July 07, 2019

Here's the Scoop...

Any Anime fans out there? A new TV anime series based on Akira is in the works.

Variety confirmed Thursday that Akira creator Katsuhiro Otomo is developing a new show inspired by his manga and 1988 film.

Otomo shared the news Thursday at the Anime Expo in Los Angeles. The Hollywood Reporter said Otomo will direct the new series, with Sunrise, Inc., a subsidiary of Bandai Namco, to produce.

Otomo's Akira manga was serialized in Young Magazine from 1982 to 1990. Otomo directed an animated film adaptation that was released in 1988 to critical and commercial success in Japan, the U.S. and other countries around the globe.

Akira takes place in 2019 in a dystopian Tokyo, known as Neo-Tokyo. The story centers on Shotaro Kaneda, the leader of a local biker gang, and his childhood friend, Tetsuo Shima, who acquires powerful telekinetic abilities.

Taika Waititi is directing a live-action film adaption of Akira that will open in theaters in May 2021.

Otomo also shared plans for a new film, Orbital Era. The movie is an action-adventure that takes place in the near future on a developing space colony.

Personally, I believe that a TV anime series is the perfect way to bring back Akira and re-introduce it. The possibility of a live-action version isn't going to quite cut the mustard. Akira is meant for animation, but well have to wait and see what happens.

Be Well,
Steve

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Mad Magazine plans to stop regularly publishing new content

Mad Magazine plans to stop publishing regular issues containing original content this year.

The Hollywood Reporter said the remaining 2019 issues of the 67-year-old satire publication will be available in comic-book stores and through established subscriptions.

They will not be sold at newsstands.

Fans can expect special editions and anthologies of repackaged material in the future.

NBC News said forthcoming, end-of-year specials will, however, contain new content.

Don't wait, vaccinate! And buy a copy of MAD #8. Perfect for leaving behind in your family doctor's waiting room pic.twitter.com/CgMYGgneot MAD Magazine (@MADmagazine) June 11, 2019

Halle Bailey cast as Ariel in 'Little Mermaid' live-action remake

Disney cast singer Halle Bailey as Ariel in its live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid on Wednesday.

Director Rob Marshall announced the casting in a statement, saying he spent several months meeting with talent in search of a lead for the film, Variety reported.

"After an extensive search, it was abundantly clear that Halle possesses that rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence and substance -- plus a glorious singing voice -- all intrinsic qualities necessary to play this iconic role," he said.

The film will be the feature film debut for the 19-year-old Bailey, who is best known for performing in the R&B group Chloe x Halle with her sister Chloe Bailey.

"Dream come true," the group's Twitter account wrote.

Bailey will join the cast, which already includes Jacob Tremblay and Awkwafina, while Melissa McCarthy is in discussions to play the villain Ursula. Bailey appears in Black-ish spinoff Grown-ish with her sister and Sara Shahidi.

LOOSE LIPS:

"I'm thinking about being in 9th grade right now. The day after I posted one of my first covers onto YouTube back in 2014.. at school walking down the hall straight into a group of older guys yelling out 'sing for me Shawn sing for me!' In a way that made me feel absolutely horrible... made me feel like a joke, like what I was doing was just stupid & wrong ... every single person deserves to do what makes them feel alive."
--Shawn Mendes, opening up about being bullied in high school and speaking out in support of people following their passions no matter what, on Instagram

??? Guess Who ???

Which 'Riverdale' actress got engaged to White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech?

'Laugh-In' comedian Arte Johnson dies at 90

Comedian Arte Johnson died at the age of 90 in Los Angeles on Wednesday, his family said.

Johnson's family announced he died of heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after battling bladder and prostate cancer for three years, The Hollywood Reporter said.

Born in Michigan on Jan. 20, 1929, Johnson began acting on Broadway before moving to Los Angeles in the 1950s, where he became best known for portraying characters on NBC's Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.

In 1969, Johnson earned an Emmy for his time on the show on which he portrayed more than 60 characters including former German stormtrooper Wolfgang, known for his catchphrase "very interesting."

Some of his other most popular characters included a "dirty old man" named Tyronne F. Horneigh and Indian guru Rabbi Shankar.

"Humor for me consists in incongruity," Johnson said in a 1974 interview. "If I were doing a Hasidic rabbi, I'd have him speak with an Irish accent ... you take it out of reality and make it cartoon-esque without being denigrating."

Johnson spent four seasons on Laugh-In before leaving the show to pursue other projects.

Some of his other credits include an episode of The Twilight Zone and co-starring as Dracula's servant alongside George Hamilton in Love at First Bite.

Johnson is survived by his wife of 50 years, Gisela Johnson.

'Lord of the Rings': J.A. Bayona joins Amazon series as director

Director J.A. Bayona has signed onto Amazon's upcoming Lord of the Rings series.

Variety confirmed Wednesday the 44-year-old Spanish filmmaker will direct the first two episodes of the new fantasy drama.

The Amazon series is based on J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings novels, which were previously adapted for film with Peter Jackson as director. The show takes place in Middle-earth and will explore new storylines set before The Fellowship of the Ring.

"J.R.R. Tolkien created one of the most extraordinary and inspiring stories of all time, and as a lifelong fan it is an honor and a joy to join this amazing team," Bayona said. "I can't wait to take audiences around the world to Middle-earth and have them discover the wonders of the Second Age, with a never before seen story."

Bayona also confirmed the news in a tweet Wednesday.

J.R.R. Tolkien created one of the most extraordinary and inspiring stories of all time. I can't wait to take audiences around the world to Middle-earth and have them discover the wonders of the Second Age, with a never before seen story.https://t.co/imSFOSh5MJ- JA Bayona (@FilmBayona) July 3, 2019

Deadline said Bayona will also executive produce with his producing partner Belén Atienza. The series is written by JD Payne and Patrick McKay.

"We are thrilled to have J.A. and Belen joining the fellowship as we continue to develop this epic series," Payne and McKay said. "We have been great admirers of J.A.'s work for years, and know that his epic, cinematic, and deeply heartfelt aesthetic is the perfect sensibility to bring Middle-earth to life anew."

Bayona is known for directing the films The Orphanage, The Impossible, A Monster Calls and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. He also directed episodes of the Showtime series Penny Dreadful.

??? Guess Who ???

Which 'Riverdale' actress got engaged to White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech?

Riverdale actress Vanessa Morgan is engaged to marry Chicago White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech.

"Happy 4th everyone," Morgan captioned Thursday's photo of her and Kopech smiling and standing face to face in front of a waterfall.

Morgan's hand is on Kopech's chest and a large diamond ring is visible.

Another photo in the post shows the couple kissing in the same, beautiful outdoor location.

The day before, she shared another image of the two of them in front of a waterfall.

Kopech is down on one knee and Morgan is standing.

"My Forever," is the message accompanying the picture, along with surprised-face, heart and ring emojis.

UsMagazine.com said Morgan, 27, and Kopech, 23, have been dating for about a year.