San Diego Comic-Con is always a pretty big show, and this year proved to be no exception. Indeed, SDCC, after a quiet 2023 (where it was impacted by the strikes) seemed to be back in full force this year, with Hall H once again housing panels that were next to impossible to get into if you didn’t plan well ahead. As usual, JoBlo was there to cover the festivities, and I gotta say, it was a whirlwind.

While I’ve worked for JoBlo since 2007, I never actually attended SDCC for the company in the olden days. It’s only since becoming Editor-in-Chief that I’ve started going, and I’ve been having a blast in San Diego, that’s for sure. This year I covered the convention with Mike Conway, who you might know from his work on JoBlo Horror Originals (he’s the host of Horror Party Movies and a writer/editor on 80s Movie Horror Memories). We had a blast covering the convention and all the cool activations (check out the shorts we made at the activations below). 

You can check out all of our coverage HERE, but here are some of the things from Comic-Con that have us the most excited.

Robert Downey Jr is Doctor Doom:

I might have permanent hearing loss thanks to the insane roar of excitement from fans when the Russo Bros revealed that Doctor Doom, in their upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, is going to be played by none other than Robert Downey Jr. We dug into what his casting means for the MCU right here, but being there as RDJ came out on stage was an unforgettable moment.

Alien: Romulus looks really good

While Disney/ 20th Century Studios didn’t opt to screen Alien: Romulus in its entirety (like they did for Deadpool & Wolverine), director Fede Alvarez showed up some killer footage from the movie that made it look like the best Alien flick in a long time. And oh yeah, Mike and I tangled with some face huggers, but don’t worry – it turned out alright:

Transformers One might be the best Transformers movie ever

Another movie that’s getting a ton of buzz is Transformers One. Word-of-mouth screenings have been happening for this one, and the consensus seems to be that making an animated Transformers movie was a terrific idea, as they can do so much more in this format than they ever could in live action. The footage we saw seems to fit in seamlessly with the movies and pays loving homage to the original cartoons while suggesting this prequel might be the best Transformers movie of all time. 

Hellboy: The Crooked Man might actually be decent?

When I saw the first trailer for Hellboy: The Crooked Man, I’ll admit I was wary. Working with a significantly smaller budget than Guillermo del Toro or even Neil Marshall did, I initially wrote off this latest Hellboy movie as a quickie meant to cash in on the property. While I still can’t say whether it will be good, I did manage to speak to the folks behind the movie at Comic-Con, and I’m a lot more optimistic about it now than I was a few weeks ago.

We’re not sold on Star Trek: Section 31

However, the trailer for Paramount Plus’s new Star Trek spin-off movie, Section 31, killed my anticipation for that project. Hey, I get it – Trek now is a lot different than it was in my time, but the dialogue (“you’re a bad B**ch”) is unbearably corny. Who knows – it could be amazing, but the trailer seemed like it was trying way too hard to be cool and edgy. 

Let us know what Comic-Con reveal has you the most hyped in the comments, and check out these cool shorts we made:

The post 5 Comic Con Reveals We’re Excited About & Wrap-up appeared first on JoBlo.

This week, Destiny 2 maker Bungie was hit by massive layoffs, leaving the future of the company’s popular looter shooter in some doubt and spurring waves of criticism of its CEO, who remains at the studio. We also saw streamer Dr Disrespect once again posting online, just 36 days after he confessed to sending…

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This week, Destiny 2 maker Bungie was hit by massive layoffs, leaving the future of the company’s popular looter shooter in some doubt and spurring waves of criticism of its CEO, who remains at the studio. We also saw streamer Dr Disrespect once again posting online, just 36 days after he confessed to sending…

Read more…

Aerosmith has announced their retirement from touring, citing Steven Tyler‘s persistent vocal injury. The iconic band began its farewell tour last year, but it was postponed after just a few performances due to Tyler’s vocal cord and larynx problems. Sadly, it seems that Tyler won’t make a full recovery from these injuries, at least not to the point where he feels confident enough to deliver the performance he wants.

“We’ve always wanted to blow your mind when performing. As you know, Steven’s voice is an instrument like no other. He has spent months tirelessly working on getting his voice to where it was before his injury,” the band wrote on social media. “We’ve seen him struggling despite having the best medical team by his side. Sadly, it is clear, that a full recovery from his vocal injury is not possible. We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision – as a band of brothers – to retire from the touring stage.“

After initially hoping that the Peace Out farewell tour would only have to be postponed several weeks, the band soon learned that Tyler’s injuries were “more serious than initially thought.” Tyler’s doctor “confirmed that in addition to the damage to his vocal cords, he fractured his larynx which requires ongoing care. He is receiving the best medical treatment available to ensure his recovery is swift, but given the nature of a fracture, he is being told patience is essential.”

You can read the full letter from Aerosmith regarding their retirement from touring below:

It was 1970 when a spark of inspiration became Aerosmith. Thanks to you, our Blue Army, that spark caught flame and has been burning for over five decades. Some of you have been with us since the beginning and all of you are the reason we made rock ‘n’ roll history.

It has been the honor of our lives to have our music become part of yours. In every club, on every massive tour and at moments grand and private you have given us a place in the soundtrack of your lives.

We’ve always wanted to blow your mind when performing. As you know, Steven’s voice is an instrument like no other. He has spent months tirelessly working on getting his voice to where it was before his injury. We’ve seen him struggling despite having the best medical team by his side. Sadly, it is clear, that a full recovery from his vocal injury is not possible. We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision – as a band of brothers – to retire from the touring stage.

We are grateful beyond words for everyone who was pumped to get on the road with us one last time. Grateful to our expert crew, our incredible team and the thousands of talented people who’ve made our historic runs possible. A final thank you to you – the best fans on planet Earth. Play our music loud, now and always. Dream On. You’ve made our dreams come true.

Aerosmith fans who purchased tickets for the Peace Out farewell tour through Ticketmaster will be automatically refunded, but those who purchased via third-party resale sites such as SeatGeek, StubHub, VividSeats, etc, will need to reach out to their point of purchase for more details.

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Batman: The Animated Series creator Bruce Timm has returned to the world of the Dark Knight with Batman: Caped Crusader on Prime Video, but he once had the opportunity to do a proper revival of The Animated Series. If you’re wondering why that didn’t happen, it’s because he turned it down.

While speaking with The Wrap, Timm said that Warner Bros. approached him four or five years ago with the idea of bringing back Batman: The Animated Series. At the time, the studio was about to launch its own streaming service and clearly saw the draw of new episodes. “They said, ‘Hey, how would you feel about going back and making some more ‘B:TAS’ episodes?’ And I’m like, ‘Nah, we’d been there, we’d done that.’ I wasn’t interested in just revisiting that world,” Timm explained.

Timm did consider developing a Justice League animated series with executive producer James Tucker, but all of their ideas kept coming back to Batman. After going back to the early production bible of The Animated Series, Timm became intrigued by the thought of getting to incorporate all of his original ideas for a pulpy, film noir Batman series. “I wanted to blend the atmospherics of Universal horror movies and the drama of Warner Bros. gangster movies and the action of Republic serials and mix it all together with a lot of film noir on top,” Timm said. Thus, Batman: Caped Crusader began.

“Welcome to Gotham City, where the corrupt outnumber the good, criminals run rampant and law-abiding citizens live in a constant state of fear,” reads the Batman: Caped Crusader synopsis. “Forged in the fire of tragedy, wealthy socialite Bruce Wayne becomes something both more and less than human—the BATMAN. His one-man crusade attracts unexpected allies within the GCPD and City Hall, but his heroic actions spawn deadly, unforeseen ramifications.” The series stars Hamish Linklater as Batman/Bruce Wayne alongside an all-star cast which includes Christina Ricci, Jamie Chung, Diedrich Bader, Minnie Driver, Mckenna Grace, Eric Morgan Stuart, Michelle C. Bonilla, Krystal Joy Brown, John DiMaggio, Paul Scheer, Reid Scott, Tom Kenny, Jason Watkins, Gary Anthony Williams, Dan Donohue, David Krumholtz, Haley Joel Osment, and Toby Stephens.

The first season of Batman: Caped Crusader is now streaming on Prime Video and has received rave reviews. Our own Jessica Dwyer enjoyed the series despite it not meeting her expectations. “Did my hopes get dashed with this latest animated Dark Knight when I finally watched it? No, but I also wasn’t overwhelmed either,” Dwyer wrote in her review. “As I said, there’s something really special about the original series that would be hard to recapture. Batman: Caped Crusader is trying really hard to do that, and there’s hope that it will eventually get there.” She also had plenty of praise for Linklater’s performance, saying, “I can’t say enough how much I love Hamish Linklater’s voice here. I’m not ashamed to say I teared up a little bit. I hope he knows how much that means to fans of the OG.” You can check out the rest of Dwyer’s review right here.

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There are plenty of movies that have yet to receive a high-definition release, but I was somewhat surprised to learn that M. Night Shyamalan’s The Village is one of them. Thankfully, Shyamalan is working to rectify that, telling /Film that The Village will finally be receiving a release on Blu-ray and 4K.

“A lot of people keep coming up to me on the street [about The Village],” Shyamalan said. “I’m on it. Yeah, no, that’s my next thing… That’s interesting that you asked — yeah, I’m literally on it right now to get a 4K release.” Hopefully, The Sixth Sense, which also doesn’t have a 4K release, will follow The Village.

The Village takes place in a small, desolate town in 19th-century Pennsylvania, where the residents live under strict rules. Most importantly, never leave the village, or the nameless humanoid creatures that inhabit the surrounding woods will kill them. After The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and Signs, it felt like Shyamalan could do no wrong, but the first cracks began to appear with The Village. Although the thriller was a commercial success, it received mixed reviews and was seen as the beginning of a steady decline that lasted nearly a decade. However, the film has received a critical reappraisal over the years, with many placing it among Shyamalan’s best.

Shyamalan’s latest film, Trap, is now playing in theaters. Starring Josh Hartnett, Ariel Donoghue, Saleka Shyamalan, Hayley Mills, and Allison Pill, the film centers on a father and teen daughter attending a pop concert, where they realize they’re at the center of a dark and sinister event.

Our own Tyler Nichols didn’t love the film, but he found Harnett very impressive. “This is an absolute showcase for Josh Hartnett’s acting skills. The trailers made it obvious that he would impress but it’s remarkable the amount of range he’s able to display,” Nichols wrote in his review. “His interactions with his daughter set up a father who would do anything for his daughter. The first twenty minutes could almost convince you that there’s no way this guy could do anything bad. Yet when Harnett turns it on, it’s downright terrifying. He goes from jovial to menacing in an instant. How he’s able to manipulate people from one moment to the next really makes The Butcher all the more scary.” You can check out the rest of Nichols’ review right here.

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Prison Architect 2, set to launch in September, has been indefinitely delayed, with the studio behind the game also announcing that it will refund customers who pre-ordered the prison building sim. It’s yet another road bump for publisher Paradox Interactive following the cancellation of a Sims-like game in June.

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Prison Architect 2, set to launch in September, has been indefinitely delayed, with the studio behind the game also announcing that it will refund customers who pre-ordered the prison building sim. It’s yet another road bump for publisher Paradox Interactive following the cancellation of a Sims-like game in June.

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On January 1st, the earliest versions of Mickey Mouse – seen in the animated shorts Plane Crazy, The Gallopin’ Gaucho, and most famously Steamboat Willie – became public domain… which, of course, means we’re now going to get multiple horror movies that feature characters inspired by Mickey Mouse. Within the first three days of the year, we saw the short film The Vanishing of S.S. Willie, a trailer for the slasher movie Mickey’s Mouse Trap, and an announcement that Terrifier 2 producers Steven Della Salla and Michael Leavy and director Steven LaMorte, who previously made the Grinch-inspired horror movie The Mean One, were teaming up for a Steamboat Willie-inspired horror flick that we now know is titled Screamboat. Mickey’s Mouse Trap has since undergone a title change of its own – it’s now simply known as The Mouse Trap, and it’s set to receive a VOD release from Gravitas Ventures on August 6th, with a Blu-ray release to follow on August 13th. With those release dates swiftly approaching, we have the trailer for The Mouse Trap embedded above to help you decide whether or not this is a movie you’ll be watching later this month.

Directed by Jamie Bailey (What Lurks Beneath) from a screenplay by Once Upon a Time at Christmas and The Nights Before Christmas writer Simon Phillips, The Mouse Trap has the following synopsis: It’s Alex’s 21st Birthday, but she’s stuck at the amusement arcade on a late shift so her friends decide to surprise her, but a masked killer dressed as Mickey Mouse decides to play a game of his own with them which she must survive.

Phillips, who played a killer Santa Claus in those Christmas movies, plays Mickey and is joined in the cast by Nick Biskupek (The Haunted Museum), Mireille Gagné (Galentine’s Day Nightmare), Damir Kovic (Disasters at Sea), Sophie McIntosh (The Sacrifice Game), Wyatt Dorion (An Unexpected Killer), James Laurin (Going Thru a Thing), Allegra Nocita (An Unexpected Killer), and newcomers Mackenzie Mills, Callum Sywyk, Madeline Kelman, Ben Harris, Liam Grue, Jesse Nasmith, and Kayleigh Styles.

What did you think of the trailer for The Mouse Trap? Will you be watching this movie? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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It isn’t a spoiler to say that Deadpool & Wolverine is packed full of cameos, but one actor actually broke a Guinness World Record with their appearance in the movie.

Deadpool & Wolverine is the biggest movie in the world right now, and spoilers are running rampant, so even if you haven’t seen the movie yet, you’re probably aware of the identity of many of the Marvel characters who make appearances in the film. One of my favourites was the return of Wesley Snipes as Blade, marking the first time the actor has reprised the character since the release of Blade Trinity twenty years ago. His return in Deadpool & Wolverine comes 25 years and 340 days after he first played the character, which means that he has beat out Hugh Jackman for the Guinness World Record of the longest career as a live-action Marvel character.

Hugh Jackman was expected to take the title from Patrick Stewart upon the release of Deadpool & Wolverine, but Wesley Snipes’ surprise appearance foiled that. Additionally, the Blade actor now holds the record for the longest gap between character appearances in Marvel films, having last played the character 19 years and 231 days ago. The previous record was held by Alfred Molina, who returned as Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man: No Way Home 17 years after he first played the character in Spider-Man 2.

Taking place six years after the events of the last movie, Deadpool & Wolverine finds Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) toiling away in civilian life with his days as Deadpool behind him. But when his homeworld faces an existential threat, he must suit up once again and convince a reluctant Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) to help save his universe. In addition to Reynolds and Jackman, the cast also includes Matthew Macfadyen, Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, Brianna Hildebrand, Shioli Kutsuna, Rob Delany, Stefan Kapičić, and more.

Our own Chris Bumbray had a lot of fun with Deadpool & Wolverine, which sounds like a real crowd-pleaser. “Have you ever been to a concert and wished that your favourite band would stop playing their not-as-good new stuff and play the hits? That’s exactly what Marvel is doing with Deadpool & Wolverine,” Bumbray wrote in his review. “After a rough run of movies, with many saying their Phase 5 has been disastrous, this feels like an everything but the kitchen-sink attempt by the company to win back those fans who feel alienated by the new direction the company seemed to be heading in. With this, you have a rock ‘em, sock ‘em thrill ride that delivers fans exactly the movie they wanted to see, with nary a message to be found amidst all the charred, sliced and diced corpses our heroes leave in their wake. It’s glorious fun.” You can check out the rest of Bumbray’s spoiler-free review right here, and don’t forget to let us know what you think of Deadpool & Wolverine as well!

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