Supernatural ‘Preacher,’ AMC’s latest comic book adaptation, aims to please

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A supernatural Preacher, a gun-toting ex, and an Irish vampire walk into a bar…

During last Sunday’s Morgan-centric installment of The Walking Dead, AMC aired this first-look trailer at the network’s latest comic book adaptation. Preacher, which lasted 75 issues from 1995-2000, was published by Vertigo and hailed from witer Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon. The TV adaptation has been a dream project for Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the comedic duo behind Knocked Up, Superbad, and Pineapple Express. The frequent collaborators are teaming up to bring the cult comic book to life, along with writer Sam Catlin (Breaking Bad). Catlin will also serve as EP and commands showrunner duties.

Preacher is the story of Jesse Custer (Dominic Cooper, Agent Carter), a conflicted preacher in a small Texas town who is inhabited by a mysterious entity that allows him to develop a highly unconventional power. Jesse, his ex-girlfriend, Tulip (Ruth Negga, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), and an Irish vampire named Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun, Misfits) embark on a journey to, literally, find God.

And man, does it look fun. In Rogen and Goldberg I trust. Preacher lands on AMC in mid-2016.

‘Star Trek’ to make anticipated return to television…with a questionable twist

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J.J. Abrams was successful in resurrecting Star Trek to the big screen. Now it’s time to see if CBS can do the same on the small screen. The network is employing producer Alex Kurtzman to shepherd Star Trek‘s return to TV. Kurtzman is no stranger to the Star Trek universe; he previously co-wrote and produced Abrams’ reboot films Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness. We don’t have a definitive title or plot synopsis just yet; what we have is this:

The brand-new “Star Trek” will introduce new characters seeking imaginative new worlds and new civilizations, while exploring the dramatic contemporary themes that have been a signature of the franchise since its inception in 1966.

In a nutshell, the new TV series will not incorporate the classic original series characters like Kirk and Spock. Instead, it will introduce a new crew and fresh locations and inhabitants to explore.

Now here’s the kicker. CBS will premiere the new Star Trek on its network in January 2017, but following its “special preview broadcast,” the show will be airing exclusively on the network’s CBS All Access streaming service. That’s a subscription-based service that demands a $5.99/month fee to use. Currently, CBS All Access is home to the majority of all the network’s current and past seasons on demand, including all prior Star Trek iterations. This will mark the first time that CBS is adding a new, exclusive series into the fold.

This news is a bit of a shocker to me and the industry overall. Star Trek is such an iconic franchise, and limiting its return to the medium that gave birth to it is a poor decision. Of course, CBS envisions Star Trek‘s inherent popularity to draw audiences to its All Access service. I’ll be curious to see how this all goes down; perhaps if things don’t go according to plan, CBS will do a 180 and air the series on CBS proper. Are you will to pay another monthly fee to access a show not available through your cable provider, even if that show touches that nostalgic place in your heart?

Jump after the break for choice quotes plucked from CBS’ Star Trek press release. Continue reading ‘Star Trek’ to make anticipated return to television…with a questionable twist →

Netflix and Amazon original series rule in November: Marvel’s ‘Jessica Jones’ & more inside

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The month of November is dominated by highly anticipated new original series from Netflix, and one from Amazon (and no, it’s not Transparent). Skip after the break for the full rundown on what to watch this month, streaming service edition. Continue reading Netflix and Amazon original series rule in November: Marvel’s ‘Jessica Jones’ & more inside →

Status update #2 on your favorite new and returning shows

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The TV landscape is a fickle thing as viewers decide whether or not to tune into new and returning series. With that being said, it is prime time to check back into the status of programs spanning the big networks, cable, and premium cable. Shall we?

CBS is a fan of Limitless, the new fall drama that’s based on the 2011 Bradley Cooper film; it has received the Back 9 order that lifts its episode count to a full-season 22. The same can be said for ensemble sitcom Life in Pieces.

NBC is injecting even more life into its solid performers Blindspot, Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Law & Order: SVU. All four dramas–including Blindspot, which was previously granted a full season order–have been allotted one extra episode, upping their respective seasons from 22 to 23 episodes. Elsewhere on the Peacock network, underperformers The Player and Truth Be Told are getting episodes taken away from them. The Wesley Snipes casino drama is seeing its episode count reduced from 13 to 9, and the barely-on-the-radar sitcom is shedding three episodes seeing its total drop from 13 to 10.

Over on FOX, Tuesday night sitcoms Grandfathered and The Grinder led by John Stamos and Rob Lowe, respectively, have both received Back 9 orders, thus sealing their fates to last at least until May of next year.

More updates from ABC, FX, AMC, Starz, and HBO after the break. Continue reading Status update #2 on your favorite new and returning shows →

Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 2 Collection revealed, ships this December with Morag Orb in tow

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Do you consider yourself to be the ultimate Marvel fan? Alternatively, are you a huge film buff who simply requires the latest and greatest collector’s editions? Well, perk up, because the studio behind Iron Man and The Avengers is back with its second limited edition package. Say hello to the Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 2 Collection. Naturally, it comes packed with all six of the Phase 2 films including Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Ant-Man. Each movie comes in three formats: Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, and Digital Copy. An exclusive bonus content disc comes with over 2 and a half hours of content including deleted and extended scenes, all of the Marvel One-Shot short films, making-of featurettes, and more. And just as the Phase One collection came inside the tesseract suitcase, this bundle will also ship with special extras for fans. A 1:1 prop replica of the Morag Orb containing an infinity stone is yours, as well as exclusive artwork and related memorabilia including a gold-foiled page from the book of the Dark Elves, an ancient drawing from the Morag vault, Avengers and S.T.R.I.K.E. uniform patches, and a replica of the Tony Stark tattoo from Iron Man 3.

The Phase 2 Collection is being sold exclusively by Amazon. It’s up for preorder today at $199.99 and ships December 8. To borrow from the Guardians campaign, you’re welcome.

[Via Marvel; Amazon]

Harry Potter returns in London-based stage play from J.K. Rowling coming next year

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The eighth story.

Nineteen years later.

These are strings of words that are being used to describe Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a stage play from Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. I’ll give you a second to catch your breath.

Unlike the upcoming film penned by Rowling called Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them which takes place in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter but some 70 years before Harry blinks into existence, Cursed Child is a true continuation of Harry’s story that picks up where the Deathly Hallows epilogue left off. The official logline reads:

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

This is pretty incredible. The only official post-Deathly Hallows information we’ve received directly from Rowling herself has come in the form of bite-sized tweets and other articles posted on Pottermore, such as this Rita Skeeter column. A full-on, two-part stage play is bound to kickstart Pottermania back into high gear again.

Rowling dreamed up Harry’s next adventure with Jack Thorne (Skins, Let the Right One In) and John Tiffany (Once, Black Watch). The famed author is playing a major role in resurrecting the boy who lived, however she is leaving writing and directing duties to Thorne and Tiffany, respectively. Imogen Heap has been tapped to compose the score.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will premiere at the Palace Theatre in London’s West End in Summer 2016. As mentioned earlier, the play will be broken up into two parts, and thankfully they will release at the same time (unlike the Deathly Hallows theatrical two-parter that had fans waiting a year to finish Harry’s story). The two parts are intended to be seen in order on the same day; for example, you’d see Part 1 at a matinee show and Part 2 in the evening. Alternatively, you can see Parts 1 & 2 on two consecutive evenings. Previews begin in London on June 7 and opening performances go into full swing starting July 30. For those of you who don’t live in the UK or can’t fly out in time (myself included), here’s to hoping that Rowling and company have the tenacity to bring Cursed Child stateside.

As we await more news to come from this exciting announcement, let’s contemplate casting. Do you think Rowling will reel Daniel Radcliffe (who has Broadway experience!) and the rest of the original film actors to take part in this new story? Sound off in the comments section below.

[Via The Play; Pottermore]

‘Star Wars’ drops theatrical poster and trailer ahead of ‘Force Awakens’ December release [Update: New character posters]

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The new Star Wars is just a little over a month away from hitting theatres–can you believe it?! To satiate fans’ eager anticipation, Disney and Lucasfilm have released the official poster for J.J. Abrams’ The Force Awakens as well as the official full-length theatrical trailers that clocks in at 2 minutes and 35 seconds. Eye the poster above, and watch the new trailer after the break.

On a slightly depressing note, said poster is surprisingly not illustrated by iconic artist Drew Struzman. Special effects master and my friend Greg Aronowitz says it like it is in his latest blog post titled, “You disappoint me, Disney.” Though I didn’t grow up with Star Wars, I empathize with Greg’s ultimate grief over Disney attempt at replicating Struzman’s work as opposed to simply using it.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens December 18.

Update (11/4): Today a slew of new posters hit the ‘Net, each featuring a major player from The Force Awakens. Newbies Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Finn (John Boyega) look fiercely confident with their respective staff and blue-bladed lightsaber. Kylo Ren’s (Adam Driver lightsaber emits a sinister red hue. And then, of course, we have our returning franchise veterans, Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford); thanks to some fancy photoshop, they both have aged incredibly well. All in all, I’m definitely digging the design motif here–the left side of each poster draws a distinct vertical line. What can it mean? Also, where’s Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill)? Here’s not here, and he isn’t even positioned in the official theatrical poster posted above even though everybody else is. Abrams certainly has a trick up his sleeve here, and I can’t wait to get to the bottom of this mystery. Eye the new character posters in the gallery below.

Update 2 (11/6): Another new trailer–this one’s international and is targeted towards the Japanese audience–has landed and it features new, never-before-seen footage. What are you waiting for–it’s embedded after the break!

Update 3 (12/5): A sixth character poster starring the third hero newbie is here! Eye Oscar Isaac’s Poe Dameron in the gallery below. Notice that the X-Wing fighter’s portrait does not mimic the others; he prefers flying machines to lightsabers, after all.

Continue reading ‘Star Wars’ drops theatrical poster and trailer ahead of ‘Force Awakens’ December release [Update: New character posters] →

Kanye West outs new, recognizable material

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Calling all Kanye fans, we’ve got a curious case on our hands. After releasing a handful of singles assisted by the likes of Paul McCartney, Rihanna, Sia, and Vic Mensa, Mr. West has created his very own SoundCloud account and is using it to drop (not so) new music into the laps of his fans. Let me explain.

Rising rapper Travis Scott sent out an Instagram in mid-October tagged with an image of the new SoundCloud account and the words “It’s starts.” Poor grammar aside, the link to the account brings you to two Kanye-driven tracks titled “Say You Will” and “When I See It.” Those titles should ring a bell. The first song is an altered version of ‘Ye’s opening to track his fourth studio album, 808s and Heartbreak. Though the differences to the original are not startling here, the inclusion of featured artist Caroline Shaw adds a new dimension to the already epic production.

The other released track, “When I See It,” is a reworking of The Weeknd’s song “Tell Your Friends.” In case you didn’t know, this particular beat was originally imagined and produced by West, and he ended up gifting it to The Weeknd for him to package inside his third studio album Beauty Behind the Madness. Here, West puts his own spin and his original record. One wonders if the undeniable presence  of autotune here is laying the groundwork for what we can expect from West’s next effort.

Like all the other post-Yeezus material Kanye has dropped to this point, it’s hard to say where these songs may eventually land. The rapper’s long-incubating seventh album Swish (formally known as So Help Me God) is still in the works but with no release date in sight. If you’ve been yearning for something, anything from Kanye West, this is for you. And cherish it, because who knows when West’s next production will make it out of the woodwork.

YouTube Red brings ad-free streaming experience to the masses

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Can you remember back to the days when YouTube wasn’t muddled with pre-roll advertisements? Yeah, I know, it’s straining. Well, Google is looking to finally alleviate the pain that comes packaged with having to sit through tediously boring commercials. The new initiative is called YouTube Red, and yes, like all magic it comes with a price. For $9.99/month you can stream YouTube videos completely ad-free. Oh, and thankfully there’s more to it. With a YouTube Red membership, you can also save videos for offline playback and background playback is enabled (the latter meaning playback continues even if you’re bouncing around other apps or if you’re mobile device falls asleep). Another perk? A Google Play Music subscription is part of it, too. Of course, Red benefits do not apply to those YouTube videos that require you to pay to view such as film rentals and the like. The rest, praise be, indeed go ad-free.

In time, YouTube Red will also offer exclusive content such as YouTube Music (a new way to curate and listen to music coming next year) and YouTube Red Original Series produced by some of the sites biggest stars like PewDiePie and Joey Graceffa. Preview ten of the new series coming in 2016 over here.

As of October 28, YouTube Red has gone live and you can live the ad-free experience by signing up today. YouTube’s offering a free one-month trial for you to find out if the $10 barrier to entry is worth it to you. If you happen to be a proud owner of a YouTube channel, do note that if you are ever looking to support your videos with ads, you will be forced to pay up for a Red membership. With that slightly sour but understandable point out of the way, go give YouTube Red a test drive and see if the reality lives up to the hype of living in an ad-free YouTube world.

[Via YouTube 1, 2]

Snapchat upgrades video capabilities and Twitter invites users to poll, like & heart

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Snapchat’s selfie Lenses and Twitter’s Moments were just the beginning of new updates sprinkled on the popular social networks. Let’s discuss the new features and changes making their way to your mobile devices, in brief.

The app that does away with your fleeting snaps has added additional functionality to shooting its equally fading video recordings. After shooting a video, swipe through the handy filters and you’ll notice three new ones. Instead of switching up the physical appearance of the videos, they actually play around with speed. A filter marked with a snail aptly slows down your recording. Another marked by a rabbit speeds it up, and a third one plays your clip in reverse. Snapchat calls these fun new filters Speed Modifiers, and they are baked into the app’s latest update. Also included in the refreshed app is 3D Touch support; so, if you own an iPhone 6s or 6s Plus, you can now force touch the app to pull up quick action shortcuts to chat with friends and add some more.

Twitter, on the other hand, has pushed polls out to everyone. Now you can create your very own poll to receive near-instant feedback from your followers about a topic you’e concerned about. Creating and tweeting out a poll is simple as pie. Update the app and when you go to compose a tweet, you’ll notice a new pie chart icon next to the location and camera icons. Click it to compose a poll, and you’ll have 166 characters to ask a question and 20 characters each for two choices your followers can choose from when responding to the poll.

Elsewhere, and most recently, Twitter is switching up its vernacular when it comes to Favorites. To the point, Favorites are now Likes, and the symbol has been changed from a star to a heart. Many users are confused about the sudden, erm, change of heart, and in a blog post the company does its best to support the facelift:

We are changing our star icon for favorites to a heart and we’ll be calling them likes. We want to make Twitter easier and more rewarding to use, and we know that at times the star could be confusing, especially to newcomers. You might like a lot of things, but not everything can be your favorite.

The heart, in contrast, is a universal symbol that resonates across languages, cultures, and time zones. The heart is more expressive, enabling you to convey a range of emotions and easily connect with people. And in our tests, we found that people loved it.

Love it or hate it, Likes and hearts are the new Favorites and stars and you better get used to it as they’re rolling out Twitter’s mobile apps and desktop web portal today.

[Via TechCrunch; Twitter 1, 2]

Apple reports 2015 Q4 results: $51.5 billion revenue & $11.1 billion net profit

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On October 27, Apple reported its 2015 fourth quarter financial results. Apple posted a quarterly revenue of $51.5 billion and net profit of $11.1 billion. Compare this to one year ago, that’s up from revenue of $42.1 billion and net profit of $8.5 billion. Says CEO Tim Cook in a press release: “Fiscal 2015 was Apple’s most successful year ever, with revenue growing 28% to nearly $234 billion. This continued success is the result of our commitment to making the best, most innovative products on earth, and it’s a testament to the tremendous execution by our teams. We are heading into the holidays with our strongest product lineup yet, including iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, Apple Watch with an expanded lineup of cases and bands, the new iPad Pro and the all-new Apple TV which begins shipping this week.”

Now let’s break it down by product category. Apple sold 48 million iPhones in the quarter (compared to 39.2 million in the year-ago quarter); 9.8 million iPads (compared to 12.3 million); and 5.7 million Macs (compared to 5.5 million). As for iPod, Apple TV, and Apple Watch, the company stuffs these products into a single category called Other Products and unfortunately does not disclose how many units of each were sold. However, what we do know is that this division accounted for $3 billion of Apple’s revenue this quarter (compared to 1.9 million in the year-ago quarter).

Looking ahead to the first fiscal quarter of 2016, Apple CFO Luca Maestri expects revenue between $75.5 billion and $77.5 billion.

[Via Apple]

Happy Back to the Future Day!

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Great Scott, we made it! In Back to the Future Part II, Doc Brown and Marty McFly travel to the future, specifically October 21, 2015. And that day is today! No, we don’t have flying cars, but the Cubs are in the playoffs and Biff is running for president! To celebrate this special occasion, check out this BTTF reunion staged by Jimmy Kimmel. Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox return in character for a fun, 10-minute conversation about the present future they arrive in, via Delorean DMC-12, of course. Then, jump after the break to watch Lloyd as Doc once more in a special announcement hyping the Blu-ray trilogy.

In other BTTF news, Nike has announced a followup to its Nike Mag sneaker. Unlike its predecessor, the 2015 Nike Mag will, in fact, feature power laces that lace themselves, just like they do in the movie. As we near the end of 2015, more details are bound to surface so stick it here for when that happens.