STAR TREK: DISCOVERY Casts David Ajala as Cleveland Booker

Will Book shepherd the Discovery crew to new adventures?

Deadline revealed that David Ajala will be joining the third season of CBS All Access' Star Trek: Discovery as new series regular Cleveland "Book" Booker.  He was introduced during the Star Trek Universe panel at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con, joining Discovery star Sonequa Martin-Green and executive producers Alex Kurtzman, Michelle Paradise and Heather Kadin.

According to the character description, Book is "Smart and capable, Book has a natural charisma and devil-may-care attitude that tends to get him into trouble as often as it gets him out."

Ajala, 33, is a British actor best known as Manchester Black on the CW's Supergirl and as Captain Roy Eris on the Syfy series Nightflyers.  He's also played Peter in the Doctor Who episode "The Beast Below" and has appeared in episodes of Misfits, Death in Paradise, Black Mirror, Law & Order: UK, Black Box, and Falling Water.  Ajala's film appearances include The Dark Knight, Fast & Furious 6, and Jupiter Ascending.

Ajala remarked on playing the character, "Book is gonna be a character that’s gonna break the rules just a little bit.  It’s always fun to break the rules, and we’re gonna do that right from the start this season."

In the Star Trek: Discovery Season 2 finale, "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2", the Discovery entered a wormhole that took them to the planet Terralysium in the 32nd century, stranding the ship and its crew some 930 years into their future.

Star Trek: Discovery is expected to return for Season 3 on CBS All Access sometime in Early 2020.

Marvel Announces Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe

During this weekend's special 90-minute presentation in Hall H at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige announced Marvel Studio's plans for Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Marvel's Phase Four plans include not only five MCU feature films, but also five new MCU television shows to be released on Disney's upcoming streaming service, Disney+.  Beginning with the solo Black Widow film in May 2020, Phase Four will end with the fourth Thor film, Thor: Love and Thunder in November 2021.

Feige also made a surprise announcement at the end teasing plans for Phase Five, which will include Black Panther 2, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Captain Marvel 2, Fantastic Four, and Blade, which will star two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali.

So with these announcements, the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe schedule looks like this:

Black Widow arrives in theaters on May 1, 2020.  Directed by Cate Shortland, the movie will be a prequel to Avengers: Endgame and stars Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow/Natasha Romanov, David Harbour as Red Guardian/Alexei Shostakov, and Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova.  Also, Marvel supervillain Taskmaster will be the primary antagonist.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is scheduled to debut on Disney+ in Fall 2020.  Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan will reprise their characters of The Falcon/Sam Wilson and The Winter Soldier/James "Bucky" Barnes, respectively, and will be set after the events of Avengers: Endgame.  In addition, Emily VanCamp and Daniel Brühl set to reprise their roles as Sharon Carter and Baron Helmut Zemo.

The Eternals arrives in theaters on November 6, 2020.  Directed by Chloé Zhao, the film stars Angelina Jolie as Thena, Richard Madden as Ikaris, Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo, and Salma Hayek as Ajak.  

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings arrives in theaters on February 12, 2021.  Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the film stars Simu Liu as martial arts superhero Shang-Chi and Tony Leung Chiu-wai as the film's villain, The Mandarin.  Awkwafina will also have a role in the film.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness arrives in theaters on May 7, 2021.  Directed by Scott Derrickson, the film is the sequel to Doctor Strange and will feature the return of Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange and Benedict Wong as Wong.  In addition, the film will co-star Elizabeth Olsen, reprising her role as the Scarlet Witch, and will directly tie in with the Disney+ TV series WandaVision, making it the first direct tie-in between a MCU film and TV series.

WandaVision is scheduled to debut on Disney+ sometime in Spring 2021.  Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany will reprise their roles as the Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maximoff and The Vision, respectively.  Teyonah Parris will appear as Monica Rambeau, who was played as a child by Akira Akbar in the film Captain Marvel.

Loki also debuts on Disney+ sometime in Spring 2021.  Tom Hiddleston will reprise his role as Loki once again, and the series will follow the version of Loki who stole the Space Stone in 2012 during the events of Avengers: Endgame.

What If...? debuts on Disney+ sometime in Summer 2021.  Based on the Marvel Comics series What If...?, this will be an animated series starring Jeffrey Wright as the voice of Uatu the Watcher.  Each episode will examine a different crucial moment in the MCU's history and explore different outcomes, with the actors from the films reprising their roles for the show.  

Hawkeye debuts on Disney+ sometime in Fall 2021.  Jeremy Renner will reprise his role as Hawkeye/Clint Barton.  Set after the events of Avengers: Endgame, the series will feature Barton passing the mantle of Hawkeye to Marvel Comics character Kate Bishop.  

Thor: Love and Thunder is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 5, 2021.  Directed by Taika Waititi, the film will feature Natalie Portman reprising her role as Jane Foster, but with her character taking on the mantle of Thor, similar to the comics.  Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson are expected to reprise their roles of Thor Odinson and Valkyrie.  Valkyrie will be the first LGBTQIA+ superhero in the MCU, with the character, now King of Asgard, searching for a Queen.

Blade has not been scheduled as of yet, but will be a part of Phase Five.

THE FANDOM ZONE 159: "In Zod We Trust" is Up!

"There is nothing more dangerous than a delusional dictator, and you must be living inside a fantasy if you believe I will ever support your foul vision."
"Choose your next words carefully, old man."
"There are no more words."
-- Val-El and General Dru-Zod, Krypton: "In Zod We Trust"

Hello again, everyone!  Jesse Jackson and I are back with another new episode of The Fandom Zone Podcast!  This time, we discuss "In Zod We Trust", the sixth episode from Season 2 of the Syfy series Krypton, featuring Seg-El and Brainiac discussing grief, Nyssa-Vex making a literal leap of faith, and Val-El making a hard decision!

In this episode, Jesse and I talk about things like the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, Xan Sprouse and I meeting Ray Wise and Sheryl Lee from Twin Peaks, Krypton's big move of killing off Lyta-Zod, wondering if Jayna-Zod and Dev-Em are going to hook up, forced CW drama because of secrets, Seg-El channeling Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation, Seg-El finally telling somebody that Brainiac is inside his mind, wondering how much Brainiac's word is actually worth, Lyta's death opening the door for Seg-El to hook up with Nyssa-Vex, wondering why Seg isn't addressing Jayna-Zod murdering his parents, Jesse thinking Nyssa was going to kill herself and Cor-Vex to escape General Zod, wondering how General Zod still exists if Lyta was killed before giving birth to him, Jax-Ur getting deposed as leader of the Wegthor rebels, Jax-Ur cutting open her forearm to retrieve a subdermal communications device, Jax-Ur being the Malcolm X to Val-El's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the space elevator finally being destroyed, Jesse not getting my John Crichton and Scorpius Farscape reference out of his head, General Zod hunting Doomsday with a weapon he doesn't know will work, wondering if Lyta-Zod will be brought back as a clone, our favorite quotes of the episode, some big comic book TV show news from San Diego Comic Con 2019, and more!

You can now check out episodes of The Fandom Zone using...

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And if that isn't enough for you, you can also check us out on YouTube, Soundcloud, and the official Southgate Media Group website!  Oh, and if you're interested in an officially official Fandom Zone Podcast t-shirt that all the cool kids are wearing, you can get those on TeePublic HERE as well!  Feel free to post a picture on our Facebook page of you or some other cool person you know wearing the shirt!

Be sure to come back next week, as Jesse and I review "Zods and Monsters", the seventh episode from Season 2 of the Syfy series Krypton, right here on The Fandom Zone Podcast!

GHOSTWOOD 058: "My Log Has a Message for You" is Up!

"You are far away."
-- The Fireman to Dale Cooper, Twin Peaks: "My Log Has a Message for You"

It is happening again...My co-host with the most Xan Sprouse and I are back with a new episode of Ghostwood: The Twin Peaks Podcast!  This time, we're back with our commentary track for "My Log Has a Message for You", a.k.a. "The Return, Part 1", from the 2017 Showtime revival of Twin Peaks, starring Kyle MacLachlan as Dale Cooper & Mr. C, Carel Struycken as The Fireman, Catherine Coulson as Margaret "The Log Lady" Lanterman, and Matthew Lillard as Bill Hastings!

LET'S ROCK!

In our latest episode, Xan and I discuss things like Xan and I getting ready to meet Ray Wise and Sheryl Lee and watch Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me at the Studio 35 theater in Columbus, my not liking pizza or coffee, the filming of Sam and Tracey's murder by the Experiment, the Season 3 opening credits sequence, Xan and I watching the first two episodes live in 2017, Xan following Russ Tamblyn on Twitter, David Lynch and Mark Frost broadening the scope of Twin Peaks, Madeline Zima on Heroes, Xan sharing the same birthday with Ashley Judd, Jerry Horne jumping right on the legalized weed opportunity, David Lynch's remix of "American Woman" by the Muddy Magnolias, Buella's house resembling my relatives' house in Portsmouth, Ohio, wondering if Sam was intentional bait for the Experiment, the glass box being aroused, being in the Experiment Blender, annoying characters in "The Return", Catherine Coulson having absolutely no vanity with her physical appearance in "The Return", Dave Macklay's blinking flashlight, the closing credit dedications, Lynch and Frost daring to do something completely different instead of a standard TV reunion movie, running down the new 2020 Twin Peaks calendar, teasing Xan's upcoming appearance in Next Stop Everywhere Episode 150, and more!

If you'd like to check out our latest episode, you can find us on...

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Be sure to come back in two weeks for Episode 059, as Xan and I provide our commentary on "The Stars Turn and a Time Presents Itself", the second episode of Showtime's third season of Twin Peaks from 2017!  Look for more of Ghostwood: The Twin Peaks Podcast on iTunes/Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Libsyn, Stitcher, and the official Southgate Media Group website!

GAME OF THRONES Leads 2019 Emmy Nominations with Record of 32

The Game is over, but the long night of the Emmy Awards remains.

Deadline has details on the final season of HBO's Game of Thrones setting a new record total of 32 nominations for the 2019 Emmy Awards, an increase of 10 from last year, including acting nominations for Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke, Alfie Allen, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Gwendoline Christie, and Carice van Houten.

FX's American Horror Story: Apocalypse earned 5 nominations, while CBS All Access' Star Trek: Discovery beamed up 4 for its second season.  Two Amazon Prime Video series, Good Omens and The Man in the High Castle, followed with 3 each.

Other recognized geek-favorite shows include Netflix's The Umbrella Academy and Black Mirror, FX's What We Do in the Shadows, Disney XD's Star Wars Resistance, Fox's The Simpsons and The Orville, and CBS All Access' The Twilight Zone.

You can read the full list of nominations HERE, but this is the breakdown for the shows listed above...

GAME OF THRONES (32 Nominations)

Outstanding Drama Series

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series -- Kit Harington as Jon Snow

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series -- Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series -- Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series -- Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jamie Lannister

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series -- Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series -- Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series -- Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series -- Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series -- Maisie Williams as Arya Stark

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series -- Carice van Houten as Melisandre -- "The Long Night"

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series -- David Benioff & D.B. Weiss -- "The Iron Throne"

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series -- David Nutter -- "The Last of the Starks"

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series -- Miguel Sapochnik -- "The Long Night"

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series -- David Benioff & D.B. Weiss -- "The Iron Throne"

Outstanding Main Title Design

Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes -- "The Bells"

Outstanding Special Visual Effects -- "The Bells"
Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series (One Hour) -- "The Iron Throne"

Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More) -- "The Bells"

Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series -- "The Iron Throne"

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series -- "The Long Night"

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series -- "Winterfell"

Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) -- Ramin Djawadi -- "The Long Night"

Outstanding Music Composition For A Documentary Series Or Special

(Original Dramatic Score) -- Hannah Peel -- "Game of Thrones: The Last Watch"

Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour) -- "The Long Night"

Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour) -- "The Long Night"

Outstanding Makeup for a Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic) -- "The Long Night"

Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited Series, Movie or a Special -- "The Long Night"

Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series -- "The Long Night"

Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Drama Series, Limited Series or Movie

Outstanding Creative Achievement In Interactive Media Within A Scripted

Program -- "Fight For The Living: Beyond The Wall Virtual Reality Experience"

AMERICAN HORROR STORY: APOCALYPSE (5 Nominations)

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series -- Jessica Lange as Constance Langdon -- "Return to Murder House"
Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes -- "Forbidden Fruit"
Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series -- "Forbidden Fruit"

Outstanding Makeup For A Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic) -- "Forbidden Fruit"

Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited Series, Movie or Special -- "Apocalypse Then"

STAR TREK: DISCOVERY (4 Nominations)

Outstanding Main Title Design

Outstanding Special Visual Effects -- "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2"

Outstanding Sound Editing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (One Hour) -- "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2"

Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited Series, Movie or a Special -- "If Memory Serves"

GOOD OMENS (3 Nominations)

Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes -- "Hard Times"

Outstanding Music Composition For A Limited Series, Movie Or Special

(Original Dramatic Score) -- David Arnold -- "In the Beginning"

Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music -- David Arnold

THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE (3 Nominations)

Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series (One Hour) -- "Jahr Null"

Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More) -- "Now More Than Ever, We Care About You"

Outstanding Special Visual Effects -- "Jahr Null"

BLACK MIRROR (2 Nominations)

Outstanding Television Movie -- "Bandersnatch"

Outstanding Creative Achievement In Interactive Media Within A Scripted

Program -- "Bandersnatch"

THE SIMPSONS (2 Nominations)

Outstanding Animated Program -- "Mad About the Toy"

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance -- "From Russia Without Love" -- Hank Azaria as Moe Syzslak, Carl Carlson, Duffman, and Kirk Van Houten

THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY (2 Nominations)

Outstanding Special Visual Effects -- "The White Violin"

Outstanding Production Design For A Narrative Contemporary Program (One

Hour Or More) -- "We Only See Each Other At Weddings And Funerals"

WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS (2 Nominations)

Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series (Half-Hour) -- "Manhattan Night Club"

Outstanding Sound Editing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (Half-Hour) And

Animation -- "Werewolf Feud"

CASTLE ROCK (1 Nomination)

Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music -- Thomas Newman

GOTHAM (1 Nomination)

Outstanding Sound Editing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (One Hour) -- "Legend of the Dark Knight: I Am Bane"

THE ORVILLE (1 Nomination)

Outstanding Special Visual Effects -- "Identity Part II"

STAR WARS RESISTANCE (1 Nomination)

Outstanding Children's Program

TEEN TITANS GO! (1 Nomination)

Outstanding Short-Form Animated Program -- "Nostalgia Is Not a Substitute for an Actual Story"

THE TICK (1 Nomination)

Outstanding Stunt Coordination For A Comedy Series Or Variety Program

THE TWILIGHT ZONE (1 Nomination)

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series -- Kumail Nanjiani as Samir Wassan -- "The Comedian"

The 71sr Primetime Emmy Awards is scheduled to air Sunday, September 22nd on FOX.

THE FANDOM ZONE 158: "A Better Yesterday" is Up!

"What do you think?"
"I think Zod knows your weakness."
"Which is?"
"You won’t let anyone you care about die."
"If that’s a weakness, we all have it."
"Exactly."
-- Val-El and Jax-Ur, Krypton: "A Better Yesterday"

Hello again, everyone!  Jesse Jackson and I are back with another new episode of The Fandom Zone Podcast!  This time, we discuss "A Better Yesterday", the fifth episode from Season 2 of the Syfy series Krypton, featuring Brainiac helping Seg-El deal with General Zod, Nyssa-Vex learning she was responsible for multiple deaths of Wegthor rebels, and Jax-Ur making a shocking move!

In this episode, Jesse and I talk about things like my Kryptonian name Char-Els, the Els being a house with a reputation, Krypton going for a Game of Thrones-esque episode ending, more of Brainiac and Seg-El being the new Scorpius and John Crichton from Farscape, General Zod realizing he doesn't need Seg-El's approval anymore, General Zod removing Lyta-Zod's empathy, Brainiac helping Seg shoot like a badass, wondering if Dev-El is going to take out Jax-Ur, Jesse being really glad the Jayna-Zod and Dev-Em storyline is back with the main storyline, Nyssa learning she's responsible for killing a bunch of Wegthor rebels, Adam and Kem forging a new bromance with one another without Seg-El, Nyssa-Vex realizing the only one to get her son Cor-Vex back is her, our shared belief that Jax-Ur didn't actually kill Lyta-Zod, Hannah Waddingham as Septa Unella on Game of Thrones, Jax-Ur being willing to make the hard decisions that Val-El won't, Jax-Ur's extremism vs. Val-El's establishment ideology, learning that Lyta cost Jax-Ur her eye, our favorite quotes of the episode, WarnerMedia announcing their new streaming service HBO Max, and more!

You can now check out episodes of The Fandom Zone using...

Google Play Music -- HERE 

iTunes/Apple Podcasts -- HERE

Direct Download MP3s/Libsyn -- HERE

Stitcher -- HERE

The Fandom Zone on Facebook -- HERE

The Fandom Zone on Twitter -- @FandomZoneCast

The Fandom Zone on Instagram -- HERE

And if that isn't enough for you, you can also check us out on YouTube, Soundcloud, and the official Southgate Media Group website!  Oh, and if you're interested in an officially official Fandom Zone Podcast t-shirt that all the cool kids are wearing, you can get those on TeePublic HERE as well!  Feel free to post a picture on our Facebook page of you or some other cool person you know wearing the shirt!

Be sure to come back next week, as Jesse and I review "In Zod We Trust", the sixth episode from Season 2 of the Syfy series Krypton, right here on The Fandom Zone Podcast!

NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE 148: "Revelation of the Daleks" is Up!

"This part of the galaxy is developing quickly.  Famine was one of its major problems."
"You turned them into food?"
"A scheme which has earned me great acclaim."
"But did you bother to tell anyone that they might be eating their own relatives?"
"Certainly not!  That would have created what I believe is termed...'consumer resistance'."
-- Davros and the Sixth Doctor, Doctor Who: "Revelation of the Daleks"

Hello again, Whovians!  This time, special guest companion DJ Nik returns to Next Stop Everywhere to help me discuss "Revelation of the Daleks", the sixth serial from Doctor Who Season 22 in 1985, starring Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor, Nicola Bryant as Peri Brown, Terry Molloy as Davros, and Clive Swift as Jobel!

In this episode, DJ Nik and I discuss things like Eric Saward writing horrible and sexist material for Colin Baker, Terry Molloy's take on Davros, darkness creeping into Doctor Who during Season 22, the lost potential of a world named Necros, the Dark Age of comics, Eleanor Bron and John Cleese in "City of Death", wondering why no one has done anything with the knights of the Grand Order of Oberon, Season 22 being ahead of its time with the 45-minute episode format, Eric Saward trying to conceal Colin Baker's costume with the blue cape, Colin Baker being a great Doctor despite his poor material, the horrible "Doctor in Distress" charity single, the abrupt ending that originally would've set up the lost Season 23 opener "The Nightmare Fair", Peri and the Sixth Doctor being passive-aggressive with one another, wondering why Peri stayed with the Doctor after he tried to strangle her with his bare hands, the never-ending camping sequence in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Peri not recognizing a Dalek, Jobel being all uber-creepy and hitting on Peri immediately after she thinks the Doctor was smushed by a stone monument to him, wondering what the hell Tasembeker finds so attractive about Jobel, Davros looking for a girlfriend, Oricini and Bostock being recruited to kill Davros, Davros being more like Josef Mengele than Adolf Hitler, Eric Saward ripping off the movie Soylent Green, our favorite quotes of the episode, my Reverse the Reverse the Polarity segment, new listener feedback from Holly from Wisconsin, Nik's rant about Alexei Sayle's DJ being a terrible deejay, having to fist-bump Davros before he gets his hand blown off, and more!

If you'd like to check out our latest episode, you can find us on...

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And hey, if you'd like to pick up the officially official Next Stop Everywhere t-shirt, you can find it on TeePublic right HERE!  Help support the show and feel free to post pictures on our Facebook page of you or some other cool person you know wearing the shirt!

Be sure to come back next week OG partner in Time Jesse Jackson returns to Next Stop Everywhere to help me discuss "The Death of the Doctor", the third serial from The Sarah Jane Adventures Series 4 in 2010, starring Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith, Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor, Katy Manning as Jo (Grant) Jones, and Finn Jones as Santiago Jones!

Look for more of Next Stop Everywhere on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, YouTube, Libsyn, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and the official Southgate Media Group website!

WarnerMedia Announces New Streaming Service HBO Max

You know, like Pepsi Max, only with pay TV.

WarnerMedia has just announced its new streaming service will be called HBO Max, which will "offer an impressive direct-to-consumer experience for everyone ranging from families with young children to adults of all ages."

There's no pricing at the moment, but HBO Max is hyped as bringing together HBO, new originals and programming from Warner Bros., New Line, DC Entertainment, CNN, TNT, TBS, truTV, The CW, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Crunchyroll, Rooster Teeth, Looney Tunes and more.  It's not yet known if WarnerMedia's existing DC Universe digital service will be folded into HBO Max, although the move seems likely.

And hey, here's the official Press Release...

WarnerMedia Names Upcoming Direct-to-Consumer Service HBO Max

Global Powerhouse “Friends”; future Hits from The CW Network including “Batwoman”; Original Movies from Greg Berlanti and Reese Witherspoon; and Fan Favorites “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” and “Pretty Little Liars” will Stream on HBO Max.

HBO Max brings together HBO, a Robust Slate of New Originals, and Programming from Warner Bros., New Line, DC Entertainment, CNN, TNT, TBS, truTV, The CW, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Crunchyroll, Rooster Teeth, Looney Tunes and More to offer Something for Everyone in the Home

July 09, 2019

Los Angeles, CA – WarnerMedia today unveiled HBO Max as the name of its new streaming service, which will offer an impressive direct-to-consumer experience for everyone ranging from families with young children to adults of all ages. Anchored with and inspired by the legacy of HBO’s excellence and award-winning storytelling, the new service will be “Maximized” with an extensive collection of exclusive original programming (Max Originals) and the best-of-the-best from WarnerMedia’s enormous portfolio of beloved brands and libraries.

New deals with Warner Bros. Television and others for HBO Max announced today include:

• The exclusive streaming rights at launch to all 236 episodes of “Friends” — one of the biggest hits on television and in streaming
  
• The exclusive streaming rights at launch to all episodes of fan favorites “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” and “Pretty Little Liars”
  
• The exclusive streaming home to a string of new Warner Bros.’ produced dramas for The CW beginning with the fall 2019 season, including the highly-anticipated new DC Entertainment series “Batwoman,” and “Katy Keene” (spinoff of “Riverdale”)
  
• New exclusive movie production deals with Greg Berlanti, one of Hollywood’s most prolific and successful producers, and Reese Witherspoon, Academy Award® and Emmy Award®-winning actress and producer; Berlanti will produce an initial four movies focused in the young adult space, while Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine will produce at least two films

HBO Max, scheduled to launch commercially in spring of 2020, is anticipated to premiere with 10,000 hours of premium content.

“HBO Max will bring together the diverse riches of WarnerMedia to create programming and user experiences not seen before in a streaming platform. HBO’s world-class programming leads the way, the quality of which will be the guiding principle for our new array of Max Originals, our exciting acquisitions, and the very best of the Warner Bros. libraries, starting with the phenomenon that is ‘Friends,’” said Robert Greenblatt, chairman, WarnerMedia Entertainment and Direct-To-Consumer.

“Under the leadership of two of the strongest creative visionaries — Casey Bloys (HBO) and Kevin Reilly (original content and acquisitions) — and two of the most experienced digital experts — Tony Goncalves and Andy Forssell — I have no doubt they and their dedicated teams will deliver the world’s best storytelling to audiences of all ages wherever and whenever they want it.”

Max Original series previously announced include: 

• “Dune: The Sisterhood,” an adaptation of Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson’s book based in the world created by Frank Herbert’s book Dune, from director Denis Villeneuve
  
• “Tokyo Vice,” based on Jake Adelstein’s non-fiction first-hand account of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police beat starring Ansel Elgort
  
• “The Flight Attendant,” a one-hour thriller series based on the novel by Chris Bohjalian, which will star Kaley Cuoco, who is also executive producing alongside Greg Berlanti
  
• “Love Life,” a 10-episode half-hour romantic comedy anthology series starring “Pitch Perfect” star Anna Kendrick, who will also executive produce alongside Paul Feig
  
• “Station Eleven,” a postapocalyptic limited series based on Emily St. John Mandel’s international bestseller, adapted by Patrick Somerville and directed by Hiro Murai
  
• “Made for Love,” a 10-episode, half-hour, straight-to-series adaptation based on the tragicomic novel of the same name by Alissa Nutting, also from Somerville and directed by S.J. Clarkson
  
• “Gremlins,” an animated series from Warner Bros. Animation and Amblin Entertainment based on the original movie

Highlights of HBO programming previously announced for 2020 and 2021 include:

• Stephen King’s “The Outsider,” a dark mystery starring Ben Mendelsohn, produced and directed by Jason Bateman
  
• “Lovecraft Country,” a unique horror series based on a novel by Matt Ruff, written and executive produced by Misha Green, and executive produced by Jordan Peele and J.J. Abrams
  
• “The Nevers,” Joss Whedon’s new science fiction series starring Laura Donnelly
  
• “The Gilded Age,” the opulent world of 1885 New York from “Downton Abbey’s” Julian Fellowes
  
• “Avenue 5,” high satire aboard a space-bound cruise ship from Armando Iannucci (“Veep”), starring Hugh Laurie and Josh Gad
  
• “The Undoing,” a psychological thriller from David E. Kelley, directed by Susanne Bier starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant
  
• “The Plot Against America,” reimagined history based on Phillip Roth’s novel written and executive produced by David Simon and Ed Burns, starring Winona Ryder and John Turturro
  
• “Perry Mason,” the classic legal drama for a new generation, executive produced by Robert Downey, Jr.and Susan Downey, with Matthew Rhys in the title role
  
• “I Know This Much Is True,” a complex family drama starring Mark Ruffalo playing twin brothers, one of whom has schizophrenia, based on the best-selling novel by Wally Lamb, written and directed by Derek Cianfrance.

Casey Bloys, programming president of HBO, continues to oversee content on the HBO service, with investment in HBO original programming having been increased 50% over normal spending.

Kevin Reilly, president of the Warner Media Entertainment Networks that include TNT, TBS, and truTV, also serves as chief content officer of HBO Max overseeing all new Max Originals and library content.

Tony Goncalves, CEO of Otter Media, now oversees the development of HBO Max with Andy Forssell, also from Otter Media and formerly CEO of Hulu, as the general manager.

And hey, here's the official promotional video for HBO Max...

THE FANDOM ZONE 157: "Danger Close" is Up!

"Aren’t you a little short to be a Sagitari?"
-- Kem to Lyta-Zod, Krypton: "Danger Close"

Hello again, everyone!  Jesse Jackson and I are back with another new episode of The Fandom Zone Podcast!  This time, we discuss "Danger Close", the fourth episode from Season 2 of the Syfy series Krypton, featuring Seg-El's awkward reunion with Lyta-Zod, the Wegthor rebels failing in epic fashion, and Dev-Em's story about leaving the Sagitari!

In this episode, Jesse and I talk about things like Cleveland jokes now becoming Detroit jokes, Jax-Ur killing everyone on Wegthor in the comics, Krypton's Season 2's pacing improving over Season 1, Seg-El and Lyta-Zod wasting zero time having sex, that awkward moment when Seg-El learns there's still a remnant of Brainiac still inside his head, Farscape's John Crichton and Scorpius, General Zod's surprise that Seg killed Brainiac, Seg not buying what General Zod is selling, Seg finally getting to meet his son Cor-Vex, wondering if Cor-Vex will be renamed Jor-El, wondering who's the traitor in the Wegthor rebellion, Kem being brought into the Wegthor resistance, Adam Strange thinking he broke time, wondering if Seg-El and Adam can get the timeline back on track, that awkward moment when Jax-Ur tries to activate her weapon to kill the Sagitari and it doesn't work, whether the episode suffered by not having Lobo around, the first song recorded by the Beatles, Dev-Em telling Jayna-Zod about how he disobeyed General Zod's orders and turned against the Sagitari, Jesse not caring about Dev-Em and Jayna's storyline, wondering when Doomsday is being brought into play, our favorite quotes of the episode, my impression of high-pitched Kem, the upcoming Netflix TV adaptation of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, Jesse finally watching the Superman Lives, What Happened? documentary, ten episodes of Swamp Thing being better than zero episodes of Swamp Thing, and more!

You can now check out episodes of The Fandom Zone using...

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And if that isn't enough for you, you can also check us out on YouTube, Soundcloud, and the official Southgate Media Group website!  Oh, and if you're interested in an officially official Fandom Zone Podcast t-shirt that all the cool kids are wearing, you can get those on TeePublic HERE as well!  Feel free to post a picture on our Facebook page of you or some other cool person you know wearing the shirt!

Be sure to come back next week, as Jesse and I review "A Better Yesterday", the fifth episode from Season 2 of the Syfy series Krypton, right here on The Fandom Zone Podcast!

GHOSTWOOD 057: "Criterion Velvet Part 2" is Up!

"The candy-colored clown they call the Sandman."
-- Frank Booth, Blue Velvet

It is happening again...My co-host with the most Xan Sprouse and I are back with a new episode of Ghostwood: The Twin Peaks Podcast!  This time, we finish our discussion of the new Criterion Collection release of Blue Velvet, the 1986 neo-noir mystery film from director David Lynch, starring Kyle MacLachlan as Jeffrey Beaumont, Isabella Rossellini as Dorothy Vallens, Dennis Hopper as Frank Booth, and Laura Dern as Sandy Williams!

LET'S ROCK!

In our latest episode, Xan and I discuss things like Xan finishing Stranger Things Season 3 the first day it was released, Peter Braatz's "meditation" documentary Blue Velvet Revisited, a motorcycle parking spot for Stephen King, The Skype seeming glitchy, throwing rocks in a small town, David Lynch being ahead of his time with computer advancements in filmmaking, Francis Ford Coppola wanting to be able to think his movie into existence, Lynch being disappointed that a hurricane never happened, Big Dave's Spud Farm being the inspiration for Big Ed's Gas Farm, what Xan would've done if Lynch filmed at her high school, our hatred for Tipper Gore, Lynch still not feeling confident about Blue Velvet over halfway through production, Dorothy thinking Jeffrey would be into rough sex, Isabella Rossellini's connection to Dennis Hopper carrying over into Dorothy's connection Frank, radiation being too boring for David Lynch, Xan and I seeing Lost Highway at the Studio 35 theater, David Lynch not being much of a film buff, Xan's cat coming in to pee, David Lynch insisting on actual brain matter, Harry Dean Stanton and Willem Dafoe almost being cast as  Frank Booth, Helen Mirren almost being cast as Dorothy Vallens, how Isabella Rossellini met David Lynch, Luke & Laura on General Hospital, the importance of shining a light on uncomfortable parts of our culture, some feedback from new listener Mark Z., Xan not liking Peri on Doctor Who, and more!

If you'd like to check out our latest episode, you can find us on...

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Be sure to come back in two weeks for Episode 058, as Xan and I head back to Twin Peaks to provide our commentary on "My Log Has a Message for You", the first episode of Showtime's third season of Twin Peaks from 2017!  Look for more of Ghostwood: The Twin Peaks Podcast on iTunes, YouTube, Libsyn, and the official Southgate Media Group website!

NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE 147: "The Mind of Evil" is Up!

"Thank you, Brigadier, but do you think that for once in your life you could manage to arrive before the nick of time?"
"I'm glad to see you too, Doctor."
-- The Third Doctor and Brigadier Alastair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, Doctor Who: "The Mind of Evil"

Hello again, Whovians!  This time, special guest companion John Takacs returns to Next Stop Everywhere to help me discuss "The Mind of Evil", the second serial from Doctor Who Season 8 in 1971, starring Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor, Katy Manning as Jo Grant, Nicholas Courtney as The Brigadier, and Roger Delgado as the First Master!

In this episode, John and I discuss things like Jo being the definitive Third Doctor companion, "The Mind of Evil" finally being released in color on DVD, my recording Monty Python and the Holy Grail on audio cassette, not letting go of our VHS tapes, Barry Letts banning director Timothy Combe from being considered from any future Doctor Who productions, obscure Doctor Who alien Koquillion, writer Don Houghton being married to Captain Chin Lee, the Master smoking cigars, UNIT's Corporal Carol Bell, William Marlowe being married to Catherine Schell and Kismet Delgado, Doctor Who using Asian actors to play Asian characters, Jo being supportive of the Third Doctor, Jo's compassion towards Barnham, the Doctor being annoyed that the Master is free to roam time and space while he's stuck in exile with the Brigadier, the Master's convoluted plan to fire a missile and start World War III so he can take over a nuclear wasteland, the Master giving up on the Keller Machine because it became too powerful for him to control, the Master thinking impulsively but not about the ramifications of his plans, wondering how the Keller Machine became able to teleport, UNIT's epic fail as a security force for the World Peace Conference, the Brigadier being upset that Benton passed out while following Chin Lee, the HAVOC stunt team, our favorite quotes of the episode, my Reverse the Reverse the Polarity segment, new listener feedback from Hannah Skorapa and Holly from Wisconsin, and more!

If you'd like to check out our latest episode, you can find us on...

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And hey, if you'd like to pick up the officially official Next Stop Everywhere t-shirt, you can find it on TeePublic right HERE!  Help support the show and feel free to post pictures on our Facebook page of you or some other cool person you know wearing the shirt!

Be sure to come back next week as special guest companion DJ Nik returns to Next Stop Everywhere to help me discuss "Revelation of the Daleks", the sixth serial from Doctor Who Season 22 in 1985, starring Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor, Nicola Bryant as Peri Brown, Terry Molloy as Davros, and Clive Swift as Jobel!  Look for more of Next Stop Everywhere on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, YouTube, Libsyn, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and the official Southgate Media Group website!

Andy Muschietti in Talks to Direct THE FLASH Movie, Still Starring Ezra Miller

Fourth time's the charm?

The Hollywood Reporter has word that Warner Bros. is in talks with Andy Muschietti to direct The Flash solo movie, with star Ezra Miller still attached to reprise his role of The Flash/Barry Allen.  His partner and sister, Barbara Muschietti, will produce the film along with Michael Disco.

Christina Hodson, the writer behind Bumblebee and upcoming DC Extended Universe movie Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), is reportedly being hired to handle the script, with the goal to be in prep by January 2020.

Muschietti, 45, is an Argentine director and screenwriter best known as the director of It and It Chapter Two, based on the novel It by Stephen King.  He also directed and co-wrote the 2013 supernatural horror film Mama, based on his 2008 Argentine short film Mamá.

Muschietti will be the fourth director(s) to helm the project, after John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, who wrote drafts of the script and were slated to direct a version of the DC Comics limited series Flashpoint, moved on.  Tensions over creative differences slowed down the project, regarding what vision was the best fit for a Flash movie.  Miller, who has played the character since in 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, reportedly favored a darker approach, while Goldstein and Daley wanted the opposite.  Director Rick Famuyiwa left the project in October 2016, citing "creative differences" as the reason.  Famuyiwa had replaced Seth Grahame-Smith, who also left the project in April 2016 and also cited "creative differences" as his reason.

According to the article, Daley, Goldstein and Miller had been working on compromises since last year, but Miller took it upon himself to write his own script, enlisting the aid of former Flash comics writer Grant Morrison.  That script was submitted to the studio in March.  The studio rejected his approach by May, but decided that Miller should still remain as the Fastest Man Alive.