Category: TV

Marvel Studios Taps Yassir Lester As Head Writer For Armor Wars

by jaywashington, posted in Entertainment, TV

Marvel Studios just keeps the ball rolling with their Disney Plus shows. Following the success of WandaVision, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Loki and now WHAT IF, they are continuing the trend of getting top talent to head their series. Marvel Studios has tapped Yassie Lester to be the head writer of  Armor Wars starring Don Cheadle. Cheadle will reprise his role of Col. James Rhodes aka War Machine. Plot details are vague other then the question being raised, what would happen if Tony Starks technology fell into the wrong hands?

Lester, had been bit of a leg up on other writers pitching for the job having already worked with Cheadle on his Showtime series Black Monday. It is being reported that Lester’s pitch excited execs as well as Cheadle for what he thought Armor Wars could be.

We seemingly got a small taste of how the plot could play out in Iron Man 2. For those who can recall we saw Justin Hammer played by Sam Rockwell, during a senate sub committee hearing was exposed for trying to create his own version of the Iron man armor. We also saw intercepted video that showed various countries attempting to make their own super powered suits all to fail. 

Now does this mean the Academy Award winner, Rockwell would be returning to reprise his role? Not sure we did see him be arrested towards the end of the Iron Man sequel so who knows. There also was an Armor Wars cartoon series that gave us many different Marvel villains so the possibility of this being included in the story is also present. But what is known is that Marvel Studios is on a role with their limited series and that train does not seem to be slowing down any time soon. 

NAOMI From Ava DuVernay Has Found Its Lead Star

by jaywashington, posted in Entertainment, TV

The upcoming DC Drama NAOMI from Ava DuVernay and Jill Blankenship has found its lead in Kaci Walfall. Walfall (Army Wives, Power, The Lion King on Broadway) will star in the title role as Naomi, an effortlessly cool and confident high school student who is the adopted daughter of doting parents. Popular with all the kids in her military town, Naomi is unafraid to embrace her AP-student, comic book–loving nerdiness. After a supernatural event leads to the discovery of her powers within, Naomi pursues her hidden destiny.

(L-R): Camila Moreno (Photo Credit: Idalmiz Lopez), Alexander Wraith (Photo Credit: Violeta Meyners), Kaci Walfall (Photo Credit: Stacia Walfall), Cranston Johnson (Photo Credit: Michael Lee Kimel)

Alexander Wraith (Orange Is the New Black, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) stars as Dee, the owner of a local tattoo parlor. When a strange event leaves the town in chaos, Dee hints that he knows more than he is willing to tell. 

Cranston Johnson (Filthy Rich, P-Valley, Hap and Leonard, Euphoria) stars as Zumbado, the mysterious owner of a local used car lot. Having heard troubling rumors about his past, Naomi actively tries to avoid him, but a tense encounter leaves her both shaken and curious.

Making her television debut, Camila Moreno will star as Lourdes, a young woman with a sarcastic sense of humor who works in a vintage collectibles shop. She has an unrequited crush on Naomi, and she shares her obsession with classic comics. She is also happy to join in on Naomi’s schemes.

NAOMI follows a teen girl’s journey from her small northwestern town to the heights of the multiverse. When a supernatural event shakes her hometown to the core, Naomi sets out to uncover its origins, and what she discovers will challenge everything we believe about our heroes. Based on the characters from DC.

The acclaimed NAOMI comic book series debuted in 2019 with Naomi: Season One, co-written by Brian Michael Bendis and David F. Walker, and illustrated by breakout artist Jamal Campbell. The comic follows a remarkable young woman on her unique hero’s journey.

The CW Is Moving Forward With Three New Pilots, Including NAOMI From Ava Duvernay

by jaywashington, posted in Entertainment, TV

The CW is further expanding its television lineup heading into the 2021-22 season with the announcement that they are moving forward with three pilots and one project heading straight to series.

Among the three pilots moving forward is the DC Comics project, NAOMI produced by Ava Duvernay’s ARRAY Filmworks in conjunction with Warner Bros Television and Jill Blankenship.

NAOMI follows a teen girl’s journey from her small northwestern town to the heights of the multiverse. When a supernatural event shakes her hometown to the core, Naomi sets out to uncover its origins, and what she discovers will challenge everything we believe about our heroes. Based on the characters from DC.

The acclaimed NAOMI comic book series debuted in 2019 with Naomi: Season One, co-written by Brian Michael Bendis and David F. Walker, and illustrated by breakout artist Jamal Campbell. The comic follows a remarkable young woman on her unique hero’s journey.

Other shows being given pilot orders are: THE POWERPUFF GIRLS the story of three girls used to be America’s pint-sized superheroes, now they’re disillusioned twentysomethings who resent having lost their childhood to crime fighting. Will they agree to reunite now that the world needs them more than ever? Based on the original Cartoon Network animated series and characters created by Craig McCracken.  Heather Regnier and Diablo Cody will serve as writers and executive producers. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and David Madden will also executive produce and Erika Kennair will produce alongside.

Also give a pilot order is an UNTITLED URMAN/ROTHROCK/WEIR PROJECT (PILOT ORDER). A dramedy about two millennial nuns – a devout true believer, and a new arrival who has yet to take her final vows – who start as strangers and become sisters on a funny, spiritual journey to understand their own faith and place in the Catholic church. The project will have as its writers/executive producers: Claire Rothrock & Ryann Weir (“Basic Witch”) and produced by CBS Studios and Sutton St. Productions.

The network has also order THE 4400 straight to series. This series is about 4400 overlooked, undervalued, or otherwise marginalized people who vanished without a trace over the last hundred years are all returned in an instant, having not aged a day and with no memory of what happened to them. As the government races to analyze the potential threat and contain the story, the 4400 themselves must grapple with the fact that they’ve been returned with a few…upgrades, and the increasing likelihood that they were all brought back now for a specific reason. Based on the original TV series. It is written and executive produced by Ariana Jackson along with Anna Fricke, Laura Terry. It is also produced by CBS Studios.

Check Out The First Trailer For THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER

by jaywashington, posted in Comedy, Entertainment, TV

Today is SUPERBOWL LV and as expected we are going to receive a variety of highly anticipated commercials, teasers and trailers.

Well Marvel Studios gave us the first one many were excited for in the upcoming Disney Plus series THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER starring Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan. 

Marvel Studios’ “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier” stars Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson aka The Falcon, and Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes aka The Winter Soldier. The pair, who came together in the final moments of “Avengers: Endgame,” team up on a global adventure that tests their abilities—and their patience. Directed by Kari Skogland with Malcolm Spellman serving as head writer, the series also stars Daniel Brühl as Zemo, Emily VanCamp as Sharon Carter, and Wyatt Russell as John Walker. 

Check it out below and catch the next installment into Marvel Studios television when it debuts on March 19. 

Ethan Hawke To Be Main Villain In Marvel Studios MOON KNIGHT

by jaywashington, posted in Entertainment, TV
Ethan Hawke

In a major story just dropped by THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, it is being reported that Ethan Hawke ( TRAINING DAY, BOYHOOD, THE PURGE SERIES) has signed on to be the main antagonist for Marvel Studios MOON KNIGHT on Disney + starring Oscar Isaac.

It is not yet reported exactly who Hawke will be portraying in the series but in the comics Moon Knight’s archnemesis is considered a villain named Bushman, a fellow mercenary who turned on the hero when Egyptian gold came into the picture.

May Calamawy, who is perhaps best known for her work in Hulu’s Ramy, has also been added to the cast which is set to begin production in March in Budapest.

For those unfamiliar with the titular hero of the series, Moon Knight has had several incarnations over the decades since his debut in 1975, from being an ex-Marine-turned-mercenary with multiple alter egos to being a conduit to conduit for the Egyptian moon god Khonshu, to most recently a dapper-dressed consultant. An aspect to the stories in the modern comics era has been tackling the mental illness of multiple personalities.

Mohamed Diab, the Egyptian helmer behind Middle Eastern drama CLASH,  and Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, indie genre filmmaking team behind sci-fi horror movies THE ENDLESS and SYNCHRONIC, are directing the show.

NAOMI Coming to The CW From Ava Duvernay And ARRAY Filmworks

by jaywashington, posted in Entertainment, TV

For the first time director, Ava Duvernay and her ARRAY Filmworks will partner up with The CW to bring NAOMI to the network.

The CW Network is developing a script for NAOMI, a new project from Ava DuVernay and Jill Blankenship produced by ARRAY Filmworks and Warner Bros TV, based on the DC character of the same name.Sarah Bremner and Paul Garnes will also produce for ARRAY Filmworks.

NAOMI follows a teen girl’s journey from her small northwestern town to the heights of the multiverse. When a supernatural event shakes her hometown to the core, Naomi sets out to uncover its origins, and what she discovers will challenge everything we believe about our heroes.

For those unfamiliar with the comic, the acclaimed NAOMI comic book series debuted in 2019 with Naomi: Season One, co-written by Brian Michael Bendis and David F. Walker, and illustrated by breakout artist Jamal Campbell. The comic follows a remarkable young woman on her unique hero’s journey.

Chantal Thuy Upped To Series Regular On BLACK LIGHTNING

by jaywashington, posted in Entertainment, TV

Fans have come to love the Thunder-Grace relationship with Thunder/Anissa Pierce played by Nafessa Williams and Grace Choi played by Chantal Thuy. Well, we will for sure be getting more of that relationship in volume in the upcoming fourth season as Chantal Thuy has been upped to a series regular on BLACK LIGHTNING that will premiere in February.

Chantal Thuy embodies the character of Grace Choi,” says BLACK LIGHTNING executive producer and showrunner Salim Akil. “I am sure our BLACK LIGHTNING fans knew, especially those who follow the Grace and Anissa relationship storyline, that having Chantal join as a series regular was only a matter of time. I am elated to finally welcome her officially to the team.”

Thuy’s character of Grace Choi is based on the BLACK LIGHTNING comic created by Tony Isabella with Trevor von Eeden, Grace Choi has been in a committed onscreen romantic relationship with Anissa Pierce (Nafessa Williams) since the first season. The fan-favorite couple has consequently been through the highs and lows that any superheroes trying to maintain a personal life go through.

Thuy recently made her Broadway debut last year in Tracy Letts’ play Linda Vista with the Second Stage Theater in New York. Alongside the Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble, she reprised the role of Minnie Tran after playing the part in the Center Theatre Group’s production in Los Angeles. She also ha previously guest starred in television series such as Madam Secretary (CBS), Pretty Little Liars (Freeform) and Matador (El Rey Network). She is represented by Joseph Le Talent Agency and Brillstein Entertainment Partners.

In the third season amidst all of the chaos we saw Anissa & Grace attempt at getting married which was put on hold. Hopefully we will see the nuptials given and more Grace Choi in action.

PAINKILLER To Get His Own Spinoff Series On The CW

by jaywashington, posted in Entertainment, TV

After a major turn around in his arc in Season 2 of BLACK LIGHTNING and helping the Outsiders to stop Agent O’Dell (Bill Duke), GraveDigger (Wayne Brady) and the ASA’s occupation of Freeland, PAINKILLER played by Jordan Calloway will be getting his own spinoff series as announced by the CW on today.

The pilot will air as the seventh episode in the upcoming fourth season of BLACK LIGHTNING. BLACK LIGHTNING creator Salim Akil will serve as the shows EP, Writer and Director.

The synopsis of the series is:

Khalil Payne (Jordan Calloway) is a young man ridden with the guilt of his troubled past from his former life in Freeland City, where, as a super-enhanced killing machine known as Painkiller, he was both a member of Tobias Whale’s gang and a weapon of Agent Odell and the shadowy ASA. After attempting to bury the darker, devastatingly lethal Painkiller part of his persona, Khalil has distanced himself away from everyone he knows and loves in a new city, Akashic Valley, in order to find peace…but peace never comes easy for men with pasts like Khalil Payne and Painkiller.   As his violent, destructive history crashes his idyllic new beginning, Khalil is thrusted back into action with a new mission – bring justice where he once gave out punishment – but to do that, he will first have to deal with and harness his darker side, Painkiller.

This is very exciting news not just to see the world of BLACK LIGHTNING expanding but also for Jordan Calloway who has worked extremely hard in developing the character and getting him to connect to the audience.

You can check out the third season of BLACK LIGHTNING currently streaming on Netflix

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WANDAVISION To Drop On Disney Plus On January 15 2021

by jaywashington, posted in Comedy, Entertainment, TV

After much speculation that the upcoming MCU Disney+ show would debut on the streaming platform before the end of the year, it has now been confirmed that will not happen as WANDAVISION will arrive on January 15,2021.

WANDAVISION is a blend of classic television and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in which Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany)—two super-powered beings living idealized suburban lives—begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems. The new series is directed by Matt Shakman; Jac Schaeffer is head writer.

Much is expected of this new installment into the MCU as we will see Teyonnah Parris play a grown up Monica Rambeau to whom we were introduced to as a young girl in CAPTAIN MARVEL, Kathryn Hahn as the nosy neighbor (who many believe she is actually Agatha Harkness), Randall Park who reprises his ANT-MAN & THE WASP role of Jimmy Woo, Kat Dennings bringing back her THOR: THE DARK WORLD role as Darcy Lewis and more. 

Javicia Leslie in the NEW BATWOMAN Suit Looks Amazing

by jaywashington, posted in Entertainment, TV

When we got out first look at Javicia Leslie as the new Batwoman in a screen test it was met with many mixed emotions. Well now it seems that all those emotions can shift in a more positive direction as we now have our FIRST FULL LOOK at Leslie’s Ryan Wilder as the new protector of Gotham.


The redesigned Batsuit was conceptualized by Batwoman costume designer Maya Mani and created by Ocean Drive Leather, the wig created by Janice Workman and makeup styled by Cory Roberts.

Regarding new character Ryan Wilder and Batwoman’s new look, executive producer Caroline Dries said: “Ryan’s journey starts from a place of ‘What can this Batsuit do for me?’ But it’s not long before she realizes the power of its symbol and what it can do for everyone else in Gotham City. As Ryan embraces everything that makes her special, she adjusts the suit to fit her physically and figuratively. This meant creating a new body design and new cowl that was undeniably a statement that screamed ‘powerful.’ Maya Mani sent me her drawings and I loved it. The wig was something we never perfected in season one, and Janice Workman crushed it with this new take. Javicia and I saw various prototypes of styles and red ombres, and at one point we were trading our own iPad-doodled versions. Janice translated that into what we are looking at now. When I see it, I smile. It makes me feel inspired.”

Javicia Leslie is the first Black actress to portray Batwoman in a live-action television or film production. Of the design and her collaboration with Caroline Dries and Maya Mani, she said: “I love the fact that Ryan is becoming her own Batwoman — it’s her style, her swag, and her moment! It was an honor to be able to collaborate with Caroline and Maya. I felt it was important that viewers could tell by the silhouette that Batwoman was a Black girl. With the form-fitting suit and beautiful Afro, we definitely nailed it!”

Costume Designer Maya Mani, who has created many of the suits for the “Arrowverse,” says of the redesign: “I was asked by Caroline Dries to design a Batsuit that was unique to the character of Ryan Wilder; as she is a highly skilled fighter, encapsulating her raw, athletic, and passionate nature was imperative. As Batwoman, Javicia Leslie not only brings a fresh perspective, but physical strength to the role. It was important for the new suit to define Javicia’s commanding presence while showcasing her athleticism and allowing her the freedom to express the physical nature of Batwoman, all while looking ultra-cool in the process!” 

Notable changes include:

  • A new cowl featuring natural, curly hair with red streaks, red gauntlets over the forearms, and shorter boots.
  • A redesign with new materials, featuring laser etching to create more visual depth and a stronger silhouette.

As someone who was excited for the second season to see what Javicia Leslie brings to the role this amps up the excitement ten fold.