WWAC runs all what comics news is fit to print over at Previously — but every day brings its own deluge of comics-adjacent news. So here’s a new column, Last Week’s Episode, where we curate the most interesting bits of comic film, TV, and other media each week. According to me, anyway!
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon
Hi, hello, I’m kicking off this column with some incredibly important news: a first look at Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Super Live! This is reportedly the very first time a 2.5D musical (one based on an anime or manga property, aka 2D work) has been performed in America (three sold-out performances played this past week at New York’s PlayStation Theatre (I know, I know)). That means, in theory, one day tickets will be available to us, the hoi polloi, and we will be able to immerse ourselves in a world where we can find love by daylight and fight villains by moonlight. [Playbill]
Indie Pick-ups
Sebastian A. Jones’ fantasy Asunda universe, explored in Stranger Comics titles like Niobe (with co-creator/actor Amandla Stenberg), Dusu, and Erathune, is being developed by HBO with Jones at the helm [Deadline]
Bitter Root, an Image title focusing on a monster-hunting family during the Harlem Renaissance, has been picked up by Legendary. The creators, Chuck Brown, Sanford Greene, and David F. Walker, will also executive produce! [Dread Central]
Developments
Angelina Jolie is in talks to join Marvel’s The Eternals, currently under the helm of indie director Chloé Zhao. Who better than to play a terrible and awesome Celestial with Jack Kirby hair? [Hollywood Reporter]
Umbrella Academy has been greenlit for season 2, which means your gay little misfits will continue fighting to licensed music and stuff…I’ll watch this show eventually, I promise. [ScreenRant]
The live-action adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo’s legendary Akira might finally be rising out of development hell — Taika Waititi, fresh off Thor: Ragnarok and the miniseries What We Do in the Shadows, is attached to direct. Leonardo DiCaprio, tiger advocate, is producing, and the Warner Bros.’ production looks to be getting $18.5 million in tax breaks for filming in the sunny state of California. We’ll see if this one makes it to screen. [Hollywood Reporter]
Three new animated Marvel Rising specials are coming from Disney, including one focused on Wakanda’s Princess Shuri (voiced by Daisy Lightfoot). Three specials are Marvel Rising: Battle of the Bands (Spider-Gwen), Marvel Rising: Operation Shuri, and Marvel Rising: Playing With Fire. Marvel Rising: Heart of Iron, focusing on Riri Williams, goes live today on Marvel HQ’s YouTube channel, since that’s how TV works these days. [Shadow and Act/Collider]
Despite now starring in a comic book, Alison Brie, like much of America, has no idea where to purchase said book.
Trailers
Now that bonkers masterpiece Gotham is wrapping, you’ll have to turn to the upcoming sexy Alfred show, Pennyworth, starring Jack Bannon and created by Gotham team Bruno Heller and Danny Cannon. The teaser trailer dropped last week. [Vulture]
Todd Phillips, director of such illuminating cinema as Borat!, The Hangovers Parts 1-3, and War Dogs, is here to usher in a new wave of Joaquin Phoenix praise with the trailer for Joker. It looks a lot like Taxi Driver and will inevitably draw a few parallels to last year’s violent You Were Never Really Here (Lynne Ramsey). Unfortunately, having seen both of those films, this trailer doesn’t do much for me, but maybe you’re not dead inside! [YouTube]
