Although the transfer of the James Bond character from lead actor to lead actor seemingly starts a new continuity, there is a slight tradition of supporting characters returning to reprise their roles. Dame Judy Dench bridged the Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig eras by carrying over as M. Desmond Llewelyn would portray the gadget genius Q throughout all the Bond eras until 2002’s Die Another Day. However, as we still sit on the cusp of development for the post-Daniel Craig James Bond films, Ben Whishaw does not think he will be asked back to play Q.
Deadline reports on Whishaw’s interview with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg when he said, “I don’t think I’m going to be in the next one. I think they’re going to start all over again, and with a new cast, a completely new cast. I think that’s my hunch, but I don’t know. I have no idea.” Whishaw would still be interested in returning if they did ask him to come back, but the actor thinks the new film should be a clean restart, “I think it might need a new lease of life and a whole new group of people,” he said. “But if they asked me, I would do it, of course.”
While the rumors of Aaron Taylor-Johnson taking over the role have been circulating for quite some time, Edward Berger, the director of All Quiet on the Western Front, recently has been wanting to squash the rumors that he’s set to direct the next reboot. “That’s an absolute rumor. There’s no truth to it whatsoever. I would be very grateful if you put out that fire.”
Edward Berger went on to praise the woman behind the James Bond franchise, also acknowledging he has trust that she’ll choose the right director when the time comes. “Barbara Broccoli is a wonderful producer. She will know what to do at the right time, and it’s her family legacy. It’s her job to protect this and whatever choice she’s going to make is going to be the right choice for the legacy of that genre.” Last year, Broccoli said that the journey to reinventing the character hadn’t yet begun.
An alleged vintage gaming trafficking ring was recently busted up in Italy. Authorities say 12,000 counterfeit copies of the Atari 2600, SNES, and Sega Genesis, collectively housing millions of pirated games, have been seized and will be destroyed. Now, 12,000 fewer people will be subjected to running Super Mario…
An alleged vintage gaming trafficking ring was recently busted up in Italy. Authorities say 12,000 counterfeit copies of the Atari 2600, SNES, and Sega Genesis, collectively housing millions of pirated games, have been seized and will be destroyed. Now, 12,000 fewer people will be subjected to running Super Mario…
PLOT: FROM unravels the mystery of a nightmarish town that traps all those who enter. As the unwilling residents fight to keep a sense of normalcy and search for a way out, they must also survive the threats of the surrounding forest – including the terrifying creatures that come out when the sun goes down. In the wake of Season Two’s epic cliffhanger, escape will become a tantalizing and very real possibility as the true nature of the town comes into focus, and the townspeople go on offense against the myriad horrors surrounding them.
REVIEW: The fact that we are reviewing the third season of the MGM+ original series From is a blessing. The era of peak television we have experienced over the last decade is primarily thanks to revolutionary shows like The X-Files and Lost, both of which altered the landscape for mainstream genre television. While those series generated multiple failed copycats, we have had more shows follow the fantasy, zombie, and comic book formula rather than horror-tinged science fiction. While From started out with an intriguing premise, the uneven first season led to a superior second, which deepened the show’s mythology and set up a series of plot threads for this third year of mystery. From continues to echo its predecessors in the best way possible while keeping us guessing what is really going on in the town that does not let anyone escape. Or, as we found out in the second season finale, almost anyone.
If you have not tuned in to the first two seasons of From, here is a crash course: a mysterious town in New England is teeming with monsters that come out at night, viciously killing the trapped inhabitants of the village. In the first season, Tabitha (Catalina Sandino Moreno) and Jim Matthews (Eion Bailey), along with their kids, find themselves in the Township, which is under the leadership of self-appointed sheriff Boyd Stevens (Harold Perrineau). In season two, a bus crashes and adds more residents, each of whom has their own backstory that lends either skill to help the residents or adds insight as to why they became trapped. Over the first twenty episodes, mythology builds that includes the spectral monsters revealing their true nature, a music box that may control them, and a looming tower that is connected to the odd Victor (Scott McCord).
At the start of the third season, the characters are once again divided. The second season opened with some characters trapped in a collapsed house, while this season splits Tabitha as she explores her mysterious escape from the town and everyone else who stays back in the Township. Some begin to explore the trees that are some sort of portal, while others contend with the escalating presence of the monsters keeping them captive. The safety of all denizens of the Township remains tenuous, and the idea that no one is safe is especially true in the five episodes made available for this review. To divulge anything about this season would be a disservice to those who have been on this ride for twenty episodes thus far, but trust me when I say the gore and body count are higher this season than ever before. The series continues to figure out ways to add new characters by expanding roles for background actors and bringing new visitors to the town via supernatural means.
What works well in From is what will likely be the rationale for many not to be interested in the series. The format of From follows very closely to the template of Lost, which splits each episode into subplots that explore individual characters. At the same time, the main protagonists were embroiled in their own tasks. From ends every episode with a shocking cliffhanger that leads into the next episode, but each entry remains largely the same. At one point this season, Harold Perrineau’s Boyd states that they must do something differently rather than sit around and try to survive. Season three gives the characters higher stakes as the monsters get bolder and the human residents respond in kind. Subplots centered on Victor and his childhood add to the town’s backstory. At the same time, Jade Herrera (David Alpay), Kenny Liu (Ricky He), and Fatima Hassan (Pegah Ghafoori) get key storylines that elevate their characters to major roles compared to where they were in the first two seasons. Harold Perrineau and Catalina Sandino Moreno stay the leads of the series, while Eion Bailey and the ensemble cast, including Elizabeth Saunders, Shaun Majumder, Corteon Moore, and Hannah Cheramy, stay consistent with supporting roles this season.
As in the previous seasons, the third season of From opens with episodes directed by Jack Bender and written by John Griffin. Based on a story developed by Griffin with Jeff Pinkner, From seems to have an overall endgame in mind, with each season peppering just enough development amongst ten episodes of mysterious goings-on. The format and tone of From are scarier than most shows on the airwaves, but the look still sticks close to the network genre production values. The special effects are substantially better here than in other cable series. At the same time, the use of profanity and mature subject matter makes the series feel more realistic than network shows of the 2000s. I appreciate that Jack Bender and John Griffin, two veteran talents from genre series, have kept the quality of this series consistent from the series premiere on Epix to the show’s new home on MGM+. At no point has From ever felt like it sacrificed the story it was built around to meet studio standards and it shows.
From continues to be a unique genre offering compared to the other series on the air today, as it is actually pretty scary. With solid character development across the entire ensemble, creepy special effects, and engaging mythology, From continues to build out one of the most intriguing narratives on television. I would like to see the series continue to push the boundaries of what it is about and shift out of the formula it has kept going for three seasons while still being a great source of scares. Harold Perrineau has been a supporting player for so much of his career that it is long overdue for him to have as good of a leading role as he does here. From is a frightening and enjoyable watch premiering just in time for the Halloween season.
The third season of From premieres on September 22nd on MGM+.
A core mechanic in Star Wars Outlaws revolves around working for and partnering with the various crime syndicates that control this portion of the galaxy. You’ll encounter four you can work with: Pyke Syndicate, Ashiga Clan, Crimson Dawn, and Hutt Cartel. They all offer different jobs and unique rewards, and some of…
A core mechanic in Star Wars Outlaws revolves around working for and partnering with the various crime syndicates that control this portion of the galaxy. You’ll encounter four you can work with: Pyke Syndicate, Ashiga Clan, Crimson Dawn, and Hutt Cartel. They all offer different jobs and unique rewards, and some of…
If the opening ceremony to the 2024 Summer Olympics was marred in controversy (which overshadowed even the highlights), then the closing ceremony was filled with some of the most exciting moments of the entire event, not the least of which was headed by Tom Cruise, who put on one hell of a show – as if that’s any surprise at all…
As Casey Wasserman, president/chairperson of the LA28 committee for 2028’s Summer Olympics (to be held in Los Angeles for the first time since 1984), revealed, Tom Cruise actually refused payment for the gig, which found him rappelling into the stadium, flying on a motorcycle and leaping from a plane. That’s a hell of a lot of work not to get a paycheck! Originally, Wasserman expected to primarily use a stunt double for the Olympics stunts, but soon realized that that’s just not how Tom Cruise operates. As he put it, “About five minutes into the presentation, [Cruise] goes, ‘I’m in. But I’m only doing it if I get to do everything.’”
And so he did, becoming more and more involved in the entire process, committing himself not just to the job but to perfection. “He finished filming Mission: Impossible at 6 p.m. in London, got right on a plane/ He landed in L.A. at 4 a.m. and filmed the scene where he pulls onto a military plane. In L.A., he does two jumps out of the [plane]. He didn’t like the first one, so he did a second jump. Then he helicoptered from Palmdale to the Hollywood sign, filmed from 1 until 5, helicoptered to Burbank Airport, and flew back to London.”
The closing ceremony of the Summer Olympics gave Tom Cruise one of the grandest stages to deliver what we all expect from him: incredible stunt work, selfless deeds and a promotion for Hollywood, perfectly setting up 2028’s event. And no, we’re not surprised he pulled off every single bit of it.
What did you think of Tom Cruise’s work during the Summer Olympics? Was it the standout moment for you? Let us know in the comments section below.
Elden Ring was one of the biggest games of 2022, and it’s gotten a second wind this year with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. If you have been intimidated by the RPG’s notorious difficulty, were just too busy in 2022 to get around to it, or have been waiting for it to go on sale, you’re in luck. Well, if you have a…
Elden Ring was one of the biggest games of 2022, and it’s gotten a second wind this year with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. If you have been intimidated by the RPG’s notorious difficulty, were just too busy in 2022 to get around to it, or have been waiting for it to go on sale, you’re in luck. Well, if you have a…
Tito Jackson, a founding member of pop quintet The Jackson 5, has passed away at the age of 70 from a heart attack. Jackson’s three sons broke the news on social media.
Posting to Instagram over the weekend, the sons of The Jackson 5 stalwart wrote, “It’s with heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved father, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson is no longer with us. We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken. Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being. Some of you may know him as Tito Jackson from the legendary Jackson 5, some may know him as “Coach Tito” or some know him as “Poppa T.” Nevertheless, he will be missed tremendously. It will forever be “Tito Time” for us. Please remember to do what our father always preached and that is “Love One Another.” We love you Pops.”
As one of the original members of The Jackson 5, Tito Jackson worked not only vocals but also lead guitar and synthesizer to help round out the signature sound of the band, who formed in 1964 under the guidance of their controlling father/manager Joe. With their debut album, The Jackson 5 scored one of their biggest hits – and one of their trademark songs – in “I Want You Back.” Their 1970 follow-up, ABC, would feature the title track, while their aptly titled Third Album offered “I’ll Be There”. That same year saw the release of their immediately classic Christmas album. After leaving Motown Records, The Jackson 5 rebranded as The Jacksons.
After Michael left, The Jackson 5 (then going by just The Jacksons) released one more album, 1989’s 2300 Jackson Street. While they would tour once more without Michael in 2012-2014, their acclaim and fame was far from what it was at its peak.
While almost exclusively tied to The Jackson 5, Tito Jackson would go on to do some solo work later in his career, scoring the single “Get It Baby” off of his debut album, 2016’s Tito Time.
What was your favorite song from The Jackson 5? Drop your pick and pay condolences to the late Tito Jackson in the comments section below.
