Capetonians, tourists and movie lovers are in for a special Dezemba as our fave, The Galileo Open Air Cinema, brings the jolly vibes with their festive season lineup!
As locals know, with the sun setting later and clear skies as far as the eye can see, summer in Cape Town is the gift that keeps on giving and the Galileo is putting the bow on that present with a programme of Hollywood classics and new features guaranteed to give you a good time.
The Galileo Open Air Cinema offers festive season entertainment for the whole family this December! Image credit: Galileo Open Air Cinema
Screenings take place at some of the Mother City’s most drop dead gorgeous venues, including the iconic Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, the picturesque Century City’s Central Park and the urban wonder Battery Park at the V&A Waterfront. For those keen to take a mini-day trip out of the city, there are screenings in the Cape Winelands too.
The Galileo’s full festive season line-up is jampacked with some Christmas favourites so while it was SUPER hard to choose just a few to feature, here are a few of our must-sees:
Fun for the whole family:
Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell in tights and a musical? Sign us up! Don’t miss Spirited at the Galileo Open Air Cinema on 26 December 2024. Image credit: The Galileo Open Air Cinema
Whether you’re indulging your inner 90s kid with the classic Home Alone 2 , introducing your little ones to the magic of The Polar Express or letting your long-forgotten musical festive geek freak fly with Spirited, Kirstenbosch Garden is THE place to be from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day.
For the lovers amongst us:
To us, Love Actually will always be perfect. Experience this classic under the stars with the Galileo Open Air Cinema on 19 December 2024. Image credit: Galileo Open Air Cinema
A far cry from the cheesy Hallmark movies making the rounds, Hollywood romcoms The Holiday and Love Actually are back to remind you that love conquers all. Remember to pack those tissues!
For the festive film buff:
We’ll stand by this: Die Hard IS a Christmas movie! Watch it with the Galileo Open Air Cinema crowd on 23 December 2024 and see if you agree. Image credit: Galileo Open Air Cinema
Settle that ongoing argument once and for all: Die Hard IS a Christmas movie! Prefer less explosions but still want that discerning cinematic experience? E.T. is your next best bet or you can go for the ultimate spooky festive experience with The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Your festive movie under the stars await:
Ready to be entertained with your beloved festive season film? The Galileo Open Air Cinema is ready to welcome you with a variety of ticket options to suit your comfort levels and needs. Get your Galileo Open Air Cinema tickets here.
There is nothing like a delicious pizza, hot drink and scrumptious snack to complete the Galileo Open Air Cinema experience this festive season! Image credit: Galileo Open Air Cinema
For more information about the movie schedule, ticket options and additional services, including setting up a festive season proposal, visit www.thegalileo.co.za.
Hey, HOTD fans, how are we doing after last weekβs deadly episode? Everyone still mourning the Grandmother of Dragons, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best) and her Red Queen Meleys, who were so stealthily taken out by the seriously hot but crazy Aemond One-Eye (Ewan Mitchell) and his beast Vhagar?
Cry with me again for this:
That last look Meleys gave to Rhaenys…I just felt like it was an apology and a goodbye wrapped up in one. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. I'm sorry I failed. Goodbye." #HouseOfTheDragonpic.twitter.com/Mxl9R7OynT
As much as I enjoyed this view of the sadistic Aemond:
The third dragon I would love to ride after his uncle Daemon and his great x 9 nephew Jon ..Grrrr. Ewan Mitchell is all kinds of goddamn hot! Image credit: Twitter
And wanted to fly away with him when he looked like this:
He may be a sadistic kinslayer but f*** is he gorgeous too! Image credit: HBO
I must keep my eye on the prize- the Iron Throne- and guide you all on what to expect now that weβve surpassed the half-way mark of this eight-episode season.
My lords and ladies, here is our current list of fighters and their prize dragons:
Team Black (because as Danyβs stan, Jonβs second wife, Daemonβs dream lover AND a loyal Targaryen, I pledge fealty to Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), the one true heir of King Viserys I):
Moondancer whose rider is Lady Baela Targaryen.
Team Green:
My predictions for Episode 5 and the countdown to the season finale:
Unforgivable backstabbing, horrifying deaths (the sounds of that decapitation still haunt my dreams!), welcoming of bastards unknown to the Targaryens and Velayrons until now (hey Catelyn Stark, ever read a history book about blended families? Might have helped you with Jon, huh?) and a healthy disregard for being called a Kinslayer (thatβs 3, Aemond.THREE!) will ensure that things move at a quick pace from here on out.
Embracing your husband’s bastard and telling him to raise him up and make him his heir? Rhaenys, you are EVERYTHING. Catelyn Stark could never. Image credit: HBO
Episode 4 really gave me Game of Thrones Season 6 Battle of the Bastard vibes with its slow motion warfare capture, the iconic loyalty and weary hero vibes Rhaenys was showing off that echoes in Jon facing Ramsayβs army centuries later.
Rhaenyra (Emma DβArcy) will feel the loss of Rhaenys, the last living adultier adult and clear-minded relative she had left, keenly. Without Rhaenys to counterbalance Daemon (Matt Smith)βs darker impulses, Rhaenyra is going to give in to the blood and fire lust and this may not leave her Realm in peace as she so badly wants it to.
Aemond, that hot but dangerous moron, has now taken Aegon out (or at least incapacitated him for a while) and cleared his path to becoming heir to the Iron Throne. Unlike the Fire and Ice source novel where Aegon has a second son Maelor to succeed him and Aemond names himself Prince Regent, the Iron Throne is Aemondβs now, in all but name. With more and more lords raising their banners for Team Green, high on the power of his dragon and his prowess on the battlefield, Aemond is going to be cocky AF and not see his potential downfall coming right at him.
Should Daemon call The Ghostbusters to Harrenhal?!
See, Daemon may be starring in his own version ofΒ The Haunted MansionΒ or The Haunting of HarrenhalΒ right now, with visions of his dead wife Laena (Savannah Steyn) , the younger, innocent version of Rhaenerya (Milly Alcock) ) and having to face all of his other demons, but that strategic war brain never quits and he is cooking up something BIG. Big enough that Aemond is going to have to ask the only other brother he has, and potentially doesnβt hate, the unseen Daeron and his dragon Tessarion, for help. Yikes.
Rhaenyra and Daemon’s eventual sacking of King’s Landing takes a very different turn in the source novel so I am very interested to see how George RR Martin and his show writers adapt and deviate Daemonβs master plan onscreen.
From the Episode 5 trailer, we already know there will be some insane developments, in particular the parading of Meleysβ severed head through the Red Keep and Flea Bottom:
Team Black’s dragons may not be strong enough to take on Vhagar by themselves each, but together, they could seriously put a dent in Team Green’s defenses. From the trailer for Episode 5, it looks like Rhaenyra will be taming Vermithor, the former stead of her great-grandfather Jaehaerys I, whom Daemon awakened with a song at the end of last season. Seasmoke, Laenor’s dragon, has been wooing his bastard brother Aadam of Hull (Clinton Liberty) and Jace (Harry Collett)is rounding up the other dragon seedlings to claim the riderless dragons flying around Dragonstone.
Either way, each side is coming with Fire and Blood for what they think is theirs.
We may not all have Rhaenysβ kickass dragon seat belt, but I suggest strapping in, my lords and ladies. The Dance of the Dragons is about to seriously heat up and it is going to be an earth scorcher!
House of the Dragon airs on HBO on Sundays, airs on MNET 101 on Mondays at 9pm and is available to stream on Showmax.
Itβs our favourite time of the year again: Comic Con Cape Town returns to the Mother City for its second annual event and we are SUPER excited.
Master the art of the quick change (there are no telephone booths around so you canβt pull a Clark Kent to Superman transformation, though π), transform into your best costume and meet us at the Cape Town International Convention (CTICC) 2 from Saturday 27 April to Wednesday 1 May 2024.
Weβve been attending the Comic Cons, hosted by Reed Exhibitions, since 2018, so we know quite a few fantastic tips that you, the most die-hard geek, can use to Hulk Smash your way through your first one.
Here is the Superfans SA Insiderβs Guide to Comic Con Cape Town 2024:
Book your tickets:
There will be no joining the Dark Side or gaining access to nerd Valhalla without your must-have tickets. Unlike Charlie, you are not going to find these in special chocolate bars (donβt worry, this event is 100% real, unlike that Glasgow incident, and you will not be left high, dry and without chocolate β in fact there are several options available at the Food Hall so pick up your favourite bar there!).
Here’s a look at what those must-have tickets got Con attendees last year:
You can book your tickets via the Conβs amazing website. Saturday is already sold out so be faster than The Flash and book yours TODAY.
Get your Meet and Greet Packages:
We are fangirling HARD for the top tier guests that the Con organising team have managed to pull out of their magic hats! For literal years, itβs been our dream to have Cape Townβs very own talented performer and star of hit international shows including Lucifer and The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, Lesley-Ann Brandt, appear at a Con on home soil and itβs FINALLY happening! We cannot wait to have her speaking Lilim, aka Afrikaans to us.
Amongst the absolute must-haves for your photography and autograph collections are Sean Gunn of Marvelβs Guardians of the Galaxy fame; most of Netflixβs wildly popular show One Pieceβs cast (we are personally madly infatuated with Langley Kirkwood, one of South Africaβs choice actors since his days as a charismatic cult leader on now cancelled soapie Isidingo) and the absolute bevvy of artists,including our favourite Bill Masuku.
Make memories with your idols by booking your sessions here.
Plan your Con schedule:
The Con team have conveniently popped their schedule onto their website. We strongly suggest you download the Comic Con app and plan your experience around your meet and greets, any of the guest panels you want to attend, the sideline events (there is a speed dating event too so who knows? You may meet the MJ to your Spiderman!), mealtimes and how far you can walk around in your costume.
Plan your Comic Con schedule via the app so that you don’t miss out on any of the cool things on offer, including Q&As with your favourite guests! Image credit: Superfans SA
Unless you have an Alfred living in your garage, whipping up a bullet-proof costume in record time, you are going to need to either make your own or rent one.
Leonie is our resident wardrobe mistress and there are a few places that she loves sourcing our costume basics and makeup from including Party City, Clicks and Crazy Store in Gardens. For all of our heavy-duty make-up and prosthetic needs, she loves Masque Makeup & FX Warehouse. From bald caps and liquid latex, to fake teeth and special contact lenses- they have it all.
Leonie rocks our Comic Con cosplay creation with a variety of specialized suppliers. Image credit: Superfans SA
If you are not quite ready to take on the mantle of Costumer Designer, we suggest visiting your nearest costume rental store or pop over to the Cosplay Cape Town group on Facebook to see whatβs for sale.
Top up your bank cards:
The Exhibitorsβ Hall is a treasure trove of geeky goods. Before you go spending like youβre Bruce Wayne, please ensure youβve topped up your debit or credit cards and donβt forget to bring them along or load them onto your phone so you can shop until you drop.
Most of the vendors will have card machines or Yoco so you are in good, safe hands.
An extra tip: on the final day of the Con, the vendors tend to seriously drop their prices and there are plenty of bargains to be had.
Fuel up at the Food Hall:
In the great words of the late Remus Lupin, Professor of the Dark Arts at Hogwarts:
Listen to Professor Lupin. Image credit: Tenor
The CTICCβs in-house catering team really shines a Bat Signal on all things super food related at the Con and weβll admit to feasting on ALL of their epic character themed burgers EVERY single day of last yearβs event π
Just look at one of them:
Hulk Smash Burger into our mouths! Yum, those CTICC caterers really got the superhero memo for Comic Con Cape Town. Image credit: Superfans SA
Youβll find the Food Hall on the second floor, right next to the Gaming Arena.
Charge those batteries:
You will be taking hundreds of photos and videos throughout the Con so be sure to charge your devices outside of your loadshedding schedules. Bring along a portable charger too.
There are some fantastic things to see, film and snap a photo of. You do NOT want to miss the Hugo Lambrechts Orchestraβs Disney set at the opening ceremony, the Cosplay Contests, the table top games sessions and more.
Hereβs the Orchestra using the Force at last yearβs Opening Ceremony:
Aside from just generally being a good Con attendee who doesnβt litter, bully or push into lines, please be respectful of other cosplayersβ personal spaces. Ask their permission to take a photograph or video of or with them and under no circumstances will inappropriate behaviour and touching (both verbal and physical) be tolerated.
Channel your inner Matt Murdock/Daredevil and familiarize yourself with the Conβs policy so you can understand the legalese around it.
Thatβs it from us! Have a super fun Comic Con Cape Town 2024, Everyone.
If you want to come and say Hi to Leonie and I during the Con, pop us a DM on Instagram or Facebook and letβs set up that pow wow.
The latest trailer for the highly-anticipated Barbie The Movie, starring Margot Robbie as the titular toy icon, has dropped and we are absolutely tickled pink by it:
With Ryan Gosling as Ken, Simu Li (Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings) as the other Ken, Issa Rae, Emma Mackey (Sex Education) and Dua Lipa as the other Barbies, this is the most star-studded movies about toys since Toy Story!
With Barbie The Movie just WEEKS away, we are already planning and coordinating our hot pink outfits (yes, Tendai too! π )
Barbie The Movie is stepping into cinemas with its high heels on, on 21 July 2023.
You can switch off the Bat Signal now, Mother City: Comic Con Cape Town (CCCT) is here and ALL of the superheroes are out to play!
The ultimate team up between Comic Con Africa and Fan Con Cape Town, CCCT is a love letter to the geeks of South Africa’s most beautiful city and honestly, we are here for it.
Are you ready for the ultimate family day out at Comic Con Cape Town?
With day jobs as freelance communications specialists, Leonie and I are going to have one day only, Thursday 27 April 2023, to check out all of the cool festivities at the Cape Town International Convention Centre but you, our dear Superfans, have FOUR days of fun ahead of you.
That is IF you managed to secure tickets – CCCT is now officially SOLD OUT!
Here’s a quick guide of what is on offer at CCCT this long weekend:
The Con:
Four days of epic cosplay competitions, shop-until-you-drop merch sales at the exhibitor stalls, eye-catching artwork at the Artists’ Alley, educational talks by experts in the field AND onstage appearances by the top Hollywood talent await at the CTICC from 27 to 30 April 2023.
At the recent media launch, the team announced that they’ve added David Oakes, who is best known for his roles in the series Vikings: Valhalla and Victoria, to the celeb roster and we are stoked!
David Oakes, best known for Vikings: Valhalla and Victoria is coming to Comic Con Cape Town!
Leonie and I are especially excited about a performance that hails straight from a galaxy far, far away: the live orchestral recital of Star Wars music by Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre at 10am on Thursday 27 April 2023! Enjoy, we will.
A great addition, and much more coordinated, to the CCCT festivities is the side events, including the Coffee and Comics event at Truth Coffee on Thursday 27 April 2023 and the screening of The Incredibles at the Galileo Open Air Cinema on Sunday 30 April 2023!
Get a personalised drawing from one of your favourite international comic book artists whilst sipping on a flat white:
Grab an original artwork with your coffee!
Or, dress up in your best spandex and fight with your siblings about who gets which of The Incredibles’ powers (to be honest, Jack-Jack is my spirit animal!):
Spandex and family time are on the cards for movie goers!
Our African artists are world-class and deserve to be celebrated as such! Running concurrently with the Con, the Animation Festival is not to be missed.
Pitching competitions, screenings, studio focus and industry panels await aspiring animators. Get your tickets here.
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for live updates from Comic Con Cape Town and come and say hi. We’d love to meet you all!
90s kids, it’s Morphin’ Time! Streaming giant Netflix released the first trailer for the upcoming 30th anniversary special, titled Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always. The special will debut on 19 April 2023.
The mature heroic team are called back to fight against their iconic villain Rita Repulsa (voiced byΒ Barbara Goodson) and solve the mystery of original Yellow Ranger Trini’s death. It looks to be an emotional adventure of note for our rainbow coloured friends.
While this special is billed as a reunion of the original Power Rangers, there are only two of the OGs returning: Walter Emanuel Jonesβ Zack and David Yostβs Billy. The first Pink Ranger actress Amy Jo Johnson will not be returning due to a pay dispute and whether we will see the late Jason David Frank as Green/White Ranger Tommy remains to be seen.
As I mentioned to Tendai, I will be watching this special purely for the nostalgia but I already have some doubts. Yost was already too old to play a teenager in the 90s (he was 26!) and to now make a return as a 54 year old super powered fighter is just pushing it. I also don’t know how I feel about the producers using the very real tragedy of actress Thuy Trang’s death in 2001 as a motivation to explain Trini’s death in-universe.
Still, I am super excited to sing along to the iconic theme song and see Alpha 5 again!
Go! Go! Go! Power Rangers!
Set your reminder for the debut of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always on Netflix on 19 April 2023.
Holy Batman! It’s FINALLY happening:Comic Cape Townis coming to the CTICC 2 in the Mother City from 27 to 30 April 2023.
This super event sees our faves FanCon Cape Town and Comic Con Africa pool their powers and team up to bring Capetonian geeks the very best artists, cosplayers, vendors and stars from around the world for one spectacular long weekend!
Here’s a sneak peek of what to expect from Comic Con Cape Town:
Here is a recap of the amazing international and local spotlight artists attending Comic Con Cape Town this April π
Comic Con Cape Town’s social media platforms have been absolutely buzzing with all of the latest news and updates and these are a few of our favourites:
Must-see artists:
Bill Masuku:
We cannot wait to see our fave Bill Masuku at Comic Con Cape Town!
Our favorite local artist Bill Masuku, the talent behind Captain South Africa and Razor-Man, makes his long-awaited return to the Mother City as an international artist at Comic Con Cape Town and we are excited π Bill will be joined in the Artist Alley by Ian ChurchillΒ (X-Men: Age of Apocolypse, Deadpool, Star Wars: Han Solo, and more) and Mark BrooksΒ (Ultimate Spider-Man Annual, Ultimate X-Men, Ultimate Fantastic Four, and more).
Not-be-missed photo opps:
Tati Gabrielle:
An outstanding actress known for her stellar work in The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, YOU, and Uncharted, Tati Gabrielle will be onsite for photo opportunities and panel discussions all weekend long.
We cannot wait to see all of you at Comic Con Cape Town. Get your tickets here.
Sweet Holy Seven – Margaery Tyrell is in the Mother City! Yes, Game of ThronesSuperfans, the Young Rose’s actress Natalie Dormer is in our hometown to film the upcoming local series White Lies and we are beyond thrilled.
Following in the footsteps of her former GOT co-star Iain Glen and his bone chilling turn in the M-Net drama Reyka, Dormer will star alongside renowned South African actor Brendon Daniels (Four Corners and Trackers). The eight episode series, will focuses on Dormer’s character Edie, an investigative journalist who gets caught up in a family murder gone wrong. Daniels will star as veteran detective Forty Bell, Edie’s grumpy rival.
In addition to GOT, Dormer is known for her work in The Hunger Games and her breakout role as the ill-fated Anne Boylen in The Tudors.
Filming on White Lies began on Monday 6 March 2023 so keep an eye out for Dormer in Cape Town!
In the meantime, here are some of our favourite Margaery Tyrell scenes to tide you over:
Oh, be still my pre-teen boyband-loving heart: BACKSTREET BOYS ARE COMING TO CAPE TOWN!
Mother City, get ready to singing along to every single word of every song as Kevin, Brian, AJ, Nick and Howie bust out those sweet 90s move at the Grand Arena GrandWest on 16 May 2023. You guys know how this one goes:
Darren Simpson and his KFM Breakfast team made the exciting announcement this morning and honestly, I let out a full-on teenage scream π When I tell you the chokehold these guys had on me between 1997 and 2010… I had their posters up on my bedroom wall. Their albums were the soundtracks of my first crushes, first kiss and first school trip away from my family. My sister Sameehah and I would fight about who Nick Carter belonged to – I lost and happily settled for the ever suave Kevin Richardson.
For a time there in 1999 when I only dressed in oversized men’s shirts and baggy pants, these five were my stylish role models. Why? Because:
The Backstreet Boys DNA Tour concert will be held at GrandWest Casino’s Grand Arena on 16 May 2023. Tickets, available at TicketMaster, will go on sale this Friday 24 February 2023.
Join me for the rest of the day in singing along to some of the Backstreet Boys’ greatest hits:
Those lucky Americans get to celebrate their football championships with the best halftime show AND trailer drops galore every February and honestly, I am JEALOUS! At yesterday’s epic event, Rihanna made her comeback after six years and dropped her big news: she’s pregnant with her second kid. Go RiRi!
Rihanna had a special guest artist at her Superbowl show last night: her second baby bump! Image credit: Pitchfork
In addition to the Queen of the Barbados rocking it out on stage, some of our favourite returning shows, upcoming comic book movie features and delicious drive-thrus dropped some cool ads and trailers.
Much like their character Barry Allen, Erza Miller royally screwed up the timeline of the release of The Flash with their much publicized arrests and meltdowns over the past few years. Thank the Speed Force, though, and begrudgingly the new DC CEOs, for reverse flashing the decision to can the movie. Thanks to their timeline fixing, we will now get two Flashes, both played by Miller; the Batfleck; the return of OG Batman Michael Keaton; and a Supergirl of colour, Sasha Calle as Kara.
Enjoy the trailer:
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny:
Is Harrison Ford far too old to play his second most iconic character? Probably but as long as there is an item of Holy Grail stature to save, a pretty girl to impress and bad guys to outsmart, Ford will slip back into Indy’s skin and enthrall a new generation of treasure hunters. With the miracle of de-aging effects and a cast bolstered by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas and fellow Indiana Jones alum John Rhys-Davies , Ford returns for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Steven Spielberg and George Lucas have stepped back from directing and writing this fifth and final installment and will serve as executive producers instead.
Crack a whip and a look at this:
Scream VI:
Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott may be out but Ghostface is still in and he/she/they (don’t forget the rules: there are ALWAYS two murderers!) and terrorizing several returning franchise final girls in New York City!
Scream VI sees recent stars Jenna Ortega (Wednesday) and Melissa Barrera team up with Courtney Cox and Hayden Panettiere (she was the final girl in Scream 4) to finally (yeah, right!) put an end to their worst nightmare.
Get ready to slash your way to freedom:
Fast X:
My Khal Drogo Jason Momoa being the bad guy and taking on Vin Diesel as Dominic Toretto and his entire family in the tenth Fast&The Furious movie, Fast X? Hell yes, my man, SIGN ME UP!
After the guys went full throttle in space in the last movie, I was willing for this franchise to go gently into the night. Now Momoa is shifting the acting into high gear, John Cena is back as Dom’s younger brother and we are getting the late Paul Walker making a comeback as Brian (thanks to his brothers and CGI). I am so here for it!
Pump the gas with this epic trailer:
Ben Affleck loves his Dunkin’ Donuts:
Finally, the world can move on from Ben Affleck being every bored husband at his wife’s work event (Google Ben Affleck Grammys) and see that our guy is just like us in this delicious Dunkin’Donuts ad:
What did you think about the Superbowl 2023 show, trailers and ads? Let us know on Twitter and Facebook!
Anyone else get severe time sickness when you watched James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios announce the new slate of movies, series and games on Tuesday 31 January 2023?
Look, I as much as any DC fan, am absolutely in favour of the DCU connecting all over the various mediums so kudos to Gunn and his co-CEO Peter Safran for that. What I cannot wrap my head around is the blatantly stupid decisions and choices being made about which problematic stars get to stay (yes, Ezra Miller, even the Flashpoint cannot save you now!) and which mega stars are being cut loose.
Henry Cavill is not my favourite Superman and honestly, Zack Snyder took himself WAY too seriously with his movies but there was a potential in the Cavil and Batffleck combo that could have been explored more with the right writers and crew. Hell, the man gave up his damn fine lead role on The Witcher for the DC deal he was promised and Gunn and Safran went “nah, thanks but no thanks!”. This has the smell of those dumb asses and Game of Thrones Season 8 all over again.
James Gunn has announced a new DC slate of shows, movies and games and a few of our favourite actors are out! Image credit: Joblo.com
Speaking of which β¦ really, Gunn? Describing a drama series set in Wonder Woman‘s birthplace, Themyscira, as a GOT-style show makes it sounds like you are trying too hard to convince viewers and fans that this is going to work. Instead of just letting Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot finish off their Wonder Woman threequel and then waiting a few years to do a series spin-off, the boys are now bulldozing their way into making their own show. Ugh.
Don’t get me started on the fact that, despite Dumb and Dumber hailing Wonder Woman as one of their “diamond characters”, she is being sidelined into a series while Supermanand Batman are being rebooted especially for the new DC slate. As if we don’t already have a plethora of Batman projects and actors out there. Let Matt Reeves do his thing with Robert Pattison and bring Ben Affleck back, you cowards!
Bring Batfleck back, you cowards! Image credit: Digital Spy
I get it – Gunn saw what Marvel and Kevin Feige did with making the MCU, Netflix series, ABC shows and Fox films one big universe and decided to follow the same formula. BUT Feige at least had the common sense to respect the various fandoms and honour their history with the various characters by bringing them together under the convenient multiverse concept. Gunn and Safran are decimating entire characters, universes and plotlines.
This is a shame because Greg Berlanti and his team were really great at bringing back former DC actors as either other characters or crossing the mulitverses in fun crossover episodes. Two of my favourite scenes were these in the Arrowverse:
I won’t deny that Gunn’s Peacemaker is a great series but I hardly think that is going to help him and his partner with this overhaul of the DC content. In the Arrowverse, it has been strongly hinted at that John Diggle (David Ramsey) is the next Green Lantern John Stewart so will he the star of the new Lanterns series? Unlikely, now that Gunn and Safran have parted ways with Berlanti who was heading up the first proposed Lanterns series.
We are all still reeling from the fact that the completed Batgirl movie was scrapped. We’ve lost out on the opportunity to have the first Batgirl of colour played by Leslie Grace and to see Michael Keaton return as his OG Batman character. Melissa Benoist’s Supergirl series has ended (and honestly, not a moment too soon since it was the weakest of the Arrowverse shows) but Gunn and Safran think giving Kara Danvers a traumatic childhood makeover and exploring how it affects her in a miniseries, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, is going to appeal to younger audiences.
Supergirl gets a tragic makeover in the new series on DC’s slate. Image credit: IGN.com
Let us not forget that Gunn is the reason Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy is a disappointment and pales in comparison to the rest of its counterparts. It’s so bad that some of its leads are now speaking out against it.
Gunn’s own history of being being fired by Disney for his past paedophilia and molestation tweets aside, the decision to go ahead with Miller’s Flash movie is a strange one. Like the Royal Family, the DC Studios is happy to keep promoting an alleged child molester but won’t support a black woman in a leading role. Classy, real classy.
The proof of this madcap slate will be in the proof of the pudding β¦ or viewing, as the case may be.
Ok, I’ll get off of my soapbox now. What are your thoughts on the new DC slate? Let me know in the comments below or on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram!
We’ve been invited to the magical opening night show and we’re SUPER to experience the wonder of the Zip Zap Circus team:
The non-profit circus school recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. Rhapsody – A Philharmonic Circus includes traditional and contemporary circus acts, accompanied by a 14-piece troupe of musicians, led by conductor Chad Hendricks, and dynamic Cape Town vocalists, Janine and Riyaan Cornelius, who perform hits from Elton John, Tina Turner, local favourites Mango Groove and Johnny Clegg, and a number of other artists to keep the audience fully entertained.
A spectacular scene from Zip Zap Circus’s previous show! Image credit: Joan Ward
Tickets for this incredible show are available at Computicket.
Keep an eye on our Instagram and Twitter channels for live updates of Rhapsody‘s opening night!
Holy, Betty White! This is not a f***ing drill, people: Hugh Jackman will reprise his iconic role as Wolverine in Ryan Reynolds’s first Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film, Deadpool 3!
My jaw dropped when Reynolds first released this video:
And then I lost my everlasting mind when this happened:
Guys! The pair have been hinting at bringing the X-Men’s clawed fiend and the Merc with the Mouth together again for LITERAL years! The last time we saw them on screen together was in Jackman’s first solo Wolverine movie in 2009. That film was lambasted for its disappointing portrayal of Deadpool – a fact that even Reynolds ripped to shreds in his first movie in 2016.
I know what you’re thinking, though: Jackman very clearly and finally laid Wolverine to rest in the 2017 standalone feature Logan, passing his claws to his clone/daughter. However, as the hilarious friends explain in the second video, that movie is set way, WAY into the future, when Professor X causes a global incident. Deadpool 3 will be set in our future/Wolverine’s past and we can enjoy all of the blood, gore, fourth wall breaking and comedy we can handle.
Wolverine and the Merc with the Mouth are back together in the MCU’s Deadpool 3! Image credit: Twitter
I hope we can – since Disney has acquired Marvel, things have been Mousified to the detriment of Stan Lee’s comics. Case in point has been Hawkeye and She-Hulk. I am praying to the Celestials, the Eternals and the Watcher that Disney doesn’t f*** with Deadpool and Reynolds’s signature foulmouth, sadistic, brutal and gory joy. I need my sex and violence, goddammit!
Jackman’s main reason for giving up his legendary claws in 2017 was because, after 17 years of playing the character, his body could no longer endure the gruesome fitness programme it needed to get into Wolverine shape. Since hanging up the mantle, he has been enjoying life as a travelling Broadway performer and a gentle actor.
I don’t need him to be super ripped but my heart and eyes would love at least one more scene like this one:
The MCU’s Deadpool 3 film will be in cinemas worldwide in 2024.
There is plenty to be excited about in the geek world this month: from a returning Comic Con Africa to a new season of a favourite Netflix show and the release of an all-new Disney+ live action classic, it’s one huge geek fest!
Let’s get into it:
Pinocchio:
When you wish upon a star … a star-studded live-action version of one of the ultimate classics is delivered!
Pinocchio will be released on Disney+ on Thursday 8 September 2022, only (sadly, there will be no theatrical release). Starring Tom Hanks as Geppetto, Cynthia Erivo as Blue Fairy, Luke Evans as The Coachman with voice actors Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Jiminy Cricket, Keegan-Michael Key as Honest John and introducing Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Pinocchio, this is one magical Disney adventure you won’t want to miss!
I’ll be honest and say I am a bit apprehensive about this live-action film. I didn’t love The Lion King and Aladdin made me question a few things about what we’re teaching children with these fairytales. I do hope Pinocchio leaves me with the same sense of wonder that the live-action Beauty and the Beast does every time I watch it (and I don’t care what people say, Emma Watson did a great job as Belle).
Cobra Kai:
Are you ready to wax on, wax off with Danny LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence once again?
The fifth season of Cobra Kai, the incredibly popular sequel to the Karate Kid movie franchise, will debut on Netflix on Friday 9 September 2022.
Our frenemies Danny (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny (William Zabka) are teaming up with another of Danny’s former foes Chozen (Yuji Okumoto) to take down the awful Cobra Kai Sensei Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith) and show their students that good can prevail over evil, once and for all.
I’ve really enjoyed this series, especially during the lockdown when it gave me hope that life can get better. The first Karate Kid movie was released the year before I was born so, as with Stranger Things, I am enjoying being immersed in the 80s culture via the regular movie flashbacks. It is also great to see all of these actors who are in their late 50s and 60s kick some serious butt.
With Leonie competing in karate tournaments, this show has also helped me understand her passion and appreciate the sport. Now, say it with me: Cobra Kai never dies!
Comic Con Africa 2022:
It’s been nearly three years since Leonie and I wowed Comic Con attendees with our excellent cosplay in Johannesburg. While we aren’t making the geek pilgrimage to the Comic Con Africa 2022 weekend-long celebrations, plenty of you will and we wish you all of the best fun!
Comic Con Africa returns! Image credit: Comic Con Africa
Celebs on this year’s schedule (which is subject to change due to unavoidable circumstances) include Tati Gabrielle (YOU and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) and Selwyn Ward (Power Rangers franchise). The Artist talent is always a highlight of the Con and this year’s lineup doesn’t disappoint. Be inspired by Bill Masuku (Captain South Africa and Razor Man); Zack Howard (Hell Boy); Steve Ellis (Iron and Spiderwoman); Jason Masters (Batwoman, Captain America and James Bond) and more.
NB: Please remember that while regulations have been disbanded, COVID-19 is still around so take extra precautions to keep yourselves, your loved ones, the Comic Con team, stars, artists and other attendees as safe as you can.
We were thrilled to be invited back in the CapeTalk studio to chat to the incredible Pippa Hudson about the Game of Thrones prequel, House Of The Dragon, on Friday 19 August 2022.
With Night Queen Leonie and Khaleesi Fazielah in studio, and Lord Hand of the Queen Tendai joining us from Zimbabwe, Pippa had our House Wyrd aka Superfans trio discussing feminism, succession rules, the glory of dragons and all of our hopes for the new show.