Beloved director to co-lead DC Studios
Beloved director to co-lead DC Studios
And some details on the secret Star Wars movie
What to know
James Gunn, Peter Safran to head DC Studios… DC’s got a two-headed Feige! DC film, television, and animation efforts are being consolidated into one entity within WBD and director James Gunn (The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker, Guardians of the Galaxy) alongside producer Peter Safran (Squad, Peacemaker, Shazam!) will be at the helm, reporting to David Zaslav. Their deal runs 4 years with Gunn handling creative and Safran on the production and business side. The two will continue to direct and produce their own DC projects as well. Gunn will be exclusive to DC during this time (so no more Guardians projects from him, sadly). Replicating Kevin Feige is an impossible task, but Zaslav has set up DC for success by bringing all the projects under one roof and hiring two people who have made a number of good DC shows and movies already. Can Gunn and Safran shine this pearl into something that’s truly competitive with Marvel Studios? 🦸🏻
Lindelof’s Star Wars takes place after Skywalker saga, could feature sequel trilogy characters… The secrets of that secret Star Wars movie are starting to spill. Of interest to most people: THR reports it will be a standalone movie (with the option for sequels if successful) that takes place after Rise of Skywalker but is not a continuation. That said, characters from the 2010s era could appear. Of interest to fewer people but still cool: Lindelof is co-writing with Justin Britt-Gibson (The Strain, The Counterpart), and sought insight from a writers’ room that included Patrick Somerville (!), Andy Greenwald (!!), Rayna McClendon, and possibly Dave Filoni. As a listener of The Watch podcast, I’ve heard Greenwald talk about the Star Wars he’d like to see for years — so pretty cool that he’s involved here. ✨
James Cameron criticizes Marvel and DC characters for not having “real relationships”… His full quote, “They have relationships, but they really don’t. They never hang up their spurs because of their kids. The things that really ground us and give us power, love, and a purpose?” Cameron is on the wrong side of a generalization here, because there are at least a dozen examples of Marvel characters grappling with interpersonal relationships, family dynamics, and real-world responsibilities. The most effective moments of the MCU all hinge on these relationships in fact. (DC is another story.) Let’s just add this to the pile of cheap shots taken at superhero movies because they’re popular. 🤔
Matthew Perry had to drop out of Don’t Look Up after he nearly died in rehab… Perry is opening up about his struggles with addiction in an extremely honest new memoir and part of that is this revelation about the recent Adam McKay movie. Perry would have played a journalist and had scenes with Meryl Streep and Jonah Hill. 😮
Samantha Bee, Kal Penn among outside names bandied about for Daily Show job… OK, just tell me when they pick somebody. Comedy Central is leakier than a sinking ship. 🤷🏻
Netflix cancels Mike Judge-Greg Daniels reunion cartoon mid-way through production… The one that was supposed to star Lauren Lapkus and Nicole Byer! Why can’t we have nice things? 😭
Warner Bros. Discovery to axe $2 billion worth of movies and shows… Expect more lists of what just disappeared from HBO Max. ❌
Jesse Williams joining Only Murders in the Building season 3… Only Murders continues to kill it with guest casting. 🔪
Amy Poehler replacing Andy Samberg for season 2 of Baking It with Maya Rudolph… It’s a Bronx Beat reunion, y’all. 🧁
Disney+ to stream new episodes of Doctor Who outside UK and Ireland… Ooo-wee-ooo, The Mouse just gobbled up another IP. 🐭
Barbarian is now on HBO Max… OK at least there are some good things still to watch on HBO Max. 👍
Industry renewed for season 3 at HBO… More sad/horny banker escapades are on the way. 👏
Spotify exceeds expectations, hits 195 million subs… Thanks Taylor! 🔊
What’s new
Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities — Oct 25 | Netflix anthology series | 🍅 95%
The Good Nurse — Oct 26 | Netflix drama film | 🍅 78%
Wendell & Wild — Oct 28 | Netflix animated film | 🍅 86%
Till — Oct 28 | Drama film in theaters | 🍅 99%
Tár — Oct 28 | Drama film in theaters | 🍅 94%
The White Lotus s2 — Oct 30 | HBO/HBO Max drama series | 🍅 96%
What to watch
TV Trailer: Marvel’s The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special — Nov 25 on Disney+
Written and directed by James Gunn, starring Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Sean Gunn, and Kevin Bacon.
Another new Marvel trailer? Again? Didn’t we just get one yesterday? The machine never stops. Before James Gunn departs the MCU to lead DC, he’s giving us this (and Guardians 3 next May). After the success that was Werewolf by Night, I’m glad to see Marvel revisiting the “Special Presentation” format again so soon. This looks like a fun distraction if not much else. The intro dialogue about “Christmas on Earth” is really stilted and awkward, but dropping Drax and Mantis on Terra in search of a celebrity cameo is pretty comical. I’m not expecting this to reinvent the wheel, but knowing Gunn it will be cheeky and energetic. And there will be lots of dancing. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
For all past ‘what to watch’ recommendations, see the full list here!