Fans petition to recast Black Panther

And when movie theaters will actually rebound

Apr 13, 2021

What to know

Fans petition Marvel to recast Black Panther | ComicBook

At least 2,500 fans would like to see the character of T’Challa continue despite Chadwick Boseman’s death. Kevin Feige has said Marvel will not recast T’Challa, but according to this petition, killing the character would be detrimental to the many Black fans who felt represented by him. This seems to be a pretty niche petition and likely won’t influence Marvel, but it’s an interesting argument. I agree with Feige, that Boseman should not be replaced. Marvel has a ton of options with the rest of its characters in Wakanda.

Hollywood devastated by the Arclight closing | The Wrap

Beloved Los Angeles movie theater chain the Arclight, which includes the famous Cinerama Dome, has announced its permanent closure due to the pandemic. The Arclight is a favorite among movie buffs for creating an upscale experience and hosting numerous premieres. Denial and anger over the closure has turned to bargaining, as fans campaigned to #SaveTheArclight. Some speculated that Netflix or Tarantino could swoop in — but right now that seems unlikely.

Box office headed for big rebound in 2022 | ComicBook

In more optimistic news, Wall Street analysts have taken the temperature of the moviegoing public and predict that movie theaters will bounce back big in 2022. 57% of people asked by one survey say they intend to go back to the theater in the immediate future. This all hinges on the vaccine rollout of course. You know, just like everything else.

Kevin Smith is selling his new horror movie as an NFT | Deadline

Crowdfunding out, NFT in. Smith is promising to put his finished movie Killroy Was Here up for digital auction, allowing the winning bidder “the rights to exhibit, distribute and stream the work.” Who does he think he is? Wu Tang Clan? Alternatively, the auction winner could shelve the movie and not show it to anyone. Smith insists NFTs could become a big revenue source for artists. It’s a pretty bold experiment, one that I’ll definitely be tracking.

Also...

Bridgerton scores season 3 and 4 renewal ahead of season 2 debut … today in no-brainer moves 🍿
Promising Young Woman to offer free screenings for college students … the exact audience that needs to see it 👄
Joe Cornish to write and direct Mark Millar comic adaptation … it’s about time Cornish lined up another project 🎬
Natalie Portman to produce and star in HBO movie … didn’t she just sign a big Apple deal? 🍎
J. Lo and the Foo Fighters will headline a big get-vaccinated special … Vax Live might just be this generation’s Live Aid 💉
Ramy Yousef jumps to movies alongside Emma Stone … go Ramy go! 🎞

What to watch

Trailer: Chadwick Boseman: Portrait of an Artist — Apr 17 (Netflix)

Netflix is celebrating the late Chadwick Boseman with a new documentary special set to premiere this weekend. The doc includes many of Boseman’s collaborators, like Viola Davis, Danai Gurira, Spike Lee, and George C. Wolfe. This looks to be a fitting tribute to a towering figure and comes just a week before Boseman could win the Oscar. Netflix is only making this special available for 30 days, so watch it soon if you’re interested.

For all past ‘what to watch’ recommendations, see the full list here!

New notables this week:

Dad Stop Embarrassing Me! (Apr 14) — Netflix Jamie Foxx sitcom | No RT yet
Big Shot ep 1 (Apr 16) — Disney+ John Stamos b-ball dramedy | No RT yet
Nobody (Apr 16) — Bob Odenkirk action movie now on demand | 81% RT
Mare of Easttown ep 1 (Apr 18) — HBO Kate Winslet drama | 92% RT
Chadwick Boseman: Portrait of an Artist (Apr 17) — Netflix documentary

Before you go… the deleted scenes from Bad Trip are wild

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About the author: Alex Rabinowitz has led the way on social media and story packaging at media outlets big and small. With his acclaimed Tumblr site PopCultureBrain.com, Alex became a leading figure in emerging social networks and entertainment news. Sourced by many top destinations, including New York Magazine, BuzzFeed, and Videogum, Pop Culture Brain was featured by BuzzFeed and TIME as the best pop culture blog on Tumblr. Alex's writing has appeared on The Huffington Post, GQ.com, Mic, and Time Warner Cable.

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