Enter the ‘House of the Dragon’ as New Teaser Trailer Debuts

October 5, 2021October 5, 2021 Mike Manalo

Let’s address the elephant in the room. Game of Thrones did not end well. For every brilliant season the show had, there was an episode in the final season that disappointed fans. But whatever the case, the fact of the matter remains, before GoT there had never been anything like it on television ever, and still isn’t. We can throw a million and one fantasy clones at a streaming service (Shadow and Bone, Wheel of Time, Foundation, The Witcher, Cursed, etc.). And yet none of them ever matched the sheer scale or cinematic quality of fantasy storytelling that the original show achieved.

Comics, Fantasy, Streaming

New Trailer Unlocked for ‘Locke and Key’ Season 2!

September 14, 2021September 14, 2021 Mike Manalo

Last year, the long awaited live action adaptation of Joe Hill’s Locke and Key dropped on Netflix and did not disappoint fans of the original comic series (yours truly enjoyed it)! It proved to be a fun, whimsical, and somewhat lighter take on the source material, but was anchored with some interesting ideas and strong performances. And since its debut, fans have been eagerly awaiting their first glimpse at the next chapter if the adventure!

Fantasy, Movies, Streaming

Watch the Official Trailer for Prime Video’s ‘Cinderella’

August 3, 2021August 3, 2021 Sophia Soto

Cinderella stars Camila Cabello as the title role, along with Idina Menzel, Minnie Driver, Nicholas Galitzine, Billy Porter, and Pierce Brosnan. James Corden, Leo Pearlman, Jonathan Kadin, and Shannon McIntosh serve as the film’s producers and executive producers include Louise Rosner and Josephine Rose. Cinderella was written for the screen and directed by Kay Cannon. The official trailer and poster for the new Prime Video movie has just been released!

Fantasy, Movies, Sci Fi1 Comment

The New Trailer for ‘Dune’ is Here

July 22, 2021July 22, 2021 Mike Manalo

It’s here, nerds! The official trailer for the most anticipated (certainly the most gorgeous looking) film of the year has arrived — Dune! In our previous post this week, we discussed the trailer would be coming soon. Those who attended last night’s IMAX event were treated to the trailer ahead of its release today, as well as several minutes of the film that looked mind blowing!

Fantasy, Movies, Sci Fi

‘Dune’ Will Be A Game-Changer

July 21, 2021July 21, 2021 Mike Manalo

Tonight and tomorrow, audiences are going to to have their eyes rocked to the core, because Warner Bros. and Legendary are holding an exclusive first look event at Denis Villeneuve’s visionary adaptation of the sci-fi classic Dune in IMAX screens all over the world! And if you have not gotten your tickets yet, I highly encourage you to do so now by clicking here. We were lucky enough to get to see the preview a bit earlier this week, and I can honestly tell you, IT IS AMAZING! And we’d like to describe and recap what we saw now, and what makes it so special.

Comics, Fantasy

Bestselling Writer and Producer Mark Millar to Release ‘The Magic Order’ Sequel

July 15, 2021July 15, 2021 Jamal Michel

Bestselling writer and producer Mark Millar (Jupiter’s Legacy, Kingsman: The Secret Service) makes a triumphant return with The Magic Order 2, expanding on the the magical world he created as a live-action Netflix series in this second volume of the comic book adaptation. Olivier Coipel (Amazing Spider-Man, Thor) was recruited to draw the first volume and delivered some of the best work of his career. This time around, legendary artist Stuart Immonen (Empress, Star Wars, New Avengers) will be in the chair of the highly-anticipated sequel. The Magic Order 2 #1 will launch this October from Image Comics.

Fantasy, Movies, Streaming

Amazon Studios’ Releases Teaser and Poster for ‘Cinderella’

July 1, 2021July 1, 2021 Sophia Soto

Amazon Studios’ Cinderella was written for the screen and directed by Kay Cannon. Camila Cabello will take on the iconic title role. The rest of the legendary cast is made up of Idina Menzel, Minnie Driver, Nicholas Galitzine, Billy Porter, and Pierce Brosnan. James Corden, Leo Pearlman, Jonathan Kadin, and Shannon McIntosh serve as producers, while Louise Rosner and Josephine Rose are executive producers.

Fantasy, Streaming

Netflix’s ‘Shadow and Bone’ Renewed for a Second Season

June 7, 2021June 7, 2021 Laura Sirikul

Netflix has finally announced the renewal of its second season of the hit series Shadow and Bone. The cast surprised fans with their own announcement of the renewal. Based on Leigh Bardugo’s worldwide bestselling Grishaverse novels, Shadow and Bone had more than 55 million member households watching the fantasy series in its first 28 Days. The series made the Top 10 list in 93 countries around the world and hit #1 in 79 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Germany, Russia, Spain, South Africa, and the U.S.

Showrunner, writer, and executive producer Eric Heisserer said in a press statement, “I’m honored and thrilled to return to the Grishaverse and continue the stories of these endearing characters, particularly Milo.”

Comics, Fantasy

Marc Bernardin and Ariela Kristantina Present Original Graphic Novel ‘Adora and The Distance’

June 3, 2021June 8, 2021 Jamal Michel

Just in time for Father’s Day is award-winning writer and FatMan Beyond co-host Marc Bernardin’s first ever YA graphic novel Adora and The Distance. The novel is inspired by Bernardin’s daughter who was diagnosed with autism as a toddler and tells a deeply beautiful and personal tale of adventure, courage, and mystery. The novel follows the goings-on of young Adora as her fantastical world of pirates, giants, and ghosts comes under threat by a mysterious force called “The Distance.”

Comics, Fantasy

Image Comics Goes Way Down to Hadestown with ‘Punderworld’ Graphic Novel

May 20, 2021May 20, 2021 Keith Chow

One of my favorite parts of the Tony-Award winning Broadway musical Hadestown is the story of Patrick Page’s Hades and Amber Gray’s Persephone. Also, I’m always down for interesting reinterpretations of Greek myths. Now, one of the biggest webcomics on the internet, Punderworld, is coming to comic shops from fan-favorite creator Linda Šejić. Think of it as a kind of prequel to Hadestown.

Fantasy, Video Games

‘The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD’ will Launch with Amiibo Feature That Has Fans Concerned

May 20, 2021May 20, 2021 Jamal Michel

Back in February, the folks at Nintendo dropped an official trailer for the highly anticipated release of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD for the Nintendo Switch. The high-definition remaster of the 2011 classic, originally released on the Nintendo Wii, was announced during February’s Nintendo Direct stream, to the thunderous applause of countless Zelda fans. What followed were several announcements, including Skyward Sword themed Joy-Cons (with preorders currently sold-out practically everywhere) available the same day as the game’s July 2021 release.

Fantasy, Movies, Music

Production Begins on Disney’s Highly-Anticipated ‘Disenchanted’

May 17, 2021May 17, 2021 Sophia Soto

The new live-action musical comedy sequel to the beloved Enchanted, which will be directed by Adam Shankman and produced by Barry Josephson, Amy Adams, and Barry Sonnenfeld, is currently shooting in Ireland. The film features Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, and Idina Menzel all reprising their roles from the first film with Maya Rudolph and newcomer Gabriella Baldacchino joining the cast. Disenchanted will also include new songs from Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz.

Fantasy, Movies, Music

‘Cinderella’ is Arriving on Prime Video in September

May 13, 2021 Sophia Soto

Cinderella wrapped last year and fans have been ready to see it ever since. Now, we can finally get ourselves officially ready for the royal ball because the film will hit Prime Video in September of this year. As if that announcement wasn’t exciting enough, some first look images were also released!

Comics, Fantasy, Nerd Nostalgia6 Comments

In Praise of ‘ElfQuest’

April 21, 2021April 27, 2021 Shawn Taylor

Every single time there is a “best of” list of comics and graphic novels, it’s almost inevitable that most of these lists are going to look a little similar. You’re going to see Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns on there, Moore and Gibbons Watchmen; (very deserving of a spot in the top 20) Grant Morrison and Dave McKean’s Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth. In writing this, I reviewed fifteen lists and this plays out, with some new additions like Robert Kirkman’s Invincible and Brian K. Vaughan’s Ex Machina; and the more seemingly odder choices like, say, Brian Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. And at some point, we’re going to have to talk about why there are so many damn men dominating these lists.

Fantasy, Interview, Streaming, Television

Netflix’s ‘Shadow and Bone’ Cast and Creatives Giving the Fans What They Want

April 16, 2021June 11, 2021 Laura Sirikul

The anticipated Netflix fantasy series Shadow and Bone, based on the bestselling books by Leigh Bardugo, is set to release next week! With the trailers and images slowly being released by Netflix, fans get a closer look at what to expect from their favorite stories and characters. With both the Shadow and Bone trilogy and the Six of Crows duology being blended together, fans are wondering just how this might work.

Fantasy, Streaming, Television

‘Shadow and Bone’ Official Trailer Expands the Grishaverse and Crow Storylines

March 31, 2021May 15, 2021 Laura Sirikul

Adapted from the successful award-winning fantasy novels by Leigh Bardugo, fans have been wondering just how Netflix was going to mesh the Grishaverse trilogy with the Six of Crows duology for Shadow and Bone. With the release of the official trailer, we get a glimpse of how the beloved Crows play into Alina Starkov’s story.

Fantasy, Streaming, Television

Wayne Che Yip Joins ‘The Lord of the Rings’ to Direct Four Episodes

March 27, 2021May 15, 2021 Jamal Michel

British Chinese director Wayne Che Yip has joined the creative team of its Amazon Original The Lord of the Rings television series as a director and co-executive producer, per Amazon studios.

Yip joins the international ensemble cast, currently filming in New Zealand, to direct four episodes. He continues the work of Spanish filmmaker J.A. Bayona, who directed the first two episodes of the series.

Books, Fantasy, Sci Fi

An Endorsement: Tim Fielder’s ‘Infinitum’

February 26, 2021August 18, 2021 Shawn Taylor

Afrofuturism is having a moment. First posited by journalist Mark Dery in the early 1990s, Afrofuturism is now a full-blown social, cultural, psychological, technological, and aesthetic movement. And never has this movement, this moment, been more fully realized than in Tim Fielder’s magnum opus, Infinitum. To call it a graphic novel would be to undercut it’s value. It is an enterprise of speculative cultural cartography.

Fantasy, Streaming, Television

Netflix Releases First Look and Character Posters of ‘Shadow and Bone’

January 27, 2021May 15, 2021 Laura Sirikul

Netflix has just released the first look images and character posters for their new anticipated series Shadow and Bone.

Based on Leigh Bardugo’s best-selling Grishaverse novels, Shadow and Bone is set in a war-torn world where lowly soldier and orphan Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) has just unleashed an extraordinary power that could be the key to setting her country free. With the monstrous threat of the Shadow Fold looming, Alina is torn from everything she knows to train as part of an elite army of magical soldiers known as Grisha. But as she struggles to hone her power, she finds that allies and enemies can be one and the same and that nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. There are dangerous forces at play, including a crew of charismatic criminals, and it will take more than magic to survive.

Fantasy, Literature, Movies, Streaming

New Trailer for ‘Roald Dahl’s The Witches’ Magically Appears

October 2, 2020May 15, 2021 Mike Manalo

For any Roald Dahl fan who grew up in the ’90s, the original The Witches starring the incomparable Anjelica Huston, was a staple of cinematic Halloween entertainment, serving as one of the best (if not the best) Dahl adaptations ever, as well as a traumatic nightmare of kid-friendly terror that was as horrifying as it was wonderful!

Fantasy, Movies, Sci Fi

‘Dune’ Trailer: Denis Villeneuve Is Showing Us Something Legendary

September 9, 2020September 9, 2020 Jamal Michel

The internet world is already losing its collective mind over the premiere of Dune‘s trailer online. Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic is going to be something legendary for cinemas and fans alike. Beyond fear, destiny awaits. Watch the trailer for the … Continue reading ‘Dune’ Trailer: Denis Villeneuve Is Showing Us Something Legendary

Fantasy, Movies, Sci Fi3 Comments

The New ‘Dune’ Trailer has The Spice! Plus Q&A from the Cast and Director

September 9, 2020September 9, 2020 Mike Manalo

This morning, Warner Bros. unveiled the first trailer for the most anticipated movie event of the year — the long awaited, big budget adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune. Directed by visionary master, Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049, Arrival, Sicario), and starring literally every big name in Hollywood — Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem — the trailer gave us our first glimpse of the members of House Atreides, Arrakis (the planet commonly referred to as Dune), and of course, giant motherf**king sandworms! Given Villeneuve’s work visually and thematically, as well as the charismatic, strong leads anchoring his vision, I think it’s safe to say WB has a utter game changer on their hands! See for yourselves:

Books, Fantasy, Interview

Shawn Speaks with Claribel Ortega, Author of ‘Ghost Squad’

August 10, 2020August 25, 2020 Shawn Taylor

Ghost Squad is a middle grade/young audiences (depending on their tolerance for the spooky) novel that does so many things right: remixes the “kids on bikes” trope, prioritizes adventuring for black and brown girls, and how adventuring doesn’t end when you get older.

Continue reading “Shawn Speaks with Claribel Ortega, Author of ‘Ghost Squad’”