Emmy Award for her work on the series back in 2018, following season two, and has also earned two Golden Globe nominations. 
 

Marvel fan-favorite Tessa Thompson (Thor: Love and Thunder) returns as Maeve, but based on the SDCC trailer, it looks like she’ll be pulling double duty this season as in addition to her original role, she’ll also be playing Dolores from time-to-time. 
 

Gotham’s new Commissioner Jeffrey Wright (The Batman) returns as Bernard Lowe. While he’s already won both a Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy, he’s also earned two Primetime Emmy nominations for his work on this series. 
 

Evan Rachel Wood returns as Dolores Abernathy. She’s earned two Primetime Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe nomination for her work on the series. 
 

Despite seemingly meeting his end at the end of Westworld season two, 4x Academy Award-nominee and 2x Golden Globe-winner Ed Harris (Top Gun: Maverick) will be back as the Man in Black. He nabbed a Primetime Emmy nomination for his work in season two. 
 

Golden Globe-nominee Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad; El Camino) joins the series as Caleb, a mysterious – but very important – new character who will have a major role to play in the coming season. 

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Warner Bros. Animation has been on quite the run with its slate of DC offerings as of late, and Superman: Red Son (based on Mark Millar and Dave Johnson’s acclaimed limited series) is another winner for the studio. Like previous adaptations, there are things here which work better than the comics it’s based on and moments which are sorely missed, but it makes for an overall satisfying adventure which should have no problem keeping fans of the source material happy. 

Following a similar structure to the comic book, Superman: Red Son once again takes us to Soviet Russia for a tale that spans decades as we learn what would have happened if Kal-El’s rocket landed in the USSR instead of Smallville, Kansas. Along the way, we’re introduced to different versions of familiar faces, including Batman, Wonder Woman, and even the Green Lantern Corps. In the capable hands of director Sam Liu, this action-packed adventure is at its best when it explores the different relationships this alternate reality has created. Whether it’s a fun new take on Superman’s relationship with Lois Lane or a quiet, but still impactful, reveal about Diana Prince’s sexuality, it’s never not enjoyable to spend time with these reimagined characters. 

Freed from tying into past or upcoming DC animated adventures, the film retains the style of animation we’ve grown used to over the past few years, but still includes some eye-catching visuals, and a feel which is definitely reminiscent of the comic book it’s based on. It’s still a shame that there’s not a bigger difference in terms of style between each of these movies and it feels like this would have been the perfect project to take some risks with in that respect.

This Man of Steel may be a dictator, but there are enough elements of the Superman we all know and love for you to root for this version of the hero as he clearly struggles with his newfound role ruling over the Soviet Union. From an earnest youngster to  a man struggling to do the right thing, he occasionally heads down some darker paths and Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter) brings the right amount of gravitas to the iconic DC Comics creation…along with a convincing Russian accent!  Unfortunately, the movie suffers from a few uninspired performances, but Vanessa Marshall (Star Wars Rebels) makes for an excellent Diana Prince and it would be no bad thing for her to become Warner Bros. Animation’s go to choice for the Amazon warrior. 

The highlight, however, may be Diedrich Bader’s (Napoleon Dynamite) Lex Luthor. We’ve seen a lot of versions of that villain in these films over the past few years, but this heroic (well, mostly) take on the character has a good reason to hate Superman. One of the most exciting things about watching Superman: Red Son is being left struggling to decide who you should be rooting for. It’s a nice change of pace for one of these films to actually get us invested in a legitimately hard-hitting story which is more than just action scenes and comic book panels come to life. There have been rumblings for a while now that a live-action version of this tale could be something that’s explored on the big screen one day, but even that might struggle to top what we see here. The only thing we’d like to see in that which is sometimes missing here are a few more risks which help ensure it leaves an even greater lasting impact.

With a strong story and a stellar cast, Superman: Red Son features a complex and compelling take on characters like Superman and Lex Luthor which help put it up there with classics like Under The Red Hood and The Killing Joke.

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It looks like we might be finding out what Disney has planned for its forthcoming slate of Star Wars and Marvel Cinematic Universe projects sooner than expected.

Disney is set to host an event on March 5th in London ahead of the launch of Disney+ in Europe, and key executives and creative teams are expected to be in attendance to discuss the Mouse House’s future plans. We don’t have any specifics, but there’s a good chance we’ll get confirmed premiere dates for the streaming service’s Marvel TV shows such as Loki, WandaVision and The Falcon and The Winter Solider.

We could even get details on some of the as-yet unannounced series we know are also in the works, but that remains to be seen.

On the Star Wars front, updates on the second season of The Mandalorian are likely, and we may also get some news on the Obi Wan Kenobi and Cassian Andor shows.

That’s all we have for now, but we’ll hopefully find out more over the next couple of weeks. Be sure to keep an eye on CBM for updates. 

THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER
Following the events of “Avengers: Endgame,” Sam Wilson/Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) team up in a global adventure that tests their abilities—and their patience—in Marvel Studios’ “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.” The all-new series is directed by Kari Skogland; Malcolm Spellman is the head writer. Debuts on Disney+ this fall.

WANDAVISION
Marvel Studios’ “WandaVision” blends the style of classic sitcoms with the Marvel Cinematic Universe in which Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany)—two super-powered beings living their ideal suburban lives—begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems. The new series is directed by Matt Shakman; Jac Schaeffer is head writer. Debuts on Disney+ this year.

LOKI
In Marvel Studios’ “Loki,” the mercurial villain Loki (Tom Hiddleston) resumes his role as the God of Mischief in a new series that takes place after the events of “Avengers: Endgame.” Kate Herron directs and Michael Waldron is head writer. Debuts on Disney+ next year—2021.

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Deadline is reporting that Brian J. Smith (Sense8; Treadstone) has joined the cast of Warner Bros.’ and Village Roadshow’s upcoming action/sci-fi sequel The Matrix 4 in an undisclosed role, becoming the fourth actor from the Wachowski’s Sense8 Netflix series join the cast. 

Smith now joins a cast headlined by Keanu Reeves (John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum) and Carrie-Anne Moss (Marvel’s Jessica Jones), who will both reprise their original trilogy roles as Neo and Trinity, respectively. Jada Pinkett Smith (Gotham) has also been confirmed to return as Niobe from Reloaded and Revolutions, and Lambert Wilson (Benedetta) is also rumored to return as The Merovingian.

The new cast will be comprised of Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Watchmen), Jessica Henwick (Iron Fist), Neil Patrick Harris (Gone Girl), Jonathan Groff (Mindhunter), Max Riemelt (Sense8), Toby Onwumere (Sense8), Eréndira Ibarra (Sense8), Andrew Caldwell (iZombie) and Priyanka Chopra (Don – The Chase Begins Again). 

After helming the previous three installments with her sister, Lana Wachowski will be the sole director on the sequel, working off a screenplay she co-wrote with Aleksander Hemon (Sense8) and David Mitchell (Cloud Atlas). 

The Matrix 4 hits theaters May 21, 2021.

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This interactive figure is extremely cute, and something you just know that kids will love. 

It’s also going to be considerably cheaper than the Hot Toys version which is set to retail for hundreds of dollars (it is, however, completely accurate to what’s in the series).
 

This adorable little fella will be available from Build-A-Bear, and it’s another item that fans will surely rush to buy the second it goes on sale. 

Plus, let’s face it, who wouldn’t want their own cuddly version of The Child?
 

The Funko Pop that’s being released featuring The Child’s likeness is already the most pre-ordered Pop in the company’s history, and these t-shirts also put the spotlight on the beloved Baby.

The question is, which of them would you choose? “Both” sounds like a pretty good option…
 

More LEGO. These might not be overly realistic, but they’re an effective addition to the company’s “BrickHeadz” line.

Baby Yoda being in his crib is a lovely touch, and the fact it’s floating is definitely a bonus. The Mandalorian himself looks surprising badass here, as well. 
 

The Darksaber made it’s surprise return in the season finale of The Mandalorian. 

We don’t know how it ended up in the hands of Moff Gideon, but he’s clearly a force to be reckoned with, and there has to be a reason he wants to get his hands on The Child. 
 

This is kind of pointless, but an undeniable must-have. 

As tie-ins go, you have to give Disney credit for coming up with this one, but you just know that there will be a lot of kids who will be pestering their parents for this one!
 

My wife is obsessed with these Loungefly bags, but this one is bound to be in demand from everyone. Making it look like you’re actually carrying The Child on your back, this will definitely grab people’s attention. 

These aren’t cheap, but something this cute is arguably worth every penny. 
 

Every kid is gonna want this when Halloween rolls around! 

It’s not the best costume we’ve seen, but it’s very cute and is a lot easier than painting your child’s face and sticking some massive ears to the sides of their head. 
 

What do you guys think about this concept art based on The Child from The Mandalorian? As always, be sure to let us know your thoughts on that in the comments section below. 

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Epic Games unleashed the next chapter in its battle royale game, Fortnite, and with it comes all-new cosmetics that can be unlocked via a Battle Pass (Season Pass). New chapters and seasons in Fortnite always pack a few surprises, but perhaps none are more exciting right now than the reveal of Deadpool. That’s right, it seems Marvel has once again teamed up with Epic Games to bring the Merc with a Mouth into the game.

Deadpool was teased in the Fortnite Chapter 2- Season 2 gameplay trailer and prominently featured in the end card of the Battle Pass trailer. The theme of Fortnite Chapter 2 – Season 2 is secret agents and while Deadpool isn’t really a spy, he’s a deadly mercenary/assassin, so it still counts. Unfortunately, he isn’t part of the seven main outfits you’ll receive for leveling up the Battle Pass. It seems that he will instead be unlocked by completing special weekly challenges throughout the season.

Clicking on the Vent area from the main hideout room in Fortnite will take players to Deadpool’s room/bathroom where they can log into his computer and check out the Deadpool-centric weekly challenges. There was no word as to when the Deadpool skill will actually be unlockable or how many challenges players will have to complete in order to obtain him. 

This isn’t the first time Marvel and Epic Games have teamed up. In the past, Fortnite has hosted special in-game events for both Avengers movies. Numerous Marvel cosmetics, including a Black Widow outfit, were also available for purchase last year. 

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