DF Interview: Ron Marz rewinds to an untold tale in the past of a cosmic savior in ‘Warlock: Rebirth’



By Byron Brewer

Adam Warlock was created to be the perfect human specimen. Since then, Adam has gone on to be a cosmic savior, defending the galaxy from the likes of Thanos, the Universal Church of Truth and the Magus. But what will happen when the next evolution of Warlock emerges? Someone who is stronger, faster and smarter than Adam?

Don't miss this untold story of Adam Warlock and the Infinity Watch as Ron Marz and Ron Lim (Silver Surfer: Rebirth) introduce a new character that will forever impact Warlock's legacy! I sat down with Ron Marz and we blasted off to the land we love: Marvel Cosmic!


Byron Brewer: Ron, I know a lot of Marvel Cosmic fans enjoyed your retro Silver Surfer limited series last year. How does it feel to come almost straight back with an LS on Adam Warlock, re-teaming with cosmic art icon Ron Lim?



Ron Marz: Feels like the most natural thing in the world. Or universe. Working with Ron Lim and playing in Marvel’s cosmic playground were my first professional experiences. It’s where I learned how to do what I do. So coming back is great.



Byron: Any connective tissue between these two five-issue mags?



Ron Marz: There are definitely some aspects from the Surfer series that continue here, some threads involving Captain Mar-Vell’s son, Genis-Vell, as he tries to live up to his father’s legacy. That said, this Warlock story stands on its own without any knowledge of the Surfer series required. But not out of the question for the silver guy on the surfboard to make an appearance.



Byron: Your tale takes place during Warlock’s “early days,” says the solicit for Warlock: Rebirth. Which “early days”? The Fantastic Four HIM creation, Adam does Counter-Earth, the Starlin sagas… ?



Ron Marz: This story is set during the era of Warlock and the Infinity Watch, so not long after the events of the Infinity Gauntlet.



Byron: Give us your take on the character of Adam Warlock, especially during the period in which this Rebirth story occurs. Can you give readers a bit of a summary, an extended elevator pitch on what this particular cosmic saga is all about?



Ron Marz: Adam Warlock is, for me, a pretty tortured character. Like a lot of Starlin protagonists, right? Adam is engaged in an existential crisis. He is not human, per se, but he was created to be the pinnacle of humanity. So he wrestles with a lot of the angst of the human condition, just writ large. Adam was created to be the ultimate evolutionary step for mankind, but he broke from his creators. Seems reasonable that those creators might try again, and come up with a “hero” who would be less problematic. I guess the logline would be something like “What happens when Adam Warlock is confronted by someone who is better at doing his job than he is?”



Byron: Hmmm… Cosmic guest star list please! (Genis-Vell on a cover?)



Ron Marz: Yes, Genis-Vell appears in the story, and obviously we’re getting Gamora and Pip the Troll. I don’t think I’m giving away too much by saying that Doctor Strange will be appearing as well, both because he fits the tone of the story, and frankly because I wanted to write Doctor Strange again. We’ll have a few other guest stars, but I want to keep them under wraps for now.



Byron: What has me super excited about this limited series is the news that Ron Lim and yourself will be introducing a new character with Warlock ties. (Puh-leeeze do not be an iteration of the Magus!) Without spoilers, can you tell readers anything about this villain or hint at what the connection to Adam may be? Fans like detective work.



Ron Marz: The “without spoilers” part is a little tricky here. What I can say is that the antagonist for this series is very much a reflection of Adam Warlock, but it’s not the Magus, and it’s not the Goddess from Infinity Crusade. More than that, I’d like to keep that identity under wraps for as long as possible. I want to preserve some sense for the readers of not knowing what’s coming. We as a culture are so keen to always know what’s next that I think we’ve lost some of the magic of experiencing a story and not knowing what’s ahead.



Byron: Agreed. … Talk a little more about seeing your script come alive through the pulse-pounding pencils of Ron Lim!



Ron Marz: Ron Lim drew the first comic script I ever wrote, and he was the primary artist I collaborated with in the first couple of years of my career. I learned a huge amount about doing this by working with Ron Lim, so coming full circle and working with Ron again is just an absolute pleasure. You develop a rhythm when you click with an artist, and you can almost work in shorthand. I know what Ron does, and he knows what I do, how I approach a page. So there’s a lot of trust. There’s also the simple fact that Ron does beautiful work and is a great storyteller. Knowing that an artist is going to deliver on every page is a huge boon in making comics.



Byron: Ron, what other projects in which you are involved can you tell readers about?



Ron Marz: I’m part of the narrative team for Diablo IV video game, which will be released in June from Blizzard, so that’s a big chunk of my time. In terms of comics, the Resolution graphic novel that Andy Lanning and I wrote will be released soon via the Zoop crowdfunding platform. Andy and I also co-wrote a Twilight Imperium graphic novel for CMON Games that comes out this year, and we’re doing a new horror series for Heavy Metal as well. The hardcover collection of my Swamp God serial should be out from Heavy Metal soon. I’ve got a few projects still to be announced from both U.S. and international publishers. And I also served as a story consultant on an Indian television series that will debut later this year on streaming. No rest for the wicked.



Dynamic Forces would like to thank Ron Marz for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions. Warlock: Rebirth #1 from Marvel Comics is slated to be on sale April 19th!



A note from Byron: Since the writing of this interview, the identity of the book’s antagonist has become publicly known. For more, check out: https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/eve-warlock-makes-her-debut-in-ron-marz-and-ron-lim-s-warlock-rebirth



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Fans are eager to see the upcoming Lanterns series on HBO and besides a still shot and a few seconds of footage, very little about the series is known at this point. We got our first comments about it from series star Kyle Chandler who will be playing one of the most well-known Green Lanterns, Hal Jordan. Chandler was being interviewed on the Today Show for his new film The RIP with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. During the interview he was asked about Lanterns and said, “I’ve never had as much fun shooting something as I did that. The people from the top to the bottom. I can’t say enough about Chris Mundy, and the producers, the DC folks. It was an excellent experience. I expect the show to be as good as the experience I had. Aaron Pierre, who I worked with, he and I had a great time.” The series is slated to be released later this year and comes from Mundy, Damon Lindelof and Tom King. Joining Chandler and Pierre in the cast are Ulrich Thomsen as Sinestro, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner and then Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Jason Ritter, Poorna Jagannathan, and Paul Ben-Victor. There will be eight episodes and it is said to be mostly an Earth-based mystery set in the heartland of America with a True Detective vibe. 

Netflix’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. has stirred plenty of speculation across Hollywood, but one message from the streamer’s leadership has been unusually clear: the theatrical experience isn’t going anywhere. In fact, if the sale closes, Netflix says it will strengthen Warner Bros.’ traditional theatrical model rather than shrink it. Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s co‑CEO, has repeatedly emphasized that Warner Bros. films will continue to enjoy a 45‑day exclusive theatrical window—a stance that directly counters fears that Netflix would rush major releases to streaming. Sarandos described Warner Bros.’ theatrical distribution as a “phenomenal” engine that generates billions in revenue, insisting Netflix has no intention of putting that at risk. This commitment marks a notable shift in tone for Netflix, which historically prioritized streaming-first strategies. But after reviewing Warner Bros.’ financials, Sarandos acknowledged that the economics of theatrical releases are stronger than Netflix had previously modeled. He framed the 45‑day window not as a compromise but as a competitive strategy: Netflix wants to “win opening weekend” and “win box office,” embracing the same metrics that drive traditional studios. Industry observers have taken notice. While some feared the acquisition would accelerate the decline of theatrical exclusivity, Netflix’s public stance suggests a more balanced future—one where streaming power and box office ambition coexist. For now, at least, moviegoers can expect Warner Bros. films to keep lighting up big screens for a full month and a half before landing on Netflix’s platform. 

The DCU is expanding with the casting of one of the universe’s biggest bads… Darkseid. While this seems to go against something co-studio head James Gunn has said previously about staying away from the cosmic threat, but this casting isn’t for Man of Tomorrow, but rather the upcoming Mister. Miracle animated series and you can’t really tell the story of Scott Free with mentioning his adopted daddy. Writer Tom King was on the Word Balloon podcast when he talked about the series that he is showrunning and said that they had cast Darkseid and Orion along with Mr. Miracle and Big Barda. If you’re not familiar with these characters, they are all part of the Fourth World Saga created by comic legend Jack Kirby during his short stint with DC Comics. It tells the story of two warring factions, the New Gods and the planet Apokolips and a deal that was made in an attempt for peace. The leaders of the factions, High Father and Darkseid, would exchange children… this sent Scott Free to be raised on the oppressive planet while Orion was sent to the peaceful New Genesis. Scott would become and escape artist, finding a way off of Apokolips with the female warrior, Barda, and eventually come to Earth. Exactly what part of that history the series will focus on is unclear, but we do know that Darkseid and the others will be involved. Gunn also confirmed on social media that the series will be cannon to the DCU that includes the recent Superman movie, the Peacemaker series and the animated Creature Commandos. This means that whoever is voicing these characters in the series would also play them in live action in the future and King has said that the Mister Miracle series will have big ramifications on the DCU as a whole. No word on when the series will debut, but with the casting already made, we can expect an announcement in the near future. 

Takashi Yamazaki’s follow-up to the 2023 Godzilla Minus One is set to hit North American theaters on November 6th, 2026, three days after its premier in Japan. The Academy Award winning film took in $11.4 million in the US on its opening weekend and $57 million total during its domestic box office run. Godzilla Minus Zero is the second film in the franchise from Gkids since taking Toho acquired the company in 2024. David Jesteadt, president of Gkids, said in a statement: “Gkids is proud to bring Godzilla Minus Zero to North American audiences, following the incredible global reception of Godzilla Minus One. This next chapter is sure to become another defining moment for the most colossal monster ever to dominate the screen. It is only fitting that this bold, new Godzilla event be experienced in its fullest theatrical glory, and we’re honored that Toho has entrusted us to carry this legacy forward.” 

As we get closer to the start of production on Matt Reeves’ The Batman Part 2, the cast starts to take shape with the second MCU veteran being added to the cast. We heard of Scarlet Johansson’s casting earlier in December and now multiple sources are saying Sebastian Stan has come on board as well, with the Hollywood Reporter’s Heat Vision report claiming that the actor who plays Bucky Barnes will now take on the role of District Attorney Harvey Dent aka Two-Face. This lines up with the rumors that Johansson would be playing Gilda Dent and that the story may be following the Long Halloween, a popular comic arch by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. While the story does focus on the Dents, many of the other characters in the story have already appeared in The Batman and The Penguin and have already been eliminated. Plus, the setting of the sequel is said to be set around a week after The Penguin series ended, just before Christmas. How ever the characters are used, if Stan is in the film, it then puts the fate of his MCU character in question as The Batman Part 2 will be filming around the same time as Avengers: Secret Wars. While the casting of both Stan and Johansson have not been made official, neither have they been denied by Reeves, James Gunn or DC Studios. 

Deadline is reporting that Mike Flanagan is working on a new adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series. Flanagan said his plan is to adapt the beloved franchise into a five-season series that would then be capped off by two stand-alone movies. The acclaimed horror director recently told Empire Magazine, “We’ve got a lot of scripts done for it. It’s the first priority.” He also made it clear that he doesn’t want the 2017 Idris Elba/Matthew McConaughey film to be the final word on the property. That adaptation has a 16% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Though Flanagan and Intrepid Pictures have a deal with Amazon, the rights to the Dark Tower were specifically carved out of their arrangement and could end up with another studio, but Amazon is also a possibility. Flanagan is known for his work on films like Gerald’s Game, Doctor Sleep and the Life of Chuck as well as series like The Fall of the House of Ushers, The Midnight Club and Midnight Mass. He also came up with the initial story and script for the upcoming Clayface movie that was so strong that James Gunn and Peter Safran has to greenlight a body horror film starring a B-level Batman villain as the third film released in their new DCU.   

Now that we’re in 2026, we need to keep an ear out for casting news for the two big DC Studios films shooting this year, Man of Tomorrow and The Batman Part 2. The Superman follow-up is the one going first and we already got the casting announcement for the main villain, Brainiac with the addition of German actor Lars Eidinger to the cast. There have been rumors that there was a female role being cast for a potential hero that many have assumed was going to be this universe’s Wonder Woman, and while that has not been confirmed, John Rocha of the Hot Mic podcast says his sources confirm that James Gunn is looking to cast the Amazon warrior for the film. That would make sense with the idea that DC is pushing Wonder Woman for a new film with Supergirl scribe Ann Nogueira said to be working on the script. This still falls into the rumor category, but Gunn has not debunked the story as of yet. With the film expected to begin production in the spring, more casting news is expected in the next few weeks/months, and we know that if the “scoopers” have it right, DC likes to get the news out their themselves as they did with Eidinger. So I wouldn’t trust any of the rumored castings as of now. 

James Gunn took to social media this morning to welcome Lars Eidinger to the DCU and Man of Tomorrow in the role of Brainiac. Eidinger, while not a household name, is best known for his roles in Clouds of Sils Maria and Personal Shopper but also appeared in the recent Netflix film Jay Kelly. Gunn talked about a worldwide search for the iconic Superman villain led to Eidinger rising to the top. He will join David Corenswet, Nicholas Hoult and Rachel Brosnahan as the film is expected to begin shooting in the spring of 2026 for a release in July of 2027. There have been multiple attempts to use Brainiac in a Superman film, but each attempt has fallen to the wayside, and his only live-action appearance so far was in the short-lived SciFi series Krypton where he was played by Blake Ritson.    

After having begun production in August of this year, director Destin Daniel Cretton revealed that Spider-Man: Brand New Day has wrapped filming as of Friday. The film, which is set to premiere July 31st, 2026, features the return of Tom Holland as Peter Parker and is the first in the MCU franchise to not be directed by Jon Watts. Cretton wrote on Instagram, “I’m so deeply grateful for the people who walked with me through the biggest, most rewarding film I’ve ever been a part of. To our amazing cast, for breathing so much life into these beloved characters and moving us every day. To our unbelievable crew, who worked tirelessly with unmatched creativity and craftsmanship, who made me laugh so hard my stomach never stopped hurting. I love you all so much and can’t wait for the world to see your stunning work on the big screen. And of course, to @tomholland2013, for your kind, generous leadership on and off screen, for your relentless work ethic, your fearless performances, and for your friendship. That’s a wrap on Spider-Man: Brand New Day!” This is Cretton’s second MCU film after having helmed Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. He has also produced the Wonder Man series set to debut on Disney+ next month. 

Scarlett Johansson is said to be in negotiations to join the cast of the highly anticipated sequel, The Batman Part 2. While Warner Bros. has not officially revealed which character Johansson would portray, speculation is rife across social media and film forums. Many fans are hoping she will take on the role of a major antagonist or perhaps bring a new dimension to an existing character from the Batman lore. Johansson’s acclaimed work in action and drama—especially her iconic run as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe—positions her as a compelling choice for a complex role in Gotham’s shadowy streets. The Batman Part 2 is currently in pre-production, with filming scheduled to commence in May of next year. The film is targeted for a theatrical release in 2026, although official dates may be subject to change. Director Matt Reeves returns to helm the sequel, ensuring continuity in the vision and tone that made the first installment a critical and box office success. Johansson’s addition is expected to boost the already stellar lineup led by Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Within hours of the announcement, social media platforms lit up with enthusiastic posts and trending hashtags. Speculation is running rampant with guesses of her role ranging from villains like Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn to love interests like Silver St. Cloud and Vickie Vale. One of the more popular suggestions is that Johansson could be playing Andrea Beaumont, a love interest and antagonist from the hit animated film Mask of the Phantasm. The casting has not been confirmed and neither the studio nor Reeves has commented since the story broke.