Tag: Luke Cage

Netflix’s Marvel Series’ To Film In New York City!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: We haven’t heard too much news from the Marvel / Netflix deal since its announcement back in November (aside from Drew Goddard’s involvement in the Daredevil series). Today however, the city of New York has revealed that each series (Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage, if you’ve forgotten) will be filmed in the real-life big apple.

The announcement is set to create over 3000 jobs in the area, with filming set to begin this Summer.

You can take a look at the entire press release below for more info, and be sure to let us know if you’re excited for this authentic NYC experience! We’ll have more info on each series for you as soon as it’s available!

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, The Walt Disney Company, Marvel and Netflix Inc. today announced that Marvel’s landmark live-action television series, which will bring Marvel’s ‘flawed heroes of Hell’s Kitchen’ characters to Netflix, the world’s leading Internet TV network, will principally film in New York State. Produced by Marvel Television, in association with ABC Television Studios, this groundbreaking series is Marvel’s most ambitious foray yet into live-action television storytelling and represents the largest film or television production project commitment in New York State history.

 

Filming is set to begin in the Summer 2014 and will create at least three thousand jobs in New York State including up to 400 full time jobs. The project will include nearly 60 one-hour episodes focused on the 4 Defenders characters: Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist.

 

“New York is where the entertainment industry started, and this unprecedented commitment from Disney and Marvel is further evidence that we’re bringing it back bigger and better than ever before,” said Governor Cuomo. “And when the entertainment industry thrives, it fuels dozens of other industries and businesses. The competition for these projects is fierce and Disney could have chosen to film these shows anywhere, but they knew that shooting in New York means getting to work with the best in world. These shows bring New York’s superheroes home where they belong – along with hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars in new business.”

 

“Since 2008 Disney has directly contributed almost half a billion dollars to New York’s economy through television and film production, along with approximately 9,000 jobs for New Yorkers,” said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company. “The Governor’s policies make this great state a more affordable and attractive location, opening the door for even greater economic investment and job creation for New Yorkers. Our Marvel series for Netflix will inject millions directly into the local economy and create hundreds of new jobs.”

 

“We thank the Governor and the great state of New York for helping us create the ultimate backdrop to this epic series. Setting our production in New York City truly underscores the authenticity and excitement we plan to bring to The Defenders and their ‘flawed heroes of Hell’s Kitchen’ stories,” said Alan Fine, President, Marvel Entertainment.

 

Last November, Disney and Netflix announced an unprecedented deal for Marvel TV to bring multiple original series of live-action adventures of four of Marvel’s most popular characters exclusively to the world’s leading Internet TV Network beginning in 2015. This pioneering agreement calls for Marvel to develop four serialized programs totaling 52 one-hour episodes culminating in a four to eight episode mini-series programming event. Led by a series focused on “Daredevil,” followed by “Jessica Jones,” “Iron Fist” and “Luke Cage,” the epic will unfold over multiple years of original programming, taking viewers deep into the gritty world of heroes and villains of Hell’s Kitchen, New York. Netflix has committed to a minimum of four, thirteen episodes series and a mini-series event in which the Marvel characters from the first four series team up as “The Defenders,” much like “The Avengers.”

 

This new original TV deal follows last year’s landmark movie distribution deal through which, beginning with 2016 theatrically released feature films, Netflix will be the exclusive U.S. subscription television service for first-run, live-action and animated movies from the Walt Disney Studios, including titles from Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Disneynature and Lucasfilm.

 

“The Defenders are classic New York characters; smart, resourceful and tough enough to always stand up for what’s right,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix Chief Content Officer. “We’re delighted they’re coming to life on their home turf thanks to Governor Cuomo and his team.”

 

When Governor Cuomo took office in 2011, he made the attraction of the film and television production and post-production industries, and jobs and the economic impact they bring with them, a key part of his overall strategy to grow New York State’s economy. Since that time, he has signed into law several important changes to both programs to make New York more competitive in this global marketplace, and the results have been significant. Both programs enjoyed record-breaking years in 2013, bringing billions of dollars in new spending and thousands of jobs into the Empire State. The stability provided by multiyear funding has particularly encouraged the development of television series production work, like the new Marvel series, as well as long term investments in infrastructure, all of which creates thousands of jobs directly and indirectly related to the actual productions themselves.

Which series are you most looking forward to? Sound out below!

He probably won't look like this.
He probably won’t look like this.

Marvel and Disney Bringing Four New Series to Netflix!

by Josh Jackson

And you thought the Thor movie would be the biggest comic book news this week.

This morning, Disney and Netflix announced a huge partnership, bringing four original shows exclusively to the platform. Expect to see Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Jessica Jones and Daredevil in 2015 as Marvel looks to expand on its stranglehold on entertainment, (and our collective lives in the process.

Iron Fist Luke CageWill we see Luke Cage and Iron Fist team up on our televisions?

Check out the press release below:

Led by a series focused on “Daredevil,” followed by “Jessica Jones,” “Iron Fist” and “Luke Cage,” the epic will unfold over multiple years of original programming, taking Netflix members deep into the gritty world of heroes and villains of Hell’s Kitchen, New York. Netflix has committed to a minimum of four, thirteen episodes series and a culminating Marvel’s “The Defenders” mini-series event that reimagines a dream team of self-sacrificing, heroic characters.

Produced by Marvel Television in association with ABC Television Studios, this groundbreaking deal is Marvel’s most ambitious foray yet into live-action TV storytelling. All four series are set for 2015.

“This deal is unparalleled in its scope and size, and reinforces our commitment to deliver Marvel’s brand, content and characters across all platforms of storytelling. Netflix offers an incredible platform for the kind of rich storytelling that is Marvel’s specialty,” said Alan Fine, President of Marvel Entertainment. “This serialized epic expands the narrative possibilities of on-demand television and gives fans the flexibility to immerse themselves how and when they want in what’s sure to be a thrilling and engaging adventure.”

“Marvel’s movies, such as Iron Man and Marvel’s The Avengers, are huge favorites on our service around the world. Like Disney, is a known and loved brand that travels,” said Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos. “With House of Cards and our other original series, we have pioneered new approaches to storytelling and to global distribution and we’re thrilled to be working with Disney and Marvel to take our brand of television to new levels with a creative project of this magnitude.”

Jessica JonesJessica Jones gets her chance to shine.

“Groundbreaking” isn’t the word to describe this. Four series over the course of multiple years that will be spearheaded by Daredevil? Who’s to say that we won’t see these characters cross over throughout the course of this run? The possibilities are exciting, and will only serve to expand Marvel’s popularity with mainstream crowds. At the very least, this should get the bad taste that the Daredevil film left in our mouths.

We know you all have opinions, so let us know and the comments as we count down to 2015, which is looking to be a big year for the Marvel universe.

SOURCE: Showrenity.com

Is Marvel Studios Working On A ‘Heroes For Hire’ Movie?

by Shawn Madden

There’s been talks of a Heroes For Hire movie being worked on for quite some time now, even as far back as when The Avengers was first announced, but with only pretty vague comments being made about it. Well, that is until now. Marvel’s head of television Jeph Loeb mentioned the potential project while talking about the Ultimate Spider-Man series with Buzzfeed. But just mentioning it doesn’t mean much, right? Well, maybe we’re making inferences based on how he mentioned it, comparing it to Marvel’s last big movie announcement.

 

“Just like we just announced Guardians of the Galaxy, we are certainly looking at the Heroes for Hire franchise which is Luke Cage and Iron Fist and Nova is very important to us; he happens to have a new comic book series starting in February which is oddly enough written by me.”

While he doesn’t state much about it, this is definitely promising news regarding these characters. Could this be the first planned movie of Marvel Studios’ “Phase Three”? We sure hope so!

 

Source: Buzzfeed

Geekscape Comics: USAgent Returns This December In ‘Dark Avengers’!

by Shawn Madden

Have you been reading Dark Avengers (the title formerly known as Thunderbolts)? Well, you should be definitely checking title out. There are some exciting things coming as writer Jeff Parker will be bringing the titles current era to an end. This December, the writer will once again be altering the status quo of the title well as bringing about the return of USAgent! Neal Edward will also be joining the title on art duties. Check out a few excerpts from an interview between Parker and Comic Book Resources below. This title is definitely one to keep an eye on. If you haven’t been keeping up on it I will highly recommend going back a few months and catching up. You will not be disappointed!

 

Discussing bringing the titles current era to an end:

The Timebolts come to a definitive conclusion that bookends the run from the time Luke Cage came on to run things. As you’ll see, “Thunderbolts” will shape what “Dark Avengers” becomes, the one grows out of the other. It’s going to be very different, but trust me and Neil. I know readers are anxious about the focus shifting, but remember when the Underbolts first arrived and no one wanted the focus to go to them? We’re keeping with our organic hand-offs. The tone and the types of thrills will feel familiar.

Regarding the new status quo:

It will have much the dynamic that “Thunderbolts” had, it’s still bad people being thrust into the role of heroes. I’m not so interested in the idea that they want to become better, but that sometimes circumstances give you a chance to go that way. You see this in the conclusion of the Thunderbolts super-arc, some characters that were pretty heinous when they arrived are doing some very noble things by the end.

On what USAgent’s role in the series will be:

Well, now the role to take is Captain Marvel! Moonstone likes to keep up with the times. We can change the books and go in wild directions, but she always finds the way to come along. And yes, USAgent will charge into the leadership role, but the question is, does he answer to just himself? The team gets separated at the beginning and really at that point wouldn’t care about being a team, but will have to to escape where they find themselves. This is a break-down and rebuilding foundation story where we start seeing what they’re really about.

On changing the series direction:

I’m so happy with the conclusion to this big story. It’s a big finale that brings together many threads we’ve had going for the past three years in what I think you’ll find a very satisfying way. Someone big and unstoppable is about to return and there are surprises with the Boss Cage character in the future. If you’ve been reading all along, there’s some big payoffs for you.

 

Geekscape’s Before First Class: What if a Thunderbolts Movie Had Been Made in the 70’s?!

by Joe Starr

With an announced sequel to X Men: First Class, and the rumors of a rebooted 1960’s Fantastic Four, retro Marvel is officially IN. This has led Geekscape to wonder: what if different Marvel franchises had actually been released in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s?

Or, maybe you think it’s stupid to cast a Marvel movie in a different decade, justify the lineup, and pitch a plot. Well, that’s why we at Geekscape consider ourselves to be heroes, in a way. We waste our time doing the stupid things the world is afraid to do. Last time, we shook the 90’s to their very core with a 1994 X Men film. And then people dared to believe that John Ritter had no place in an 80’s Avengers movie! Now it’s time to annoy the internet with the power of the 70’s!

The Pitch: The superheroes are all dead. In the distant future of 2009, masked vigilantes have been outlawed, and the government has tasked Norman Osborn, formerly the psychotic criminal Green Goblin, to lead a wetworks team of villains to track them down in exchange for full pardons. Only a few remain…Will the Thunderbolts silence these heroic outlaws, or can Power Man, Iron Fist, and Misty Knight make the nation believe in heroes once more?!

Justice…like 70’s grindhouse lightning!

I’ve got some NSFW video evidence for you.

I can’t even think of any jokes, really. Charles Napier is the god damn Goblin. Next.

Screw Fun With Dick and Jane and screw it’s eventual remake. Thunderbolts is Jane Fonda’s comeback film. Plus, the Moonstone Workout is going to sell like crazy. Since a lot of the feedback on these articles has been “special effects weren’t up to par to do these movies,” we’re going to adapt the characters for the grindhouse cult classic that we’re making. Even though that opinion is dumb and misses the point of the articles, which is to have fun and talk about John Ritter and watch Charles Napier murder someone. Anyway, 70’s Grindhouse Moonstone has the power of making herself intangible and being a manipulative bitch. And showing her boobs, probably.

If the 70’s taught us anything, it’s that David Carradine is the best Asian actor in the world. I can’t think of a better actor to represent China. 70’s Grindhouse Radioactive Man is radioactive. He probably melts people’s faces off. And since David Carradine is the greatest martial artist of the 70’s, he probably knows Kung Fu AND Kung Fu: The Legend Continues.

A movie like this is all about getting credibility with the fans. We’ve got David Carradine on board, and he is the greatest martial arts star to grace the small and big screens. Some other folks are bringing the Hollywood cred, so now we need to play to the nerds with Songbird being played by Mara Jensen, AKA Athena on Battlestar Galactica! BONUS: She’s dating Don Henley, so keep your fingers crossed and we can get ‘Thunderbolts of Summer’ on the soundtrack. 70’s Grindhouse Songbird uses her sonic scream to reluctantly fight for the man.

In my yearbook, I got the senior superlative of ‘most likely to be an actor.’ Lame and way off the mark. Malcolm McDowell’s was ‘most likely to bind the skin of a dead loved one into the handle of a sword to retain her power’ so I feel like Andreas von Strucker is a good fit for him. Plus he may not have gotten the message across in Clockwork Orange. 70’s Grindhouse Swordsman bound the skin of his dead sister onto the handle of a sword and he’s a bad ass crazy swordsman. What’s the point of that? Would you want to mess with a guy that probably turned his parents into lamps? Hell, give me Superman’s powers. I’m still not going near this guy.

Sweet Christmas, its Black Caesar! Shaft may have been a bad mother, but he didn’t have the build for Power Man. There’s only one hero of blaxploitation that can wear the tiara: Fred ‘The Hammer’ Williamson! 70’s Grindhouse Luke Cage has bulletproof skin, dreamy eyes, and the ability to be the subject of fierce debate about movie racism in some film history class someday.

His grand return as a martial arts hero! The lead character and star of Enter of the Dragon, JOHN SAXON! He’s already got the kung fu credibility, AND Saxon can pull off the billionaire playboy side of Bruce Wayne Tony Stark Lamont Cranston Danny Rand. I wanted to put Shang Chi: Master of Kung Fu in this movie too, but there weren’t any big Asian action stars at the time and David Carradine is already playing Radioactive Man. Is this joke old yet?

There’s no one else to play Misty Knight except for Pam Grier. Misty IS Pam. If Greg Land was drawing a Misty Knight book, he’d be tracing Pam Grier. And porn. Greg Land traces porn.

The man that can’t miss should also be the man with no punctuation: Christopher Walken. If Bullseye wasted time worrying about having a normal human sounding flow to his voice, he might start not hitting people with sharp things. Honestly, Walken already has a lot in common with Bullseye. He’s done the Russian roulette thing in Deer Hunter, he’s got crazy eyes and he’s killed a Greek woman.

The Director

It’s got to be Paul Bartel, the director of the most important landmark movie in the 70’s: DEATH RACE 2000! And some episodes of Clueless: The TV Series.

Watch the credits bump scene for a special appearance by THE DOBERMAN GANG!

Geekscape Casts: The Avengers 2

by Matt Blackwood

The Avengers, the movie that multitudes of Marvel maniacs have been discussing ad nauseum for over three years now is almost upon us. And the movie’s financial success is pretty much a foregone conclusion at this point, so a sequel is likely to be green-lit the Monday after it opens.

That realization got us wondering- What classic characters will be recruited into the next Avengers Initiative? And who should play them? A few years ago, we gave our ideal Avengers cast for the first film! Here, Geekscape is at it again as we assemble some of our best ideas on who should suit up for Avengers 2!

ALAN TUDYK as GIANT MAN

First off, let’s assume that writer/director Joss Whedon is brought back for the next chapter due to universal fan approval (that happens, right?). Like most directors, Whedon loves to cast actors that he knows can deliver and Alan Tudyk has been stealing scenes since Firefly. Tudyk can bring the intellect, awkwardness, and, yes, even darkness to the role of inventor/hero Hank Pym.

MAURISSA TANCHAROEN as WASP

Tudyk may be in Whedon’s inner circle, but smart and spunky writer/actress Maurissa Tancharoen is family, having recently married his brother Jed. Tancharoen’s dancing background should help her with the flying wirework as she brings the final founding Avenger to the sky and screen.

CAM GIGANDET as QUICKSILVER

The next two Avengers in comics were reformed mutant terrorists Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch. Quicksilver’s super speed makes him a formidable fighter, but gives him little patience for others. Gigandet’s turn as a cocky, misanthropic pilot in Pandorum makes him a great choice to play Magneto’s son.

ROONEY MARA as SCARLET WITCH

Mara’s star-making performance in 2011’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo gave her a chance to show off her strength with action, accents, and insanity. She’ll need all three to play Quicksilver’s powerful but off-kilter sister.

AARON STATON as VISION

With Scarlet Witch in the mix, her synthetic sometime husband would be a smart addition. Staton brings a simplicity that comes off as serene rather than vapid as Ken Cosgrove on AMC’s Mad Men, perfect for the passionless Vision. Plus, Staton’s motion-captured detective Cole Phelps from Rockstar Games’s L.A. Noire already showed us that he can pull off the “creepy lifeless android” thing.

COLM FEORE as ULTRON

Hank Pym’s misguided breakthrough in artificial intelligence is one of the Avengers’ most fearsome villains, and Feore’s cold, terrifying performance in Stephen King’s Storm of the Century give him all the evil cred he needs.

ANNA TORV as MS. MARVEL

Some fan-favorite New Avengers might jump the line and join the cast, such as USAF officer-turned-superhero Carol Danvers. Anna Torv already plays a super-powered government worker on Fox’s Fringe and is one of very few humans who could pull off that costume.

MICHAEL JAI WHITE as LUKE CAGE

White has already played a superhero in the terrible live-action Spawn film, but he didn’t get a chance to show off his attitude and fighting skills. If Black Dynamite had bulletproof skin… Wait, maybe this should be its own movie.

MIA KIRSHNER as SPIDER-WOMAN

Kirshner was sexy and dangerous as recurring assassin Mandy on 24, proving she has what it takes to bring SHIELD/HYDRA double agent and super-powered femme fatale Jessica Drew to life.

JOE MANGANIELLO as HERCULES

Few men have the body to emulate a god (or demi-god), but Manganiello’s True Blood nude scenes keep him in the gym pretty perpetually. A recurring role on How I Met Your Mother showed the former Flash Thompson’s comedy chops, which he’d need to pull off the mirthful Prince of Power.

Did we miss? Hit? What other AVENGERS would you like to see in a sequel? Let Geekscape know in the comments below!