There are a few more points of geek showbiz interest heading towards Christmas, and it’s time for a round-up.
Alcon Television Group will adapt Battle Chasers for TV, according to The Hollywood Reporter. This series is based on the Battle Chasers comic book series by Joe Madureira that launched in 1998, and later moved to Image Comics in 2001, with sales among the top books from Marvel and DC (see “November Comic Orders Continue Trend“). Madureira has promised to complete the comic series, which had only nine issues in the early 00s, with three new issues to be released in 2022. The new TV series will be written and executive produced by Derek Kolstad, who created the John Wick franchise and is also the writer on the Hasbro’s upcoming D&D live-action series (see “‘D&D’ Live-Action Series“).
Apple TV+ has placed a series order for a 10-episode live-action series based on the Top Shelf Productions graphic novel series Surfside Girls (see “Top 10 Kids Graphic Novels of 2017“), the company announced. Daytime Emmy Award nominee May Chan will write, exec produce, and serve as showrunner for the series, which will be produced by IDW Entertainment and Endeavor Content. The series will star Miha Cech and Yaya Gosselin.
Wattpad Webtoon Studios is partnering with ViacomCBS to develop a slate of original series based on titles from Webtoon and Wattpad, the companies announced. The series will be distributed on ViacomCBS networks and platforms, including Paramount+. Wattpad Webtoon Studios was created by their parent company Naver and funded with $100 million earlier this year (see “$100M for Webtoon, Wattpad Development“).
Netflix has pulled the plug on its live action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop after only one season, which dropped in November, according to The Hollywood Reporter. John Cho starred as Spike Siegel; anime creator Shinichiro Watanabe was on board as a consultant (see “John Cho in ‘Cowboy Bebop’”).
Disney made it official that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will have a sequel, according to Variety. The first movie set a box office record over Labor Day weekend with $94.4 million in ticket sales (see “‘Shang-Chi’“), and made $431.9 million worldwide, thus far. Also, Destin Daniel Cretton was announced at the second feature’s returning writer and director.
HBO Max released a new trailer for The Matrix Resurrections (see trailer below). The next chapter of The Matrix saga, starring Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss, is headed to movie theaters on December 22 (see “Best in Shows — 2021“). Source: ICv2
