Radio Times
type: channel
link: https://www.radiotimes.com
date: 2024-10-24T09:10:02.000Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
items: Venom 3: Release date, cast, latest news
items: She-Hulk's Daredevil tease is a tragic Easter egg
items: House of the Dragon debunks a major Targaryen theory
items: How Avengers: Secret Wars could be about to reboot the MCU
items: Obi-Wan Kenobi just brought another Jedi back from the dead
items: Could Yasmin Finney's new Rose be the key to Doctor Who's own multiverse?
items: Spider-Man's Green Goblin is still the best on-screen supervillain 20 years on
items: Which Illuminati characters could appear in Doctor Strange 2? Latest speculation
items: The Batman's Riddler Easter eggs tease more classic villains
items: The Stranger Things spin-offs we need to see
items: What The Book of Boba Fett needs to change if it returns for season 2
items: The Book of Boba Fett fixed a big Mandalorian problem
items: The Book of Boba Fett's biggest problem is Boba Fett
items: Morbius is referencing all four Spider-Man universes – so where is it actually set?
items: No Time to Die might present strongest evidence yet for huge James Bond fan theory
items: Venom: Let There Be Carnage end credits explained
items: Hawkeye trailer twist could tease Florence Pugh’s role
items: Spider-Man: No Way Home might finally be giving us a live-action Sinister Six movie
items: Is Howard the Duck really getting resurrected in the MCU?
items: How the original Marvel comics could shape Loki season two
items: Is Loki the end of the road for Tom Hiddleston in the MCU?
items: Do the Time-Keepers actually exist in the MCU? Loki fan theory explored
items: Is Loki already setting up the Young Avengers with Kid Loki?
items: How Loki might shape the future of the Avengers
items: Why River Song may be the greatest Doctor Who companion of all time
items: Castlevania season 4 review: A visceral farewell to a series that never quite lived up to its own potential
items: Is Lady Loki coming to the MCU?
items: How true is The Spy? True story behind Sacha Baron Cohen series
items: Deadly Illusions ending explained: Unpacking the climax to Netflix's wild film thriller
items: Will Zack Snyder's Justice League get a sequel? Latest news on a possible Justice League 2

Venom 3: Release date, cast, latest news
type: item
date: 2024-10-23T16:20:55.000Z
creator: Patrick Cremona
subject: Movies
description: Eddie Brock and Venom's next adventure has now been confirmed.
encoded: Sony's Spider-Man Universe hasn't always been the most critically acclaimed superhero world – just look at the response to Madame Web earlier this year – but the Venom films starring Tom Hardy have built up a fairly sizeable following despite the poor reviews. And now Hardy is set to reprise his dual role as Eddie Brock and Venom in Venom: The Last Dance, which as the title suggests is being billed as the great finale to the saga that started with 2018's original and continued with 2021 sequel Let There Be Carnage. These films have always boasted impressive casts and this time Hardy's being joined by Ted Lasso's Juno Temple and Doctor Strange star Chiwetel Ejiofor, while there's also a role for House of the Dragon star Rhys Ifans and the returning Stephen Graham. Meanwhile, as with the previous entry, Hardy has a story credit alongside director Kelly Marcel, so the film seems certain to have his stamp all over it. Read on for everything you need to know about Venom 3. Venom 3 release date Venom 3 is scheduled for release on Friday 25th October 2024, so not long to go at all! It had initially been set for a summer release, on 12th July, but this was delayed as a result of the SAG-AFTRA strikes last year. Previously, Hardy confirmed that the Sony sequel had begun pre-production back in February 2023. He told Digital Spy: "These things [usually] come in threes. If there's going to be a new one – and they depend heavily on the success of each individual one, so you can't count on them ever happening again – every one has got to be as if it was the last one. "But I think it's really important, if you go into something, thinking that one, two and three are the same... the same story, the same film. So that you don't surprise yourself by being caught out by suddenly having to do a third from nowhere. He added: "There's got to be some continuity into a third and fourth and fifth, and if somebody says 'no', that's fine. Let it go, and you move on to something else." Venom 3 …

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She-Hulk's Daredevil tease is a tragic Easter egg
type: item
date: 2022-09-15T11:20:28.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Disney Plus
subject: Marvel Cinematic Universe (franchise)
subject: On demand
description: The Man Without Fear returns to the MCU...
encoded: Someone is lurking in the shadows of Jessica Gao’s She-Hulk - and while those who’ve stuck close to their Marvel Cinematic Universe updates had the surprise spoiled ahead of time, the imminent arrival of Charlie Cox’s Daredevil is sure to be one of the superhero series's big talking points. We’re already five episodes into She-Hulk's nine-episode run, and even if the writers are saving Matt Murdock for later in the season, September 15th's 'Mean, Green, and Straight Poured into These Jeans' teased his debut. More than just a throwaway nod to the Man Without Fear, She-Hulk’s first tease is more important than you think - it fleshes out a tragic piece of Daredevil history. Although there was no post-credit scene in this week’s She-Hulk, the episode closed with possibly its biggest stinger yet. When Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany) visited the HQ of superhero designer Luke Jacobson (Griffin Matthews), she got to try on a variety of new outfits, including one we guess will be her comic-accurate purple and white number. As Jacobson raged about client confidentiality, he quickly whisked away a hat box containing a familiar-looking helmet. This time though, Daredevil’s crimson cowl was swapped out for a yellow variant. While most associate Daredevil with his now-iconic red outfit, his yellow costume has a much deeper meaning that harks all the way back to his comic book debut. Introduced in 1964’s Daredevil #1, Murdock’s OG costume is nothing like the red one the comics, Ben Affleck’s underwhelming 2003 movie, and Cox’s Netflix series has popularised. In the comics, Murdock wore a yellow suit with red gloves and red boots to honour his late father. The series's backstory featured Jack Murdock (John Patrick Hayden) entering the ring to take on Carl Creel in a red and yellow robe that read 'Battlin' Jack Murdock'. Similar to comic book Peter Parker taking on the mantle of Spider-Man following the death of Uncle Ben, Cox’s Murdock decided to clean up the streets when his fa…

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House of the Dragon debunks a major Targaryen theory
type: item
date: 2022-09-15T10:10:20.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Fantasy
subject: TV
subject: NOW
subject: On demand
subject: Sky
description: A dragonrider can still be burned... **WARNING: Contains spoilers for House of the Dragon**
encoded: "If you can’t handle the heat, get off the Iron Throne" seems to be the motto of HBO’s House of the Dragon - and if anyone is feeling that pressure, it’s Paddy Considine’s Viserys Targaryen. The much-hyped Game of Thrones prequel is fleshing out George R R Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire saga, but this time, we’re charting the blonde-haired Targaryen lineage some 172 years before Daenerys Targaryen is born. Based on Martin’s Fire & Blood novel, House of the Dragon has wasted no time in adapting the illustrated history for the small screen. More than just retelling the events of who lived and who died in the race to sit on the world’s most uncomfortable chair, House of the Dragon is diving deep into the mythos of the Seven Kingdoms. We’re only four episodes in, and already, it looks like showrunners Miguel Sapochnik and Ryan Condal have debunked a major Game of Thrones theory. While Martin has never specifically confirmed it, a popular theory flowing over from David Benioff and D B Weiss's series is that Targaryens are immune to fire. This comes from the fiery arc of Emilia Clarke's Daenerys Targaryen. It harks all the way back to the iconic scene in season 1, where she stepped into the funeral pyre of Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa) and emerged holding her newly hatched dragons. Instead of leaving the mystery up in the air, the showrunners hammered home Dany’s apparent abilities when she torched a temple of Dothraki Khals in season 6. Now, House of the Dragon has confirmed fireproof Targaryens aren't a thing. Eagle-eyes fans noted something in the return of Matt Smith’s Daemon Targaryen in episode 4. After defeating the Crabfeeder a year earlier and proclaiming himself King of the Stepstones and the Narrow Sea, Daemon was back to stir up trouble in King’s Landing. The previous episode saw him best the Triarchy, but not before being struck by a flaming arrow in the opening scene In the latest episode, you can see he carries a burn mark, seemingly confirming Targaryens aren’…

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How Avengers: Secret Wars could be about to reboot the MCU
type: item
date: 2022-07-28T09:19:45.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Movies
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Marvel Cinematic Universe (franchise)
description: New worlds! Old favourites! And a new Big Bad? We delve into the multiversal possibilities of Marvel's next big team-up movie.
encoded: The secret is out! Avengers: Secret Wars is officially on its way to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, though it'll be a while before it gets here. With the return of an in-person San Diego Comic-Con this year, fans expected to find out more about Marvel's upcoming slate, and they weren't disappointed. Perhaps the most intriguing of all? In 2025, we have Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars airing just six months apart. For a while, fans have been hankering for a big superhero team-up to return to the MCU – and now two are on the cards. And just like Infinity War and Endgame before them, the next two-part epic is set to redefine the franchise. In particular, though, it’s Secret Wars that could be the MCU’s big reboot, catapaulting us into Phase 7 and beyond. So, just what is Secret Wars and what does it mean for the MCU? Time to find out... What is Marvel’s Secret Wars? In typically complicated style, there were actually two separate Secret Wars stories to grace the pages of Marvel Comics. A quick 'Secret Wars for dummies' guide should start with the 12-issue series from 1984. Essentially created as a way to sell a new Mattel toy line, the OG Secret Wars featured an omnipotent being known as the Beyonder pitching his favourite heroes and villains against each other on a planet known as Battleworld. Basically, he was like a big kid smashing his action figures together, but with reality-warping abilities. Still, it seems more likely that the MCU is heading toward Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribić’s more recent Secret Wars of 2015. In that story, following the Avengers and New Avengers’ 'Time Runs Out' arc, our heroes fought to save the Multiverse after a series of incursions started destroying different realities. If any of that sounds familiar, it’s because Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness had the Illuminati of Earth-838 trying to stop “our” reality of Earth-616 doing just that. In fact, the movie ended with Doctor Stephen Strange dashing off wi…

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Obi-Wan Kenobi just brought another Jedi back from the dead
type: item
date: 2022-06-02T09:30:36.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Disney Plus
subject: On demand
subject: Star Wars (franchise)
description: Another fan favourite looks like he'll be popping up before too long. **Contains episode 3 spoilers**
encoded: Is anyone really ever dead in the galaxy far, far away? If it’s not Darth Maul returning with spider legs, it’s Boba Fett crawling out of the Sarlacc or Fennec Shand surviving a gunshot to the torso. Deborah Chow’s Obi-Wan Kenobi is no different, and while the Grand Inquisitor’s role in Rebels means we’re convinced he’s not kicked the bucket, he’s not the only fan-favourite poised for a return. During this week's Part III, fans got more of Vivien Lyra Blair’s adorable Young Leia, got to meet Indira Varma’s Tala, and were teased with the mother of all showdowns when our titular Jedi was finally reunited with Anakin Skywalker - some 10 years after Obi-Wan left his Padawan as a lump of coal on Mustafar. However, did you spot a clever nod to another ghost from Obi-Wan’s past? Who is Quinlan Vos? As Leia and Obi-Wan attempted to escape the Empire through the tunnels of Mapuzo, Tala explained how this Jedi sanctuary is the gateway to “the Path”, which leads them to a new life on the planet Jabiim. With names of those who’ve visited before etched on the wall, a shocked Obi-Wan says, “Quinlan was here?” It’s a reference to Quinlan Vos, who is something of a big deal in Star Wars canon, but was presumed dead by most in the bloody aftermath of Order 66. Appearing as another wayward Jedi in the Star Wars: Republic and Star Wars: Jedi comics, Vos is a hot-headed Kiffar male who is known to stray a little too close to the Dark Side. Vos lost his way in the canonised 2015 novel, Dark Disciple. Here, he tried to get inside Count Dooku’s inner circle but was lured to the Dark Side when he fell in love with the Sith assassin Asajj Ventress. Her murder saw him turn back to the side of good, and it’s actually Obi-Wan who tried to persuade the Jedi Council to reinstate Vos. Obi-Wan and Quinlan have their own history, and as well as chasing Ziro the Hutt, they also battled Cad Bane in the animated The Clone Wars series. This isn’t the first time Star Wars has given Quinlan the nod in li…

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Could Yasmin Finney's new Rose be the key to Doctor Who's own multiverse?
type: item
date: 2022-05-29T08:00:53.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Comment
description: Is David Tennant playing a parallel universe version of the Doctor for the 60th anniversary special? We examine the evidence.
encoded: Multiverses are everywhere right now, whether it's the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness or the heartbreaking and visually stunning Everything Everywhere All at Once. Even the rebranded Worlds of DC is trying to cash in on the hype with The Flash. But is Doctor Who next to board the multiverse train? Jodie Whittaker’s exit coming a year ahead of Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary means fans are expecting something massive in the next 12 months. Alongside the high-profile returns of David Tennant and Catherine Tate as the Tenth Doctor and Donna Noble, Heartstopper’s Yasmin Finney is paving the way for diversity. Details about these returns and debuts are sketchy, but Finney’s role as “New Rose” could have us opening the doors to the multiverse. The Doctor and Donna... but not as you know them Remembering the way we left things, Whovians are questioning how the Doctor and Donna can be back together for the 60th anniversary. Donna’s last adventure with Ten featured her taking on the mantle of DoctorDonna when she gained the power of the Time Lords to defeat Davros. Knowing this would "burn up" Donna’s mind, the Doctor wiped her memory and hoped they’d never meet again. Donna then appeared in Tennant’s swansong, where she nearly remembered their adventures, but once again, had her mind wiped by a failsafe. Fuelling the theories that Tennant’s return isn’t as the Doctor who regenerated into Matt Smith's Eleven, eagle-eyed fans noticed he’s done away with his usual trench coat and has a new suit. Even if it’s a simple wardrobe update, it doesn’t explain how the Doctor and Donna are running around like nothing ever happened. Russell T Davies has already described their reunion as "impossible", and if this isn’t the Donna we left in 2010’s The End of Time, it’s possible she’s an alternate version who didn’t become DoctorDonna. A Doctor between two Roses At the centre of it all appears to be Finney’s mysterious casting as Rose, whose chara…

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Spider-Man's Green Goblin is still the best on-screen supervillain 20 years on
type: item
date: 2022-05-03T13:36:49.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Movies
subject: Comment
subject: Marvel Cinematic Universe (franchise)
description: Two decades on from the release of the original Spider-Man movie, Willem Dafoe still reigns – just look at No Way Home.
encoded: Did you know, he’s something of a scientist himself? Some 20 years after Willem Dafoe jumped on his Goblin glider and soared into Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, the star’s terrifying turn as Norman Osborn and his unhinged alter ego still stands as one of the best superhero movie performances of all time. And as we mark two decades since the May 2002 release of the seminal superhero flick, it's easy to see how his version of the character stood the test of time. Opposite Tobey Maguire’s goofy Peter Parker, Dafoe brought Spidey’s arch-nemesis to life with just the right balance of chilling and camp. We might have not got “The Night Gwen Stacy Died”, but arguably, we got something even better. Long before Earth’s Mightiest Heroes were taking on Thanos, or even Tony Stark was facing Obadiah Stane, Sony wasn’t worried about post-credit scenes and Easter eggs connecting to a wider world. The Raimiverse was its own entity that was simply set on entertaining. Plans to get a Spider-Man movie off the ground had been struggling since the ‘90s, with James Cameron pitching his own take that would’ve supposedly cast Leonardo DiCaprio as the wall-crawling hero, Arnold Schwarzenegger as Doctor Otto Octavius, and Kevin Spacey as Green Goblin. While some of the script was salvaged for David Koepp’s version, Raimi saved Doc Ock for Spider-Man 2 and let Green Goblin take centre stage. Like pitting Captain America against Red Skull or Black Panther against Killmonger, Green Goblin was an easy sell for Spidey’s first outing. Decades ahead of Multiverse of Madness pitching itself as the MCU’s first horror-hero hybrid, Raimi was doing what he does best in the 2002 Spidey movie. Green Goblin’s metallic mask oozed horror – and even though it wouldn’t have looked out of place in Power Rangers, it was a 21st century revamp of his cartoonish (and hardly intimidating) look from the comics. Although most think of Spider-Man 2's tentacle surgery scene as Raimi's nod to his earlier horror work, the first …

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Which Illuminati characters could appear in Doctor Strange 2? Latest speculation
type: item
date: 2022-03-14T17:31:48.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Movies
subject: Marvel Cinematic Universe (franchise)
description: The gang of multiversal leaders is rumoured to include Patrick Stewart's Professor X, Hayley Atwell's Captain Carter and new versions of Iron Man and Black Panther – but could there be a twist coming?
encoded: There are “strange” things going on in the Marvel Cinematic Universe at the moment, with the upcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness set to blow box office projections (and our minds) when it arrives in a couple of months. And while the film looks to be chock-full of mysteries, the biggest one this week concerns the Multiverse's most significant team-up – the so-called Illuminati. The trailers gave a quick glimpse of Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) being called in front of a shadowy council to explain why he opened the Multiverse, which most think is this mysterious group that has often appeared in Marvel comics. But just who are these political puppet masters, and who will be joining their ranks in Multiverse of Madness? Who are Marvel's Illuminati? First introduced in 2005’s New Avengers #7, the Illuminati was an over-powered group of minds that used their sway to turn events in their favour – and once blasted Hulk into space (whoops!). The original members consisted of Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Mr Fantastic, Black Bolt, Namor the Sub-Mariner and Professor Xavier. Of course, that particular line-up seems a little unlikely in the MCU given that most of these characters are dead or not currently cast in the MCU. But we’re pretty sure at least one of them has been confirmed thanks to THAT jaw-dropping appearance of Sir Patrick Stewart in the trailer. Which Illuminati characters could appear in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness? Much like Spider-Man: No Way Home added Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man eras into MCU canon, Multiverse of Madness now looks poised to bring Fox’s original trilogy of X-Men back with a bang (via Stewart). Alongside that, it seems clear that Stewart's appearance could only signal the Illuminati's big-screen debut – but perhaps we shouldn't jump to conclusions. In an interview with Empire, Producer Richie Palmer said: “I’ll quote the first X-Men movie and say, ‘Are you sure you saw what you saw?’ There are in…

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The Batman's Riddler Easter eggs tease more classic villains
type: item
date: 2022-03-08T16:52:26.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Movies
description: Did you spot the Riddler's clues to Poison Ivy, the Court of Owls and the Mad Hatter?
encoded: Riddle us this: what’s black, brooding, and at the top of the box office right now? Why it's The Batman, of course! Matt Reeves has answered the call of the Bat-Signal, with Robert Pattinson donning the cape and cowl for what’s tipped to be the first part of a new trilogy. And The Batman jumps right into the second year of Bruce Wayne’s crime-fighting tenure, meaning we have an already established world of Gotham City and an expansive rogues’ gallery. Reeves has promised Joker won’t be the big bad of The Batman’s sequel – but if you're looking for other candidates, it turns out that Paul Dano’s Riddler has already offered a sneaky hint of who else could be taking on the Bat in his next case. You see, during Riddler’s game of bat and mouse, he sent a series of cryptic cards to the vigilante hero. Each card was adorned with a cutesy cartoon, and although you might’ve missed this deep cut Easter egg, these five keepsakes tease a rotten rascal for The Batman's sequel(s). So, who’s waiting in the “wings”? Let's find out. The Court of Owls Who needs one villain when you can have a whole society of them? While the shady Court of Owls are already destined to be the villains of Warner Bros. Montreal’s Gotham Knights video game, they could also get their movie debut. The very first card Riddler leaves for Batman features an owl (love a Who/hoo pun), hinting that this shadowy crew of villains could be in for an appearance. In the comics, the Court of Owls is a high-flying organisation of Gotham’s elite that's operated in the background and pulled the strings for centuries. Beyond their dastardly deeds, they're largely remembered for the creepy owl masks that conceal their identities. And given how much The Batman focuses on Thomas Wayne’s shady dealings and the Riddler’s inside knowledge on Gotham's movers and shakers, it feels like this cabal could fit right in with the world Reeves created. There are already theories suggesting Thomas Wayne was part of the Court before his u…

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The Stranger Things spin-offs we need to see
type: item
date: 2022-02-24T17:24:26.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Netflix
subject: On demand
description: The Duffer Brothers have hinted that a follow-up is coming – could we see a grown-up Eleven, a Dustin and Steve team-up or a Hawkins anthology show?
encoded: It’s been nearly three years since Matt and Ross Duffer left fans with Eggo on their faces and delivered a jaw-dropping Stranger Things 3 cliffhanger that even Game of Thrones would be proud of. Now the wait is nearly over for more episodes, with the first half of season 4 due to hit Netflix in May. But the end is nigh. The Duffer Brothers had warned their sci-fi favourite wasn’t going to run forever, and with the fresh-faced stars getting older by the day, season 5 will round off the story. But thankfully, a cryptic hint from the Duffers themselves teases that they’re nowhere near ready to close the book on this topsy-turvy town just yet, with fans expecting one or more spin-offs from the series in the coming years. Just like Cheers led to Frasier, The Walking Dead to Fear the Walking Dead, and Breaking Bad into Better Call Saul, not everything is The Book of Boba Fett falling into the shadow of The Mandalorian. And if the Upside-Down really isn’t done with us yet, here’s a few of the Stranger Things spin-off shows we'd like to see. The Hawkins Lab A goldmine of potential that’s ready to explore is what’s going on behind the doors of the Hawkins Lab. Some of Lost’s best episodes followed the shady Dharma Initiative in the ‘70s, while Fringe made Nina Sharp and Massive Dynamic standout villains in their own right. There’s a lot of history in the Hawkins National Lab, with MKUltra experiments starting in 1953 and eventually leading to Eleven’s birth. One of the season 4 trailers teased at least some of the super-powered kids will be given a backstory thanks to the return of Matthew Modine’s Dr. Martin Brenner. As long as it’s not all wrapped up in the next run of episodes via flashback, there’s more than enough material for a spin-off. Also, who wouldn’t want to see baby Eleven busting scientist skulls like ripe watermelons? Bauman and Owens: Paranormal investigations Comedy characters may be a dime a dozen in Stranger Things, but then there’s Murray Bauman and Dr. S…

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What The Book of Boba Fett needs to change if it returns for season 2
type: item
date: 2022-02-15T12:00:54.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Comment
description: This is – you guessed it – the way.
encoded: So there we have it – Jon Favreau has put down his pen and officially written The Book of Boba Fett season 1’s last line. As the galaxy far, far away continues to expand, the long-awaited Boba Fett standalone has finally blasted free from the digestive juices of the Sarlacc. Even the most die-hard Star Wars fanatics will admit that The Book of Boba Fett season 1 was a mixed bag. Then again, just like the prequel trilogy, there’s a chance the series will age like a fine wine. In classic Star Wars style, the finale tied up just enough loose ends while leaving some dangling threads to warrant a second season, but where do we go next? As we await the inevitable green light, here’s what The Book of Boba Fett season 2 can learn from its predecessor. Actually feature Boba Fett There’s a reason The Book of Boba Fett was dubbed The Mandalorian season 2.5, with the frankly baffling realisation that arguably the series’ best episode didn’t feature Fett at all. There were two whole episodes that were effectively Diet Fett, with the story shifting focus to Din Djarin and Grogu. Although the addition of Mando and Grogu helped make the Book of Boba Fett finale what it was, you can’t help but feel the show should’ve been called The Chapter of Boba Fett and The Book of Friends. Josh Trank had been working on a Boba Fett movie, and even though the Star Wars anthology movies have seemingly been canned, there’s a sense that maybe Boba Fett doesn’t have enough of a story to pad out a seven-episode season instead of a two-hour movie. The Book of Boba Fett season 2 will undoubtedly be make or break, but it remains to be seen whether the lead can actually hold up a spin-off of his own, or is destined to be a side character that pulls off some sickening fight scenes. Get off Tatooine It’s been 45 years since we first saw the twin suns rise over Tatooine, and it’s about time for a change of scenery. The Star Wars series has visited some weird and wonderful planets over the years, and yet, we…

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The Book of Boba Fett fixed a big Mandalorian problem
type: item
date: 2022-02-05T10:00:33.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Comment
subject: Disney Plus
subject: On demand
description: By hiring a talented YouTuber, the series fixed one of the few criticisms fans had of The Mandalorian.
encoded: All ‘Fetts’ are off as Disney+’s The Book of Boba Fett gallops toward its thrilling season 1 finale. Although there have been complaints that the first chapter of Book should be rebranded as The Mandalorian season 2.5, the Mos Espa Daimyo’s narrative merging with Din Djarin’s means we’ve actually been able to dive deeper into the complex lore of the franchise. So far it’s been a who’s who of Mando faces, with other nods to the further past as Djarin picked up a nostalgic ship from Peli Motto. However, it was February 2nd’s From the Desert Comes a Stranger that really set up the future of The Mandalorian. While doing all the usual world-building, yet another Diet Mando episode managed to fix The Mandalorian season 2's biggest mistake - a certain floppy-haired Jedi’s return. First, some background – because really, the Book of Boba Fett just featured a continuation of Luke Skywalker's post-Return of the Jedi arc that started in The Mandalorian season 2. Back then, jaws were left on the floor when Luke stepped aboard Moff Gideon’s cruiser, made light work of his Death Trooper platoon, and met with our heroes. From the moment a familiar X-wing flew into shot, director Peyton Reed delivered one of the most iconic Star Wars scenes of all time. Mark Hamill himself reprised his role as a much younger Luke, however, most agreed he looked a little janky. View oEmbed on the source website Young(er) Luke was back in The Book of Boba Fett, but more than just the return of a familiar face, it was the return of a much better face. The Twitterverse exploded with love for Luke’s glow up, and it turns out there’s an actual reason behind it. Following Luke’s tepid appearance in The Mandalorian, Lucasfilm hired a YouTuber called Shamook as a Senior Facial Capture Artist. They’d gone viral for their own rendering of Luke, which showed how easy it should’ve been to de-age the franchise favourite. The December 2021 deepfake has been viewed over 3.5 million times, and Lucasfilm later confi…

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The Book of Boba Fett's biggest problem is Boba Fett
type: item
date: 2022-01-30T09:00:52.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Disney Plus
subject: On demand
description: With dodgy characterisation and unclear goals this new Boba was already ropey – but now fans' favourite episode is one he doesn't even appear in.
encoded: As Disney pens another chapter in The Book of Boba Fett, the sprawling galaxy of Jedis and Jawas is once again in danger of going stale. Boba’s long-awaited solo outing has blasted free from the ashes of Josh Trank’s canned Boba Fett movie, but with the seven-episode series bogged down in exposition and a lead that doesn’t quite lead, it’s Boba himself that’s the biggest problem right now. Is it just a Jedi mind trick, or does The Book of Boba Fett already have a bounty on its head? As the twin suns burn bright over Tatooine, The Book of Boba Fett has finally filled in the gaps and brought the once-forgotten Expanded Universe back into mainline canon. The gruff bounty hunter popped up in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes back and quickly became everyone’s favourite action hero - despite speaking just four lines in George Lucas’ original trilogy. Even though he has more to say this time around, this is where the first of Boba Fett’s problems raises its head. Temuera Morrison recently told NME that he thinks the once-stoic Fett talks too much. Of course it'd be a challenge to make a TV show where a largely silent character is the MVP, so creator Jon Favreau reportedly shot down Morrison’s fears and made Boba the chatty Sally he is today. But fans fell in love with Boba because he was so unknowable, cool and ruthless – surely it was a mistake to remove every part of that appeal in his own series? We might have expected to see a more sympathetic side to Boba, but so quickly after The Mandalorian got beneath the tough exterior of Din Djarin, it’s a rinse and repeat formula. Season 1 has even featured Boba gathering his own team of outcasts like Mando did in his last run of episodes. Frankly, from the moment The Book of Boba Fett was announced it felt like this post-credit stinger from The Mandalorian season 2 was rushed into reality. Elements like Boba’s escape from the Sarlacc have been glossed over, while his time with the Sand People feels dragged out. Kudos for redeeming…

Morbius is referencing all four Spider-Man universes – so where is it actually set?
type: item
date: 2021-11-04T12:46:08.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Movies
description: The MCU, the Venom-verse, the Raimi-verse... fans are pondering where the Jared Leto vampire vehicle takes place.
encoded: Sony is slithering its way back into our lives as the Venom-Verse expands with Daniel Espinosa’s Morbius. The much-delayed Venom spin-off was due to unfurl its wings in July 2020, but with the Living Vampire being confined to the crypt, Jared Leto’s debut as Michael Morbius has been left to stew for a little longer. The latest Morbius trailer has come out of the gate hot and dismissed any assumptions that the next entry in the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters will ‘suck’. While Morbius’ arrival looks like it will tie into a much larger SPUMC, fans are rightly asking which reality it takes place in. As the Marvel Cinematic Universe teeters on the edge of its own Multiverse, Morbius poses itself as a confusing outing. View oEmbed on the source website Namely, Morbius has ties to all three Spider-Men, with Easter eggs linking to Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland’s dynasties. Do all of these further hit home that the terrific trio will share the screen in Spider-Man: No Way Home? Notably, Morbius includes a poster of the wall-crawling hero sprayed with the words "murderer" - hinting that Morbius will follow Mysterio setting Peter Parker up for his murder. The problem is, the Spidey featured on the poster seems to be wearing the Maguire suit. Elsewhere, eagle-eyed viewers have picked up on an apparent nod to Marc Webb’s Amazing Spider-Man movies. The new trailer features a physical copy of the Daily Bugle. It bizarrely has the logo from Raimi's days instead of the online version from Spider-Man: Far From Home. The banner for the Bugle mentions Rhino having escaped from prison and questioning whether Black Cat is “friend or foe” – Paul Giamatti played Rhino in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, while Felicity Jones portrayed Black Cat's alter ego Felicia Hardy in the same movie. Both were expected to return in a third movie/Sinister Six spin-off, before these projects were shelved. Neither star is tipped to return in Spider-Man: No Way Home, but if the pap…

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No Time to Die might present strongest evidence yet for huge James Bond fan theory
type: item
date: 2021-10-05T10:52:01.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Movies
description: What's in a name? Quite a lot, as it turns out.
encoded: Consider us shaken and stirred, as Daniel Craig hangs up the keys to the Aston Martin and officially parts ways with playing James Bond. We’ve had five movies total featuring Craig's take on secret agent 007 and while his latest outing No Time To Die puts a definitive “declassified” stamp on the series, director Cary Fukunaga may have (inadvertently?) confirmed a major theory. Warning: major spoilers for No Time To Die spoilers ahead If you’ve made it this far, you’ll probably know Fukunaga did what Danny Boyle apparently wanted to do when he was attached to direct. In the ultimate sacrifice, Bond destroyed Safin’s poison island as his replacement Nomi (Lashana Lynch), wife Madeleine (Lea Seydoux), and daughter escaped. It’s all very touching, and with no The Dark Knight Rises-esque twist, it really looks like James Bond is dead. The question remains though, was Craig’s 00 really the first James Bond? What is the Bond code name theory? For this one, we need to revisit the age-old theory that "James Bond" is merely a name adopted by many different men. This would mean Sean Connery, Roger Moore, George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton, and Pierce Brosnan were all just the latest in a long line of James Bonds. (1969's On Her Majesty’s Secret Service even saw Lazenby deliver the line, “This never happened to the other fella” – a mere wink to the audience, or confirmation of the code name theory?) There are even rumours that 2012's Skyfall briefly planned to confirm the theory as fact. In the early stages, there were talks about Connery playing the role of groundskeeper Kincaide, eventually portrayed by Albert Finney. Reports vary, but some claim early drafts included Connery coming out of retirement to reprise his role as Bond - rattling around Skyfall Lodge as a sort of locale for abandoned Bonds. Others say Die Another Day’s Lee Tamahori wanted Connery to cameo as the original James Bond in that film. If you’re confused about how this all works, No Time To Die featured some ma…

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Venom: Let There Be Carnage end credits explained
type: item
date: 2021-10-04T15:55:35.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Movies
description: Warning - contains major spoilers from the new Venom sequel.
encoded: That sinister symbiote is chomping his way back onto our screens, as Andy Serkis’ Venom: Let There Be Carnage has finally hit cinemas – well, in the US and other territories at least, with UK audiences having to wait a little bit longer. And while Marvel Cinematic Universe overlord Kevin Feige has famously distanced himself from the Venom-Verse, Serkis’ post-credit scene sticks a middle finger to that. Unlike 2018’s Venom, there’s only one post-credit scene for Let There Be Carnage. Trust us though, it’s well worth sticking around for. In fact, Let There Be Carnage’s final farewell is one of the most important to grace the MCU, and neatly sets up the future of several major players. Look away now if you live outside the US and haven't had a chance to watch Venom 2 yet... Warning - major Venom: Let There Be Carnage spoilers ahead. What happens in the Let There Be Carnage post-credit scene? Forget the return of the Ten Rings or Captain Marvel blasting off into space to pussyfoot around the future of Phase 4 and beyond – Let There be Carnage officially adds Venom to the MCU. After besting Woody Harrelson’s Carnage, Eddie and his symbiote buddy are chilling in bed. And as Venom explains the complex history of its alien race and shares billions of years of knowledge from the symbiote hive mind, the room starts to spin and the pair find themselves transported somewhere new. The audience doesn’t get what to see what the symbiote hive mind showed Eddie – we’re guessing that’ll be explored next time – however, Venom gets the blame for their new locale. The run-down Latin American hotel room and telenovela are gone, and instead, there’s something much more important playing on the TV screen. Reminding us all that J.K. Simmons has always been the MVP of the Spider-Verse, we hear the booming voice of J. Jonah Jameson. Catching up with that Spider-Man Far From Home cliffhanger, Eddie and Venom are pulled into (what we assume) is the main MCU timeline, specifically the moment whe…

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Hawkeye trailer twist could tease Florence Pugh’s role
type: item
date: 2021-09-18T09:56:48.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Disney Plus
description: Eagle-eyed fans think they've spotted a clue to one of Hawkeye's biggest storylines - and a possible Black Widow crossover.
encoded: Christmas has come early for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with the first trailer for Disney+’s Hawkeye arriving recently to show Jeremy Renner draw back his bow and prepare to hand the 'Hawkguy' mantle to someone new. And for fans who still think the MCU is setting up the Young Avengers, Hawkeye introduced us to another potential recruit thanks to Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop. Still, while “new” Hawkeye was the main talking point of the first-look trailer, let’s not forget a more familiar face is also along for the ride. Following the climactic events of Cate Shortland’s Black Widow and THAT post-credits scene, Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova is on a collision course with Hawkeye and his new protégé. And even though Yelena sat out the Hawkeye trailer, eagle-eyed fans have spotted an arc that would offer a typically MCU twist on the source material. You see, Hawkeye might be an eagle-eyed and sharpshooting marksman, but like any good Avenger, he has an Achilles’ heel. Specifically, he’s lost his hearing (on several occasions) in the comics, and conveniently the trailer seems to have confirmed this will play out in live-action. In the aftermath of the Hawkeye trailer, fans quickly pointed to the fact Clint Barton can be seen wearing hearing aids in one scene. The breakneck speed of the footage didn’t give much context to what’s happened to Hawkeye since Avengers: Endgame, but if he needs the use of hearing aids, it’s a major nod to the comics. How does Hawkeye lose his hearing in the comics? View oEmbed on the source website Frankly, Hawkeye could do with some of Domino’s luck because he’s suffered at least partial deafness on three separate occasions in the comics. Firstly, the 1983 Hawkeye miniseries saw him take on the villainous Crossfire and try to topple the villain with his own sonic arrows. This backfired and left Barton with serious injuries. Although Hawkeye recovered from the ordeal, he was later stabbed in the ears by the sinister Clown - and was once ag…

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Spider-Man: No Way Home might finally be giving us a live-action Sinister Six movie
type: item
date: 2021-08-25T13:31:00.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Movies
description: After years of failed attempts, director Jon Watts may have landed on a Multiversal solution to recreating Spidey's greatest foes.
encoded: As the first trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home swings into action, it looks like Jon Watts’ threequel is blowing the doors off the Marvel Multiverse. While the tease of alternate realities found its origins in Avengers: Endgame, it was Mysterio who really toyed with its potential in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Still, the Multiverse isn't the only long-awaited storyline that could finally be arriving in the movie because No Way Home might have just revealed a live-action Sinister Six storyline that’s been in the works since 2013. Way back when, Drew Goddard was attached to direct a movie that would’ve brought together Rhino, Vulture, Doctor Octopus, Kraven, Mysterio, and Green Goblin. Despite these plans crashing and burning, the idea might’ve found a new place to call home, with No Way Home already confirming some returning Spidey-villains and hinting at others apparently flexing their muscles from the sidelines. And even though the MCU is yet to officially acknowledge that Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire are set to reprise their respective roles as Peter Parker from Marc Webb and Sam Raimi’s eras of the wall-crawling hero, the surprise might’ve been spoiled ahead of time thanks to this confirmed who’s who of villains from both iterations. Who will be in the Sinister Six? Yes, it’s technically only Alfred Molina’s Otto “Doc Ock” Octavius that gets his time to shine in the trailer, but look close enough and you’ll see a potential Sinister Six line-up lurking in the shadows. Two of the most obvious additions are Jamie Foxx’s Electro from The Amazing Spider-Man and Willem Dafoe’s Norman Osborn/Green Goblin from the Raimiverse. As well as one scene where a lightning bolt strikes a car (hello, Electro), a pumpkin bomb rolls toward the camera, accompanied by Dafoe’s cackle from back in the day. View oEmbed on the source website Given that the Sinister Three doesn’t have the same ring to it, what about the others? Eagle-eyed fans have noted the Electro scene sees his bo…

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Is Howard the Duck really getting resurrected in the MCU?
type: item
date: 2021-08-06T09:58:54.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Movies
subject: Comment
subject: Marvel Cinematic Universe (franchise)
description: Tom Chapman investigates why now is the right time to bring back Howard the Duck - properly.
encoded: There’s an idea hatching in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with reported plans for the world’s highest-grossing franchise to resurrect Howard the Duck for a whole new generation. Long before the MCU, George Lucas’ Howard the Duck slips into the realms of often-forgotten Marvel outings like Elektra, the Hasselhoff-led Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Nic Cage’s Ghost Rider movies. As Universal's Howard the Duck celebrates its 35th anniversary, one of the movie’s original stars claims this maligned mallard is ready to spread his wings all over again. The question is, is this destined to be another rotten stinker or could it be the duck that laid the golden egg? Howard’s next outing on the big screen As well as being known for playing Beverly Switzler in Howard the Duck, Back to the Future star Lea Thompson has been trying to get a revival off the ground for years. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Thompson explained how she’s worked with OG Howard voice actor Chip Zien to create a pitch for his return. According to Thompson, ”Marvel liked the pitch, but they have different plans for the different characters”. Thompson remains adamant she’s the woman for the job because she feels like she’s the “one who really understands the fans, both of the movie and the cartoon”. Thompson stopped short of revealing what Kevin Feige and co. have planned, however, we’ve come a long way since Howard and some questionable animatronics muscled their way into cinemas in 1986. With the MCU already proving it can even reinvent obscure characters like Agatha Harkness for modern audiences, Howard is poised to ruffle a few feathers. Where Howard the Duck fits into the MCU Those who know their Howard the Duck from Howard Stark will remember this feathered friend is no stranger to the MCU. First appearing for a brief cameo in James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Howard was voiced by Family Guy’s Seth Green. Green reprised his role for the 2017 sequel, while Howard was sup…

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How the original Marvel comics could shape Loki season two
type: item
date: 2021-07-15T14:42:29.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
description: Wondering what happens next after the Loki finale? The comics hint at Kang, Doctor Strange and Renslayer storylines.
encoded: It’s not time to put down your horns and sceptre yet, as the Loki post-credits tease confirmed the God of Mischief will be back for more time travel trickery in Loki season two. The finale was a whistle-stop tour of the Sacred Timeline, and while it wasn’t quite Agatha all along, the theories were (sort of) on the money that Kang the Conqueror was the man behind the curtain. Readers of Marvel comics might know there’s more to the appearance of "He Who Remains” - who was a clever twist on the wizened comic book character of the same name. Loki played fast and loose with the source material to make him a Kang the Conqueror variant. He Who Remains warned a vengeful Sylvie that killing him would open the door to villainous Variants of himself, while the cracking timeline finally teased the potential of the Multiverse. All bets are off, and whether it’s Deadpool in the MCU, the arrival of the X-Men, or Tobey Maguire reprising his role as Spider-Man, the Multiverse can do it all. So what can we expect going forward? We can look to the source material for a few clues... Where Loki season 2 goes next Loki's finale welcomed Lovecraft Country’s Jonathan Majors to the MCU fold – however, with confirmation he’ll be suiting up as Kang in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, no one was really buying his death at the end of the episode. This neatly sets up Majors’ return in season two, but just like Loki came across Variants that were alike in name alone, he might not be the only Kang out there. Away from all the hype about where the Multiverse will take the Marvel Cinematic Universe next, Marvel Comics hints at a potential arc for Loki season two. At least one Kang has been hard at work, with Loki’s final scene showing “our” Loki in a branch of the Multiverse. This was solidified as the camera panned out and replaced a statue of the Time-Keepers with Majors’ likeness. For those wondering how Loki will move forward, the comic book creation known as the Council of Kangs can keep the …

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height: 413

Is Loki the end of the road for Tom Hiddleston in the MCU?
type: item
date: 2021-07-07T12:57:35.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Disney Plus
subject: On demand
description: Fans are wondering whether the introduction of Loki variants like Sylvie or Kid Loki could mean that Tom Hiddleston is leaving the God of Mischief behind.
encoded: While Tom Hiddleston’s Loki has been a big success for Disney’s revamped slate of Marvel Cinematic Universe shows, there are worrying rumours that the series could serve as a swansong for this timeline trickster. Just like the MCU recently waved goodbye to the likes of Tony Stark, Natasha Romanoff, and Steve Rogers, is Loki next to hang up his honorary Avengers badge? Episode 4’s big twist saw Mobius M. Mobius and Loki apparently “killed off” by Ravonna Renslayer – however, this wasn’t the case. With "our" Loki finding himself in the dystopian Void in episode five, viewers met Classic Loki, Kid Loki, Boastful Loki, and Crocodile Loki (?). Although it’s easy to imagine a scenario where the various (surviving) Variant Lokis band together and topple the villain at the top of the TVA to take control of the Sacred Timeline - if it exists - there’s sure to be some heartache along the way (like the fate of poor Classic Loki). The MCU loves a good fake-out death, and although Loki just survived a brush with death, the series might be setting up another noble sacrifice. Speaking to /Film, Marvel Studios producer Nate Moore has already said Loki “lends itself to multiple seasons”, but with Loki variants proving to be a dime a dozen, that doesn’t mean Hiddleston’s OG will be there to steer the ship. Looking at who’s next on the docket, there’s an obvious choice. One of Loki’s biggest wins has been the introduction of Sophia Di Martino’s Sylvie. While no one’s quite sure whether she’s supposed to be Lady Loki, Enchantress, or an amalgamation of both, the possibility exists that the scheming sorceress is sticking around for a little longer. View oEmbed on the source website Not that anyone needed to nudge, but Di Martino has also already hinted at her potential return as Sylvie. Even if Sylvie has distanced herself from even being referred to as a Loki for now, that doesn’t mean she won’t emerge as Lady Loki further down the line – and while the whole concept of the “main” MCU w…

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Do the Time-Keepers actually exist in the MCU? Loki fan theory explored
type: item
date: 2021-06-30T14:27:53.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Disney Plus
subject: On demand
description: Loki's mysterious protectors of the Sacred Timeline have a past in the comics – but are they just a sham in the TVA?
encoded: Marvel's Loki episode four has dropped a major bombshell about the Time-Keepers, the ancient beings said to be at the heart of the Time Variance Authority. Marvel fans have been sceptical over whether this all-knowing trio of "space lizards" truly exist, or if they are simply an elaborate lie being told to keep TVA employees docile and loyal. We seemed to get our answer in episode four, where a violent confrontation in the Time-Keepers throne room ended with the group's leader being beheaded – and their true nature being revealed. There are still plenty of questions left to be answered as we eagerly await Loki episode five, but for now, here's all your essential information on the Time-Keepers in Loki. Who are the Time-Keepers? In Marvel Comics, the Time-Keepers were introduced in 1982’s Thor #282. Ast, Vorth, and Zanth were created by He Who Remains, the last survivor of a universe that had previously been destroyed. Although the comics also featured the Time-Keepers as far-flung successors to the TVA after it was disbanded, their motives in Loki are still unknown. In terms of the Time-Keepers’ origin in the MCU, there's a still a lot we don't know. Earlier in his self-titled series, we saw Loki ask for all files pertaining to the Time-Keepers, the history of time, and the TVA’s backstory – only to be told they were were “classified”. As a result, all he had to go on was the elaborate story from Miss Minutes, who claims that the Time-Keepers banded together after a Great Multiversal War that threatened all of reality. Rumour has it that Loki will set the stage for another such conflict in the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel Multiverse of Madness, but fresh developments in Loki episode four cast doubt on whether this Time-Keepers origin is true at all. Are the Time-Keepers real in Loki? Fans have been doubtful about the true nature of the Time-Keepers from the first episode of Loki, but their suspicion reached new heights when it was revealed that Agent Mobius himsel…

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Is Loki already setting up the Young Avengers with Kid Loki?
type: item
date: 2021-06-12T07:00:00.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Disney Plus
subject: On demand
description: A mysterious little boy could set up another variant twist in Marvel's latest Disney Plus series
encoded: There’s a new kid on the block in more ways than one this week, with the first episode of Loki arriving on Disney Plus to open the door to a whole multiverse of possibilities. Much like WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki is part of a cohesive slate of shows and movies that tie the Marvel Cinematic Universe together in Phase 4. And at the moment, the MCU is seemingly working toward the formation of a New Avengers to replace those lost during Endgame, while elsewhere there are reports that everyone from the Dark Avengers to the Young Avengers are waiting in the wings. And on this theme Loki might’ve just introduced a cunning candidate for the Young Avengers in the form of Kid Loki. You see, while Michael Waldron’s series rattled through explainers of Nexus Events, the Time Variance Authority and proper use of Infinity Stone paperweights, it was also quick to tease its own endgame. The first scene with Owen Wilson’s Mobius M. Mobius featured the TVA agent hunting a rogue variant to 1549 France. Here, a small boy pointed to a stained glass window featuring a devil - which would’ve been the perfect time to open a can of Mephisto theories. But instead, we've got a different tinfoil hat on this time. Who is Kid Loki? The little boy was given some blue gum by the rogue variant, which we’re sure will play out as more than just an Easter egg further down the line. But what's important for now is that instead of Mephisto being the de facto villain, it looks like the “devil” of this series is actually Loki with his horned headdress. Returning to the little boy, what if this angel-faced addition is actually Kid Loki from the comics? For those unfamiliar with their Marvel arcs, Kid Loki was introduced in 2010’s Thor #610. After adult Loki was killed in a botched assault on Asgard, he woke up in a younger form and later had his memory restored by Thor. And in that story, it just so happens that Kid Loki was tracked down by the God of Thunder to France (specifi…

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How Loki might shape the future of the Avengers
type: item
date: 2021-06-07T13:48:49.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
description: Dark Avengers, alternate heroes and surprise resurrections are all on the table as Tom Hiddleston's God of Mischief comes to Disney Plus.
encoded: A mere decade after Tom Hiddleston cemented himself as the villainous Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the God of Mischief is back with his own series. Following WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki is the latest Phase Four outing in a cohesive franchise of MCU shows and movies. Just like the other Disney Plus series have left tantalising teases of what’s to come, here’s how Loki can shape the future of the Avengers. Going Dark With Avengers: Endgame disbanding the Avengers we’ve come to know, there are questions about who’ll make up the team for the inevitable Avengers 5 and who they'll face. There are swirling rumours that instead of a singular threat like Ultron or Thanos, Earth's Mightiest heroes will go up against a Dark Avengers team. The roster of villains could include the likes of Loki, Baron Zemo, Taskmaster, and US Agent, while the idea of the Dark Avengers in the MCU could be pulled directly from the comics. Posting on Reddit, u/comicclub1089 posited that Loki will set up the ‘Siege’ arc of the comics. The 2010 story followed Spider-Man foe Norman Osborn leading a team of villains consisting of Doctor Doom, the Hood, Taskmaster, Loki (and more) in a war against Asgard. According to the theory, Loki will end his series with the freedom to pick any timeline - choosing the main MCU because Asgard is destroyed, the Avengers are largely disbanded, and Odin is dead. Plenty of opportunities for the God of Mischief... Even though Osborn is yet to appear in the MCU, Spider-Man: No Way Home is rumoured to be a trippy adventure with the return of Spidey favourites like Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire alongside villains like Electro and Doctor Octopus. Willem Dafoe again donning the guise of the Green Goblin would be a major casting, but with Norman Osborn having the potential of being a Thanos-level villain, it might be better to recast and start anew. If it’s too early for Norm, Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine…

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Why River Song may be the greatest Doctor Who companion of all time
type: item
date: 2021-05-31T08:00:54.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
description: On the 13-year anniversary of her first appearance, we’re jumping back into that blue box and heading out into the Whoniverse for a look at the life and times of River Song.
encoded: Since the BBC relaunched Doctor Who in 2005, there’s been a colourful cast of fan-favourite companions that have joined the time-travelling Time Lord. From the early days of Rose Tyler through to Martha Jones, the Ponds, Yasmin Khan and all the rest, each has brought something different to the table. However, all of the above pale in comparison to a certain River Song, aka the wife of the Doctor, who first debuted in the series to acclaim 13 years ago today. (Don’t get too attached though – Steven Moffat claims she’s been married 428 times.) While naming River so definitively as the greatest companion of all time is sure to spark a debate hotter than the Satan Pit, she rightly earns her place at the top thanks to her flirty and fearsome attitude – and a few other qualities that have helped her unlock more than just the door to the TARDIS. Though before we get into all that, it's time for a trip down memory lane... Who is River Song? Introduced in 2008’s Silence in the Library, River Song was a seemingly innocuous archaeologist who met her maker at the hands of the Vashta Nerada. With some timey-wimey trickery, River and the Doctor’s timelines were going in different directions but destined to collide. Song sacrificed herself to save David Tennant’s Doctor, saying that if he died now, she’d never meet him in her own past. Although the Doctor was originally reluctant to believe that he’d met Song before, she managed to convince him by whispering his true name. Following her original appearance, Russell T Davies described River as “one of the most important characters” to the story and “vital” to the Doctor’s life. This was just the start of Song’s appearances, and although she only appeared in 15 episodes across seven years, her continued cameos tied into an overarching story with everyone from the Weeping Angels to the Silence, Madame Kovarian to the Great Intelligence. Why is River Song so important? Traversing three iterations of the Doctor, River Song became a de …

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Castlevania season 4 review: A visceral farewell to a series that never quite lived up to its own potential
type: item
date: 2021-05-13T14:29:50.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Fantasy
subject: TV
subject: Review
description: It's "fangs" for the memories as the animated series departs Netflix – at least for now.
encoded: Netflix is unfurling its wings one last time, as Castlevania bows out with its final season. While it seems like only yesterday we met the foul-mouthed Trevor Belmont, kind-hearted Sypha, and troubled Alucard, Castlevania promises to crack open the crypt and use season four to round off an epic saga of love, lust, and loss. Following the cliffhanger ending of season three, the forces of Carmilla are ready to rid the world of humans, Isaac questions his loyalties to the vampire world, and Alucard seems to be following in his father’s footsteps. Much like Symphony of the Night, Rondo of Blood, Curse of Darkness, and pretty much any Castlevania game you can name, season four focuses on a tireless mission to resurrect Dracula. As someone rightly says, 'This is about Dracula, isn’t it?'. At its core, Castlevania season four evolves from just being about Trevor Belmont (Richard Armitage) and Sypha Belnades (Alejandra Reynoso). After living Sypha’s life of “adventures and victories”, things descend into the bloody world of Belmont. The bickering duo works together like a vampire-hunting Bonnie and Clyde, with the final season debuting a Belmont-esque Sypha that even swears. There’s also plenty for the pale-skinned Alucard, who is at his most dangerous and shows the toll of what being Dracula’s son really means. Daddy dearest is never far away, and as the various armies of the dead close in, there’s a real sense Alucard could be lost to Vlad’s legacy. Looking at the bigger picture of Castlevania’s last hurrah, the real highlight is Jaime Murray’s performance as Carmilla. Not since Buffy butted heads with Drusilla has a vampire villainess been so enigmatic and interesting. Well, maybe a certain Lady Dimitrescu. Carmilla’s reflection that she and her sisters were left to die because they were women - while posing that Dracula was just a “stupid, old, man” - puts a female-first perspective on the classic tale of vamps. Critics of season three lamented that such a great charact…

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Is Lady Loki coming to the MCU?
type: item
date: 2021-05-12T11:40:31.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Disney Plus
subject: Marvel
subject: On demand
description: Rumour has it that a female version of Tom Hiddleston's God of Mischief could be coming to the Disney Plus series.
encoded: Following in the footsteps of WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Disney Plus, up next on the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s revamped slate of TV temptation is Michael Waldron’s Loki. While Tom Hiddleston is back in action as the antagonistic antihero, the various rumours and trailers have teased he’s not alone out there in the multiverse. Away from Owen Wilson’s role as Mobius M. Mobius, the all-star cast includes Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Richard E Grant, and Sophia Di Martino in mysterious roles. And with everyone from Old Man Loki to Kid Loki tipped to make their MCU debut, there’s also a woman waiting in the wings who could mean big things moving forward. You see, rumour has it that a female version of Loki could be set to make her debut. As the self-confessed Mistress of Mischief, here’s what Lady Loki could mean for the Multiverse and beyond. (Find out how to watch the Marvel movies in order with our step-by-step guide.) Sign up to Disney Plus for £7.99 a month or £79.90 a year now Who is Lady Loki? View oEmbed on the source website For those up on their comics, Lady Loki was first introduced in 2008’s Thor Vol. 3 #5. Born into a body meant for fellow Asgardian Sif, Lady Loki was the original (male) Loki in a different form. Later, there was a different story in 2014 that took a leaf out of Norse mythology and redefined Loki as a gender-fluid character that helped bolster Marvel’s LGBTQ+ credentials. Since both these milestones, Loki has hopped between various forms. More recently, the idea of Lady Loki appearing in the MCU comes from Bleeding Cool, which shared an update confirming Marvel Comics is pushing Joe Michael Straczynski and Olivier Coipel’s comic Lady Loki: Mistress of Mischief. The story will be a reprinting of Lady Loki’s origin and could neatly introduce a female Loki ahead of her TV debut. It’s also interesting to note this is the 2008 story and not the gender-fluid Loki from 2014’s Loki: Agent of Asgard. The reason this is important? Fans…

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How true is The Spy? True story behind Sacha Baron Cohen series
type: item
date: 2021-03-30T14:16:36.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Drama
subject: TV
subject: Netflix
subject: On demand
description: It's based in fact, but not everything played out exactly as on screen.
encoded: Sacha Baron Cohen has gone undercover for a very different kind of role in Netflix’s The Spy. The 2019 miniseries saw Cohen pull double duty, acting as an executive producer and playing the lead role of Mossad spy, Eli Cohen. While the series was praised by some as a gritty reimagining of Cohen’s story, others slammed it for Hollywood sensationalism that bent the truth. As Cohen went undercover in Syria with the alias Kamel Amin Thaabet, things soon unravelled and led to his execution in 1965. The Spy itself was based on Uri Dan and Yeshayahu Ben Porat novel called L'espion qui venait d'Israël (The Spy Who Came From Israel), but if you want to know the “real” story, here’s where The Spy deviated from the truth. Eli Cohen and Amin al-Hafiz weren’t as close as you’d think Aside from Eli’s relationship with wife Nadia, the big bromance of the story is Cohen (working as Thaabet) and future Syrian president, Amin al-Hafiz. In The Spy, the pair met in Buenos Ares, with al-Hafiz using Kamel to help promote his political party - eventually appointing him Deputy Defense Minister. In reality, there is no official documentation that proves the pair were ever friends. In a 2001 interview with Al Jazeera, al-Hafiz said he only met Cohen after his arrest in 1965. According to al-Hafiz, their friendship was conjured by the Egyptian press as part of a smear campaign. Ahmad Suidani Another central figure to the story is Ahmad Suwaydani. The Spy incorrectly claimed Suidani was al-Hafiz’s Director of Security. Although the part about Suidani never trusting Kamel (and helping lead to his arrest) is true, he never had the job as al-Hafiz’s Director of Security. The Spy did accurately portray Suidani’s suspicions of Cohen and pretty much nailed the scene of Suidani bursting into Cohen’s apartment while catching him in the act of sending messages to Israel. Eli’s wife According to Eli’s daughter, the family's arc presented within The Spy “hurt”. Most of all, she told Channel 12 News (via …

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Deadly Illusions ending explained: Unpacking the climax to Netflix's wild film thriller
type: item
date: 2021-03-30T12:51:13.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Movies
description: This one took us rather by surprise.
encoded: *Warning: spoilers for Netflix’s Deadly Illusions to follow* As Netflix continues to dominate the streaming market, subscribers might’ve noticed a new movie soaring to the top of the charts. Starring Sex and the City’s Kristin Davis and Awkward’s Greer Grammer, Deadly Illusions is everyone’s latest obsession while they try to unravel Anna Elizabeth James’ twisted thriller. With an ending that still has fans reeling, Deadly Illusions plays out as part Fatal Attraction, part Split. So, just what does that baffling ending really mean? To figure out what’s really going on in Deadly Illusions, we have to go back to the start. The movie kicks off with Davis’ Mary Morrison as a struggling writer who’s pulled back into penning another instalment to a franchise she thought she’d left behind. Here, Mary recruits the help of the Marry Poppins-esque Grace to help look after her children. Mary has already warned she becomes "a different person” when she writes, but as she gets deeper into her book, her feelings toward Grace start to change. With Mary sure she’s developed a sexual relationship with Grace, she grows increasingly paranoid when she thinks she walks in on husband Tom also having sex with Grace - albeit a very different and more seductive version of her. Mary’s paranoia is passed off as stress, but when best friend Elaine is found stabbed to death in her office, Deadly Illusions gallops toward its break-neck finale as it looks like Mary could be framed for her murder. Everything hinges on a blurry CCTV tape that shows a woman with her face hidden, leaving Elaine’s office around the time of her murder. It doesn’t take a genius to work out this is almost certainly not Mary. When Mary is released from police questioning, she heads to Grace’s hometown in search of answers. Here, she questions Grace’s aunt about what’s really going on. It’s clear Grace’s aunt has some form of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), which apparently runs in the family. It turns out that Grace…

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Will Zack Snyder's Justice League get a sequel? Latest news on a possible Justice League 2
type: item
date: 2021-03-16T14:24:28.000Z
creator: Tom Chapman
subject: Movies
subject: HBO Max
subject: NOW
subject: On demand
subject: Sky
description: The Snyder Cut is finally upon us, but what's next for the Snyderverse?
encoded: Zack Snyder is lighting up the Bat-Signal all over again to “Unite the Seven” (well, not quite) with the long-awaited Snyder Cut of Justice League. Much like the Mother Boxes themselves, the director’s vision for the 2017 box office bomb was once the stuff of legend. However, with Warner Bros. finally caving to fan pressure - and the studio throwing a hefty $70 million behind the project - Zack Snyder’s Justice League is finally landing on 18th March in the US and UK. (Read our Zack Snyder's Justice League review for our verdict.) While it looks like this is the end of the road for the DC Extended Universe that Snyder started back in 2013 with Man of Steel, this wasn’t always pitched as the director’s final hurrah. Buckle up in the Batmobile for what really happened to Zack Snyder’s Justice League... Will there be a Justice League sequel? Back in the day, Snyder had mapped out a five-movie arc for Ben Affleck’s Batman. Alongside his debut in 2016’s Batman v Superman, there was going to be a Dark Knight-centric standalone and a trilogy of proposed Justice League movies. Justice League was only the start of the story, but following the tragic death of his daughter, Snyder stepped down to share directorial duties with Joss Whedon. By the time Snyder left Justice League, he’d already started pulling together the various strands to form his vision for a superhero showstopper. Although the theatrical release was far from what Snyder had imagined - with Whedon reportedly reshooting around 60 per cent - he’s scooped up the snippets from the cutting room floor and woven them together to make the Snyder Cut. Unfortunately, it seems this really is the last chance saloon for the DCEU under Snyder. Even though Deathstroke actor Joe Manganiello told the Happy Sad Confused podcast, “I think there's gonna be excitement over continuing what Zack was up to,” it’s not that simple. A massive development was the confirmed return of Suicide Squad’s Jared Leto for the Snyder Cut – it was …

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