After bemoaning the state of the 2024 box office, AMC Theatres chief Adam Aron finally has something to roar about.Aron wrote on Wednesday that Ryan Reynolds-Hugh Jackman starrer Deadpool & Wolverine is off to a supersized start and set a new record for first-day advance ticket sales for the country’s largest movie circuits. Tickets went on sale Monday for the Marvel Studios sequel, which officially opens in North America on July 26 following previews on the evening of July 25.Online ticketing service Fandango, which services a majority of movie circuits, also reported brisk first-day sales for Deadpool & Wolverine, saying they were the best of 2024 to date, as well as a franchise best and the best for an R-rated feature.While neither Fandango nor AMC provided dollar figures, The Hollywood Reporter is offering that first-day sales are likely around $8 million to $9 million extrapolating from a stat cited by Aron that “some 200,000 movie fans have bought their AMC tickets already."

You think the incessant delays affecting the upcoming Blade movie are crazy? Imagine if you’re Mahershala Ali or the people who represent him. The Hollywood Reporter was talking to lawyers inside the industry which included Shelby Weiser, who represents Ali, who can’t believe the movie hasn’t begun filming yet. "That deal was in 2019, and they still haven't shot it, which is pretty much the craziest thing in my professional experience." The film has gone through more than its fair share of re-writes and directors leaving, throw on top of that a writer and actor strike, and you end up with a movie that’s been in production long enough that they should be working on the sequel instead. At the moment the film is still slated for a November 2025 release, but that is becoming harder and harder to believe as Marvel Studios begins looking for its third director since Yann Damange exited the project. And now the studio has to worry about keeping their star as Ali is said to be talking to Universal about joining Jurassic World 4. We’re likely to hear more about both movies this summer with big events like San Diego Comicon and D23 on the horizon.   

Emergency personnel were summoned to the Oaks Park amusement park outside of Portland, Oregon Friday as one of their rides malfunctioned and left 28 people hanging upside down. Firefighters worked with the park’s engineers to manually lower the ride and the patrons were all medically evaluated on the scene. No injuries were reported, but one rider with a pre-existing medical condition   went to the hospital for further evaluation as a precaution. The ride, called AtmosFEAR, swings riders completely upside down. It has been in service since 2021 with no prior incidents, though the ride will remain closed until further notice. The amusement park, which first opened in 1905, released an official statement which included “We wish to express our deepest appreciation to the first responders and our staff for taking prompt action, leading to a positive outcome today, and to the rest of the park guests who swiftly followed directions to vacate the park to make way for the emergency responders to attend to the situation.” 

At the Annecy Animation Festival this week, Warner Bros executives showed off some teasers for the start of the James Gunn/Peter Safran lead DCU. While now finished footage was shown, the upcoming Creature Commandos was introduced through a recorded video from Gunn and the reveal of two storyboarded sequences. The first featured Rick Flag Sr., voiced by Frank Grillo in a dust up with Doctor Phosphorus, voiced by Alan Tudyk. It was announced recently that Grillo will also appear as Flag in the upcoming second season of Peacemaker. The second scene was a bit more comedic and showed G.I. Robot, voiced by Sean Gunn, bonding with fishwoman Nina Mazursky, voiced by Zoë Chao. The series is being described as, “dark, humorous but never goofy and unsentimental, [an] adult-themed show with political storylines.” It’s also said to continue both the narrative and style direction of Gunn’s previous DCU projects, The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker. It was revealed early this week that the Creature Commandos will debut on MAX in December of this year. 

Throughout X-Men history, there’s always a need for a team of formidable mutants willing to cross the lines no one else dares to—X-FORCE! The upcoming From the Ashes era is no different, only this time, X-Force’s mission will be bigger than ever before as Forge assembles a squad tasked with saving a world on the brink of total collapse. Written by acclaimed screenwriter Geoffrey Thorne and drawn by kinetic X-Men artist Marcus To, the new run of X-FORCE kicks off on July 31 and today, fans can check out all the covers that will grace the highly anticipated debut issue. Accessing an omega-level degree of his unique and complex mutant power to build anything, FORGE bears witness to a devastating truth: The world is broken, and only he can see how to fix it! Forge will lead a custom-made, handpicked team of mutants—RACHEL SUMMERS, BETSY BRADDOCK, SAGE, SURGE, and TANK—in off-the-books missions so dire, so integral to the fate of the Marvel Universe, there’s no time to stop for permission! Plus, as Forge detects increasing threats across the planet, he’ll recruit specialists for each target. It’s a revolving door of Marvel guest stars and first up: that regenerating degenerate, DEADPOOL! Be there for an X-Force like you’ve never seen before, stick around to see who joins, who lives, who dies and uncover the mystery of Forge’s shocking discoveries. X-FORCE #1’s covers include exciting images of the team by industry superstars like Stephen Segovia, Tony Daniel, Skottie Young, and Mahmud Asrar, along with the first of a series of character spotlight covers by iconic X-Force artist Clayton Crain. And like many of Marvel’s major launches, X-FORCE #1 will shine on stands with a Foil Variant Cover! Featuring the first issue’s guest-star, Deadpool, this Foil Cover is drawn by best-selling cover artist David Yakanama. The Merc with a mouth is also featured on a special Marvel’s Stormbreakers Variant Cover by Chris Allen. A Logo Variant Cover is also available. Preorder X-FORCE #1 at your local comic shop today!

Warner Bros. Animation and DC Studios are looking to continue telling Blue Beetle stories via an animated series currently in development, Deadline is reporting. Miguel Puga (The Casagrandes) has been working on the project since early this year and will serve as the project’s showrunner and director with Cristian Martinez (Women of the Movement, Good Trouble) set as writer. Angel Manuel Soto and Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, director and screenwriter of the 2023 film, respectively, will executive produce alongside John Rikard who served in the same capacity on the film. Galen Vaisman, who was an EP on the film, will oversee the animated TV series for DC Studios. Many things are still in flux including contracts for any main cast; however, many reportedly have been approached and DC has received a positive response regarding returns. The animated series will reportedly build on the movie, developed under DC Studios’ previous regime, but will divert from telling the same story. Instead, the show will create its own story which, in success, could potentially lead to a return to the big screen for the giant blue bug portrayed by Xolo Maridueña.

Legendary creator and writer Gerry Duggan (X-Men, Falling In Love On The Path To Hell) and award-winning artist John McCrea (Hitman, Mythic) are reuniting to bring back their deadly crime series Dead Eyes for a five-issue miniseries that takes off after the events of the original mafia mystery story. Dead Eyes: The Empty Frames kicks off a new chapter in the fan-favorite vigilante thriller, hitting shelves this September. In Dead Eyes: The Empty Frames, the world’s most unkillable comic is out of hiding and back stomping around Boston. At the end of the first volume, the masked hood known as Dead Eyes picked up a clue as to the location of the paintings swiped in the largest private art heist in America. Can Dead Eyes and Wheels take down the score while avoiding the cops and the mafia? Creators Duggan and McCrea are back and knocking teeth down throats. “The unkillable Dead Eyes is back! We’ve never stopped working on Dead Eyes, and The Empty Frames has more tragical hilarious action than the first one. As always, McCrea, and colorist Mike Spicer really show off in this new volume and prove once again why they’re one of the best teams in the business,” said Duggan. “I love drawing Dead Eyes! Gerry gives me a gritty, film noir world to sink my artistic teeth into, with just the right balance of humor and violence. And I get to work with my longtime collaborator, the amazing Mike Spicer. Plus the fantastic Joe Sabino on lettering duty ties everything up in a pretty, bloody bow. What more could a growing boy want!” said McCrea. The first volume of Dead Eyes is available for purchase now in stores and on digital platforms.

Dead Eyes: The Empty Frames #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, September 11:

Cover A by John McCrea - Lunar Code 0724IM264

Cover B by Dave Johnson - Lunar Code 0724IM265

Cover C by Scott Koblish (1:15 Incentive) - Lunar Code 0724IM266

Dead Eyes: The Empty Frames #1 will also be available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.

Adult Swim is cooking up two new series, one of which adapts the late Anthony Bourdain‘s graphic novels. Ahead of Warner Bros. Discovery’s adult animation showcase being held Friday at the Annecy Animation Festival, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Get Jiro! has received a series order from Adult Swim. The animated half-hour project is based on the New York Times best-selling DC/Vertigo graphic novels written by famed chef and TV personality Bourdain and Joel Rose, with accompanying artwork from Langdon Foss and Alé Garza. Set in the near future, the show centers on a mysterious, revenge-focused sushi chef named Jiro in a version of Los Angeles where customers resort to murder to secure a table at coveted restaurants. Get Jiro! is created by Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka, who co-wrote last year’s A24 feature Sharper which starred Julianne Moore and Sebastian Stan, and they were producers on NBC’s comedy series Superstore. Bourdain and Rose’s first graphic novel in the franchise was published in 2012. Also going to series at Adult Swim is Super Mutant Magic Academy as My Adventures With Superman lands a third season.

For more: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/anthony-bourdain-get-jiro-adult-swim-super-mutant-magic-academy-1235921983/

Demonstrating the formidable strength of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” empire, the network has renewed “House of the Dragon” for Season 3, in advance of its Season 2 premiere on June 16. The “Game of Thrones” spinoff series — co-created by Ryan Condal and “Thrones” author George R.R. Martin — has proven to be a fire-breathing hit for the network. The show enjoyed the biggest premiere audience ever for an original series for both HBO and HBO Max (now Max), and the first season averaged 29 million viewers an episode over linear and streaming. It was renewed for Season 2 just one week following its series premiere. Based on author Martin’s “Game of Thrones” book “Fire & Blood,” “House of the Dragon” follows the Targaryen dynasty in the fictional continent of Westeros. It takes place nearly 200 years before the events of “Game of Thrones” and about 100 years after the Targaryens united the Seven Kingdoms. (via Variety)

BOOM! Studios today revealed a first look at THE GRAVEYARD CLUB #1. Legendary horror author R.L. Stine and rising star artist Carola Borelli (Spider-Woman), colorist Francesco Segala (House of Slaughter) with assistance by Gloria Martinelli, and letterer Jim Campbell (I Heart Skull-Crusher!), bring a new coming-of-age horror series debuting in both comics shops and bookstores just in time for the Halloween season! Available in September 2024. Graves End is as sleepy a town as they come…especially being surrounded by cemeteries, and the local kids can think of nowhere they’d rather wreak harmless havoc. But being surrounded by tombstones comes with the pervasive reminder that in Graves End, there are more dead than there are living… It is an endlessly eerie place with no shortage of strange and dangerous happenings, and when high schooler Parker West pulls what seems like a harmless prank, he may be putting his friends in more danger than he could imagine. THE GRAVEYARD CLUB #1 features a main cover by Miguel Mercado (House of Slaughter), and variant covers by highly acclaimed artists A.L. Kaplan (Stuff of Nightmares), Martin Simmonds (The Department of Truth), and Jenny Frison (Something is Killing the Children). THE GRAVEYARD CLUB is the newest release from BOOM! Studios’ eponymous imprint, home to critically acclaimed original series, including BRZRKR by Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, and Ron Garney; Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera; Grim by Stephanie Phillips and Flaviano; Stuff of Nightmares by R.L. Stine and A.L. Kaplan; Damn Them All by Simon Spurrier and Charlie Adlard; Once Upon a Time at the End of the World by Jason Aaron, Alexandre Tefenkgi, Leila del Duca, and Nick Dragotta; A Vicious Circle by Mattson Tomlin and Lee Bermejo; Ghostlore by Cullen Bunn and Leomacs; Sirens of the City by Joanne Starer and Khary Randolph; Coda by Simon Spurrier and Matías Bergara; Rare Flavours by Ram V and Filipe Andrade; Underheist by David and Maria Lapham; and Animal Pound by Tom King and Peter Gross. The imprint also publishes popular licensed properties, including Dune: House Corrino from Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, and Simone Ragazzoni; Mighty Morphin Power Rangers by Melissa Flores and Simona Di Gianfelice; and The Expanse: Dragon Tooth by Andy Diggle, Rubine, and Francesco Pisa. THE GRAVEYARD CLUB #1 will be available in comic shops September 18, 2024 and in bookstores September 17, 2024. It is available for pre-order at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and your local comic shop and bookstore. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including Kindle, iBooks, and Google Play.