February 24, 2025 • 30 mins
We delve into the latest trends in comic book adaptations and character transformations. From Krypto the Superdog to the emergence of Jeff the Landshark, we explore how these characters will reinvent themselves in their upcoming series while also reflecting on the shifts within the James Bond franchise. We highlight the upcoming auction of Luke's Medal from Star Wars and remember the legacy of Lynn Marie Stewart.
• Overview of new series from DC and Marvel
• Insights into Crypto the Last Dog of Krypton's storyline
• Discussion about Jeff the Landshark's first major comic series
• Exploration of new dynamics in the James Bond franchise
• Notable auction of Luke Skywalker's Medal of Yavin
• Tribute to Lynn Marie Stewart and her enduring legacy
Thanks for listening! Come visit the podcast at https://www.multiversetonight.com/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Tonight.
Crypto gets a miniseries, jeffthe Landshark gets one too,
luke's mail for sale andremember Pee-wee's Miss Yvonne.
All that and more on thisedition of Multiverse Tonight.
Welcome to Multiverse Tonight,your source for geek news.
We dissect films, games, comicsand much more, bringing you
(00:22):
insightful commentary on popculture.
This is Multiverse Tonight.
Now here's your host, thomasTownes.
Hello everyone, and welcome toepisode 234 of Multiverse
Tonight.
I hope you like our new openingthere.
It's been a long time comingthere.
(00:45):
It's been a long time coming.
There's also a new logo thatI'm going to be rolling out on
everything else.
I decided a long time ago thatwe need something, something new
there, and so I found I had AImake me a new logo.
(01:05):
I even had AI kind of make thatwording that I say there in the
opening.
So hey look, I use for AI.
Who knew this is episode 234 ofMultiverse Tonight?
Now I just got back from thedentist.
(01:27):
I had teeth cleaning.
They're all nice and clean now.
For under six months, nothingmajor to tell there.
They said my gums were great,all that.
But the good news is thatspring has arrived.
It's spring, it's warm outside.
(01:48):
It's in the 70s, you know which?
I know it's not going to staythat way for very long.
I think the rest of the weekit's going to go down back down
to the 50s, but I'll take it.
You know, compared to the coldit's been for the past week, I
will take 50s, just fine.
Anyway, let's get on with theDC Comics News.
(02:13):
It's going to be a big summerfor Crypto the Superdog, and not
just on the big screen.
(02:34):
Dc Comics just announced a newfive-issue series called Crypto,
the Last Dog of Krypton,described as quote, a heartfelt
and moving view of humanity,good and bad, through the
empathic eyes of the ultimateoutsider, a poor, lost dog who
just happens to have superpowers.
Now, this story is part of theDC All-In lineup, as well as the
(02:54):
Summer of Superman promotion,and is written by Ryan North
with interior art by Mike Norton.
In DC's press release, thecreative duo explained how they
hoped to do justice to crypto'shistory while giving fans
something new as well.
Quote Crypto's origin hasalways been at kind of a high
level.
The little guy starts out onKrypton, ends up on Earth and
(03:15):
helps Superman fight crime.
The chance to really definecrypto, to show what a little
lost dog would go through if helanded all alone on a strange
alien world named Earth wasreally enticing.
Now North described a series offive relatively self-contained
stories, but taken together,they all build to one big origin
(03:45):
story for Crypto and hisrelationship with Superman.
The timing is perfect, as thissummer's new Superman movie will
hit theaters just days afterthe second issue hits.
However, it's available now forpre-order at your local comic
book store.
Now, superman lands in theaterson Friday, july 11th in the US,
and Crypto, the Last Dog ofKrypton, will go on sale on
(04:08):
Wednesday, june 18th in comicbook shops and digital
storefronts.
So you know, I've always thoughtcrypto was something you know
unique.
How does he know to fight crime?
I've always been curious aboutthat.
Does his superpowers expand tomental?
(04:33):
Maybe he's smarter than theaverage dog.
Anyway, dc Studios has finallyfound a director to mold its
Clayface movie After years ofsearching.
Speak no Evil.
Helmer James Watkins has beenchosen to direct the feature,
based on the Batman villain,which has a script from horror
maestro Mike Flanagan.
(04:54):
Sources say that DC co-chiefJames Gunn met with Watkins
Thursday for a finalpresentation that led to the nod
of nabbing the gig.
A deal will now be hammered out.
Clayface was first introducedback in 1940 and is known for
his ability to shapeshift.
Sources say the film isbudgeted at $40 million and is a
(05:14):
Hollywood horror tale centeringon a B-movie actor who injects
himself with a substance to keephimself relevant, only to find
out that he can reshape his faceand form, becoming a walking
piece of clay.
The movie is due to startshooting later this year and is
meant to show the breadth of DCmaterial, from big budget
superhero affairs such asSuperman on one side of the
(05:35):
spectrum to lesser knowncharacters and projects that are
more modestly budgeted.
The Batman director, mattReeves, will produce Clayface,
along with Lynn Harris and DCStudios bosses Gunn and Saffron.
The film has a September 11,2026 release date.
The DC Summer of Superman, whichhe talked about earlier,
(05:57):
continues with the addition of anew solo series, and this time
the Maiden of Might will soarinto the spotlight.
At Comics Pro this past weekend, dc revealed a new Supergirl
series which will be written andillustrated by Sophie Campbell
of Wet Moon, teenage MutantNinja Turtles fame, and not only
will she be getting a newcostume, courtesy of Stanley Art
(06:18):
Germ Lau, but she will also beheaded back to her old stomping
grounds of Midvale.
Now, they said in a quote,touchstones to Cora Zor-El were
(06:42):
the stories and the wildcostumes from the 70s, the 1984
Supergirl movie and the CW show,of which I was a huge fan.
In creating this version ofSupergirl, I'll be drawing on
some of those influences as theseries unfolds.
According to Supergirl writerslash artist, sophie Campbell,
(07:03):
the new series finds Supergirldiscovering that there's somehow
already a Supergirl protectingMidvale, which is, you know,
sort of impossible.
She'll have to figure out whois using her name and if she has
hopes to stop them from takingnot just her reputation but her
very life, and here's theofficial logline quote but her
very life.
And here's the official loglinequote.
(07:24):
Kara Zor-El has always been akey member of the super family
in Metropolis, but Campbell istaking Supergirl in a new
direction, among familiarsurroundings, as she gets back
to her roots in the town ofMidvale.
But returning to her hometownafter so many years away already
presents some challenges.
There's already anotherSupergirl there protecting the
(07:45):
town, saving the day.
Readers will have to check outthe debut issue Also at Comics
Pro.
Dc pulled back the curtain onthe next era of Batman, and it
(08:08):
will be a truly talentedcreative team leading the charge
.
Dc has revealed the first lookat Batman no 1, which will begin
in September and will be heldby writer Matt Fraction, artist
George Schumannas, colorist TomoMori and letter Clayton Cowles.
This new chapter of Batman willbring a big costume change, as
(08:29):
Batman will take on a new blueand gray costume, but will also
introduce a new Batmobile, aswell as a new vibe and style to
Gotham City itself.
And the Fraction said in aquote I wouldn't be here if it
wasn't for Batman.
It was the first comic I everread, george, and I have a very
(08:50):
strange, a verysuperhero-forward kind of take
on Batman.
We've got a new Batmobile,we've got a new costume, we've
got new characters and we've gota lot of old ones too, good and
bad All the stuff that makesBatman the coolest character in
comics.
We want to celebrate it all.
As a DC artist, I have to saythis is something I've always
(09:11):
dreamed of, and getting to do italongside someone as talented
and amazing as Matt is justincredible for me, said Jimenez.
As for my work on Batman theartistic side I've poured years
of hard work into this seriesOver time.
(09:47):
Go on to the Marvel news and webegin Marvel News with the
(10:11):
adorable aquatic predator whohas captured the hearts of
Marvel rivals and is ready tomake waves in his own comic book
series.
Marvel has announced that Jeffthe Landshark will star in a
five-issue limited serieslaunching this June, marking the
character's first major printcomic debut.
The announcement made at thispast weekend's Comics Pro brings
together a superstar co-creator, kelly Thompson, who earned an
(10:33):
Eisner nomination for thedigital series it's Jeff
Infinity comic, with acclaimedartist Toktoko Hiro for an
adventure that will see thebeloved character swimming
through the Marvel Universe'smost exotic locations.
The series promises to expandJeff's world beyond his
successful digital comicappearances and recent gaming
popularity, offering fans adeeper dive into the character's
(10:56):
potential.
The new series follows Jeff ashe accidentally creates a shadow
Jeff in Doctor Strange'sSanctum Sanctorum.
When his dark Doppler escapes,jeff must pursue it on a journey
from the Savage Land toMadripoor, encountering both
allies and adversaries along theway.
Thompson said seeing JeffRocket to stardom has been wild
(11:20):
and also exactly what hedeserves.
I'm obviously as biased as youcan get, but what's not to love
about an adorable land sharkthat wants to be friends with
and or eat everything he sees?
The writer expressed excitementabout developing more complex
narratives for the character,knowing that, while the digital
it's Jeff series worked almostlike perfectly executed jokes.
(11:42):
The miniseries format allowsfor more intricate storytelling.
Jeff the Landshark was createdby Thompson and artist Danielle
DiNichilo, what has been one ofMarvel's most successful
original characters in recentyears.
Originally reduced asGwenpool's pet, the character
has been cared for by varioussuperheroes, including Deadpool,
elsa Bloodstone and Kate Bishop.
(12:06):
The all-new, sensationalSpider-Girl is swinging into her
first solo series, Created bywriter Dan Slott and designer
Michael Cho.
Makuala Makauakana made herdebut in Spider-Boy no 12 as the
secret protege of the daredevilvillain Bullseye, a Hawaiian
mutant with the ability toabsorb and replicate powers.
The pint-sized, pig-tailedspider girl started out as
(12:28):
Bullseye's sidekick Funhousebefore adopting her spider
persona when Bullseye sent her,his kid's sidekick to copy the
powers of a spider person, theytargeted the daredevil-trained
Spider-Boy aka Bailey Briggs.
While her powers copy abilitiesand thoughts, meika makes
distorted reflections of peoplelike a funhouse mirror, and so
(12:49):
Bullseye, the world's deadliestassassin, taught her to master
her abilities.
But when Bullseye betrayed hisapprentice during a fighting
contest in Madripoor, heabandoned his spider kid, who
found an ally in fellowspider-tween Bailey.
And now Maka is copyingSpider-Boy once again with her
own ongoing series, spider-girlno 1 from writer Torrin Grunbeck
(13:10):
from Venom and new girl Marvelartist.
Newcomer Marvel artist AndreRiso spins off the pages of
Slott and Paso Medina'sSpider-Boy when it hits stands.
On June 11th, sony Picturesannounced some changes to their
release calendar and one of themost disappointing reveals was
(13:30):
that the upcoming Spider-Man 4has its release date delayed.
Was that the upcomingSpider-Man number four has its
release date delayed.
Luckily for fans, the delay isrelatively minor, as it's just
been pushed back from its July24th 2026 date back a week to
July 31st 2026.
Now, if anything, this couldcome as a bit of a relief to
fans and that seems they'llstabilize Sony's plans, as
(13:54):
studio has been known to pushhighly anticipated franchise
films back by months at a timewhen there's no significant
developments.
Interestingly, this new releasedate would make way for the
film's release two weeks beforeChristopher Nolan's the Odyssey,
which is currently slated for17th 2026.
(14:17):
Now let's get on with a littlebit of Star Wars news.
Roger roger, the medal given toLuke Skywalker after he
destroyed the Death Star in StarWars could sell up for upwards
of 476,000 pounds.
Prop Store based inRixmansworth, hertfordshire, is
(14:42):
selling the Medal of Yavin wornby future Jedi Master Luke
Skywalker during the first filmin the franchise.
The medal is also believed tohave been worn by Harrison Ford,
who played Han Solo duringrehearsals for the 1977 film
later retitled Star Wars EpisodeIV A New Hope.
Brandon Allinger from PropStore said the item held a quote
special place in cinematichistory, unquote.
(15:04):
Now it goes on sale in LosAngeles in March with a price
estimate of $300,000 to $600,000.
The medal comes from thecollection of props master
Gerard Bork, who worked on theoriginal Star Wars films shot at
Elstree Studios in England.
Prop Store claimed it was thefirst and only medal to be
(15:24):
offered for public sale afterits team researched the prop.
Also being sold is a Wookieebowcaster featured in all three
films of the original series,which Prop Store called one of
the rarest Star Wars hero propsin existence.
A real Horton crossbow wasmodified to give it a futuristic
yet battle-worn look so itcould serve as a laser weapon.
It is going on sale with anestimated value of $250,000 to
(15:48):
$500,000.
The Entertainment Memorabilialive auction in Los Angeles
takes place from March 26th toMarch 28th.
Now let's go on to the Geek News.
Geek News begins with the Lordof the Rings, the War of the
Rorahim, which will arrive onMax on Friday, february 28th at
(16:09):
8 pm Eastern.
It makes sense for the animefilm to land on Max, considering
that it is the premiere spotfor Warner Brothers properties.
Directed by Kenji Kamiyama, themovie was the first foray of
Middle Earth in the anime realmand, unfortunately, the chances
of seeing the JRR Tolkien worldreturn to this medium might be
(16:30):
slim at the moment.
Thanks to the war's receptionat the box office Quote set 183
years before, the eventschronicle in the original
trilogy of films, the Lord ofthe Rings, the War of the
Rorohim tells the fate of thehouse of Helm Helmerhand, the
legendary king of Rohan.
A sudden attack by Wolf, aclever and ruthless Dunlading
(16:50):
lord seeking vengeance for thedeath of his father, forces Helm
and his people to make a daringlast stand in the ancient
stronghold of the Hornburg, amighty fortress that will later
become known as Helm's Deep.
Finding herself in anincreasingly desperate situation
, hera, the daughter of Helm,must summon the will to lead the
resistance against a deadlyenemy intent on their total
(17:11):
destruction.
Unquote.
The Broccoli family's reign overthe James Bond franchise,
spanning over six decades, hasrecently undergone a seismic
shift.
A groundbreaking deal withAmazon MGM has restructured the
power dynamics, establishing ajoint venture where the
Broccolis have relinquishedcreative control, a move that
sent shockwaves throughHollywood.
(17:31):
This family has become sointertwined with the 007 agent
that their seating of control isseen as a monumental event.
The repercussions of this shiftare already evident in the
stalled development of a newJames Bond film.
The absence of a director, aconcrete story and a finalized
script has caused consternationfor Amazon, which invested a
(17:53):
substantial sum of $8.5 billionto acquire MGM Studios,
partially motivated by itsassociation with the Bond
franchise.
Whispers within the industryhint at a clash of visions
between the Broccoli's andAmazon regarding the trajectory
of the series.
The family is allegedlyresistant to Amazon's ambitions
to broaden the scope of the Bonduniverse.
(18:15):
This joint venture represents aunique arrangement distinct from
an outright sale.
The Broccoli's retain a degreeof ownership, yet they have
loosened their grips on thecreative reins.
This allows the Amazon MGMgreater latitude and agility in
navigating the complexities ofmaintaining bonds' relevance in
the contemporary landscape.
(18:36):
The deal has elicited aspectrum of responses.
Some analysts foresee apotential revitalization of the
franchise under Amazon'sstewardship, while others
express concerns over thepotential dilution of the Bond
character.
Without the Broccoli's creativeoversight, the future of the
Bond franchise is shrouded inuncertainty.
(18:56):
But one thing is clear.
Amazon MGM holds those reins.
The challenge for the companylies in striking a delicate
balance between commercialimperatives and preserving the
essence of the iconic Bondcharacter.
The path forward is fraughtwith challenges and the industry
watches with bated breath tosee how this new era for James
Bond unfolds.
(19:16):
Well, frankly, it's got to besomething better than how Bond
has been doing these past fewtimes.
I've had no interest in the lastoh what three, four Bonds films
.
You know I enjoy the character,I love the character all
(19:42):
throughout the 20th century.
But perhaps it's just time toput James Bond on the shelf.
Just retire the franchise, letit sit, let it mellow 20, 30
years down the line.
Bring it back.
Maybe you'll find that littlenugget that needs to be done, or
(20:08):
heck.
Why not just remake theoriginal franchise?
Just start with the books.
They already pretty much set itup with Casino Royale, but make
a new Casino Royale and juststart through the Bond books one
by one and just remake them,update them for the present time
, because, yeah, some of thosebooks just don't hold up in the
(20:33):
present day.
So I don't hold up in thepresent day.
So I don't know.
I'm of mixed minds on this Bondfranchise of the 21st century,
sonic the Hedgehog 3, the thirditeration in the film franchise,
based on Sega's enduringspeedster, will be available to
(20:55):
stream on Paramount Plus onFebruary 18th.
The third Sonic feature picks upwith the blue blur, along with
Tails the Fox and Knuckles theEnchinada having to deal with
their nemesis Dr Robotnik, totake on the super, superlatively
(21:16):
edgy threat of Shadow theHedgehog.
The film opened up on top inNorth America's box office based
back in December, earning $60million in its first outing and
continuing to score as a highearner throughout the holiday
season.
A fourth film is already in theworks for Paramount and is set
(21:36):
to be released in 2027.
Per the description for theUmbrella Academy Plan B, after
the mass release of the city'sgreatest foes and the chaos that
followed in Hotel Oblivion, theUmbrella Academy faces their
most fearsome challenge to datetheir other brothers and sisters
, known only as the Sparrows.
They share a differentconnection to Sir Hartled
(21:56):
Hargreaves and Mom.
No one knows how to hurt eachother more than family, and this
powerful, ruthless brood willspare no brutality in favor of
their sole objective control ofthe obedient clare that comes
with it".
Now the new comic is co-writtenby Wei and Ba, who also
illustrates, colored by DaveStewart and littered by Nate
(22:19):
Picos.
It will be released on June11th and is currently for
pre-order from Dark Horse Comicsby artists including Fabio Moon
, claire Rowe, mike Del Mundo,duncan Fregredo, david Aja and
(22:40):
Jill Thompson.
Netflix's TV series adaptationof Wei and Ba's the Umbrella
Academy comics ended itsfour-season run last August.
During that time, the comicsweren't regularly coming out
with new issues.
A beloved actor is poised toplay a beloved Harry Potter
(23:07):
character.
A beloved actor is poised toplay a beloved Harry Potter
character.
Six-time Emmy winner JohnLithgow is in final negotiations
to portray Professor AlbusDumbledore in HBO's high-profile
series adaptation of the hugelypopular fantasy series.
According to Deadlinecom, hbodeclined to comment about this.
Declined to comment about this,now saying quote as we make our
(23:28):
way through pre-production.
We will confirm details as wefinalize the deals.
Unquote.
The Harry Potter series isdesigned to run over a decade
and comes from writer-showrunnerFrancesca Gardner and director
and exec producer Mark Myloid.
Casey Bloys, chairman and CEOof HBO, and Max Content, at the
time of the originalannouncement, called the show a
(23:50):
faithful adaptation of JKRowling's novels, which will
delve deep into each of theiconic books.
The Harry Potter TV series,which will be filmed at Warner
Bros Studios' Leavesden, wherethe movies were shot, is slated
to debut on HBO in late 2026,early 2027.
This is slated to debut on HBOin late 2026, early 2027.
(24:12):
Bafta winner Jack O'Connell hasclosed the deal to join the
next theatrical feature inLegendary's MonsterVerse
franchise.
According to Deadlinecom, thecharacter's details are being
kept under wraps, but O'Connelljoins a cast that includes
Caitlin Dever, as well as DanStevens, who reprises his role
as veterinarian trapper Beasleyfrom last year's Godzilla x Kong
, the New Empire, thefranchise's highest-grossing
(24:34):
installment to date.
Grant Sputore is set to directfrom a script by Dave Callahan.
Plot details have been keptvague so far, though we're told
the next entry will featureseveral new human characters
alongside Titans, godzilla andKong as they face off against a
cataclysmic, world-ending threat.
Sputori took over thedirectorial reins from Adam
(24:57):
Wingard.
Following the latter's work onthe New Empire and 2021's
Godzilla vs Kong, nickelodeon iscontinuing to build out the
world of the Avatar, the LastAirbender, with the green light
of the animated series AvatarSeven Havens.
The new 2D animated series willconsist of 26 half-hour
(25:19):
episodes spread across twoseasons, or books one and two in
Avatar style.
News of the pickup comes asLast Airbender prepares to
celebrate its 20th anniversary,with the original show having
debuted on February 26, 2005.
Seven Havens hails from Avatarcreators Michael DiMartino and
(25:40):
Brian Konietzko under the AvatarStudios banner from Nickelodeon
Animation in Burbank and iscurrently in production Per the
official logline.
The series is set in a worldshattered by a devastating
cataclysm.
A young Earthbender discoversshe's the new Avatar after Korra
(26:01):
, but in this dangerous era thatmarks her as humanity's
destroyer, not its savior.
Haunted by both human andspirit enemies, she and her
long-lost twin must uncovertheir mysterious origins and
save the Seven Havens beforecivilization's last strongholds
collapse.
Now this will be the thirdanimated Avatar series In
(26:22):
addition to the Last Airbender.
Nickelodeon previously airedAvatar, the Legend of Korra, for
four seasons between 2012 and2014.
There's also an animated filmfocused on Aang and the
characters from the LastAirbender, due out in theaters
in January of 2026.
The voice cast for the filmincludes Dave Bautista, dionne
Kwan, jessica Mateen, romanZargoza and Eric Dahm, and
(26:48):
finally, tonight, lynn Murray.
Stewart, who is known for herroles in Pee Wee's Playhouse and
it's Always Sunny inPhiladelphia, has passed away at
the age of 78.
Stewart's manager, betty Smith,confirmed the news to TMZ,
revealing that Stewart passedaway at her sister's home in
California and that she had beendealing with a tumor between
the liver and gallbladder.
(27:08):
Stewart had wrapped up work inBen Still's upcoming film the
Dink before the diagnosis andshe continued to work on it's
Always Sunny in Philadelphia aswell.
In a statement to TMZ, smithwrote quote she was the most
talented and funny and mosthonorable person I have ever
known.
Unquote.
Stewart's friend CassandraPearson, who is known for
(27:30):
playing Elvira, posted a tributeto her friend on Instagram,
writing quote my heart isbreaking upon hearing the news
of my dear friend Lynn Stewart'spassing.
One of the kindest, sweetest,funniest women who ever lived,
the iconic Miss Yvonne ofPee-wee's Playhouse, shall
always be the most beautifulwoman in Puppet Land.
Heartbroken emoji.
Unquote.
(27:51):
Stewart's role as Miss Yvonne isa favorite of many Pee-Wee's
Playhouse fans as the mostbeautiful woman in Puppet Land,
appeared between 1986 and 1990in projects like Pee-Wee's Big
Adventure and Big Top Pee-Wee.
In it's Always Sunny inPhiladelphia, stewart played the
role of Bonnie, who is themother of series favorite
Charlie Kelly.
(28:11):
Stewart also appeared in GeorgeLucas's American Graffiti and
Arnold Schwarzenegger's theRunning man, as well as a host
of appearances in shows likeMASH Chips, laverne and Shirley
and as Elvira Mistress of theDark in 1988.
She also appeared in plenty ofcomic book related projects,
including the 1988 Supermanseries, batman, the Animated
(28:32):
Series, the Tick, here Comes theMonsters, batman Return of the
Caped Crusaders and Batman vsTwo-Face.
Again.
Lynn Marie Stewart was 78 yearsold.
Good night, miss Yvonne.
And that brings us to the endof the show for this week.
Now be sure to check us onsocial media.
(28:55):
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(29:15):
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Thanks for watching thisedition of Multiverse Tonight.
We'll be back in two weeks withmore sci-fi and comic book news
.
Now please exit the universe inan orderly fashion.
(29:36):
Good night.
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Tonight.
Crypto gets a miniseries, jeffthe Landshark gets one too,
luke's mail for sale andremember Pee-wee's Miss Yvonne.
All that and more on thisedition of Multiverse Tonight.
Welcome to Multiverse Tonight,your source for geek news.
We dissect films, games, comicsand much more, bringing you
(00:22):
insightful commentary on popculture.
This is Multiverse Tonight.
Now here's your host, thomasTownes.
Hello everyone, and welcome toepisode 234 of Multiverse
Tonight.
I hope you like our new openingthere.
It's been a long time comingthere.
(00:45):
It's been a long time coming.
There's also a new logo thatI'm going to be rolling out on
everything else.
I decided a long time ago thatwe need something, something new
there, and so I found I had AImake me a new logo.
(01:05):
I even had AI kind of make thatwording that I say there in the
opening.
So hey look, I use for AI.
Who knew this is episode 234 ofMultiverse Tonight?
Now I just got back from thedentist.
(01:27):
I had teeth cleaning.
They're all nice and clean now.
For under six months, nothingmajor to tell there.
They said my gums were great,all that.
But the good news is thatspring has arrived.
It's spring, it's warm outside.
(01:48):
It's in the 70s, you know which?
I know it's not going to staythat way for very long.
I think the rest of the weekit's going to go down back down
to the 50s, but I'll take it.
You know, compared to the coldit's been for the past week, I
will take 50s, just fine.
Anyway, let's get on with theDC Comics News.
(02:13):
It's going to be a big summerfor Crypto the Superdog, and not
just on the big screen.
(02:34):
Dc Comics just announced a newfive-issue series called Crypto,
the Last Dog of Krypton,described as quote, a heartfelt
and moving view of humanity,good and bad, through the
empathic eyes of the ultimateoutsider, a poor, lost dog who
just happens to have superpowers.
Now, this story is part of theDC All-In lineup, as well as the
(02:54):
Summer of Superman promotion,and is written by Ryan North
with interior art by Mike Norton.
In DC's press release, thecreative duo explained how they
hoped to do justice to crypto'shistory while giving fans
something new as well.
Quote Crypto's origin hasalways been at kind of a high
level.
The little guy starts out onKrypton, ends up on Earth and
(03:15):
helps Superman fight crime.
The chance to really definecrypto, to show what a little
lost dog would go through if helanded all alone on a strange
alien world named Earth wasreally enticing.
Now North described a series offive relatively self-contained
stories, but taken together,they all build to one big origin
(03:45):
story for Crypto and hisrelationship with Superman.
The timing is perfect, as thissummer's new Superman movie will
hit theaters just days afterthe second issue hits.
However, it's available now forpre-order at your local comic
book store.
Now, superman lands in theaterson Friday, july 11th in the US,
and Crypto, the Last Dog ofKrypton, will go on sale on
(04:08):
Wednesday, june 18th in comicbook shops and digital
storefronts.
So you know, I've always thoughtcrypto was something you know
unique.
How does he know to fight crime?
I've always been curious aboutthat.
Does his superpowers expand tomental?
(04:33):
Maybe he's smarter than theaverage dog.
Anyway, dc Studios has finallyfound a director to mold its
Clayface movie After years ofsearching.
Speak no Evil.
Helmer James Watkins has beenchosen to direct the feature,
based on the Batman villain,which has a script from horror
maestro Mike Flanagan.
(04:54):
Sources say that DC co-chiefJames Gunn met with Watkins
Thursday for a finalpresentation that led to the nod
of nabbing the gig.
A deal will now be hammered out.
Clayface was first introducedback in 1940 and is known for
his ability to shapeshift.
Sources say the film isbudgeted at $40 million and is a
(05:14):
Hollywood horror tale centeringon a B-movie actor who injects
himself with a substance to keephimself relevant, only to find
out that he can reshape his faceand form, becoming a walking
piece of clay.
The movie is due to startshooting later this year and is
meant to show the breadth of DCmaterial, from big budget
superhero affairs such asSuperman on one side of the
(05:35):
spectrum to lesser knowncharacters and projects that are
more modestly budgeted.
The Batman director, mattReeves, will produce Clayface,
along with Lynn Harris and DCStudios bosses Gunn and Saffron.
The film has a September 11,2026 release date.
The DC Summer of Superman, whichhe talked about earlier,
(05:57):
continues with the addition of anew solo series, and this time
the Maiden of Might will soarinto the spotlight.
At Comics Pro this past weekend, dc revealed a new Supergirl
series which will be written andillustrated by Sophie Campbell
of Wet Moon, teenage MutantNinja Turtles fame, and not only
will she be getting a newcostume, courtesy of Stanley Art
(06:18):
Germ Lau, but she will also beheaded back to her old stomping
grounds of Midvale.
Now, they said in a quote,touchstones to Cora Zor-El were
(06:42):
the stories and the wildcostumes from the 70s, the 1984
Supergirl movie and the CW show,of which I was a huge fan.
In creating this version ofSupergirl, I'll be drawing on
some of those influences as theseries unfolds.
According to Supergirl writerslash artist, sophie Campbell,
(07:03):
the new series finds Supergirldiscovering that there's somehow
already a Supergirl protectingMidvale, which is, you know,
sort of impossible.
She'll have to figure out whois using her name and if she has
hopes to stop them from takingnot just her reputation but her
very life, and here's theofficial logline quote but her
very life.
And here's the official loglinequote.
(07:24):
Kara Zor-El has always been akey member of the super family
in Metropolis, but Campbell istaking Supergirl in a new
direction, among familiarsurroundings, as she gets back
to her roots in the town ofMidvale.
But returning to her hometownafter so many years away already
presents some challenges.
There's already anotherSupergirl there protecting the
(07:45):
town, saving the day.
Readers will have to check outthe debut issue Also at Comics
Pro.
Dc pulled back the curtain onthe next era of Batman, and it
(08:08):
will be a truly talentedcreative team leading the charge
.
Dc has revealed the first lookat Batman no 1, which will begin
in September and will be heldby writer Matt Fraction, artist
George Schumannas, colorist TomoMori and letter Clayton Cowles.
This new chapter of Batman willbring a big costume change, as
(08:29):
Batman will take on a new blueand gray costume, but will also
introduce a new Batmobile, aswell as a new vibe and style to
Gotham City itself.
And the Fraction said in aquote I wouldn't be here if it
wasn't for Batman.
It was the first comic I everread, george, and I have a very
(08:50):
strange, a verysuperhero-forward kind of take
on Batman.
We've got a new Batmobile,we've got a new costume, we've
got new characters and we've gota lot of old ones too, good and
bad All the stuff that makesBatman the coolest character in
comics.
We want to celebrate it all.
As a DC artist, I have to saythis is something I've always
(09:11):
dreamed of, and getting to do italongside someone as talented
and amazing as Matt is justincredible for me, said Jimenez.
As for my work on Batman theartistic side I've poured years
of hard work into this seriesOver time.
(09:47):
Go on to the Marvel news and webegin Marvel News with the
(10:11):
adorable aquatic predator whohas captured the hearts of
Marvel rivals and is ready tomake waves in his own comic book
series.
Marvel has announced that Jeffthe Landshark will star in a
five-issue limited serieslaunching this June, marking the
character's first major printcomic debut.
The announcement made at thispast weekend's Comics Pro brings
together a superstar co-creator, kelly Thompson, who earned an
(10:33):
Eisner nomination for thedigital series it's Jeff
Infinity comic, with acclaimedartist Toktoko Hiro for an
adventure that will see thebeloved character swimming
through the Marvel Universe'smost exotic locations.
The series promises to expandJeff's world beyond his
successful digital comicappearances and recent gaming
popularity, offering fans adeeper dive into the character's
(10:56):
potential.
The new series follows Jeff ashe accidentally creates a shadow
Jeff in Doctor Strange'sSanctum Sanctorum.
When his dark Doppler escapes,jeff must pursue it on a journey
from the Savage Land toMadripoor, encountering both
allies and adversaries along theway.
Thompson said seeing JeffRocket to stardom has been wild
(11:20):
and also exactly what hedeserves.
I'm obviously as biased as youcan get, but what's not to love
about an adorable land sharkthat wants to be friends with
and or eat everything he sees?
The writer expressed excitementabout developing more complex
narratives for the character,knowing that, while the digital
it's Jeff series worked almostlike perfectly executed jokes.
(11:42):
The miniseries format allowsfor more intricate storytelling.
Jeff the Landshark was createdby Thompson and artist Danielle
DiNichilo, what has been one ofMarvel's most successful
original characters in recentyears.
Originally reduced asGwenpool's pet, the character
has been cared for by varioussuperheroes, including Deadpool,
elsa Bloodstone and Kate Bishop.
(12:06):
The all-new, sensationalSpider-Girl is swinging into her
first solo series, Created bywriter Dan Slott and designer
Michael Cho.
Makuala Makauakana made herdebut in Spider-Boy no 12 as the
secret protege of the daredevilvillain Bullseye, a Hawaiian
mutant with the ability toabsorb and replicate powers.
The pint-sized, pig-tailedspider girl started out as
(12:28):
Bullseye's sidekick Funhousebefore adopting her spider
persona when Bullseye sent her,his kid's sidekick to copy the
powers of a spider person, theytargeted the daredevil-trained
Spider-Boy aka Bailey Briggs.
While her powers copy abilitiesand thoughts, meika makes
distorted reflections of peoplelike a funhouse mirror, and so
(12:49):
Bullseye, the world's deadliestassassin, taught her to master
her abilities.
But when Bullseye betrayed hisapprentice during a fighting
contest in Madripoor, heabandoned his spider kid, who
found an ally in fellowspider-tween Bailey.
And now Maka is copyingSpider-Boy once again with her
own ongoing series, spider-girlno 1 from writer Torrin Grunbeck
(13:10):
from Venom and new girl Marvelartist.
Newcomer Marvel artist AndreRiso spins off the pages of
Slott and Paso Medina'sSpider-Boy when it hits stands.
On June 11th, sony Picturesannounced some changes to their
release calendar and one of themost disappointing reveals was
(13:30):
that the upcoming Spider-Man 4has its release date delayed.
Was that the upcomingSpider-Man number four has its
release date delayed.
Luckily for fans, the delay isrelatively minor, as it's just
been pushed back from its July24th 2026 date back a week to
July 31st 2026.
Now, if anything, this couldcome as a bit of a relief to
fans and that seems they'llstabilize Sony's plans, as
(13:54):
studio has been known to pushhighly anticipated franchise
films back by months at a timewhen there's no significant
developments.
Interestingly, this new releasedate would make way for the
film's release two weeks beforeChristopher Nolan's the Odyssey,
which is currently slated for17th 2026.
(14:17):
Now let's get on with a littlebit of Star Wars news.
Roger roger, the medal given toLuke Skywalker after he
destroyed the Death Star in StarWars could sell up for upwards
of 476,000 pounds.
Prop Store based inRixmansworth, hertfordshire, is
(14:42):
selling the Medal of Yavin wornby future Jedi Master Luke
Skywalker during the first filmin the franchise.
The medal is also believed tohave been worn by Harrison Ford,
who played Han Solo duringrehearsals for the 1977 film
later retitled Star Wars EpisodeIV A New Hope.
Brandon Allinger from PropStore said the item held a quote
special place in cinematichistory, unquote.
(15:04):
Now it goes on sale in LosAngeles in March with a price
estimate of $300,000 to $600,000.
The medal comes from thecollection of props master
Gerard Bork, who worked on theoriginal Star Wars films shot at
Elstree Studios in England.
Prop Store claimed it was thefirst and only medal to be
(15:24):
offered for public sale afterits team researched the prop.
Also being sold is a Wookieebowcaster featured in all three
films of the original series,which Prop Store called one of
the rarest Star Wars hero propsin existence.
A real Horton crossbow wasmodified to give it a futuristic
yet battle-worn look so itcould serve as a laser weapon.
It is going on sale with anestimated value of $250,000 to
(15:48):
$500,000.
The Entertainment Memorabilialive auction in Los Angeles
takes place from March 26th toMarch 28th.
Now let's go on to the Geek News.
Geek News begins with the Lordof the Rings, the War of the
Rorahim, which will arrive onMax on Friday, february 28th at
(16:09):
8 pm Eastern.
It makes sense for the animefilm to land on Max, considering
that it is the premiere spotfor Warner Brothers properties.
Directed by Kenji Kamiyama, themovie was the first foray of
Middle Earth in the anime realmand, unfortunately, the chances
of seeing the JRR Tolkien worldreturn to this medium might be
(16:30):
slim at the moment.
Thanks to the war's receptionat the box office Quote set 183
years before, the eventschronicle in the original
trilogy of films, the Lord ofthe Rings, the War of the
Rorohim tells the fate of thehouse of Helm Helmerhand, the
legendary king of Rohan.
A sudden attack by Wolf, aclever and ruthless Dunlading
(16:50):
lord seeking vengeance for thedeath of his father, forces Helm
and his people to make a daringlast stand in the ancient
stronghold of the Hornburg, amighty fortress that will later
become known as Helm's Deep.
Finding herself in anincreasingly desperate situation
, hera, the daughter of Helm,must summon the will to lead the
resistance against a deadlyenemy intent on their total
(17:11):
destruction.
Unquote.
The Broccoli family's reign overthe James Bond franchise,
spanning over six decades, hasrecently undergone a seismic
shift.
A groundbreaking deal withAmazon MGM has restructured the
power dynamics, establishing ajoint venture where the
Broccolis have relinquishedcreative control, a move that
sent shockwaves throughHollywood.
(17:31):
This family has become sointertwined with the 007 agent
that their seating of control isseen as a monumental event.
The repercussions of this shiftare already evident in the
stalled development of a newJames Bond film.
The absence of a director, aconcrete story and a finalized
script has caused consternationfor Amazon, which invested a
(17:53):
substantial sum of $8.5 billionto acquire MGM Studios,
partially motivated by itsassociation with the Bond
franchise.
Whispers within the industryhint at a clash of visions
between the Broccoli's andAmazon regarding the trajectory
of the series.
The family is allegedlyresistant to Amazon's ambitions
to broaden the scope of the Bonduniverse.
(18:15):
This joint venture represents aunique arrangement distinct from
an outright sale.
The Broccoli's retain a degreeof ownership, yet they have
loosened their grips on thecreative reins.
This allows the Amazon MGMgreater latitude and agility in
navigating the complexities ofmaintaining bonds' relevance in
the contemporary landscape.
(18:36):
The deal has elicited aspectrum of responses.
Some analysts foresee apotential revitalization of the
franchise under Amazon'sstewardship, while others
express concerns over thepotential dilution of the Bond
character.
Without the Broccoli's creativeoversight, the future of the
Bond franchise is shrouded inuncertainty.
(18:56):
But one thing is clear.
Amazon MGM holds those reins.
The challenge for the companylies in striking a delicate
balance between commercialimperatives and preserving the
essence of the iconic Bondcharacter.
The path forward is fraughtwith challenges and the industry
watches with bated breath tosee how this new era for James
Bond unfolds.
(19:16):
Well, frankly, it's got to besomething better than how Bond
has been doing these past fewtimes.
I've had no interest in the lastoh what three, four Bonds films
.
You know I enjoy the character,I love the character all
(19:42):
throughout the 20th century.
But perhaps it's just time toput James Bond on the shelf.
Just retire the franchise, letit sit, let it mellow 20, 30
years down the line.
Bring it back.
Maybe you'll find that littlenugget that needs to be done, or
(20:08):
heck.
Why not just remake theoriginal franchise?
Just start with the books.
They already pretty much set itup with Casino Royale, but make
a new Casino Royale and juststart through the Bond books one
by one and just remake them,update them for the present time
, because, yeah, some of thosebooks just don't hold up in the
(20:33):
present day.
So I don't hold up in thepresent day.
So I don't know.
I'm of mixed minds on this Bondfranchise of the 21st century,
sonic the Hedgehog 3, the thirditeration in the film franchise,
based on Sega's enduringspeedster, will be available to
(20:55):
stream on Paramount Plus onFebruary 18th.
The third Sonic feature picks upwith the blue blur, along with
Tails the Fox and Knuckles theEnchinada having to deal with
their nemesis Dr Robotnik, totake on the super, superlatively
(21:16):
edgy threat of Shadow theHedgehog.
The film opened up on top inNorth America's box office based
back in December, earning $60million in its first outing and
continuing to score as a highearner throughout the holiday
season.
A fourth film is already in theworks for Paramount and is set
(21:36):
to be released in 2027.
Per the description for theUmbrella Academy Plan B, after
the mass release of the city'sgreatest foes and the chaos that
followed in Hotel Oblivion, theUmbrella Academy faces their
most fearsome challenge to datetheir other brothers and sisters
, known only as the Sparrows.
They share a differentconnection to Sir Hartled
(21:56):
Hargreaves and Mom.
No one knows how to hurt eachother more than family, and this
powerful, ruthless brood willspare no brutality in favor of
their sole objective control ofthe obedient clare that comes
with it".
Now the new comic is co-writtenby Wei and Ba, who also
illustrates, colored by DaveStewart and littered by Nate
(22:19):
Picos.
It will be released on June11th and is currently for
pre-order from Dark Horse Comicsby artists including Fabio Moon
, claire Rowe, mike Del Mundo,duncan Fregredo, david Aja and
(22:40):
Jill Thompson.
Netflix's TV series adaptationof Wei and Ba's the Umbrella
Academy comics ended itsfour-season run last August.
During that time, the comicsweren't regularly coming out
with new issues.
A beloved actor is poised toplay a beloved Harry Potter
(23:07):
character.
A beloved actor is poised toplay a beloved Harry Potter
character.
Six-time Emmy winner JohnLithgow is in final negotiations
to portray Professor AlbusDumbledore in HBO's high-profile
series adaptation of the hugelypopular fantasy series.
According to Deadlinecom, hbodeclined to comment about this.
Declined to comment about this,now saying quote as we make our
(23:28):
way through pre-production.
We will confirm details as wefinalize the deals.
Unquote.
The Harry Potter series isdesigned to run over a decade
and comes from writer-showrunnerFrancesca Gardner and director
and exec producer Mark Myloid.
Casey Bloys, chairman and CEOof HBO, and Max Content, at the
time of the originalannouncement, called the show a
(23:50):
faithful adaptation of JKRowling's novels, which will
delve deep into each of theiconic books.
The Harry Potter TV series,which will be filmed at Warner
Bros Studios' Leavesden, wherethe movies were shot, is slated
to debut on HBO in late 2026,early 2027.
This is slated to debut on HBOin late 2026, early 2027.
(24:12):
Bafta winner Jack O'Connell hasclosed the deal to join the
next theatrical feature inLegendary's MonsterVerse
franchise.
According to Deadlinecom, thecharacter's details are being
kept under wraps, but O'Connelljoins a cast that includes
Caitlin Dever, as well as DanStevens, who reprises his role
as veterinarian trapper Beasleyfrom last year's Godzilla x Kong
, the New Empire, thefranchise's highest-grossing
(24:34):
installment to date.
Grant Sputore is set to directfrom a script by Dave Callahan.
Plot details have been keptvague so far, though we're told
the next entry will featureseveral new human characters
alongside Titans, godzilla andKong as they face off against a
cataclysmic, world-ending threat.
Sputori took over thedirectorial reins from Adam
(24:57):
Wingard.
Following the latter's work onthe New Empire and 2021's
Godzilla vs Kong, nickelodeon iscontinuing to build out the
world of the Avatar, the LastAirbender, with the green light
of the animated series AvatarSeven Havens.
The new 2D animated series willconsist of 26 half-hour
(25:19):
episodes spread across twoseasons, or books one and two in
Avatar style.
News of the pickup comes asLast Airbender prepares to
celebrate its 20th anniversary,with the original show having
debuted on February 26, 2005.
Seven Havens hails from Avatarcreators Michael DiMartino and
(25:40):
Brian Konietzko under the AvatarStudios banner from Nickelodeon
Animation in Burbank and iscurrently in production Per the
official logline.
The series is set in a worldshattered by a devastating
cataclysm.
A young Earthbender discoversshe's the new Avatar after Korra
(26:01):
, but in this dangerous era thatmarks her as humanity's
destroyer, not its savior.
Haunted by both human andspirit enemies, she and her
long-lost twin must uncovertheir mysterious origins and
save the Seven Havens beforecivilization's last strongholds
collapse.
Now this will be the thirdanimated Avatar series In
(26:22):
addition to the Last Airbender.
Nickelodeon previously airedAvatar, the Legend of Korra, for
four seasons between 2012 and2014.
There's also an animated filmfocused on Aang and the
characters from the LastAirbender, due out in theaters
in January of 2026.
The voice cast for the filmincludes Dave Bautista, dionne
Kwan, jessica Mateen, romanZargoza and Eric Dahm, and
(26:48):
finally, tonight, lynn Murray.
Stewart, who is known for herroles in Pee Wee's Playhouse and
it's Always Sunny inPhiladelphia, has passed away at
the age of 78.
Stewart's manager, betty Smith,confirmed the news to TMZ,
revealing that Stewart passedaway at her sister's home in
California and that she had beendealing with a tumor between
the liver and gallbladder.
(27:08):
Stewart had wrapped up work inBen Still's upcoming film the
Dink before the diagnosis andshe continued to work on it's
Always Sunny in Philadelphia aswell.
In a statement to TMZ, smithwrote quote she was the most
talented and funny and mosthonorable person I have ever
known.
Unquote.
Stewart's friend CassandraPearson, who is known for
(27:30):
playing Elvira, posted a tributeto her friend on Instagram,
writing quote my heart isbreaking upon hearing the news
of my dear friend Lynn Stewart'spassing.
One of the kindest, sweetest,funniest women who ever lived,
the iconic Miss Yvonne ofPee-wee's Playhouse, shall
always be the most beautifulwoman in Puppet Land.
Heartbroken emoji.
Unquote.
(27:51):
Stewart's role as Miss Yvonne isa favorite of many Pee-Wee's
Playhouse fans as the mostbeautiful woman in Puppet Land,
appeared between 1986 and 1990in projects like Pee-Wee's Big
Adventure and Big Top Pee-Wee.
In it's Always Sunny inPhiladelphia, stewart played the
role of Bonnie, who is themother of series favorite
Charlie Kelly.
(28:11):
Stewart also appeared in GeorgeLucas's American Graffiti and
Arnold Schwarzenegger's theRunning man, as well as a host
of appearances in shows likeMASH Chips, laverne and Shirley
and as Elvira Mistress of theDark in 1988.
She also appeared in plenty ofcomic book related projects,
including the 1988 Supermanseries, batman, the Animated
(28:32):
Series, the Tick, here Comes theMonsters, batman Return of the
Caped Crusaders and Batman vsTwo-Face.
Again.
Lynn Marie Stewart was 78 yearsold.
Good night, miss Yvonne.
And that brings us to the endof the show for this week.
Now be sure to check us onsocial media.
(28:55):
We're on Blue Sky and Twitter,at Multiverse Tom Threads,
facebook and Instagram atMultiverse Tonight.
And if you've gotten some valueout of the show and would like
to pay it back, please head onover to MultiverseTonightcom
where you can find our Patreonand Ko-fi links, check our show
notes, visit the TeePublic store, leave some feedback and so
much more.
(29:15):
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, go ahead and hit thatsubscribe button and share us
with others.
Special thanks to Hot Dope forthe intro music and Lobo Loco
for the outro theme music.
Thanks for watching thisedition of Multiverse Tonight.
We'll be back in two weeks withmore sci-fi and comic book news
.
Now please exit the universe inan orderly fashion.
(29:36):
Good night.
Multiverse Tonight is aproduction of Massive Big Drugs
Productions.
Copyright 2025.
All rights reserved.
All the rest of the night is aproduction of Big Drunk
Productions.
I'll be right back with a five,all right.
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