There is another change in the executive producer ranks of HBO’s House of the Dragon. Jocelyn Diaz will not be returning to the Game Of Thrones sequel as it is headed into its second season. Deadline reports that she had a one-year deal with an option for a second, which is not being picked up.

The exit comes on the heels of series exec producer Miguel Sapochnik stepping down after serving as co-showrunner for Season 1, with House of the Dragon co-creator/exec producer Ryan Condal, who was co-showrunner with Sapochnik, becoming sole showrunner for Season 2 and continuing to work closely with series co-creator/executive producer George R.R. Martin.

It was revealed at the time of Sapochnik’s exit as co-showrunner that Sara Hess and Diaz would also continue as executive producers for Season 2, along with Vince Gerardis. That will not be the case with Diaz, a non-writing EP, as Condal is firming up his team. (Ron Schmidt, who also served as an executive producer on Season 1, quietly exited the series awhile ago.)

So far, there is one new executive producer addition for Season 2 of House of the Dragon. Alan Taylor, a Game of Thrones veteran, has come on board as EP/director. Sapochnik remains an executive producer.

BOOM! Studios today revealed a first look at UNDERHEIST #1. The hit Stray Bullets creative team of David & Maria Lapham, along with colorist Hilary Jenkins (Grass Kings), brings a hellish new hardboiled heist series in UNDERHEIST, available December 2023. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. After a losing fight to gambling addiction, David hits rock bottom and decimates his personal life in the process. He’d do anything for one last chance to get on the straight and narrow and set things right. He may just be in luck, if you can call it that. Through the grapevine David learns of a heist–one involving a tunnel system that no one knows better than the former NYC subway veteran. One last job and he’s home free. All he needs to do is make it out alive. UNDERHEIST #1 features a main cover by David Lapham, with variants by Dave Johnson (100 Bullets) and Goran Sudzuka (Y: The Last Man). UNDERHEIST 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; Know Your Station by Sarah Gailey and Liana Kangas; A Vicious Circle by Mattson Tomlin and Lee Bermejo; The Neighbors by Jude Ellison S. Doyle and Letizia Cadonici; Ghostlore by Cullen Bunn and Leomacs; Sirens of the City by Joanne Starer and Khary Randolph; Coda by Simon Spurrier and Matías Bergara; and Rare Flavours by Ram V and Filipe Andrade. The imprint also publishes popular licensed properties, including Dune: House Harkonnen from Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, and Michael Shelfer; Mighty Morphin Power Rangers by Melissa Flores and Simona Di Gianfelice; and The Expanse: Dragon Tooth by Andy Diggle and Rubine. UNDERHEIST #1 will be available in comic shops December 13, 2023. It is available for pre-order at your local comic shop. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including comiXology, iBooks, Google Play, and Kindle.

Underheist #1 A Main: OCT230017

Underheist #1 B Variant: OCT230018

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Underheist #1 D 1:25 INCV: OCT230020

Underheist #1 E Unlockable Var: OCT230021

This February, Black creators and heroes will take center stage in new BLACK HISTORY MONTH VARIANT COVERS. Drawn by some of the industry’s most talented artists, these stunning depictions of your favorite Marvel characters will grace select issues throughout the month. This year’s collection spotlights pop culture icons like Captain America, Spider-Man, and Luke Cage along with fan-favorites like Rocket Racer and Night Thrasher. Night Thrasher’s cover will be featured on the debut issue of his all-new ongoing series. In addition, one of the New Champions returns! Earlier this year, Marvel artists designed potential sidekicks for Marvel heroes in New Champions Variant Covers, including Ernanda Souza’s take on a young partner for Black Panther. Now, this character is back on Dotun Akande’s Black History Month Variant Cover for Black Panther #9. Fans have already seen that Peach Momoko’s New Champion, Maystorm, will have a leading role in her upcoming Ultimate X-Men series. Could this mysterious young Wakandan hero be the next New Champion to make it to the page?          

Hugh Grant was in curmudgeonly form during a press conference marking the release of Wonka, telling journalists that he hated playing an Oompa Loompa in the film. Grant, who is no stranger to grumpy outbursts, said he loathed the experience of shooting CGI scenes for the Warner Bros. genesis story of Roald Dahl’s beloved character. He said creating his crotchety Oompa Loompa was like wearing a “crown of thorns” because of the camera rig around his head, according to a Metro.co.uk report. Grant later joked that it was nothing personal against Wonka and director Paul King. “I slightly hate [making films] but I have lots of children and need money,” he said. (via Deadline)

Comics should always be accessible, and the award-winning comic publisher IDW Publishing is joining forces with the modern digital comic book store and reader app Omnibus to bring its vast library of exciting and inspiring stories to more readers. From the pop culture phenomenon TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: THE LAST RONIN to the captivating DARK SPACES: WILDFIRE, more than 300 releases from IDW Publishing and Top Shelf Productions are now available for purchase on the Omnibus app. IDW and Top Shelf comics are available now on the Omnibus app via iPad, web, and is available internationally. The Omnibus app will be launching on iPhone and Android soon, too. More IDW titles will be added to Omnibus in the months to come.

Pixar‘s “Soul,” “Turning Red” and “Luca” are coming to theaters after they originally had streaming-only releases on Disney+ during the COVID-19 pandemic. The three movies will come to theaters nationwide in 2024, with tickets going on sale Jan. 2. “Soul” is coming to theaters on Jan. 12, “Turning Red” will be on Feb. 9 and “Luca” arrives on March 22. They will be accompanied by the short films “Burrow,” “Kitbull” and “For the Birds,” respectively. The trio of animated movies will set the stage for Pixar’s latest film, “Inside Out 2,” coming to theaters on June 14. (via Variety)

Fox has handed a script commitment to animated workplace comedy Taskmasters, from Brian Keith Etheridge (The Neighborhood), Brendon Walsh (Crank Yankers), cartoonist Johnny Ryan, Fox Entertainment Studios and Fox’s Bento Box Entertainment. Co-written by Etheridge, Walsh and Ryan, Taskmasters is a half-hour animated workplace comedy that follows a crew of lovable wackos navigating the gig economy at a fly-by-night, “we’ll do any job,” business. The show incorporates prank calls to real life customers, so beware – the next time you get a weird phone call at work, it might be an animated character from Taskmasters! Etheridge, who also serves as showrunner, executive produces with Walsh and Ryan. The project is produced by Fox Entertainment Studios and Fox’s Bento Box Entertainment. (via Deadline)

BOOM! Studios today revealed a first look at SLOW BURN #3, the next issue of the brand new series from acclaimed noir crime writer Ollie Masters (Snow Blind), rising star artist Pierluigi Minotti (Lost Falls), colorist Alessandro Santoro, and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, a tale about dirty deeds in a town on fire, available December 2023. Stealing a violin should have been an easy job for Kary, but when the target turns out to be smarter than expected, things go south fast… A visit to his son in the hospital provides more painful insight to what’s left of the crumbling family. SLOW BURN #3 features a main cover by Matt Taylor (Deep State) with variants by acclaimed artists Antonio Fuso (House of Slaughter), and R.M. Guera (Scalped). SLOW BURN 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; Know Your Station by Sarah Gailey and Liana Kangas; A Vicious Circle by Mattson Tomlin and Lee Bermejo; The Neighbors by Jude Ellison S. Doyle and Letizia Cadonici; 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, and the upcoming Underheist by David and Maria Lapham. The imprint also publishes popular licensed properties, including Dune: House Harkonnen from Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, and Michael Shelfer; Mighty Morphin Power Rangers by Melissa Flores and Simona Di Gianfelice; and The Expanse: Dragon Tooth by Andy Diggle and Rubine. SLOW BURN #3 will be available in comic shops December 27, 2023. It is available for pre-order at your local comic shop. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including comiXology, iBooks, Google Play, and Kindle.

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Slow Burn #3 B Variant: OCT230109

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Slow Burn #3 D 1:25 INCV: OCT230111

Florence Pugh was hit in the face by a flying object during an appearance at CCXP in Brazil on Sunday.The actress was onstage with her fellow Dune: Part Two stars when an object was thrown in her direction, seemingly from the audience, and hit her in the face, according to videos circulating online.In the videos, Pugh can be seen flinching and saying something that may have been “wow” or “ow” before putting her hand to her face and leaning over to pick up the object. It’s unclear what it was that hit her. Among those joining her on the panel were stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya and Austin Butler, as well as writer-director Denis Villeneuve. The Dune: Part Two cast and filmmaker were at the convention in São Paulo on Sunday to promote their upcoming sci-fi sequel. Pugh joins a growing list of celebrities who have been hit by objects thrown by fans while onstage. (via THR)

It’s a team-up for the ages, as we finally see Godzilla and Kong join forces to take down a ferocious foe in the first trailer for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.The latest feature film entry in Warner Bros./Legendary Entertainment‘s MonsterVerse follows the events of Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), where fans got to see the two apex kaijus finally fight for supremacy. From the trailer, The New Empire delves deeper into the mysteries of the Hollow Earth and the reveal of a Titan menace that will necessitate the alliance of Godzilla and Kong. The New Empire was originally slated to hit theaters March 15, 2024, but was moved to April 12, 2024. (via THR)Trailer: https://youtu.be/lV1OOlGwExM

Due to the sinister machinations of the anti-mutant supervillain group Orchis, mutantkind has fallen harder than ever before but soon, the X-Men will have their revenge as the revolutionary Krakoan age comes to its explosive end! Just as Jonathan Hickman boldly kicked it off in 2019 in twin series, HOUSE OF X and POWERS OF X, the finale of the Krakoan Age will be told across two intertwined series starting in January—FALL OF THE HOUSE OF X and RISE OF THE POWERS OF X. The two five-issue limited series will deliver a breathtaking saga across mutant history and future as the X-Men of today and tomorrow wage the final war against extinction across their entire existence! Gerry Duggan and Lucas Werneck’s FALL OF THE HOUSE OF X sees a classic lineup of X-Men embark on a daring mission to bring down Orchis for good and restore hope to mutantkind. Meanwhile Kieron Gillen and R.B. Silva’s RISE OF THE POWERS OF X takes readers on a sense-shattering journey beyond space and time as an ambitious plan is put in action to prevent the darkest of futures from coming to pass. It’s a who’s who of current mutant mastermind storytellers, and they’re holding nothing back as they close out Krakoa down in epic style and position the X-Men for their all-new era launching later next year! Today, fans can peek ahead at the covers for FALL OF THE HOUSE OF X #3 and RISE OF THE POWERS OF X #3, both arriving in March. In FALL OF THE HOUSE OF X #3, the end has truly begun! The X-Men have taken all they’re willing to take from Orchis… Now it’s time for them to do the dishing out. Unfortunately, just when it seems like one threat is over…another rises to take its place. The final battle of the Krakoan age rages as two series that are one move toward a crash that will echo across the universe… In RISE OF THE POWERS OF X #3, discover that the real end is never beginning! The past, present and future of Krakoa all rests in a trigger finger. The scenario you prayed would never happen plays out as two series that are one move toward a crash that will reverberate outside the universe… Check out both covers now and stay tuned for more FALL OF THE HOUSE OF X and RISE OF THE POWERS OF X news in the weeks ahead.