Showbiz news is not slowing down in the dog days of summer, and we round it up here.
HBO Max is not proceeding with the Greg Berlanti anthology series Strange Adventures, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The series had been planned as a one-hour drama series; it had been in development since 2019 (see “DC Content on HBO Max“). The cancellation follows the deep-sixing of the Batgirl feature, which had also been set for release on the streamer (see “Warner Bros. Deep-Sixes ‘Batgirl’“).
The Predator-based Prey feature was Hulu’s biggest ever in viewing hours the first three days, according to Variety, topping all previous feature or series releases. The story is set 300 years in the past, with a skilled Comanche warrior fighting to protect her tribe from an alien predator (see “New ‘Predator’ Feature“).
DC is considering its options for The Flash, as star Ezra Miller picks up a felony case, according to The Hollywood Reporter. They were charged with felony burglary after allegedly stealing liquor from a Vermont home, according to the report. Miller was also arrested twice in Hawaii this spring and charged with second-degree assault in April, and with disorderly conduct and harassment in March. Miller may seek professional help, according to the report, and if so, Warners could open the movie as planned June 23, 2023, with Miller presumably doing press to support the release. Warner Bros. could also open the film without putting Miller on the road to support it; or in the worst case, shelve the project completely. The first trailer has already been released, showing Michael Keaton in his return as Batman (see “’The Flash’ Teaser“).
A fourth Kung Fu Panda feature is in the works from Universal’s DreamWorks Animation, with a March 8, 2024 release date set, according to Deadline. The third movie in the franchise set a January box office record for an animation release in 2016, and did even bigger business in China (see “’Panda 3’ Tops U.S. Box Office“). The home video release was also strong (see “DVD Round-Up: ‘Kung Fu Panda 3’“).
Paramount has set dates for two upcoming animated features, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will be released on December 20, 2024; the second film in the series opened bigger than the first, which set a record for a video game adaptation (see “’Sonic 2’ Opens Bigger“). Paramount has also set February 14, 2025 as the release date for a planned Smurfs animated musical feature, according to the report.
IDW has five new series in development, the company announced, including Dark Spaces: Wildfire with UCP (comic by Scott Snyder and Hayden Sherman); The Delicacy with WBTV (graphic novel by James Albon); Rivers with HBO Max (created by Dan Berry and David Gaffney); Ballad for Sophie with Universal International Studios (comics by Filipe Melo and Juan Cavia); and Brutal Nature with Anime Studios (created by Luciano Saracino and Ariel Olivetti).
Crunchyroll announced a slew of new anime acquisitions with manga roots at the recent Crunchyroll Expo, including series prequel feature Jujutsu Kaisen 0; Tower of God 2nd Season, tied to the SIU webtoon, My One-Hit Kill Sister, Reborn to Master the Blade: from Hero-King to Extraordinary Squire, The Human Crazy University, The Reincarnation of The Strongest Exorcist in Another World; and Sugar Apple Fairy Tale. Older content acquired by the streamer includes Akira; your name; director Mamoru Hosoda’s catalog The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Wolf Children, and The Boy and the Beast. Features planned for release include Afro Samurai: Resurrection starring Samuel L. Jackson; Josee, the Tiger, and the Fish; The Stranger by the Shore; Sing a Bit of Harmony, and those from popular anime franchises Free!, Fairy Tail, PSYCHO-PASS, Code Geass, and Black Butler.Source: ICv2
