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Category: Entertainment

  • Winston Duke Trusts David Jonsson to Take On ‘Black Panther’: ‘I Think It’s Going to Be Great’

    Winston Duke Trusts David Jonsson to Take On ‘Black Panther’: ‘I Think It’s Going to Be Great’

    Winston Duke is officially returning to Wakanda for “Black Panther 3”, and David Jonsson is coming along with him.

    Marvel teased the third “Black Panther” at San Diego Comic-Con, which releases Dec. 15, 2028. Jonsson will play T’Challa’s son, Prince T’Challa II, continuing the late Chadwick Boseman’s legacy.

    “I trust him as an artist. I also trust the people who chose him,” Winston told Variety about Jonsson joining the franchise. “I trust Ryan [Coogler]. I trust the entire MCU executive team. I think it’s going to be great.”

    “Black Panther” was Duke’s first film, and he said he hopes to create a similarly welcoming experience for Jonsson. “How I was greeted and received into this world – which was with a lot of grace, being told it’s a safe space to work, to play — that’s what I wanted to extend to him,” he said. “I don’t have any advice. I know what I have to do with him, which is to play with him. I have to trust him. I have to give him the same grace that was extended to me.”

    Ryan Coogler will return to direct the film following “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” with Leticia Wright reprising her role as Shuri.

    Winston will also appear as M’Baku in the highly anticipated “Avengers: Doomsday,” which premieres Dec. 18. The film’s trailer has been viewed 503 million times since being released on Monday.

    “What I know is that we have their attention,” Winston said when asked about fans’ interest in the future of the MCU. “I think we have their attention because of so much trust that they have for the MCU. We’ve created and delivered so many movies over the years, and it’s never about any one director. It’s about the cohort.”

    The first “Black Panther” film released in 2018 and earned $1.3 billion at the worldwide box office, also receiving seven Oscar nominations and three wins.

  • The Doom Boom: Marvel Studios Brings ‘Doomsday’ and More to Its Most Crowded Comic-Con Panel Ever

    The Doom Boom: Marvel Studios Brings ‘Doomsday’ and More to Its Most Crowded Comic-Con Panel Ever

    After years of massive Comic-Con panels with full Avengers casts, it didn’t seem possible that Marvel Studios could go bigger. But, boy, did they.

    In a first for Hall H, the studio surprised the 7,000-strong crowd by revealing a hidden stage in the back of the cavernous room, with castmembers from Thunderbolts* and the 2000s X-Men movies appearing.

    After giving brief speeches, the actors made their way from the back, through the entire hall, high-fiving fans along the way and the crowd screaming like it was a Beatles or BTS concert. They joined the main stage already populated by Pedro Pascal, Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, and the star attraction, Robert Downey Jr.

    It was just one part of supersized panel, that included the startling revelations that Alien: Romulus breakout David Jonsson would play the son of T’Challa (the late Chadwick Boseman) in Black Panther 3 for a Dec. 15, 2028 release. He will take the mantle of the Black Panther.

    Another bombshell: not only would Ryan Gosling play Ghost Rider in a new movie, but Deadpool & Wolverine and Gosling’s Star Wars: Starfighter director Shawn Levy would direct for a 2028 release.

    Even Ryan Reynolds, who had not attended Apple TV’s presentation of his upcoming action comedy Mayday earlier in the day, crashed the proceedings — in costume as a cosplayer named Ricky, but really as Deadpool. He pointedly asked if production had begun. (Apparently he wasn’t invited.) Downey was having none of it, jokingly seeming annoyed with the Merc with the Mouth.

    “It’s in the can, bro. Look around you. Did you bump your head?” Downey told Deadpool, who then asked about possible additional photography to add new people to the mix. The crowd “awwed” in sadness.

    On some level, there had been pressure all week for Marvel to pull out all the stops for its Comic-Con presentation. On Monday, it released the trailer for Doomsday, and while it racked up record views showing a lot of interest, reaction was not enthusiastic. And with a checkered slate since 2019’s mega-event Avengers: Endgame, the company needed to show that Doomsday isn’t a grasp at past glories. And while not indicative of future quality, Saturday’s panel demolished any negativity from days prior.

    In addition to the big news drops and the sheer force of actors, it was a massive spectacle with light shows and pop music. And, oh yes, costumes. Each attendee received a Doom mask and cape that they donned when asked by Downey, who in his Doom accent, asked the assembled legion to join his cause. Marvel, with this panel, continued to up the ante. The crowd was continually on its feet; every time it would sit down, some reveal would jolt them back up, to see, to yell, to record on their phones.

    And in a bit of a redo, Marvel showed a Hall H-only reel that it called an extended look but was, to many fans, what the initial trailer should have been: something that clearly delineated the stakes and the threat. “Victor, did you do this?!” yells Pascal’s Richards to Doom. Doom says, “All of you have lived stolen lives” at one point and raises an army of giant mutant-killing robots known as Sentinels out of the ground. He tosses Thor aside like a doll. And begins with Susan Storm (aka The Invisible Woman) explaining Doom’s motivation, saying “Everything he loved was taken from him.”

    Ahead of the panel, the feeling in the room was electric. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people camped overnight for a chance at Comic-Con’s hottest ticket. Marvel gave away Doctor Doom masks and capes, while the Fantastic Four robot H.E.R.B.I.E. was onstage.

    And it began with a sizzle reel of Marvel’s greatest hits — not just of Marvel Studios, but of films made before Iron Man kicked off the MCU in 2008. There was footage of Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man and Patrick Stewart’s Prof. X. Feige, with the help of Jon Bernthal, also showed an action sequence from Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which opens next week and for which little has been shown.

    Marvel boss Kevin Feige, a confident and loose speaker, began his talk by giving due to the source of all things at Marvel Studios, the comics. He referred to the change in leadership at the publishing division, thanking outgoing editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski for his work and giving a shout out for the new chief, Stephen Wacker.

    “Without the comics, no MCU, no movies, no TV shows, no animation,” Feige said. “Nothing.”

  • Marvel’s Comic-Con Panel Excites Fans for ‘Doomsday’ but Leaves Them Cautiously Optimistic About What’s Beyond

    Marvel’s Comic-Con Panel Excites Fans for ‘Doomsday’ but Leaves Them Cautiously Optimistic About What’s Beyond

    Diehard Marvel fans packed into San Diego Comic Con’s massive Hall H Saturday night, some even camping out for more than 30 hours. But as the 40-minute panel wrapped up with just two surprise announcements — a Ghost Rider movie starring Ryan Gosling and “Black Panther 3” — it’s hard not to feel like, “Is that it?”

    After a 30-minute delay, the panel got underway with Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige acknowledging writer and producer Stephen Wacker’s new role as Marvel Comics editor-in-chief. He then rolled out a trailer for the “Avengers: Endgame” re-release, dubbed “Endgame Encore,” which will have an exclusive sneak peek at “Doomsday.” But fans were hungry for new announcements, not a re-edited trailer for a movie they’ve likely seen multiple times (and no doubt will see again).

    Gosling and director Shawn Levy re-teaming for a Ghost Rider movie was a surprise, albeit one that the actor has been attracted to for years. The announcement capped off an extended bit with “Happy Sad Confused” host Josh Horowitz, who recalled all the times he’s asked Gosling about the long-rumored movie in interviews. Unless fans have been glued to every MCU rumor, Gosling’s introduction from Horowitz didn’t track well on stage. After Marvel’s “Blade” movie never fully materialized, it’s hard not to take an “I’ll believe it when I see it” stance on the “Ghost Rider” — despite the fact that “Deadpool and Wolverine” director Shawn Levy is already locked in.

    The other awkward moment from Marvel’s panel came during an confusing Deadpool cameo. As the sprawling “Doomsday” cast joined the stage, a very recognizable voice called out from the sea of fans. Deadpool, clad in his gray X-Force costume, appeared in the crowd — but never removed his mask to show who was underneath. It certainly sounded like Ryan Reynolds begging for a role in the movie, but it wasn’t clear if Reynolds himself was in the suit. Joe and Anthony Russo joked that production had wrapped on “Doomsday” but then…that was it. While it’s been highly speculated that Deadpool may cameo in both “Doomsday” and 2027’s “Secret Wars,” Feige skipped the opportunity to confirm Reynolds’ return to the MCU.

    Instead, Feige and the Russos moved straight into showing an exclusive trailer for “Doomsday,” which featured more backstory for Downey’s villain, but also some recycled footage from the last teaser. We learn more about Doom’s complicated history with the Fantastic Four and his seemingly tortured past, but much of the plot is still shrouded. The most exciting moment came when Doom resurrected a fleet of giant Sentinel robots — robotic villains from the “X-Men” universe — to battle the heroes.

    The panel ended with another long-rumored announcement, Ryan Coogler’s “Black Panther 3,” but with a major surprise: “Alien: Romulus” actor David Jonsson is taking over the title role. He’ll play T’Challa II, the son of the late Chadwick Boseman’s hero, in what will no doubt be another emotional film for Coogler and the Wakanda crew. Jonsson is an exciting young actor on the rise and was excellent in last year’s adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Long Walk.” It will be impossible to fill Boseman’s shoes, but Jonsson stands to be one of the major pieces in the next era of Marvel.

    So far, “Ghost Rider” and “Black Panther 3,” both slated for 2028, are the only movies in Marvel’s next phase after “Doomsday” and “Secret Wars.” Fans have long expected — and Feige has stated that — the X-Men to help steer the MCU’s future, but there wasn’t a single X-announcement on stage Saturday. Several of Fox’s “X-Men” stars are returning for “Doomsday,” but there was no indication if they’ll be back for “Secret Wars” or beyond. Rumors about the next cast of X-Men have swirled online, but at the panel, all the focus was on “Doomsday” — not whatever may come next.

    Maybe expectations were set too high. Last time Marvel attended Comic Con was in 2024, when the studio made the bombshell reveal that Robert Downey Jr., the actor who carried the MCU on his back for over a decade, would return as its next major villain: Doctor Doom. That announcement nearly blew the roof off of Hall H, but nothing matched that intensity this year. Seeing the crowd of fans dressed in Doom costumes was fun for a few seconds, but watching everyone crowd together for a selfie — and not getting more information on “Doomsday” — was not.

    Luckily, Disney has its D23 event in just three weeks, where more news will surely come. However, Comic-Con has usually been a film-centric event, where D23 has more TV shows. Everyone expects “Doomsday” to be a much-needed hit for the MCU later this year, but can it ascend to the two billion-dollar heights of “Endgame”? And how will it fare against Warner Bros.’ “Dune: Part 3,” which is hitting theaters the same day on Dec. 18? As the “Dunesday” showdown approaches, Marvel needs every bit of hype it can get to pave the way for its future, and Comic-Con could’ve used a few more major announcements to cement it as a must-see cultural event.

  • PBS SoCal, KMEX Lead L.A. Local Emmy Wins; KVEA, KABC Land Top Newscast Prizes

    PBS SoCal, KMEX Lead L.A. Local Emmy Wins; KVEA, KABC Land Top Newscast Prizes

    PBS SoCal (KOCE and KCET) was the big winner Saturday night at the L.A. Area Emmy Awards, landing eight — including for live events-programming, entertainment, crime/social issues and arts. Univision’s KMEX was next, with seven, followed by Telemundo’s KVEA with six.

    KVEA once again won the newscast Emmys for daily daytime (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and daily evening (7 p.m. to 12 a.m.). Last year, KVEA won all three — also picking up daily morning (4 a.m. to 11 a.m.). But this year, KABC/ABC7 won that morning newscast Emmy.

    The 2026 Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards were held Saturday at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, hosted by KABC entertainment reporter George Pennacchio. KABC’s David Ono received the 2026 Los Angeles Area Emmy Governors Award, “recognizing his more than three decades of broadcasting and his passion for in-depth storytelling.” Ono’s KABC co-anchor, Jovana Lara, presented him the honor.

    Bob Bain and Bob Bain Productions produced the ceremony, while Greg Taylor and Brian DeCloux are the Los Angeles Area Governors. Categories included Live and Breaking News Coverage, Crime and Social Issues, Culture and History, the Arts, Health and Science, Human Interest, Music, Sports and the Environment.

    Beyond PBS SoCal, KMEX and KVEA, other outlet winners included KABC/ABC7 (four), KNBC/NBC4 (four), Spectrum News 1 (two), Spectrum SportsNet (two), LA36 (one), Spectrum SportsNet LA (one) and USC football (one).

    As for this year’s nominee totals, PBS SoCal landed 29 nominations; KABC/ABC7 received 21, Univision outlet KMEX received 20, Telemundo’s KVEA had 18, KNBC/NBC4 landed 15 and Spectrum News 1 had 10.

    For the station newscast awards, every TV station that submits is eligible. This year’s eligibility period was for the 2025 calendar year, which means many of the news categories winners focused on the devastating wildfires that ripped through the region last January.

    Here are this year’s winners (see all nominees here):

    STATION AWARDS

    Station awards do not have nominations; rather, all entrants are candidates for the Emmy statuette.

    Regularly Scheduled Daily Morning Newscast: 4:00am-11:00am

    “Eyewitness News at 6am” (ABC7)

    Regularly Scheduled Daily Daytime Newscast: 11:00am-4:00pm

    “Noticiero Telemundo 52 Al Mediodía” (KVEA)

    Regularly Scheduled Daily Evening Newscast: 4:00pm-12:00am

    “Noticiero Telemundo 52 A las 11pm” (KVEA)

    NEWS AND PROGRAMMING

    L.A. Local Color

    “Hispanic Heritage Month – Candelas Guitars” (Spectrum News 1)

    Independent Programming

    No nominations

    Education/Information

    “For Dear Life: Art, Medicine & Disability (PST ART)” (PBS SoCal)
    Angela Boisvert, Producer
    Nic Cha Kim, Executive Producer
    Tamara Gould, Executive Producer
    Matt Pappas, Director of Photography
    Suzanne Méjean Pinney, Editor
    Robert McDonnell, Supervising Producer

    Crime/Social Issues

    “Aging in America: Survive or Thrive” (PBS SoCal)
    Neil Steinberg, Director, Executive Producer
    Mark Jonathan Harris, Producer
    Steve Purcell, Co-Producer, Editor
    Karin Hayes, Co-Producer
    Martin Sheen, Host
    Michelle Merker, Producer

    Arts

    “Aretha! with Sheléa and the Pacific Symphony” (PBS SoCal)
    Maura Daly Phinney, Executive Producer
    Andy Trimlett, Producer
    Steve Purcell, Director
    Keena Levert, Associate Producer
    Sheléa Melody McDonald, On-Camera Talent

    Culture/History

    “Somos de Aquí” (KMEX-TV)
    William Negrón, Executive Producer
    Julio Octavio Valdez, Anchor
    Carlos Leonardo Gonzalez, Camera
    Juan Ramirez, Editor
    Marco A. Flores, Executive Producer

    Informational Series (more than 50% remote)

    “Tu Voz LA” (KMEX-TV)

    Informational Series (more than 50% studio)

    “Al Punto California” (KMEX-TV)

    Entertainment

    “Color in Motion: Chromatic Explorations of Cinema (PST ART)” (PBS SoCal)
    Jaime Morgan Muñoz, Producer
    Nic Cha Kim, Producer
    Angela Boisvert, Executive Producer
    Tamara Gould, Executive Producer
    Matt Bass, Director of Photography
    Ben Boyd, Editor
    Robert McDonnell, Supervising Producer

    Music Composition

    “Art & Science Collide” (PBS SoCal)
    Dan Deacon, Composer

    News Series

    “Black Heritage: Altadena Roots And Resilience” (NBC4)

    Sports Special

    “竜巻 – The Story of Nomomania” (Spectrum SportsNet LA)
    Aaron Minderhout, Producer
    Greg Taylor, Executive Producer
    Erick Vazquez, Producer
    Cary Osborne, Associate Producer
    Logan Montane, Camera
    Matthew Blum, Camera
    Joseph Forquer, Camera
    Brandon Cervantes, Camera
    Margie Carson, Camera

    Sports Series – Programming

    “Backstage: Lakers” (Spectrum SportsNet)

    Live Sports Coverage

    “Nuestra Copa, Nuestra Pasión” (KVEA)

    Sports Feature

    “After the Fire (Backstage Dodgers)” (Spectrum SportsNet)

    Sports Tease

    “Shohei Ohtani: Baseball’s Solar Eclipse” (Spectrum News 1)
    Taylor Schaub, Producer

    Live Special Events – Programming

    “66th Annual LA County Holiday Celebration” (PBS SoCal)
    Taylor Comen, Executive Producer
    Letitia Fernandez Ivins, Executive Producer
    Michelle Merker, Producer
    Jennifer Chang, Writer
    Cristina Lucio, Associate Producer
    Patrick Traylor, Associate Producer
    Madeleine Ciano, Associate Producer
    Aloe Blacc, Host
    Maya Jupiter, Host

    Live Special Events – News

    “ABC7 Presents the 40th Annual Kingdom Day Parade” (ABC7)

    Feature Segment

    “Indispensables, Pero Invisibles: Manos que Reconstruyen (Al Punto California)” (KMEX-TV)
    Arturo Quezada, Camera, Editor, Producer
    Dina Rodriguez, Producer

    Information Segment

    “Combating Climate Change with Trees (Earth Focus)” (PBS SoCal)
    Daniel H. Birman, Director of Photography, Executive Producer, Producer, Writer, Director
    Megan E. Chao, Editor, Executive Producer, Producer
    Angela Boisvert, Executive Producer
    Tamara Gould, Executive Producer
    Clarissa Guy, Producer
    Jaime Morgan Muñoz, Producer
    Susy Garciasalas Barkley, Producer
    Jason Janocko, Director of Photography
    Erik C. Andersen, Editor
    Robert McDonnell, Senior Supervising Producer

    Live Coverage of an Unscheduled News Event

    “Breaking News: SoCal Firestorms” (ABC7)

    Entertainment News Story

    “Bob’s Brush with Fame” (NBC4 News at 5) (NBC4)
    Michael Brownlee, Producer, Reporter, Writer

    Business/Consumer News Story

    “Ausentismo en los Campos de Cultivo” (Noticiero Telemundo 52 a las 6pm) (KVEA)
    Enrique Chiabra, Producer, Reporter
    Luis Enrique Rivera, Producer
    Manuel Pineda, Camera
    Yolimar Aquino, Editor
    Yansily Reyes, Editor

    Crime/Social Issues News Story

    “Infierno en Adelanto” (Noticias 34 6pm) (KMEX-TV)
    Candela Martinez, Reporter, Writer

    Art/Cultural/Historical News Story

    “L.A. Cumbia” (Noticias 34 6pm) (KMEX-TV)
    Arturo Quezada, Camera, Editor, Producer
    Dina Rodriguez, Producer
    Alvaro Corzo Virviescas, Co-Producer

    Environment News Story

    “Cryo-Rescue: Race to Preserve Life” (NBC4 News at 5pm) (NBC4)
    Enrique Roman, Camera
    Annette Arreola, Reporter

    Health/Science News Story

    “Inteligencia Artificial y la Ciencia Del Cambio Climático” (Noticias 34 6pm) (KMEX-TV)
    Gabriela Teissier, Producer, Reporter, Writer
    Andres Fernando Pruna, Camera, Editor, Producer

    Human Interest News Story

    “KVEA Repartidor de fresas detenido” (Noticias Telemundo 52 A las 6pm) (KVEA)
    Enrique Chiabra, Anchor

    Investigative News Story

    “SoCal Firestorms 6 months later: Palisades Fire Investigation” (Eyewitness News at 5pm) (ABC7)

    Sports News Story

    “La Huella Del Fútbol” (Noticiero Telemundo 52 A las 5:30pm) (KVEA)
    Alejandro Navarro, Anchor

    Short Promo – Sports

    “War Time” (USC Football)
    Eric Michael, Camera, Director, Executive Producer
    Sanay Saboo, Director, Editor, Producer
    Luke Cuellar, Graphic Designer
    Mic Ferrante, Editor
    Michael Malara, Editor
    Geo Robinson, Editor
    Ezekiel Wagner, Editor
    Zahir Martin, Editor
    Douson Yuan, Editor
    George Tyler He􀆯ley, Editor
    Radmen Niven, Associate Producer
    Cody Worsham, Associate Producer

    Short Promo – News

    “NBC4: Picking Up the Pieces” (NBC4)

    Short Promo – Programming

    “Climate & Environment (PBS SoCal)” (PBS SoCal)
    Olivia Cox, Editor, Producer

    Public Service Announcement

    “Emergency Lights? Pull to the Right” (LA36)
    Vance Kotrla, Director, Producer, Writer

  • ‘Black Panther 3’: David Jonsson to Star as T’Challa’s Son, Sequel Set for 2028

    ‘Black Panther 3’: David Jonsson to Star as T’Challa’s Son, Sequel Set for 2028

    Black Panther 3 is ready to claw its way into theaters.

    Kevin Feige and director Ryan Coogler announced during Marvel Studios‘ panel at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday that the sequel feature will film on 70mm and hit theaters Dec. 15, 2028. The duo also revealed that David Jonsson is set to star as an adult version of the son of T’Challa, portrayed by the late Chadwick Boseman in the 2018 original.

    “Thank you to this amazing family that I have the honor and privilege and the blessing to join,” Jonsson said from the stage as the audience screamed and cheered, with some sections breaking out in Wakanda chants. He will don the mantle of the Black Panther for the film.

    The actor is a recent Hollywood breakout, with key roles in Alien: Romulus and The Long Walk. Jonsson was also part of the main cast for the first two seasons of Industry.

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ended with the revelation that Boseman’s T’Challa had a young son with Lupita Nyong’o’s Nakia. Given that this is Marvel, it’s possible that some sort of time jump or other factors are involved to age him up for the sequel. The film also will come after next year’s Avengers: Secret Wars and will likely affect the larger MCU.

    The Black Panther film franchise kicked off with the 2018 title, starring Boseman as T’Challa. With a cast that included Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke and Angela Bassett, the film was a smash hit, collecting $1.3 billion at the global box office and becoming the first superhero feature to land an Academy Award nomination for best picture.

    Boseman was set to reprise his lead role in a planned sequel before his death in 2020 after a private battle with colon cancer. The follow-up film’s focus shifted to Wright’s character, Shuri, taking up the mantle of Black Panther following the death of brother T’Challa. The sequel, Wakanda Forever, hit theaters in 2022 and surpassed $850 million at the worldwide box office. It won an Oscar from five nominations, with Bassett becoming the first performer nominated for an Academy Award for a performance in a Marvel movie.

    Among the highlights of this year’s Marvel panel at SDCC included Ryan Gosling taking the stage to reveal his role as Ghost Rider in a forthcoming feature from Shawn Levy, his director for next year’s Star Wars: Starfighter.

  • Warner Bros. Sues Amazon, Accusing Company of “Seeking to Pirate Away Employees” in Hiring of Former HBO Max Exec Pia Barlow

    Warner Bros. Sues Amazon, Accusing Company of “Seeking to Pirate Away Employees” in Hiring of Former HBO Max Exec Pia Barlow

    Warner Bros. Discovery has filed a lawsuit against Amazon for “hurriedly seeking to pirate away a number of contracted employees,” citing the recent hiring of Pia Barlow as a “better example of Amazon’s lawless employee shopping spree.”

    Warner Bros. alleges intentional interference with contractual relations, breach of contract, intentional interference with prospective economic advance and unfair competition against Amazon in the suit that was filed on Tuesday. In using Barlow, HBO Max’s former EVP originals marketing, as an example, they note that her contract was not set to expire until Oct. 31, 2027. Barlow was announced as Amazon MGM Studios‘ new head of original series marketing on Friday, when most outlets began reporting on the suit.

    “Though it was aware of Barlow’s ongoing contractual commitment to WMS, of which WBD is a beneficiary, Amazon has brazenly and deliberately induced Barlow to breach the employment agreement by packing up and decamping to Amazon more than 16 months before its expiration,” the suit reads.

    Warner Bros. also alleges in the filing that “Barlow is not the first (nor, apparently, the last) WBD employee that Amazon has targeted or will target in the future.” The suit alleges that “a few weeks before Amazon’s interference with Barlow’s term employment contract with WMS, Amazon similarly endeavored to tortiously induce another WBD employee to breach their term employment agreement, which was not set to expire until December 2027.”

    “Fortunately, in that instance, Amazon ultimately was unsuccessful in its efforts to raid WBD’s workforce as to that particular executive,” the suit continues.

    Warner Bros. is seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages and injunctive relief.

  • ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ Director and Star Lana Condor on Finally Showing Their Film to the Fans at Comic-Con: ‘The Fight Was For a Good Reason’

    ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ Director and Star Lana Condor on Finally Showing Their Film to the Fans at Comic-Con: ‘The Fight Was For a Good Reason’

    If you went back to November 2023 and told “Coyote vs. Acme” director Dave Green that his Looney Toons legal comedy would make its debut at San Diego Comic-Con, he probably wouldn’t believe it. Of course, that’s largely because that’s when Green learned the film had been shelved by Warner Bros. Discovery as a tax write off.

    “For three years, I was lucky enough to make a movie about Wile E. Coyote, the most persistent, passionate, and resilient character of all time,” Green posted on X at the time after receiving the “devastating” news. “But in the spirit of Wile E. Coyote, resilience and persistence win the day.”

    And win the day they did. Ketchup Entertainment ultimately rescued the film and set it for theatrical release on Aug. 28. “Coyote vs. Acme” — an animated/live-action hybrid about Wile E. Coyote taking on the Acme Corporation for intentionally releasing defective products — will get its first public screening on Saturday night at Comic-Con.

    “I’ve waited so long to see their reaction. I feel like the years, to me, have [all led] up to tonight,” said Lana Condor, who stars in the film alongside Will Forte, John Cena and a bunch of Looney Tunes like Roadrunner, Tweety and Bugs Bunny. “I want so badly for them to love it, and I think they will. I’m so confident in that.”

    The most enduring image of the campaign to save “Coyote vs. Acme” was a lone protester dressed as Wile E. Coyote, holding a picket sign that read “Release Me” outside Warner Bros. Studios in the pouring rain.

    “We did a call to action, ‘Where are you? Reveal yourselves, we would love to invite you!’” Condor said. But Green confirmed the lone wolf never stepped forward. Still, the anonymous whistleblower’s legacy lives on as the “Coyote vs. Acme” team built one of his masks for last year’s Comic-Con panel.

    “We figured out how his costume was built, and it was made out of paper!” Green said excitedly.

    “Coyote vs. Acme” is heading to theaters while Warner Bros. is enduring yet another change of direction — this time, the impending merger with Paramount Skydance, which has many people in the industry on edge.

    But while the wider implications of the Warner-Paramount merger remain to be seen (especially after the merger’s delay), for tonight, the entire “Coyote vs. Acme” cast and crew have much to celebrate.

    “So many people stood up for a film they didn’t even see … which is exactly Wile’s entire journey throughout our entire film!” Condor said. “The reason that it’s going to come out at all, I firmly believe, is because of the fans. That was really incredible to experience. That’s why tonight, we’re so excited to screen it for the first time because this is what you fought for. I’m so confident that the fight was for a good reason.”

    The film’s script was penned by “May December” scribe Samy Burch from a story by James Gunn and Jeremy Slater. It is based on a 1990 New Yorker article by Ian Frazier.

    Watch the full conversation with Variety‘s Angelique Jackson below.

  • Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool Crashes Comic-Con to Beg for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Role

    Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool Crashes Comic-Con to Beg for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Role

    Ryan Reynolds gave maximum effort while angling for a role in Avengers: Doomsday during San Diego Comic-Con.

    As the star-studded team for the forthcoming Marvel Studios film was onstage at SDCC on Saturday, Reynolds surprised fans when he appeared among the crowd while dressed in Deadpool‘s gray suit that has not yet appeared on the big screen but can be seen in X-Force comics. Doomsday directors Anthony Russo and Joe Russo were among those participating in the panel alongside Kevin Feige to promote the Disney film that hits theaters Dec. 18.

    Reynolds joked that his name was Ricky and that he was “cosplaying hard.” He went on to say, “First question is for Mr. Paul Rudd. Where is Thor, and why was he crying?” This referenced a moment in 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine, during which Chris Hemsworth’s Norse God of Thunder appears to hold a dying Deadpool in a scene set in the future.

    Rudd quipped, “He’s a Wrexham fan?” in a dig at the soccer team that Reynolds and friend Rob Mac own. Reynolds fired back, “You know goddamn well why he was crying.”

    Reynolds’ Deadpool continued, “This seems like an awfully expensive way to announce a film. When do you start filming?” This spurred Robert Downey Jr., who stars as Doctor Doom after initially playing Iron Man in the MCU, to reply, “It’s in the can, bro. Look around you. Did you bump your head?”

    Ryan Reynolds appears from the crowd as Deadpool at Marvel’s San Diego Comic-Con panel.

    Joe Scarnici/Getty Images

    After a pause, a deflated Deadpool responded, “I see. So there’s no additional photography, no overages, hot costs — maybe last minute additions?” The star then said abruptly, “No further questions. Happy Hogan, fetch the Audi. We’re leaving.” Reynolds dropped the microphone and made his way out of Hall H.

    Although Reynolds has not been officially confirmed to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, media rumors have persisted about a possible role for Deadpool. The opinionated anti-hero was last seen on the big screen opposite Hugh Jackman in Deadpool vs. Wolverine, which surpassed $1.3 billion at the global box office.

    Earlier this month, Reynolds confirmed during an appearance at Fanatics Fest that a new Deadpool film would indeed come to fruition at some point.

    Other highlights from this year’s Marvel panel included Ryan Gosling teasing his starring role in a Ghost Rider movie that Shawn Levy will direct. Additionally, Black Panther 3 filmmaker Ryan Coogler took the stage to announce that David Jonsson will star as T’Challa’s adult son for the movie that will hit theaters in 2028.

  • ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Trailer Rocks Comic-Con: Doctor Doom Raises Army of Sentinels to Take Down Avengers, Fantastic Four and X-Men

    ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Trailer Rocks Comic-Con: Doctor Doom Raises Army of Sentinels to Take Down Avengers, Fantastic Four and X-Men

    Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige surprised San Diego Comic Con attendees with exclusive footage of “Avengers: Doomsday,” shown only to lucky fans inside of the convention center’s massive Hall H.

    The trailer starts out with Victor Von Doom (Robert Downey Jr.) sitting on a throne as Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm (a.k.a. the Invisible Woman) explains how he’s broken as a person. “Victor was always the smartest guy in the room. He used to be different,” she narrates somberly. It’s clear that she and the rest of the Fantastic Four — particularly Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards — already know Doom and have a complicated past with him. “Everything he loved was taken from him,” she explains.

    The trailer is interspersed with quick shots of the sprawling cast, including Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Panther (Letitia Wright), Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Cyclops (James Marsden), Magneto (Ian McKellen), Gambit (Channing Tatum) and more. There’s a shot of a destroyed New York City that’s reduced to rubble, and Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards asks if Victor is responsible for the carnage.

    We hear Doom say, “All of you have lived stolen lives.” Thor confronts Doom but the villain catches his magical hammer and throws it aside easily. Doom uses his magic powers to throw Thor aside and raises an army of Sentinel robots — the iconic androids from the “X-Men” movies — from the ground.

    MCU fans will have to wait until Dec. 18 to see “Avengers: Doomsday” for themselves, but it’s expected to be a massive team up between the Avengers, Fantastic Four, Thunderbolts and even more of Marvel’s stars.

    The countdown to “Doomsday” began last December as Marvel released four teaser trailers to start hyping up fans for the tentpole film. They featured the return of Chris Evans as Captain America, who now has a child, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and his daughter Love, the Fantastic Four meeting Black Panther and the Wakandans and the official MCU debut of Fox’s past X-Men team.

    The “Doomsday” cast is headlined by Downey Jr. as the villainous Doctor Doom, plus “Avengers” stars like Evans, Hemsworth, Paul Rudd, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie and Simu Liu. The “Fantastic Four” and “Thunderbolts” teams, comprised of Pascal, Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen and Lewis Pullman, are also teaming up with the original stars.

    Fox’s “X-Men” cast members are also crossing over into the MCU for “Doomsday.” The returning stars include Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Kelsey Grammer, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn and Channing Tatum.

    See a new poster for “Avengers: Doomsday” below.

  • ‘Black Panther 3’: David Jonsson to Play T’Challa’s Son as December 2028 Release Date Set

    ‘Black Panther 3’: David Jonsson to Play T’Challa’s Son as December 2028 Release Date Set

    Black Panther is back!

    David Jonsson has been cast as the new Black Panther and is playing T’Challa’s son in “Black Panther 3,” out Dec. 15, 2028. The film will follow Jonsson’s character, Prince T’Challa II, as he comes of age after he was introduced as a child in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”

    Director Ryan Coogler will return for the third film, as well as Leticia Wright reprising her role as Shuri and Winston Duke as M’Baku. The news was announced at Marvel’s Comic-Con Hall H panel.

    Wright took over as Black Panther from her late co-star Chadwick Boseman in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” with Shuri becoming the eponymous superhero. Boseman, who portrayed T’Challa in the first “Black Panther,” died of colon cancerat age 43 in 2020, when Coogler was working on the sequel. The character T’Challa II was introduced as T’Challa and Nakia’s (Lupita Nyong’o) son in “Wakanda Forever.”

    Jonsson recently starred in “Alien Romulus” and the adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Long Walk.” Wright told Variety in January 2023 after the release of “Wakanda Forever” that she thought the third film in the franchise was “already in the works.”

    “You know, we just had a terrific two years of bringing it out and everybody coming together to support it,” Wright said in the interview. “We need a little bit of a break, we need to regroup and Ryan needs to get back into the lab, so it’s going to take a little while, but we’re really excited for you guys to see that.”

    The first “Black Panther” movie, released in 2018, took in $1.3 billion at the worldwide box office, and starred Boseman, Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Forrest Whitaker, Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira and Angela Bassett. It earned seven Oscar nominations, including best picture, the first superhero movie to do so. The film won three Oscars, including best costume design, best production design and best original score.

    “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” grossed $859 million worldwide when it was released in 2022, and had one of the most profitable opening weekends post-pandemic, earning $331 million worldwide. The film was nominated for five Oscars, with Angela Bassett’s nomination for best supporting actress marking the first time any actor in a Marvel film was nominated for an Academy Award.

    Marvel fans won’t have to wait long to see Wright back in action as Black Panther, as she’s part of the sprawling “Avengers: Doomsday” cast. The film will hit theaters on Dec. 18.