Last Week’s Episode: Everything Old is New Again

Last Week's Episode

Hello again old friend. Thanks for tuning into Last Week’s Episode. This time around we’ve got a whole bunch of reboots, remakes, and reconsiderations of classics. And there’s even a little new news too. So let’s strap in and get to it.

Reboots, remakes, and sequels

Thanks to a new interview in The Hollywood Reporter we’ve learned that Howard the Duck comics team Joe Quinones and Chip Zdarsky helped Lea Thompson create a pitch for a sequel. While it doesn’t seem like Marvel is interested, we definitely are.

Another (un)expected sequel is coming our way. Ghostbusters: Afterlife continues the original story of the four New York based ghost hunters. Here the family of Egon return to his strange hometown after his death. Think Ghostbusters meets Stranger Things. It looks like Dan Ackroyd is returning but no sign of Ernie Hudson which is honestly a travesty. And of course this has no connection to the ultimately-trolled female led reboot, because then we’d have to contend with the fact this is mostly being made for the men who hated that one.

Bridgerton breakout Regé-Jean Page will be leading a new iteration of the classic TV series The Saint. Paramount will be behind this one which will likely center on Page as an elite spy. The original is a British TV fave so it’ll be interesting to see what the new version looks like. At least it will have one of Hollywood’s most handsome men at its fore. [Vulture]

If you’ve ever wanted to be the very best, like no one ever was then your time is coming. According to reports Netflix is developing a new live-action Pokemon series. This would be the first live action TV adaptation and if it’s anything like the stunning and magical world of Detective Pikachu then we’re all in.  [Variety]

David Ayer put out a long statement on Twitter, proclaiming that “The studio cut [of Suicide Squad] is not my movie.” Prepare yourself for #ReleaseTheAyerCut. [THR]

Things are Happening on TV Too

Reading Rainbow | LeVar Burton

After months of ABC apparently being the last people to realize a good thing when they see it, Levar Burton is finally making his Jeopardy hosting debut this week. During a lead in interview he shared his thoughts on a Black man being the host of the beloved show. “It’s significant in the same sense that Barack Obama was elected president of the United States in 2008. Jeopardy! occupies a singular place in American culture. To have a person of color or a marginalized person standing behind that podium is good for America. It means something. It’s a milestone marker on this journey toward wholeness that the great American experiment is supposed to be about.” [Esquire]

 

A close up from a scene from the animated show Arthur focused on his clenched fist coming out of his iconic yellow sweater

In some shocking news it looks like Arthur’s 25 year tenure on PBS is coming to an end. According to reports based on the podcast Finding DW, “Arthur is no longer in production. We had our wrap party two years ago,” writer Kathy Waugh explained. “I think they [PBS] made a mistake, and I think Arthur should come back and I’m not alone with that.” [CB.com]

Hallmark has long had a whiteness issue. But a new line of movies aims to challenge that. Based on the popular Hallmark Mahogany cards line, the new series of Black movies will roll out on the channel soon. “We’re going to take every amazing rich, lush thing that the Mahogany card brand is, and use that as a jumping-off point to create great made-for-TV movies.” This is a good step into the modern age for the Made for TV movie empire and we honestly cannot wait. [Variety]

Neil Gaiman’s Anansi Boys has a lead in Delroy Lindo (Da 5 Bloods, The Good Fight). It’s a massive get for the Amazon show and hints that it will likely surpass its source material. “Anansi Boys follows Charlie Nancy, a young man who is used to being embarrassed by his estranged father, Mr. Nancy. But when his father dies, Charlie discovers that his father was Anansi: trickster god of stories. And he learns that he has a brother. Now his brother, Spider, is entering Charlie’s life, determined to make it more interesting but making it a lot more dangerous. Lindo will star as Anansi/Mr. Nancy.” [Variety]

Jodie Whittaker will be leaving Doctor Who in 2022 along with Showrunner Chris Chibnall. The pair will depart with three specials which will culminate with what the BBC are calling “an epic blockbuster special.” Let the guessing who will be the next Doctor begin… we’re dreaming of Rahul Kuhli or Ruth Negga.

Movies, podcasts, and other things

Winston Duke is Batman… at least in a new podcast series. The thriller will run on Spotify and will also feature Jason Isaacs as Alfred. Now just make this a movie and cast Duke as Batman for real please. [Variety]

Scarlett Johansson is suing Disney for breach of contract over their simultaneous home and theatrical release of Black Widow, which was done without their promised renegotiation of her contract that relied on box office success. The smoking gun? “In 2019, Ms. Johansson’s representatives reached out to Marvel seeking assurance that Black Widow would have a theatrical-only release, according to the complaint. In a March 2019 email included in the suit, Marvel Chief Counsel Dave Galluzzi said the release would be according to a traditional theatrical model, adding, ‘We understand that should the plan change, we would need to discuss this with you and come to an understanding as the deal is based on a series of (very large) box office bonuses.'” [WSJ]

*Oscar Isaac siren* Everyone’s favorite flyboy has a new leading role in Paul Schrader’s The Card Counter. Isaac plays a card shark who comes across an angry and violent young man (Tye Sheridan) hellbent on revenge against the military that hurt them both. Willem Dafoe and Tiffany Haddish also star in what looks to be a dramatic crime thriller.

Tragedy struck in Brazil this week when a fire destroyed much of Cinemateca Brasileira, the government-owned repository of Brazilian film and the largest film repository in South America. Really hoping that, like a previous fire, at least some of the works lost were backed up elsewhere.  [Brazilian Report]

COVID News

In the wake of rising Covid cases and the realization that the pandemic is not really going anywhere Netflix have made the choice to “require vaccinations for everyone working in ‘Zone A,’ which consists of the actors and those who come in close proximity to them.” The move makes sense after production on Bridgerton season 2 was shut down because two employees tested positive, and it makes them the first major studio to do so and will likely start a trend in the industry. [Deadline] 

A Giant Starro Appears

Let’s end with something really cool… to celebrate the new DC movie The Suicide Squad WB have installed a huge Starro in London’s Leicester Square. It’s rad as hell.

 

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Rosie Knight

Rosie Knight

writer. fake geek girl. makes comics, occasionally sells some.

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