# The Wort Report

> The latest word from your favorite nerd


## Posts

- [Trailer Reaction: ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’](https://wortreport.com/trailer-reaction-the-mandalorian-and-grogu/): It’s here! A little more than one week after many Star Wars fans were confused/enraged by The Mandalorian and Grogu’s non-trailer Super Bowl spot, Lucasfilm released a brand-new, creature-packed look at the film, which will hit theaters May 22. There’s so, so much to love about this 2:11 trailer. Aliens of all shapes and sizes! Rotta the Hutt! A baby Rodian! Zeb from Star Wars: Rebels! Embo from The Clone Wars! Heck, Martin freakin’ Scorsese as a fuzzy, four-armed shopkeeper! And, of course, we see plenty of our titular bounty hunter Din Djarin, a.k.a. The Mandalorian, shooting and blowing up […]
- [‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ and the Power of Negativity](https://wortreport.com/the-mandalorian-and-grogu-and-the-power-of-negativity/): During this year’s Super Bowl broadcast, you probably saw Lucasfilm’s cheeky 30‑second advertisement for The Mandalorian and Grogu, which featured the title characters aboard a carriage drawn by tauntauns—the kangaroo‑lizard mounts made famous 46 years ago in The Empire Strikes Back. It was a fun parody of Budweiser’s iconic Clydesdale commercials, complete with a Sam Elliott voiceover, and I loved it. But beneath the joy sparked by Star Wars’ impending return to theaters this May, I knew one thing: The internet was going to hate it. Indeed, as has become tradition, social media outrage quickly declared that Lucasfilm had “ruined” […]
- [Trailer Reaction: ‘Masters of the Universe’](https://wortreport.com/trailer-reaction-masters-of-the-universe/): I’m a lifelong Star Wars guy, but before I was swinging wrapping paper tubes around pretending I was Luke Skywalker, I was swinging wrapping paper tubes around pretending I was He-Man, “The Most Powerful Man in the Universe.” Mattel’s Masters of the Universe ruled my toy world pretty much as soon as I had a toy world. Even though I came into the action figure line at the tail end of its existence – when it started to get real weird with Snake Men, the Evil Horde and characters like Stinkor, Mosquitor and Moss Man – I loved the variety […]
- [‘Star Wars’ Galaxy’s Edge Gets an Original Trilogy Makeover at Disneyland](https://wortreport.com/star-wars-galaxys-edge-gets-an-original-trilogy-makeover-at-disneyland/): I’m conflicted. You see, when I ventured to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World in the spring of 2024 – weeping at the sight of the Millennium Falcon like everyone else in the park – I loved the immersion. When you walk into Galaxy’s Edge, you’re inside Star Wars. When you eat a Ronto Wrap at Docking Bay 7, you’re eating Star Wars. When you board the Falcon for Smuggler’s Run, you’re riding Star Wars. When you use one of Black Spire Outpost’s spacious bathrooms, you’re, well, you get the idea. Nestled in the Star Wars timeline between […]
- [The X-Men Will Return in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’](https://wortreport.com/the-x-men-will-return-in-avengers-doomsday/): A poor-quality version of the latest Avengers: Doomsday trailer leaked late last month, but now it’s official: The cinematic X-Men fans have known and loved for more than a quarter-decade will be returning the big screen in the next Avengers film, which pits Marvel heroes from multiple universes against Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom. The new trailer, released this week, begins with a poignant conversation between Patrick Stewart’s Professor Charles Xavier and Ian McKellen’s Erik Lehnsherr, a.k.a. Magneto, at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. They’ve had a contentious relationship throughout the film series, but it looks here like they’re on […]
- [‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ and the Power of Mystique](https://wortreport.com/avatar-fire-and-ash-and-the-power-of-mystique/): If you’ve been on social media in the past month, you might have stumbled across heated debate around James Cameron’s Avatar films and their “cultural relevance.” Essentially, people have been wondering why the first two films are among the top 3 high-grossing movies of all time (Avengers: Endgame is No. 2), and yet Avatar’s world of Pandora and its nine-foot-tall blue Na’vi are never really spoken about unless there’s a film in theaters. It seems strange to call films with running times of 3+ hours and budgets in excess of $400 million a lesson in restraint but bear with me […]
- [Dynamic or Desperate? Steve Rogers Returns in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Teaser](https://wortreport.com/dynamic-or-desperate-steve-rogers-returns-in-avengers-doomsday-teaser/): Regrettably, I have yet to venture to my local AMC to see Avatar: Fire and Ash but, given that it earned $345 million worldwide this past weekend, something tells me that the James Cameron threequel isn’t leaving theaters anytime soon. My time will come. At least some of the legions of moviegoers who contributed to that impressive opening weekend were those enticed by the teaser for Avengers: Doomsday that played before it, which heralds the return of Steve Rogers as Captain America. For the most part, I avoided the low-quality versions that have been circulating on social media so I […]
- [Trailer Reaction: Will ‘Supergirl’ Live Up to the Source Material?](https://wortreport.com/trailer-reaction-will-supergirl-live-up-to-the-source-material/): Between the imminent Avengers: Doomsday trailer, an absolutely bonkers Street Fighter trailer, a slew of game announcements at the 2025 Game Awards (I can’t wait for Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic!) and this weekend’s release of Avatar: Fire and Ash, Christmas is coming a bit early for the nerds. But we’ve gotta talk about that Supergirl trailer. I was away on Christmas-related business this past weekend, so I only had the chance to geek out about the trailer for about 12 minutes last Thursday before merriment beckoned, but now that I’ve had a chance to sit with it […]
- [‘Wicked: For Good’ First Impressions (Non-Spoiler Review)](https://wortreport.com/wicked-for-good-first-impressions-non-spoiler-review/): Wicked: For Good, the second half of Jon M. Chu’s intensely imaginative big-screen adaptation of Stephen Schwartz’s acclaimed musical, is among the most anticipated films of 2025, and is poised to dominate the multiplex until James Cameron’s return to Pandora with Avatar: Fire and Ash next month. But is the conclusion to Glinda and Elphaba’s tale worth the wait? Yes, mostly. My wife ensured I was educated on all things Oz before the first Wicked film debuted last November, so while I am familiar with the Broadway show, I am by no means an expert nor am I a superfan. […]
- [The NEW New Batch: The Vibe of ‘Gremlins 3’](https://wortreport.com/the-new-new-batch-the-vibe-of-gremlins-3/): After decades of rumors and false starts, Warner Bros. Discovery is finally ready to make the Gremlins franchise multiply in November 2027 with the release of Gremlins 3. Variety reports that Steven Spielberg will executive produce the threequel while Chris Columbus – who wrote the original film – returns to the franchise as the director. Despite Gremlins and its cult-classic sequel Gremlins 2: The New Batch sharing the same director in Joe Dante, the films are notoriously different in tone. While the original film is occasionally frightening, at times disturbing, wacky where it needs to be and suitably cute in […]
- [Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ Deserves to be a Big Deal](https://wortreport.com/guillermo-del-toros-frankenstein-deserves-to-be-a-big-deal/): The streaming movie landscape is in a funny spot. On the one hand, it’s loaded with watch-while-you-look-at-your-phone slop featuring prominent actors going through the motions. Remember Happy Gilmore 2 earlier this year? You probably don’t! On the other hand, the proposition of a “free-to-watch” movie (even though you’re paying for a subscription to the service) leads to surprising pop-culture moments that might not have happened with a traditional theatrical release (for example, the massive success of KPop Demon Hunters on Netflix). Netflix is also home to Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, a film that’s as premium of an experience that you […]
- [Adam Driver Opens Up About Canceled Ben Solo Film Set After 'The Rise of Skywalker'](https://wortreport.com/adam-driver-opens-up-about-canceled-ben-solo-film-set-after-the-rise-of-skywalker/): I defend the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy a lot more than other folks on the internet despite my mixed feelings about The Rise of Skywalker, but one of the most baffling things about Disney’s handling of the franchise post-2019 is its refusal to do anything that continues the story beyond the second death of Emperor Palpatine. The Rey Skywalker standalone film is seemingly in limbo, Star Wars: Starfighter is evidently its own thing and everything else fills in the 30-year storyline gap between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. Rey is “all the Jedi” … what’s next Well, […]
- [Tombstone Confirmed to Appear in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’](https://wortreport.com/tombstone-confirmed-to-appear-in-spider-man-brand-new-day/): I’ve gotta be honest. I’m kinda done with multiverses. As much as I love Spider-Man: No Way Home and Sony’s animated Spider-Verse trilogy, Marvel’s multiversal tales post Avengers: Endgame haven’t really maximized the concept – heck, Deadpool & Wolverine made fun of it – and it’s felt like we’ve just been killing time until our action figures from every corner of the toy box mash together two more times in the next Avengers films, Doomsday and Secret Wars. But there’s also a new Spider-Man flick in the mix, and Deadline reports that Marvin Jones III will play Tombstone, a.k.a. Lonnie […]
- [Watch: ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ First Trailer](https://wortreport.com/watch-the-mandalorian-and-grogu-first-trailer/): “Good shot, baby!” One week after Star Wars won big at the 2025 Emmys with Andor’s five awards, Lucasfilm released the first official trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu, which arrives in theaters May 22, 2026. If you’re looking for plot points, you won’t really get any of them from the trailer, which showcases loads of creatures, big action sequences and, of course, Grogu stealing snacks and scenes. We also get a brief glimpse of Sigourney Weaver’s character, a tease of Jeremy Allen White’s Rotta the Hutt and some shots of the all-new Razor Crest and a few scenes featuring […]
- [James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ Follow-Up Gets a Title, Release Date](https://wortreport.com/james-gunns-superman-follow-up-gets-a-title-release-date/): I admit it. I’ve been insufferable about Superman this summer. I’ve shoehorned the movie into countless conversations in recent weeks (sorry, not sorry) and just when I thought I was done yapping about The Man of Steel’s soaring return to cinema, director and DC Studios co-head James Gunn revealed that David Corenswet’s Superman and Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor would be returning in Man of Tomorrow, a follow-up film hitting theaters July 9, 2027. But is the movie’s title referring to The Big Blue Boy Scout or to Lex? The image Gunn shared on social media to make the announcement hints […]
- [‘Star Wars: Starfighter’ Enters Production](https://wortreport.com/star-wars-starfighter-enters-production/): Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter – a new standalone film set after The Rise of Skywalker – has officially begun production in the UK, StarWars.com reports. The film stars Ryan Gosling, Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings and Amy Adams, arriving in theaters May 28, 2027, just days after the 50-year anniversary of the original Star Wars film. Lucasfilm paired the announcement with the release of a set photo featuring Gosling and Gray sitting on the hood of a landspeeder in a dingy environment a dianoga might find charming. We haven’t gotten […]
- [‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 Off to a Raunchy, Violent and Heartwarming Start (Spoilers Ahead)](https://wortreport.com/peacemaker-season-2-off-to-a-raunchy-violent-and-heartwarming-start-spoilers-ahead/): I was away on vacation outside the country the night Peacemaker Season 2 debuted on HBO Max. “It’s fine,” I thought. “I’ll just stay off social media until I get home in 24 hours to steer clear of any spoilers.” Welp, spoiler alert: I didn’t and I didn’t. Yes, long before I had the chance to plop myself on the couch to soak in James Gunn’s three-years-later follow-up to his first season of Peacemaker – a series that somehow straddles two different DC cinematic universes – I had learned the series retconned Season 1’s Justice League cameo into the Justice […]
- [Ryan Reynolds Teases Deadpool Return in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’](https://wortreport.com/ryan-reynolds-teases-deadpool-return-in-avengers-doomsday/): He saved the Marvel Multiverse last summer, but Deadpool just might become an Avenger before 2026 wraps up. Ryan Reynolds sent fans on social media into a Wolverine-esque frenzy this week when he posted a cryptic image of the Avengers logo with an anarchic red “A” scrawled on top of it. The image had no caption, but the message was clear: The Merc with a Mouth isn’t done with the MCU, and he will likely appear in Avengers: Doomsday. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ryan Reynolds (@vancityreynolds) Deadpool & Wolverine pulled in more than $1 billion […]
- [What You Need to Know About 'Star Wars: Starfighter'](https://wortreport.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-star-wars-starfighter/): After releasing five Star Wars movies in as many years, Disney halted live-action films set in that galaxy far, far away in 2019, relegating the franchise to the small screen and its then-burgeoning Disney+ streaming platform. Star Wars returns to theaters next summer with The Mandalorian & Grogu, which will be followed by Star Wars: Starfighter the following year – the 50th anniversary of the original 1977 film. A New Hope will be getting its own theatrical re-release – and you know I will be there – but one can’t help but feel that there’s a lot riding on Starfighter. […]
- [First Look: ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Suit and More](https://wortreport.com/first-look-spider-man-brand-new-day-suit-and-more/): Despite positive reviews, The Fantastic Four: First Steps suffered a 66% drop in its second weekend, resulting in much doom and gloom on social media regarding the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Countering this cosmic storm of negativity has been a series of updates on Spider-Man: Brand New Day, including a first look at Tom Holland’s new Spidey suit, some on-set sneak peeks and confirmation that Mark Ruffalo will be officially joining the cast as Bruce Banner/The Hulk alongside Michael Mando as The Scorpion and Jon Bernthal as The Punisher. Sadie Sink (Stranger Things) will also join the cast, […]
- [‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Breathes New Life Into the MCU (Non-Spoiler Review)](https://wortreport.com/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-breathes-new-life-into-the-mcu-non-spoiler-review/): A movie title like The Fantastic Four: First Steps opens itself up to all kinds of punny headlines:  OK, they’re not all winners. Fortunately, none of the above apply to Marvel Studios’ latest film, in theaters this weekend, which delivers a bright, colorful and charming family story that makes the Marvel Cinematic Universe feel fresh for the first time in years. Although technically, this isn’t the MCU that we’re used to. Set in an alternate version of Earth (Earth-828), First Steps introduces us to Marvel’s First Family as the sole protectors of their world, which is a retro-futuristic wonderland full […]
- [Movie of Steel: James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ Is Powerful in All the Best Ways](https://wortreport.com/movie-of-steel-james-gunns-superman-is-powerful-in-all-the-best-ways/): Superman can seemingly do it all. He’s capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound, battling giant monsters the size of said buildings and fighting back armies with his heat vision. We see him accomplish all these extraordinary things in James Gunn’s’ Superman, now in theaters, and yet it’s the character’s humanity that struck me most in his first solo outing in 12 years. This Man of Steel bleeds. He gets angry. He sheds tears. He gets scared. But whenever he gets knocked down, he gets right back up, simply because it’s the right thing to do. He’s Superman, […]
- [Rawr! ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ Brings Franchise Back from Extinction](https://wortreport.com/rawr-jurassic-world-rebirth-brings-franchise-back-from-extinction/):   Jurassic Park is one of those perfect Steven Spielberg movies. The visuals, the score, the performances and its playful mix of terror and wonder make it an all-time summer blockbuster classic. The sequels, however, for the most part, have lacked the “Dino DNA” that made that first walk in the park so special. I would even be so bold as to say that Jurassic World Dominion is one of the worst major franchise sequels we’ve gotten in the last decade … and that’s saying a lot! Three years later, the bar was set low for Jurassic World Rebirth, Gareth […]
- [‘Andor’ Made Me Love ‘Rogue One’ Even More](https://wortreport.com/andor-made-me-love-rogue-one-even-more/):     You’ve heard it from everyone else, so now you’ll hear it from me: Andor is the best Star Wars streaming series yet. It’s beautiful, it’s tragic, it’s powerful, it’s poignant, it’s real. Those same words could be used to describe Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the incredible 2016 film that first introduced us to Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor and a ragtag group of rebels who stole the Death Star plans and set the stage for the events of Star Wars: A New Hope. The Star Wars fandom is divided about most things, but we can all pretty […]
- [‘Hey, Buddy! Eyes Up Here!’ New ‘Superman’ Trailer Showcases Heart and Heroics](https://wortreport.com/hey-buddy-eyes-up-here-new-superman-trailer-showcases-heart-and-heroics/): There’s really no reason why Superman shouldn’t be one of the biggest movie franchises on the planet. He’s instantly recognizable, he’s charismatic, his powers are fantastic and he represents humanity at its best. In short, he’s hope personified. Unfortunately, it’s that “golly gee” Silver Age optimism that’s been largely absent from the Man of Steel’s cinematic outings since Christopher Reeve donned the cape decades ago. James Gunn aims to change all that with this summer’s Superman, which flies into theaters July 11. A new three-minute trailer dropped today, featuring Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane doing her first interview with David Corenswet’s […]
- [Marvel Gets its Mojo Back with Witty, Fun ‘Thunderbolts*’](https://wortreport.com/marvel-gets-its-mojo-back-with-witty-fun-thunderbolts/):   The Marvel Cinematic Universe was pretty untouchable in the years leading up to 2019’s Avengers: Endgame but, unfortunately, the fervor over the franchise has cooled a bit in the years since. Save for pop-culture highlights like Spider-Man: No Way Home, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Deadpool & Wolverine, the films have felt obligatory. “We go to Marvel movies because they’re Marvel movies” has been the overall vibe. Thunderbolts* kicked off this year’s summer movie season in earnest this weekend, and I would be lying if I said my expectations were exceedingly high. And yet, the same could […]
- [Shawn Levy’s ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’ Gets a Release Date at Celebration Japan](https://wortreport.com/shawn-levys-star-wars-starfighter-gets-a-release-date-at-celebration-japan/):     Here’s where the fun begins. Not only is the anticipated second season of Andor hitting Disney+ Tuesday, April 22, but the announcements are already flowing out of Star Wars Celebration Japan like hate from a Sith. During a panel for next year’s The Mandalorian and Grogu, Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy made a surprise on-stage appearance to announce that his upcoming film, Star Wars: Starfighter, will hit theaters May 28, 2027 and will begin production this fall. Set five years after The Rise of Skywalker, the film will star Ryan Gosling as a never-before-seen character. There have […]
- [That’s a Stretch! Marvel Unveils New ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Trailer](https://wortreport.com/thats-a-stretch-marvel-unveils-new-the-fantastic-four-first-steps-trailer/): The MCU is still a wonderful thing, despite what the worst corners of the internet tell you. Just two days after Marvel Television showed a major villain gruesomely crushing a man’s head in Daredevil: Born Again, Marvel Studios has delivered a whimsical new look at The Fantastic Four: First Steps, complete with peeks at Galactus, Silver Surfer, Mr. Fantastic’s stretchy superpowers and … a new addition to Marvel’s First Family? Indeed, four will become five in the anticipated film, which hits theaters July 25. Taking place in an alternate universe from typical Marvel Studios fare, The Fantastic Four: First Steps […]
- [‘Superman’ Sneak Peek Goes Inside the Fortress of Solitude](https://wortreport.com/superman-sneak-peek-goes-inside-the-fortress-of-solitude/):     So, I’ve just watched the newly released sneak peek at James Gunn’s Superman, hitting theaters July 11, and I had two immediate takeaways. 1.     Krypto is a good dog. A Superdog, even. 2.     I love James Gunn. On Point 2, it’s amazing to me that Gunn – whose similarly slick and polished Guardians of the Galaxy films are among my favorite in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – got his screenwriting start in the delightfully schlocky and gloriously violent world of Troma Entertainment, cowriting Tromeo & Juliet alongside the mastermind behind The Toxic Avenger himself, Lloyd Kaufman. So, with […]
- [Scum and Villainy Abound in ‘Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld’](https://wortreport.com/scum-and-villainy-abound-in-star-wars-tales-of-the-underworld/):     If there’s one thing Star Wars fans can agree on, it’s that bounty hunters are awesome. Also awesome? The Dark Side. So, millions of voices suddenly cried out in glee and were suddenly excited when Lucasfilm unveiled the trailer for Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld, a series of shorts premiering on Star Wars Day, May the 4th, exclusively on Disney+. The series will revolve around gunslinging mercenary Cad Bane and Count Dooku’s former lead assassin Asajj Ventress, two fan-favorite baddies from Star Wars: The Clone Wars. They’re in some of the best episodes of that series, and […]
- [Fourth MCU ‘Spider-Man’ Film Gets a Title, Release Date](https://wortreport.com/fourth-mcu-spider-man-film-gets-a-title-release-date/):   If you saw the news Tuesday morning you might have thought it was a bizarre April Fool’s joke, but Sony Pictures wasn’t foolin’ when they revealed that their anticipated follow-up to smash-hit Spider-Man: No Way Home would be called Spider-Man: Brand New Day and that it would be hitting theaters on July 31, 2026. Spider-Man: Brand New Day ️ July 31, 2026. pic.twitter.com/R6OY8tAHOb — Spider-Man Movie (@SpiderManMovie) April 1, 2025 The Brand New Day subtitle might be slightly triggering for longtime Spidey fans, as it references a mostly maligned story arc that began in 2008. You see, in the […]
- [Marvel Studios Reveals ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Cast as Production Kicks Off](https://wortreport.com/marvel-studios-reveals-avengers-doomsday-cast-as-production-kicks-off/): A series of empty chairs whipped comic book social media into a frenzy earlier today as Marvel Studios’ employed a slow-drip live-stream approach to reveal many – but all – cast members set to appear in the Russo Brothers’ Avengers: Doomsday, now officially in production. Marvel’s cross-platform stream unveiled a new cast member’s chair every few minutes for more than five hours, concluding with Doctor Doom himself, Robert Downey Jr. In addition to MCU mainstays like Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man, Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, Tom Hiddleston’s Loki, Sam Wilson’s Captain America, Letitia Wright’s Suri/Black Panther and Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi, […]
- [‘Andor’ Season 2 Trailer Instant Reaction](https://wortreport.com/andor-season-2-trailer-instant-reaction/):   “The revolution starts now.” So, before I get into it, if you have ever liked Star Wars – or even if you don’t – you need to watch Andor Season 1. Hard stop. It’s by far the best Star Wars show on Disney+ and it stands as an excellent companion piece to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which is widely regarded as the best Star Wars film Disney has produced since acquiring Lucasfilm in 2012. So yeah, expectations are high. More than two years after its outstanding first season, Andor is back April 22 – now called Andor: […]
- [‘Captain America: Brave New World’: Non-Spoiler Review](https://wortreport.com/captain-america-brave-new-world-non-spoiler-review/):     Following widely publicized production woes and extensive reshoots, Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World has arrived, and although it’s not as disappointing as social media or Rotten Tomatoes might have you believe, it’s a shaky flight for the winged Avenger. Featuring Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, having taken up the Cap mantle from Steve Rogers at the conclusion of Avengers: Endgame and solidifying himself as the star-spangled hero in the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, this film unfortunately only feels like a Captain America sequel sometimes. Mostly, it’s a follow-up to 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, […]
- [Trailer Showdown: ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ vs. ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’](https://wortreport.com/trailer-showdown-the-fantastic-four-first-steps-vs-jurassic-world-rebirth/):     We all assumed we would be getting trailers for Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Universal Pictures’ during Super Bowl LIX this Sunday, but both franchises kicked things off a bit early, giving fans of summer blockbusters a lot to discuss and dissect this week. But which trailer packs the most punch? Has the bigger bite? Scarletts the most Johanssons? OK, that last one is pretty obvious. Let’s see how they match up. The Fantastic Four: First Steps Let’s be honest: There has never been a good Fantastic Four movie. There are some fun moments in […]
- [Writer George Nolfi Joins Rey Skywalker ‘Star Wars’ Film](https://wortreport.com/writer-george-nolfi-joins-rey-skywalker-star-wars-film/):   Daisy Ridley’s return as Rey Skywalker is one step closer to becoming a reality, with Ocean’s 12 and The Bourne Ultimatum writer George Nolfi joining the film set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker, according to The Hollywood Reporter’s Heat Vision. The unnamed Star Wars standalone film will be helmed by documentary filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and will feature Rey – who adopted the Skywalker surname at the conclusion of the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy. Nolfi’s addition comes after a string of writers joined and left the project, including Damon Lindelof, Justin Britt-Gibson and Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight. […]
- [SUBLIME! Ryan Gosling Could Star in Shawn Levy’s Upcoming ‘Star Wars’ Film](https://wortreport.com/sublime-ryan-gosling-could-star-in-shawn-levys-upcoming-star-wars-film/): His job was beach. Now, it’s space. Ryan Gosling, Barbie’s scene-stealing Ken and the immensely likeable star of such films as The Notebook, The Big Short, Drive, Blade Runner 2049 and La La Land, is in talks to star in Shawn Levy’s upcoming Star Wars film, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Coming off the $1.3 billion success of Deadpool & Wolverine, Levy will helm a feature set in that galaxy far, far away that will reportedly have no connection to the Skywalker Saga. The as-yet-unnamed film has been in development for two years and will go into production this year, […]
- [Got it Where it Counts: ‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’ Season 1 Reaction](https://wortreport.com/got-it-where-it-counts-star-wars-skeleton-crew-season-1-reaction/):   Star Wars fans are a hyperbolic bunch. Whenever a new project debuts – whether it’s a theatrical film or a streaming series – it’s either the best thing to happen to the franchise in years or it’s the catastrophic death knell for that galaxy far, far away. Admittedly, my reactions tend to be more positive when it comes to Disney’s near-constant output of Star Wars content. You can call me a shill if you must (it wouldn’t be the first time), but I was a kid during the “Dark Times” of the early-mid ‘90s when all we had were […]
- [Expectations of Steel: First ‘Superman’ Trailer Reaction](https://wortreport.com/expectations-of-steel-first-superman-trailer-reaction/):     There’s one North Pole resident who can fly around the world in a night dominating social media right now, and it ain’t Santa Claus. DC Studios has given us our best look yet at James Gunn’s optimistic take on The Man of Steel with a new Superman teaser trailer that sent anticipation for the 2025 film up, up and away when it dropped on Thursday. With bright colors, big-time action and a fantastic cast – including David Corenswet as the titular Kansas farmboy-turned-demigod, Rachel Brosnahan as intrepid Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as calculating “bald-is-beautiful” […]
- [‘Clayface’ Movie Officially in the Works](https://wortreport.com/clayface-movie-officially-in-the-works/): As an in-the-weeds comic book fan, sometimes it’s hard for me to believe that most casual movie audiences have no idea that one of Batman’s most dangerous adversaries is a goopy, shape-shifting mud monster. Well, Warner Bros. Pictures’ DC Studios is changing all that with a standalone Clayface film, Variety reports. The horror/thriller/tragedy is set to hit theaters Sept. 11, 2026. The film will be based on a script by Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep), and filming will begin next year. Details are scarce, but there’s no word as to whether Batman will appear. As we’ve seen with HBO/Max’s The Penguin […]
- [Chris Evans to Reunite with Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’](https://wortreport.com/chris-evans-to-reunite-with-robert-downey-jr-in-avengers-doomsday/): We’ve known for months that Robert Downey Jr. would be returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Avengers: Doomsday – but as Dr. Doom and not Tony Stark – but it seems like he won’t be the only OG Avengers actor to return in the 2026 film. The Wrap reports that Chris Evans, who we recently saw as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch in Deadpool & Wolverine, will appear in Avengers: Doomsday, but whether he will don the stars and stripes as Steve Rogers’ Captain America remains to be seen. This news comes just months before the release of Captain America: […]
- [‘The Bear’ Star Jeremy Allen White Joins the ‘Star Wars’ Universe with ‘The Mandalorian & Grogu’ Role](https://wortreport.com/the-bear-star-jeremy-allen-white-joins-the-star-wars-universe-with-the-mandalorian-grogu-role/):     Well, this is weird. And don’t get me wrong … I LOVE weird. Heck, the main thing I love about the new Disney+ series Star Wars: Skeleton Crew – 1980s Spielberg vibes aside – is its dedication to funny, strange and grotesque alien characters. And speaking of alien characters, the Emmy Award-winning star of restaurant-centric comedy-drama The Bear will be voicing one of them in the upcoming Jon Favreau-helmed The Mandalorian & Grogu. I did not see this coming and neither did you. Variety reports that White will provide the voice for Jabba the Hutt’s son Rotta, who […]
- [Joker’s Mild: Todd Phillips’ ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Becomes a Box-Office Punchline](https://wortreport.com/jokers-mild-todd-phillips-joker-folie-a-deux-becomes-a-box-office-punchline/):     No, I didn’t see Joker: Folie à Deux this past weekend … and apparently, neither did a lot of people. As reported by Variety, the $200 million musical sequel to 2019’s billion-dollar Joker pulled in a paltry $40 million domestically in its opening weekend. So, why we did all steer clear this time around? Well, it’s complicated. Indeed, many fans of the first film were less-than-enthused by the singing-and-dancing slant of the sequel, and not even the star power of Lady Gaga as the Harley Quinn to Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker (a.k.a. Arthur Fleck) could pull her legions of […]
- [Review: ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ Not Quite Worth the Squeeze](https://wortreport.com/review-beetlejuice-beetlejuice-not-quite-worth-the-squeeze/):     There are many reasons why Tim Burton’s classic 1988 comedy Beetlejuice remains required Halloween viewing to this very day. It’s creepy, it’s imaginative, and it boasts an all-star cast – namely the always hilarious Michael Keaton as the titular Ghost with the Most. Fans have often speculated as to how a sequel might play out – heck, Kevin Smith was nearly attached to a Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian sequel in the 1990s – but plans never really panned out until this week, when Beetlejuice Beetlejuice arrived in theaters. Keaton returns alongside Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara as Lydia and […]
- [‘Star Wars Outlaws’ First Impressions](https://wortreport.com/star-wars-outlaws-first-impressions/):   It’s a weird time to be a Star Wars fan. On one hand, we’ve got Sigourney Weaver joining the cast of The Mandalorian & Grogu. On the other, The Acolyte getting canceled after just one season amid a hurtful culture war. And then there’s Star Wars Outlaws, the game publisher Ubisoft touts as the first true open-world Star Wars game. Following the success of EA’s Star Wars Jedi series – first Fallen Order and then the even better Jedi Survivor – Outlaws brings with it no small amount of anticipation. But then came the unflattering gameplay clips on social […]
- [‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’ Trailer Revealed at D23](https://wortreport.com/star-wars-skeleton-crew-trailer-revealed-at-d23/):     Just when it seemed like we didn’t know quite enough about Star Wars: Skeleton Crew considering its fast-approaching Dec. 3 premiere date on Disney+, Lucasfilm unveiled its first official trailer for the coming-of-age adventure series at D23 this weekend. The show – which proudly wears its 1980s Goonies influence on its sleeve – features four kids who yearn for swashbuckling adventure in that galaxy far, far away. Set after Return of the Jedi, the children come upon an ancient Jedi temple and soon find themselves facing unexpected perils and surprising allies, namely apparent Jedi Jod Na Nawood played […]
- [Robert Downey Jr. Returns to MCU as Doctor Doom in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’](https://wortreport.com/robert-downey-jr-returns-to-mcu-as-doctor-doom-in-avengers-doomsday/):   In a move that rattled the walls of Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con International and nearly broke the internet on Saturday, Marvel Studios announced that Robert Downey Jr. – who kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2008 with Iron Man – will be returning to the MCU donning an altogether difference metal mask as legendary villain Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday in May 2026. “New mask, same task,” Downey said after taking the stage to an approving roar in a Marvel Studios panel that gave fans a glimpse into the future of the MCU, which included the […]
- [‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ Is Exactly What the MCU Needed This Summer](https://wortreport.com/deadpool-and-wolverine-is-exactly-what-the-mcu-needed-this-summer/):     We get it. The Marvel Cinematic Universe isn’t what it used to be. In fact, save for certified crowd-pleasers Spider-Man: No Way Home and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the MCU’s output has gotten a mostly tepid response from audiences since Avengers: Endgame in 2019. Perhaps it’s multiverse malaise or perhaps it’s that oft-cited superhero fatigue, but there’s just something about Marvel’s heroes that hasn’t been resonating like it used to. Enter Deadpool: The foul-mouthed, blood-soaked Merc with a Mouth who might have just resurrected an entire cinematic universe with his R-rated buddy road-trip comedy, Deadpool & […]
- [‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ Season 1 Review](https://wortreport.com/star-wars-the-acolyte-season-1-review/):   Just like that, the first season of Star Wars: The Acolyte has concluded … and what a ride it was. The 8-episode murder mystery in that galaxy far, far, away brought us new characters, new creatures, new perspectives on the Force and new lightsaber duels while, offscreen, combat of a different sort took place as angry “fans” launched into long-winded, vitriolic rants on space witches, fire in space and characters using “hell” as an expletive – all things that have technically been part of the franchise for most of its 47-year history. Toxicity aside, there stands a single question: Is The […]
- [‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ and the Absence of Anticipation](https://wortreport.com/star-wars-the-acolyte-and-the-absence-of-anticipation/):   WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD There are essentially three types of Star Wars fans. There are those who watch all the films, occasionally purchase a LEGO set or Hasbro figure, casually catch up on the live-action Disney+ shows, and cherry-pick the animated shows if they watch them at all. Then there are the die hards, who not only watch everything – live-action or otherwise – but read the comics, play the games, pore over the novels, and dedicate sizable space in their homes to their collections. Lastly, there are the fans who claim that Star Wars died when Disney purchased the […]
- [Mad Love: ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Gets a Trailer](https://wortreport.com/mad-love-joker-folie-a-deux-gets-a-trailer/):   It’s wild to me that Todd Phillips’ Joker was released nearly five years ago but, then again, it’s been a wild five years. Given its dark subject matter, it’s not a film I’ve revisited often over the years – I think I’ve only seen it once more at home since its theatrical run – I’ve always appreciated Joaquin Phoenix’s excellently nuanced portrayal of Arthur Fleck, a failed comedian whose own struggles with reality make him an unreliable narrator. What’s real? What isn’t? Who is truly the villain? Lots of questions, no real answers. Is it a tad derivative of […]
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- [‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ is as Messy as it Looks](https://wortreport.com/godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire-is-as-messy-as-it-looks/): Godzilla is having a moment. The classic kaiju is in the middle of a monster renaissance following the critical and commercial success of Toho’s $15 million Godzilla Minus One – which also netted the big guy his first Oscar for special effects – and now his American counterpart is stomping the box office alongside King Kong in Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures’ Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. I will preface this by saying I’m not always the biggest fan of the films in this MonsterVerse franchise. Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla left me cold when I first watched it – I […]
- [Sony Releases New ‘Spider-Verse’ Short Film, ‘The Spider Within’](https://wortreport.com/sony-releases-new-spider-verse-short-film-the-spider-within/): In a move that was wildly surprising to me (admittedly, much of my free time has been eaten up by hours and hours of Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth the past few days), Sony just released a short film featuring Miles Morales, titled The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story. The short, directed by Jarelle Dampier, was originally screened at the 2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival and is available to the general public for the very first time. Although brief at just over seven minutes, the film does an excellent job showing the chaos Miles regularly contends with as his universe’s […]
- [‘Frozen Empire’ is the ‘Ghostbusters’ Sequel I’ve Always Wanted](https://wortreport.com/frozen-empire-is-the-ghostbusters-sequel-ive-always-wanted/): Let’s be honest, the history of sequels to Ivan Reitman’s groundbreaking sci-fi/comedy Ghostbusters has been as tumultuous as the Tunguska Blast of 1909. Following the wild success of the original film and the Real Ghostbusters cartoon and toy line, Ghostbusters II released in 1989, and despite the love so many of us have for this sequel – developed as a course-correction cash-in for troubled Sony Pictures – general audiences and critics saw it as a by-the-numbers retread of its funnier predecessor. It also had the misfortune of releasing the same summer as mega-blockbuster Batman, which came out just one week […]
- [‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ Brings High Republic Era to Live Action](https://wortreport.com/star-wars-the-acolyte-brings-high-republic-era-to-live-action/): Fans of Star Wars: The High Republic are FEASTING right now. Launched in 2021, The High Republic is a multimedia project spanning books, comics, audiobooks, and other media – including the charming Young Jedi Adventures animated children’s series – that’s set long before The Phantom Menace. Jedi are swashbuckling peacekeepers and adventurers protecting the galaxy from space vikings, evil monster plants and other nefarious forces that threaten peace and prosperity in the Republic. The books and comics are a lot of fun, and if your complaint about Star Wars media outside the shows and films is that nothing of consequence […]
- [Non-Spoiler Review: ‘X-Men ‘97’ Is So Much Better Than You Think It Is](https://wortreport.com/non-spoiler-review-x-men-97-is-so-much-better-than-you-think-it-is/): At first, I got a tear in my eye from the lovingly updated intro. Then I got misty watching the team take down Sentinels just like they always did. Then, someone must have been cutting onions during the final five minutes of the second episode. But yes, I watched the two-episode premiere of X-Men ’97 on Disney+ and, yes, it’s everything I wanted this series to be and more. From the modern animation that showcases the X-Men’s powers like never before to suitably grown-up storytelling to the moments that massively impact the futures of these characters, this series is a […]
- [Does ‘Dune: Part Two’ Live Up to the Hype?](https://wortreport.com/does-dune-part-two-live-up-to-the-hype/): Um. Yeah. Pretty much. Much is being said about Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two, the latter half of his epic adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune, which began in 2021. The performances! The scale! The popcorn bucket! Like sand in the Arrakis desert, excitement around the Dune saga is everywhere … and rightfully so! But I’ll come right out and say it: I was never a Dune fan. The original, MASSIVE book felt impenetrable to me and there wasn’t a lot drawing me to the David Lynch Dune earlier in life, what with its cat milking and battle pugs. Of course, […]
- [SNIKT! ‘X-Men ‘97’ Trailer Hints at Suitably Epic Return for Classic Cartoon](https://wortreport.com/snikt-x-men-97-trailer-hints-at-suitably-epic-return-for-classic-cartoon/):   Wait … did Gambit just charge up Wolverine’s CLAWS? Wait … is Jean Grey PREGNANT? Wait … did that Daily Bugle headline mention the HELLFIRE GALA? Wait … is Magneto now in charge of the X-MEN?! These were the questions I asked myself when I first laid eyes on the debut trailer for Marvel Animation’s X-Men ’97, arriving on Disney+ March 20. The new series picks up where the original 1990s X-Men cartoon – arguably one of the best children’s animated series of all time – left off nearly three decades ago. With Professor Xavier gone, Cyclops assumes leadership […]
- [Marvel Studios Reveals ‘Fantastic Four’ Cast, Release Date](https://wortreport.com/marvel-studios-reveals-fantastic-four-cast-release-date/):   Marvel loves us. Clearly. Just days after the Deadpool & Wolverine trailer sent fans into a foaming frenzy, Marvel Studios celebrated Valentine’s Day with a big, sloppy kiss to fans in the form of a Fantastic Four movie cast reveal. Following months of speculation, Marvel finally confirmed who will be playing Marvel’s First Family in the anticipated film. ·        Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian, The Last of Us) – Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic ·        Vanessa Kirby (Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Napoleon) – Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman ·        Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear, Andor) – Ben Grimm/The Thing ·        Joseph Quinn (Stranger […]
- [Marvel Studios Introduces Disney’s Greatest Love Story with First ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Teaser Trailer](https://wortreport.com/marvel-studios-introduces-disneys-greatest-love-story-with-first-deadpool-wolverine-teaser-trailer/):   Sure, the Super Bowl ended in fairytale fashion with Travis Kelce celebrating a hard-fought gridiron victory by smooching his pop megastar girlfriend Taylor Swift, but let’s be real: The night’s true power couple was a cantankerous clawed Canadian and a foul-mouthed mercenary with a thing for Crocs and unicorns. Yep, Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool is back … and this time, he’s very much in Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe. The trailer for the third Deadpool film – now named Deadpool & Wolverine – brings us up to speed on Wade Wilson, whose last film was somehow six years ago. When agents […]
- [Disney and Epic Games Collaborate on New Universe Connected to Fortnite](https://wortreport.com/disney-and-epic-games-collaborate-on-new-universe-connected-to-fortnite/): As a 40-year-old man with far too many hobbies, I’ll warily admit that I dabble in Fortnite from time to time. Whether popping in to spend way too much money on a new Star Wars skin or killing time while another game downloads, Fortnite serves as an easy-to-pick-up palate cleanser that’s a lot more fun and immersive than a lot of people my age assume it is. I’m also pretty terrible at it. Well, I might be spending a lot more time getting one-shotted by buff Peter Griffins following news that Disney and Fortnite makers Epic Games are teaming up […]
- [‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ Trailer Reaction: More Slime, More Ghosts, More Bustin’](https://wortreport.com/ghostbusters-frozen-empire-trailer-reaction-more-slime-more-ghosts-more-bustin/):   I’m gonna be real with you: I didn’t love the first trailer for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the much-anticipated follow-up to Jason Reitman’s surprisingly good and immensely tear-inducing Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Based on that initial trailer, the new film seemed like a lifeless retread and, at worst, generic. Having seen the new trailer for Frozen Empire – I still don’t love the title – I’m a lot more optimistic. Could it be because it’s absolutely loaded with fan service? Probably. But it’s also got a miniature Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man happily getting his arm shredded in a pencil sharpener. See? Franchises can […]
- [‘Star Wars: The Bad Batch’ Season 3 Promises Big Return, Big Finale](https://wortreport.com/star-wars-the-bad-batch-season-3-promises-big-return-big-finale/): When people talk about Star Wars steward Dave Filoni’s best works, they often leave out The Bad Batch, his Clone Wars spinoff featuring a toyetic group of genetically augmented clone troopers who find themselves on the run from the Republic-Turned-Empire. And you know what, those people are wrong! The Bad Batch is a great show, and despite having some slower and more deliberate episodes during its two-season run, this is a solid entry in the animated Star Wars canon and I’m sorry to see it go. But it’s going out with a bang if the new trailer is to be […]
- [The Mandalorian and Grogu Head to Theaters](https://wortreport.com/the-mandalorian-and-grogu-head-to-theaters/):   Although I wasn’t particularly enamored with The Mandalorian’s third season – it was fun but didn’t quite reach the meteoric highs of the first two seasons – I’m intrigued by news that Din Djarin and his little, green, and marketable buddy Grogu are going to star in a feature film entering production this year. StarWars.com reports that Jon Favreau will direct The Mandalorian and Grogu (likely a working title), with Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni joining him as producers. “I have loved telling stories set in the rich world that George Lucas created,” said Favreau in a statement. “The […]
- [‘Godzilla Minus One’ Is One of My Favorite Movies of 2023](https://wortreport.com/godzilla-minus-one-is-one-of-my-favorite-movies-of-2023/):  Me and Godzilla? We go way back. Growing up in Westchester, NY, each summer I would eagerly look forward to WPIX 11’s annual “Godzillathon,” which promised a weeklong celebration of The King of the Monsters and his titanic assemblage of enemies and allies, including Mothra, Mechagodzilla, Rodan, King Ghidorah and a giant crustacean named Ebirah, to whom I can easily attribute my lifelong affinity for lobster. I would tape 4-hour stretches of the marathon on VHS and obsess over them … although if I’m being honest, I would mostly fast-forward to the monster fights and skip the human stuff. Looking […]
- [‘The Marvels’ Had the MCU’s Worst Opening Weekend and It Deserved Better](https://wortreport.com/the-marvels-had-the-mcus-worst-opening-weekend-and-it-deserved-better/):   I caught and quite enjoyed Marvel Studios’ The Marvels Friday night … but I guess not a lot of people did. Deadline reports that the film – directed by Nia DaCosta and starring Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani and Samuel L. Jackson – is posting a $47 million three-day opening, which is the worst opening weekend in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And with a $200 million+ budget, one has to imagine that Kevin Feige and the key stakeholders at Marvel Studios are putting plans in place to ensure it’s only up from here. But here’s […]
- [‘Spider-Man 2’ is My Game of the Year](https://wortreport.com/spider-man-2-is-my-game-of-the-year/):  SPOILERS AHEAD As someone with limited “free time,” I’m not ashamed to admit that I completed Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man 2 twice since its Oct. 20 release. Yes, I’m aware that was only two weeks ago as of this writing, and yes, I’m aware that there are other games out there worthy of my time, including Baldur’s Gate 3 and the spectacular-by-all-accounts Super Mario Bros. Wonder on Nintendo Switch. I’ll get to those, surely, but after an initial jaunt through Insomniac’s lovingly crafted Marvel epic, I needed to swing through it again. But I had a legitimate reason to run it […]
- [Sticking Power: ‘Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’ First Impressions](https://wortreport.com/sticking-power-marvels-spider-man-2-first-impressions/):   There are only a few games in the past five years or so that have completely captured my imagination and my free time – I’m sure plenty of folks riding out the final days of their 30s can relate. But of that handful of titles, three stand out above all others: Spider-Man, Spider-Man: Miles Morales and, most recently, Spider-Man 2 on PlayStation 5 (officially named  Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, but I think you’ll know what game I’m talking about even if I skip that formality moving forward). Developer Insomniac Games has cracked the code as far as what makes Spider-Man compelling not only […]
- [On ‘Ahsoka,’ ‘Loki’ and Franchise Fatigue](https://wortreport.com/on-ahsoka-loki-and-franchise-fatigue/):   Season 3 of The Mandalorian was OK. Yes, it pains me to write that. The Mandalorian – universally beloved and merchandised thanks to the genius inclusion of a cooing Yoda-like baby now named Din Grogu – had gone from the absolute beacon of hope for the Star Wars franchise to “pretty good” in the eyes of many viewers, including myself. Now, maybe that’s because Andor had sufficiently and surprisingly raised the bar in terms of what a Star Wars TV show could be. Maybe it’s because we’ve been so sufficiently spoiled by new Star Wars stories that it takes […]
- [‘Mutant Mayhem’ is the Best TMNT Reimagining Yet](https://wortreport.com/mutant-mayhem-is-the-best-tmnt-reimagining-yet/):   If you ever want to send me into an existential spiral, simply ask me this question: “James, who is your favorite Ninja Turtle?” When asked this question prior to a screening of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, I froze up. How can I choose just one?! I relate to the hot-headed Raphael more often than I’d like to, but I typically aspire to be a carefree party dude like Michelangelo. Professionally, however, I aim to channel the leadership of Leonardo and the problem-solving skills of Donatello. So, I guess that speaks to one of the reasons why Teenage […]
- [New ‘Ahsoka’ Trailer Drops Potential ‘Rebels’ Bombshell](https://wortreport.com/new-ahsoka-trailer-drops-potential-rebels-bombshell/):   If you weren’t already salivating like a womprat at a bantha roast over Ahsoka, you probably are now. Lucasfilm unveiled a new trailer for their upcoming Star Wars Disney+ series that gives us new looks at Lars Mikkelsen’s Grand Admiral Thrawn, Eman Esfandi’s Ezra Bridger, Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s Hera Syndulla, the villainous Shin Hati and Baylan Skoll (Ivanna Sakhno and the late Ray Stevenson) post-Rebels relationship between Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) and Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) … or apparently their lack of one. “You never made things easy for me,” says Sabine, her arms crossed in defiance. “… Master.” […]
- [Indiana Jones and the Dial of Diminishing Returns?](https://wortreport.com/indiana-jones-and-the-dial-of-diminishing-returns/):   Indiana Jones came out of retirement for one last adventure on June 30 for James Mangold’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, a film rife with nostalgia in Disney’s continued plundering of time-tested IP in pursuit of theatrical fortune and glory. Given the lukewarm box office reception in its debut weekend, during which it fell short of projections by whipping up just $82 million domestically over five days, it’s safe to say that fortune eluded Indy this time around – especially given its $300 million budget. As for the glory? Well, that depends. Way back in 2008, I […]
- [The DCEU Goes Across the Bat-Verse with ‘The Flash’](https://wortreport.com/the-dceu-goes-across-the-bat-verse-with-the-flash/):   Nostalgia is a powerful tool in the era of the “Legacy Sequel.” From Star Wars to Spider-Man to Jurassic World to Ghostbusters, franchises are banking on millennials’ intense desire to see their childhood heroes brought back into the spotlight alongside contemporary protagonists for “one more adventure.” And I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t say I was sold on Andy Muschietti’s The Flash the moment I saw Michael Keaton don his iconic Batman cape and cowl in the trailer. If The Flash delivered on the Keaton Bat-Goods, I would be more than satisfied with the rest of it. […]
- [Why ‘Spider-Verse’ Might Become One of Our Greatest Trilogies](https://wortreport.com/why-spider-verse-might-become-one-of-our-greatest-trilogies/):   I have a confession to make: I wasn’t all that excited about 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse in the lead-up to its release. At the time, Marvel fans were still reeling from Avengers: Infinity War, and with Tom Holland’s Spidey claiming his rightful place as one of the central figures in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, an animated multiverse movie about Miles Morales felt like a side dish. Ancillary. Unimportant. Kids’ stuff. Then, of course, I saw the movie, which not only changed what I thought a Spider-Man film could be, but what animated films were capable of in general. […]
- [‘Mandalorian’ Musings: Was the Season 3 Finale Underwhelming?](https://wortreport.com/mandalorian-musings-was-the-season-3-finale-underwhelming/):   Remember how I said that Gorian Shard was “The New Gigachad of the Star Wars Universe”? Well, seeing as how he suffered a terrible case of getting blown the f*** up in his second appearance, I might have overestimated his relevance and longevity in that galaxy far, far away. But my new favorite space-faring swamp monster was just one of many surprises in The Mandalorian Season 3. Jack Black! Lizzo! Christopher Lloyd! Zeb! Glowing popsicles! Oh, and the gigantic Mythosaur, Grogu driving IG-11 1G-12 like a mech suit, Moff Gideon’s cloning plot and Bo-Katan’s ascent to the throne of […]
- [‘Mandalorian’ Musings: I’m Obsessed with Gorian Shard, and I Don’t Care Who Knows It](https://wortreport.com/mandalorian-musings-im-obsessed-with-gorian-shard-and-i-dont-care-who-knows-it/): This might surprise none of you, but I love a good Star Wars alien. As a kid I would spend way too much time rewatching Return of the Jedi’s Jabba’s Palace scenes to gaze upon the slimy, rubbery, and occasionally puppety denizens of the corpulent crime boss’ court. The action figures I would always gravitate toward first were the weird guys with names like Momaw Nadon and Amanaman. I yearned to know how Max Rebo, Droopy McCool and Sy Snootles linked up to become the hottest musical act on the Outer Rim. So yeah, I like my Star Wars when […]
- ['The Last of Us' and the Deceptively Long Sequel](https://wortreport.com/the-last-of-us-and-the-deceptively-long-sequel/):   Just like everybody else on the planet with an HBO Max account, I’m absolutely captivated by HBO’s The Last of Us, a stirring TV adaptation of Naughty Dog’s exceptional 2013 video game of the same name. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey are scary good as series stars Joel and Ellie, while the mushroom-headed Clickers, Bloaters and other infected creatures populating the show’s post-apocalyptic ruins are just plain scary. They’re fungi, but they’re not fun guys. Yikes. If you’re booing, I earned it. I’ll see myself out after the next few paragraphs. Because I’m desperate to be an authority on […]
- [No, I Didn’t Buy the $30 Ant-Man Popcorn Helmet](https://wortreport.com/no-i-didnt-buy-the-30-ant-man-popcorn-helmet/): While strolling into my local AMC Theatre bright and early on a Saturday morning (10:30 a.m.) to take in an IMAX screening of Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania, I turned my eyes to the concession stand for something even remotely appropriate for the relatively early hour. Sadly, they were all sold out of breakfast nachos and bacon, egg and cheese dogs (my favorite), so I went with a large popcorn and a Diet Coke. After all, butter goes on toast just fine and corn is the base for just about every cereal known to man, so I was able to […]
- [Can ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ Cure Marvel Fatigue?](https://wortreport.com/can-ant-man-and-the-wasp-quantumania-cure-marvel-fatigue/): I’ll preface everything I’m about to write with the fact that I’m a dyed-in-the-wool Marvel Comics fan. I hoarded the trading cards in the early ‘90s, I pretty much quit Little League Baseball because it conflicted with new episodes of Spider-Man: The Animated Series on Saturday mornings, and my office bookshelves are lined with Hasbro Marvel Legends, Funko POP! Spideys, graded first appearances and more trade paperbacks than I’ll ever have time to read. We’re living in an era in which the anticipation between Marvel Cinematic Universe Disney+ series and theatrical releases is near-nonexistent. Heck, you just might need the […]
- [New Trials Await Cal Kestis in ‘Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’](https://wortreport.com/new-trials-await-cal-kestis-in-star-wars-jedi-survivor/):   I’m not ashamed to admit it: I have played through Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order no less than four times. Perhaps it’s because it was the first significant single-player Star Wars game in nearly a decade. Perhaps it was the strangely satisfying Souls-esque combat. Perhaps it was the characters, who were surprising new additions to the canon – particularly protagonist Cal Kestis and the villainous Second Sister. I’ve been hooked since the game’s 2019 release, and after watching the trailer – which debuted during The Game Awards – I’m itching to go for Round 5. New enemies, allies, creatures […]
- [‘Star Wars: The Bad Batch’ Season 2 Trailer Features Plenty of Action, Giant Crabs](https://wortreport.com/star-wars-the-bad-batch-season-2-trailer-features-plenty-of-action-giant-crabs/):  Yes, the new trailer for Star Wars: The Bad Batch has plenty going for it – quipping, explosions, cool vehicles, and Wanda Sykes – but the fact that it began with Hunter and the crew being pursued by GIANT FREAKIN’ CRABS means I’ve watched it no less than five times already. What can I say? I love Star Wars and seafood. Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2 drops Jan. 4 on Disney+. Watch the trailer below!
- [‘Wonder Woman 3’ Reportedly Not Moving Forward](https://wortreport.com/wonder-woman-3-reportedly-not-moving-forward/):  Just weeks after Warner Bros. announced a shift in leadership for its DC productions – with James Gunn and Peter Safran now heading up the newly formed DC Studios – THR now reports that Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman 3 is officially dead. It’s no secret that Gunn and Safran are working to lay out a cohesive strategy for DC’s upcoming film slate, and it’s also no secret that Jenkins’ Wonder Woman 1984 was widely perceived as a narrative misfire following the fantastic 2017 original film. So this news isn’t entirely surprising. But what now? On Tuesday, Gadot shared an Instagram […]
- [‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ Trailer Reveals De-Aged Indy, Teases Plot](https://wortreport.com/indiana-jones-and-the-dial-of-destiny-trailer-reveals-de-aged-indy-teases-plot/): Sallah’s BACK, baby!!! Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was missing a few things that made the classic three films, well, classic, but chief among them was Indy’s pal Sallah, played impeccably by John Rhys-Davies in both Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade. He joins the returning Harrison Ford in globe-trotting – and potentially time-trotting – fifth installment of the franchise, titled Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.  New cast members include Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen and Antonio Banderas. James Mangold (Logan) directs the film, which is the first Indy installment without Steven […]
- [The Guardians Face the Music in First 'Vol. 3' Trailer](https://wortreport.com/the-guardians-face-the-music-in-first-vol-3-trailer/):  If horrific things happen to Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, I will not be OK. Marvel Studios dropped the first official trailer for the third and final Guardians of the Galaxy film – not counting the just-released (and hilarious) holiday special on Disney+ – and it looks like James Gunn is pulling out all the stops for the final film in the trilogy. Adam Warlock (Will Poulter) appears, as does Rocket’s soulmate Lylla and various shots of anguish set to “In the Meantime” by Spacehog. Oh, and we also see Drax totally destroy an alien child […]
- [Nintendo Drops Second ‘Super Mario Bros. Movie’ Trailer](https://wortreport.com/nintendo-drops-second-super-mario-bros-movie-trailer/):  HERE WE GOOOOOOOOO!!! … toward unwarranted anger about a children’s movie. In a special streaming event on Tuesday, Nintendo unveiled its second trailer for Illumination’s forthcoming Super Mario Bros. Movie, due to arrive in theaters in April. The trailer features a lot of what you’d expect from a second trailer following our first look at the film back in October. We get more of Anya Taylor-Joy’s Princess Peach, Jack Black’s Bowser, Charlie Day’s Luigi, plus our first glimpse at the film’s version of Donkey Kong (voiced by Seth Rogen in some of the most inspired voice casting of all time). […]
- [James Gunn Wins Tuesday with ‘Guardians’ Holiday Special Trailer and Huge DC News](https://wortreport.com/james-gunn-wins-tuesday-with-guardians-holiday-special-trailer-and-huge-dc-news/):   James Gunn has brought me much joy in my life. Both Guardians of the Galaxy films are treasured in my household – they’re the reason my wife and I chose “Hooked on a Feeling” as our wedding song – and I thoroughly enjoyed his DC projects, The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker. In fact, I made genuine attempts to learn the dance from the Peacemaker opening, and those would-be TikTok videos will forever remain in my Drafts. But the world wasn’t exactly sure what to think of Gunn just a few years ago. He was fired by Marvel Studios when some […]
- [New ‘Wakanda Forever’ Trailer Reveals First Look at New Black Panther](https://wortreport.com/new-wakanda-forever-trailer-reveals-first-look-at-new-black-panther/): Following the tragic death of actor Chadwick Boseman, there has been rampant speculation as to how Marvel Studios will handle the wildly popular Black Panther character moving forward. A King T’Challa recast? A new hero assuming the mantle? A resurrected or alternate universe Killmonger becoming the new Black Panther? Although the new trailer for Ryan Coogler’s anticipated Black Panther sequel Wakanda Forever doesn’t truly answer any questions, it does give fans their first look at who will be donning the Black Panther suit during at least one point in the film – and it’s definitely a woman. One might presume […]
- [Ryan Reynolds Confirms ‘Deadpool 3’ Will Feature Hugh Jackman as Wolverine](https://wortreport.com/ryan-reynolds-confirms-deadpool-3-will-feature-hugh-jackman-as-wolverine/):   Well. Didn’t see this coming. In a social media post, Ryan Reynolds laments missing D23 this year – where Marvel Studios unveiled a treasure trove of upcoming projects – but explains that he’s working very hard on the third Deadpool film, which will be The Merc with a Mouth’s first film set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Reynolds then confirms that all this hard work has yielded … not much. Although does have one idea, revealed via an “impromptu” question to Hugh Jackman, who just so happens to be walking in the background at the time of recording. “Hey […]
- [‘Thunderbolts’ Movie Roster Confirmed at D23](https://wortreport.com/thunderbolts-movie-roster-confirmed-at-d23/):  Thunder … THUNder … THUNDER … THUNDERBOLTS! HOOOOOOO! Wait, sorry. Wrong IP. As an apparent response to all the knuckleheads saying that Marvel Studios wasn’t building up to anything in Phase Four, the studio revealed the lineup for its 2024 Thunderbolts movie during its D23 presentation. Thunderbolts is based on Marvel’s team of supervillains-turned-good, so it stands to reason that the lineup is full of reformed baddies. Here’s the lineup as we now know it: Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) Winter Soldier/James “Bucky” Barnes (Sebastian Stan) John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell) Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour) Valentina Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) Antonia […]
- [Marvel Studios’ ‘Secret Invasion’ Is Upon Us](https://wortreport.com/marvel-studios-secret-invasion-is-upon-us/):   Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury has his work cut out for him in Marvel Studios’ 2023 Disney+ limited series Secret Invasion, which will be part of the fifth “phase” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although it clearly involves Skrulls – perennial Marvel Comics villains who are apparent Earth allies in the films – it remains to be seen whether this series will closely adhere to the paranoia-fueled 2008-2009 comic book storyline. But based on the debut trailer revealed at D23, we do know that the cast for the series is pretty fantastic! Joining Jackson are MCU vets Cobie Smulders, […]
- [‘The Mandalorian’ Season Three Trailer Drops During D23](https://wortreport.com/the-mandalorian-season-three-trailer-drops-during-d23/):   The anticipated third season of The Mandalorian is still relatively far, far away – it’s expected to premiere on Disney+ early next year – but Disney and Lucasfilm gave Star Wars fans their first real look at what awaits Din Djarin and the still-immensely-merchandisable Grogu next time around with a Season Three teaser trailer at D23. But wait … is Din even a Mandalorian anymore? That’s just one of the plot points raised in the 1:50 teaser. After The Armorer learned that Din had removed his helmet in front of others in prior seasons during, she decreed during an […]
- [On ‘She-Hulk,’ ‘The Rings of Power’ and the Toxicity of Modern Fandom](https://wortreport.com/on-she-hulk-the-rings-of-power-and-the-toxicity-of-modern-fandom/):   “the MCU was already finished but now it’s officially dead” “seeing she-hulk twerk just might be the worst thing i have ever seen in a minute” “with three episodes, I feel like it’s safe to say She-Hulk is BAD” These are tweets from actual, human, and presumably adult people who are ABSOLUTELY LOSING THEIR MINDS over the recent episode of Marvel Studios’ She-Hulk on Disney+. In the B-story of the episode, attorney Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk (Tatiana Maslany) gets involved in a court case involving a former colleague and a Megan Thee Stallion “impersonator” (actually a New Asgardian light elf in […]
- [‘The Batman’ Spinoff Series Focused on The Penguin Headed to HBO Max](https://wortreport.com/the-batman-spinoff-series-focused-on-the-penguin-headed-to-hbo-max/):   If you’re like me, you loved Colin Farrell’s scenery-chomping performance as Oswald “Ozzie” Cobblepot in The Batman and wouldn’t be opposed to watching several more hours of this iteration of The Penguin. Fortunately, HBO Max has us covered. The streaming service announced today that the ambitious avian crime boss will be returning in a special Max Originals series. It will be executive produced by The Batman director Matt Reeves, Dylan Clark, Farrell, Daniel Pipski, Adam Kassan and Lauren LeFranc, who will be the showrunner. My favorite version of The Penguin will always be Danny DeVito’s ooze-spewing, fish-slurping, sewer mutant […]
- [The 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' Teaser Trailer Is Here!](https://wortreport.com/the-obi-wan-kenobi-teaser-trailer-is-here/):   Don’t say it. Don’t say it. Don’t say it. Don’t say it. Aw, hell. How can I not? HELLO THERE! The teaser trailer for the Disney+ limited series Obi-Wan Kenobi is here, and it’s something else. Ewan McGregor looks and sounds fantastic as a slightly-more-weathered-than-we-last-saw-him Obi-Wan, and based on the shots we see in the trailer, we’re getting Inquisitors, child Luke Skywalker, lightsaber action and – mercifully – other planets besides Tatooine. Following up on The Book of Boba Fett, which had some challenging pacing but an ultimately satisfying finale, Obi-Wan Kenobi looks like a well-crafted love letter both […]
- [‘The Batman’ Review & Live-Action Ranking](https://wortreport.com/the-batman-review-live-action-ranking/):  Me and The Bat? We go back a ways. The Kenner Batman from the Super Powers Collection was one of the first action figures I ever owned. 1992’s Batman Returns was the first PG-13 movie I saw in theaters. Batman: The Animated Series remains high on my list of greatest TV shows of all time, whether animated or otherwise. Hell, I’ve been Batman on Halloween more than any other character. Even though I tend to favor the Marvel side of things on the superhero front these days, The Caped Crusader is and always will be close to my heart. So, […]
- [How Did Electro Show Up in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’? (SPOILERS WITHIN)](https://wortreport.com/how-did-electro-show-up-in-spider-man-no-way-home-spoilers-within/):   IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME, STOP READING!!! Spider-Man: No Way Home is among the most exhilarating, satisfying and emotionally exhausting films I have ever experienced. The highs are incredibly high in Spidey’s eighth live-action solo outing, which not only elevates the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Peter Parker (Tom Holland’s best MCU performance to date), but also wraps a bow around 20 years of The Wall-Crawler on the silver screen. But no film is perfect, especially one as ambitious as this one. Director Jon Watts and writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers spun a tale that brings different […]
- [‘The Matrix: Resurrections’ Trailer Arrives](https://wortreport.com/the-matrix-resurrections-trailer-arrives/): Neo and Trinity both died in the final installment of the original Matrix trilogy nearly two decades ago, but that doesn’t stop Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Ann Moss from reprising these iconic roles in The Matrix: Resurrections, hitting theaters and HBO Max Dec. 22. Obviously one can assume based on the title of the film that the characters’ re-emergence is central to the plot. But if you’re looking for concrete info on what the fourth installment of the groundbreaking sci-fi franchise is truly about based on the new trailer that just dropped, you’ll have to follow the white rabbit a bit further […]
- [Watch: Marvel Universe Series 3 Trading Card Unpacking](https://wortreport.com/watch-marvel-universe-series-3-trading-card-unpacking/): It’s been seven years since I’ve posted anything on The Wort Report’s YouTube channel – my sole post was a Guardians of the Galaxy Hasbro Marvel Legends Groot Build-A-Figure video that garnered a whopping 59 views – but when you stumble upon sealed packs of vintage Marvel Universe trading cards during a chance trip to Rhinebeck, New York, you simply can’t resist the urge to create content out of the situation.  Thanks to an impulse purchase from the fine folks at Megabrain Comics & Arcade, I obtained a small collection of Marvel Universe Series 3 from Skybox. And with powerful […]
- ['Spider-Man: No Way Home' Trailer Reaction](https://wortreport.com/spider-man-no-way-home-trailer-reaction/): It’s here. Following an ultra-low quality “leak” over the weekend, we finally have the official first trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home, the third Spidey flick in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that promises to crack the MCU Multiverse wide open. For True Believers, there’s plenty to digest in the 3:03 clip (which also accounts for a PlayStation 5 end tag. After Mysterio outed him as Spider-Man in Far from Home, The Wall-Crawler’s world is thrown completely out of whack. Enter Doctor Strange, who bends some space/time rules despite the warnings of others (sorry, Wong) to make everyone forget who Spider-Man […]

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- [About James](https://wortreport.com/about-james/):  Whether you’re building a marketing campaign, crafting your next viral video or sitting down to write your next bestseller, there’s one question to serve as your guiding light: What’s the story? Indeed, that’s been the question I have continued to ask myself during my 18-year journey as a writer, an editor, a social media director and an Emmy-winning digital producer. And when it comes to stories worth telling, mine’s a doozy! After honing key editorial and professional skills in my formative professional years as a healthcare editor and freelance journalist, I landed a role at World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). There, […]
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