WATCHMEN Leads 2020 Emmy Nominations with 26

Who watches the Watchmen?  Emmy nomination voters, apparently.

Variety has details on HBO's limited series Watchmen, based on the classic DC Comics maxi-series by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, leading the nominations for the 2020 Emmy Awards with 26 total, including acting nominations for Regina King, Jeremy Irons, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jean Smart, Louis Gossett Jr., and Jovan Adepo. 

The Disney Plus series The Mandalorian earned an impressive 15 nominations for its first season, while HBO's Westworld picked up 11 nominations.  Netflix's Stranger Things and the FX supernatural comedy What We Do in the Shadows both earned 8 nominations, while CBS All Access' Star Trek: Picard earned 5 nominations.

Other recognized geek-favorite shows include Amazon Prime's Carnival Row and The Boys, Fox's The Simpsons, Adult Swim's Rick and Morty, and Netflix's The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Lost in Space and Mindhunter.

You can read the full list of nominations HERE, but this is the breakdown for the shows listed above...

WATCHMEN (26 Nominations)

Outstanding Limited Series

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie -- Jeremy Irons as Ozymandias/Adrian Veidt

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie -- Regina King as Sister Night/Angela Abar

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie -- Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Dr. Manhattan/Cal Abar

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie -- Jovan Adepo as Hooded Justice/Officer Will Reeves

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie -- Louis Gossett Jr. as William Reeves

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie -- Jean Smart as Laurie Blake

Outstanding Writing For A Limited Series, Movie Or Dramatic Special -- "This Extraordinary Being" -- Damon Lindelof and Cord Jefferson

Outstanding Directing For A Limited Series, Movie Or Dramatic Special -- "It's Summer and We're Running Out of Ice" -- Nicole Kassell

Outstanding Directing For A Limited Series, Movie Or Dramatic Special -- "Little Fear of Lightning" -- Steph Green

Outstanding Directing For A Limited Series, Movie Or Dramatic Special -- "This Extraordinary Being" -- Stephen Williams

Outstanding Music Composition For A Limited Series, Movie Or Special

(Original Dramatic Score) -- "It's Summer and We're Running Out of Ice" -- Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross

Outstanding Original Music And Lyrics -- "This Extraordinary Being" / Song Title: "The Way It Used To Be" by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross

Outstanding Music Supervision -- "This Extraordinary Being"

Outstanding Main Title Design

Outstanding Production Design For A Narrative Period Or Fantasy Program (One Hour Or More) -- "An Almost Religious Awe"

Outstanding Casting For A Limited Series, Movie Or Special

Outstanding Cinematography For A Limited Series Or Movie -- "Little Fear of Lightning"

Outstanding Cinematography For A Limited Series Or Movie -- "This Extraordinary Being"

Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes -- "It's Summer and We're Running Out of Ice"

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Limited Series Or Movie -- "A God Walks into Abar"

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Limited Series Or Movie -- "It's Summer and We're Running Out of Ice"

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Limited Series Or Movie -- "This Extraordinary Being"

Outstanding Sound Editing For A Limited Series, Movie Or Special -- "This Extraordinary Being"

Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Limited Series Or Movie -- "This Extraordinary Being"

Outstanding Special Visual Effects -- "See How They Fly"

THE MANDALORIAN (15 Nominations)

Outstanding Drama Series

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series -- "Chapter 8: Redemption" -- Giancarlo Esposito as Moff Gideon

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance -- "Chapter 8: Redemption" -- Taika Waititi as IG-11

Outstanding Music Composition For A Series (Original Dramatic Score) -- Ludwig Göransson

Outstanding Production Design For A Narrative Program (Half-Hour) -- "Chapter 1: The Mandalorian"

Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series (Half-Hour) -- "Chapter 7: The Reckoning"

Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes -- "Chapter 3: The Sin"

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series -- "Chapter 2: The Child"

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series -- "Chapter 4: Sanctuary"

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series -- "Chapter 8: Redemption"

Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup For A Series, Limited Series, Movie Or Special -- "Chapter 6: The Prisoner"

Outstanding Sound Editing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (Half-Hour) And

Animation -- "Chapter 1: The Mandalorian"

Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (Half-Hour) And

Animation -- "Chapter 2: The Child"

Outstanding Special Visual Effects -- "Chapter 2: The Child"

Outstanding Stunt Coordination For A Drama Series, Limited Series Or Movie

WESTWORLD  (11 Nominations)

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series -- Jeffrey Wright as Bernard Lowe

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series -- Thandie Newton as Maeve Millay

Outstanding Production Design For A Narrative Period Or Fantasy Program (One Hour Or More) -- "Parce Domine"

Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series (One Hour) -- "Parce Domine"

Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes -- "Parce Domine"

Outstanding Main Title Design

Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup For A Series, Limited Series, Movie Or Special -- "Crisis Theory"

Outstanding Sound Editing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (One Hour) -- "Parce Domine"

Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (One Hour) -- "Parce Domine"

Outstanding Special Visual Effects -- "Crisis Theory"

Outstanding Interactive Extension Of A Linear Program -- "Free Will Is Not Free Interactive Experience"

STRANGER THINGS (8 Nominations)

Outstanding Drama Series

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series -- "Chapter Eight: The Battle of Starcourt"

Outstanding Music Supervision -- "Chapter Three: The Case of the Missing Lifeguard"

Outstanding Sound Editing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (One Hour) -- "Chapter Eight: the Battle of Starcourt"

Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (One Hour) -- "Chapter Eight: The Battle of Starcourt"

Outstanding Special Visual Effects -- "Chapter Eight: The Battle of Starcourt"

Outstanding Stunt Coordination For A Drama Series, Limited Series Or Movie

Outstanding Interactive Extension Of A Linear Program -- "Scoops Ahoy: Operation Scoop Snoop"

WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS (8 Nominations)

Outstanding Comedy Series

Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series -- "Collaboration" -- Sam Johnson & Chris Marcil

Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series -- "Ghosts" -- Paul Simms

Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series -- "On the Run" -- Stefani Robinson

Outstanding Production Design For A Narrative Program (Half-Hour) -- "Resurrection", "Collaboration", "Witches"

Outstanding Casting For A Comedy Series

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Comedy Series -- "Resurrection"

Outstanding Sound Editing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (Half-Hour) And

Animation -- "The Return"

STAR TREK: PICARD (5 Nominations)

Outstanding Period And/Or Character Hairstyling -- "Stardust City Rag"

Outstanding Period And/Or Character Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) -- "Stardust City Rag"

Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup For A Series, Limited Series, Movie Or Special -- "Absolute Candor"

Outstanding Sound Editing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (One Hour) -- "Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2"

Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (One Hour) -- "Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2:"

AMERICAN HORROR STORY: 1984 (4 Nominations)

Outstanding Period And/Or Character Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) -- "The Lady in White"

Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup For A Series, Limited Series, Movie Or Special -- "True Killers"

Outstanding Sound Editing For A Limited Series, Movie Or Special -- "Camp Redwood"

Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Limited Series Or Movie -- "Camp Redwood"

CARNIVAL ROW (3 Nominations)

Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music -- Nathan Barr

Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes -- "Aisling"

Outstanding Main Title Design

THE SIMPSONS (3 Nominations)

Outstanding Animated Program -- "Thanksgiving of Horror"

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance -- "Better Off Ned" -- Nancy Cartwright as Bart Simpson, Nelson Muntz, Ralph Wiggum, and Todd Flanders

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance -- "Frinkcoin" -- Hank Azaria as Professor Frink, Moe Syzslak, Chief Wiggum, Carl Carlson, Cletus Spuckler, Kirk Van Houten, and Sea Captain

BLACK MIRROR (1 Nomination)

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series -- "Smithereens" -- Andrew Scott as Chris Gillhaney

BOB'S BURGERS (1 Nomination)

Outstanding Animated Program -- "Pig Trouble in Little Tina"

THE BOYS (1 Nomination)

Outstanding Sound Editing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (One Hour) -- "The Name of the Game"

 

THE DARK CRYSTAL: AGE OF RESISTANCE (1 Nomination)

Outstanding Children's Program

DOCTOR WHO (1 Nomination)

Outstanding Derivative Interactive Program -- "The Runaway"

LOST IN SPACE (1 Nomination)

Outstanding Special Visual Effects -- "Ninety-Seven"

MINDHUNTER (1 Nomination)

Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series (One Hour) -- "Episode 6"

RICK AND MORTY (1 Nomination)

Outstanding Animated Program -- "The Vat of Acid Episode"

STAR TREK: SHORT TREKS (1 Nomination)

Outstanding Short Form Comedy Or Drama Series

STAR WARS: RESISTANCE (1 Nomination)

Outstanding Children's Program

The 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards is scheduled to air Sunday, September 20th on ABC.

NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE 162: "The Macra Terror" Is Up!

"This is an emergency!  Control must be believed and obeyed!  No one in the colony believes in Macra!  There is no such thing as Macra!  Macra do not exist!  There are no Macra!"
-- The Controller, Doctor Who: "The Macra Terror"

Hello again, everyone!   Special guest companion John Takacs returns to Next Stop Everywhere: The Doctor Who Podcast to help me discuss "The Macra Terror", the seventh serial from Doctor Who Season 4 in 1967 recently restored using animation, starring Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor, Frazier Hines as Jamie McCrimmon, Anneke Wills as Polly Wright, and Michael Craze as Ben Jackson!

In this episode, John and I discuss things like the Orwellian themes of "The Macra Terror" translating well to 2019, the TARDIS doing whatever it damn well wants, my disowning of Steve Martin's Pink Panther movies, the two actresses playing Chicki, the decision to use an animated Doctor Who opening sequence instead of the existing live action version, the animators' decision to cut out the sequence where Polly's hair is cut short and and the Doctor has his clothes cleaned and pressed, why the animation can't be better, our decisions of watching the animated version in color instead of traditional black and white, the Doctor's quick interest in Medok, Questa being surprised that the Doctor figured out their complex formula, Jamie and Polly being sent to the gas mines, why Ben was more susceptible to being brainwashed, wondering why Ben didn't have lingering effects from being controlled, Jamie doing the "Highland Fling", the Controller's mouth not moving, the real Controller being revealed, wondering if the Colonists had enough butter, the Doctor not wanting to be the next Pilot, Jamie being a stronger character than Ben, the bonus animated mini-episode of "The Wheel in Space", our favorite quotes of the episode, Chef John's recipe for Macra crab cakes, my Reverse the Reverse the Polarity segment, the big news of when Series 12 will premiere and the first episode "Spyfall", the return of cliffhangers, new feedback from Holly Mac and David K. Proctor, new special guest companion Hannah Skorapa, and more!

If you'd like to check out our latest episode, you can find us on...

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In honor of our 5th anniversary, we now have a NEW Next Stop Everywhere t-shirt with our current logo, which you can find on TeePublic right HERE!  This spiffy new shirt looks great when you're listening to your favorite Doctor Who podcast and travelling through time and space!  Or your could order all sorts of cool Next Stop Everywhere merch there as well!

And hey, if you'd like to pick up our classic logo Next Stop Everywhere t-shirt, you can also find it on TeePublic right HERE!  Help support the show and feel free to post pictures on our Facebook page of you or some other cool person you know wearing the shirt!

Be sure to come back in next week, as special guest companion Hannah Skorapa makes her debut on Next Stop Everywhere: The Doctor Who Podcast to help me discuss "The Long Game", the seventh episode from Doctor Who Series One in 2005, starring Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor, Billie Piper as Rose Tyler, Bruno Langley as Adam Mitchell, and Simon Pegg as The Editor!

Sgt. Rock, Adam Strange, Death & More Featured in New DC SHOWCASE Animated Shorts

Thought you'd see the last of the DC Showcase animated shorts?  Think again...

Newsarama has revealed that Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Home Entertainment and DC are currently in production on five new DC Showcase animated shorts for release during 2019 through 2020.

According to the article, four new shorts will be included on upcoming DC Universe animated movies releases, while the fifth is called an "innovative Batman: Death in the Family long-form animated short," planned to anchor a compilation set for distribution in late 2020.  

The five shorts –  Sgt. Rock, Adam Strange, Death, The Phantom Stranger, and Batman: Death in the Family – will open with a new, live-action branding sequence featuring a "few Easter Eggs specially added for observant fans."  All five new DC Showcase shorts will have Jim Krieg as co-producer, Amy McKenna as producer, and Sam Register as executive producer.

Here's the rundown of each animated short:

Sgt. Rock 

Starring Karl Urban (Star Trek, Dredd, Lord of the Rings) as the voice of Sgt. Rock, this short is executive produced and directed by Bruce Timm (Batman: The Animated Series) from a script by veteran comic book writers Louise Simonson & Walter Simonson, and Tim Sheridan (Reign of the Supermen).

"The original tale finds battle-weary Sgt. Rock thinking he has seen everything that World War II can dish out. But he is in for the surprise of his life when he is assigned to lead a company consisting of legendary monsters into battle against an unstoppable platoon of Nazi zombies."

Adam Strange

Charlie Weber (How To Get Away with Murder, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) voices Adam Strange in this short produced and directed by Butch Lukic (Batman Unlimited), who also conceived the original story, written by comics vet J.M. DeMatteis (Constantine: City of Demons).

"On a rugged asteroid mining colony, few of the toiling workers are aware that their town drunk was ever anything but an interplanetary derelict.  But when the miners open a fissure into the home of a horde of deadly alien insects, his true identity is exposed.  He is space adventurer Adam Strange, whose heroic backstory is played out in flashbacks as he struggles to save the very people who have scorned him for so long."

Death

Jamie Chung (The Gifted, Gotham, Big Hero 6) voices Death, with Leonardo Nam (Westworld, The Flash, Swamp Thing) as Vincent.  Inspired by Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman, Death is produced & directed by Sam Liu (Justice League vs. The Fatal Five) and also written by DeMatteis.

"In the story, Vincent, an artist with unresolved inner demons, meets a mysterious girl who helps him come to terms with his creative legacy…and eventual death."

The Phantom Stranger

Peter Serafinowicz (The Tick, Doctor Who, Guardians of the Galaxy) voices The Phantom Stranger and Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville, Justice League Unlimited) voices Seth.  The Phantom Stranger is executive produced and directed by Timm and is written by Ernie Altbacker (Teen Titans: The Judas Contract).

"Set in the 1970s, the short follows young adult Jess as she joins her friends at a party in a dilapidated mansion hosted by the mysterious Seth.  When odd things begin to happen to Jess and her friends, the Phantom Stranger intervenes to save her from a dreary fate."

Batman: Death in the Family

Unfortunately, more information regarding Batman: Death In The Family won't be available until 2020, according to the article.

Initially launched in 2010, DC Showcase was originally comprised of four animated shorts produced by Timm and directed by Joaquim Dos Santos -- The Spectre (released on 2/23/2010), Jonah Hex (7/27/2010), Green Arrow (9/28/2010) and Superman/Shazam: The Return of Black Adam (11/9/2010).  These were later followed by Catwoman (10/18/2011), directed by Lauren Montgomery and executive produced by Timm.

Disney+ Announces Launch Date, Confirms New Marvel & Star Wars Series

Get ready to increase your streaming service budget.

Deadline reports that Disney has finally revealed the major details regarding its upcoming digital streaming service, Disney+.  During yesterday's presentation at Disney's Investors Day, the company released the full Disney+ programming slate, including premiere dates and estimates which you can read in full HERE.

Disney+ will launch in the U.S. on November 12, 2019 for $6.99 per month, along with an annual option of $70 that breaks down to $5.83 per month.  The service will be available on a wide range of mobile and connected devices, including gaming consoles, streaming media players, and smart TVs.

The streaming service will offer new original films, TV series and specials, along with dozens of library titles from TV and movies.  Disney+ will include content from Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel Studios, National Geographic, and The Simpsons.

If you're a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe or Star Wars, here's what's being released over the first two years:

LIVE ACTION SERIES

The Mandalorian

The first ever live-action Star Wars series, is written and executive-produced by Emmy®-nominated producer and actor Jon Favreau, with Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) directing the first episode.  The highly anticipated series features an all-star cast including Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano, Carl Weathers, Giancarlo Esposito, Emily Swallow, Omid Abtahi, Werner Herzog and Nick Nolte.  Set after the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order, the series follows a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic. Timing: Available at launch

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier
Anthony Mackie will return as The Falcon and Sebastian Stan will reprise his role as the Winter Soldier in the new Marvel Studios series. Timing: Year One

Loki
Tom Hiddleston will reprise his role as Loki in the new Marvel Studios series. Timing: Year Two

Untitled Cassian Andor Series
Diego Luna will reprise his role of rebel spy Cassian Andor in this series set during the formative years of the Rebellion prior to the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The rousing spy thriller will explore tales filled with espionage and daring missions to restore hope to a galaxy in the grip of a ruthless Empire. Alan Tudyk will also reprise his role as K-2SO with Stephen Schiff (The Americans) as showrunner and executive producer. Timing: Year Two

WandaVision
Elizabeth Olsen will return as Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch, and Paul Bettany will reprise his role as The Vision in the new Marvel Studios series. Timing: Year Two

ANIMATED SERIES & SHORTS

Star Wars: The Clone Wars
The Emmy® award-winning animated series will be returning with twelve all-new episodes exclusively on Disney+. This will mark the return of classic characters Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padmé Amidala, as well as fan-favorites Ahsoka Tano and Captain Rex. Timing: Year One

Marvel’s What If…?
Marvel Studios’ first animated series, taking inspiration from the comic books of the same name. Each episode will explore a pivotal moment from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and turn it on its head, leading the audience into uncharted territory. Timing: Year One

DOCUMENTARY, UNSCRIPTED SERIES & LIVE SPECIALS

Marvel’s 616
An anthological documentary series from Marvel New Media in partnership with Supper Club that explores the intersection between Marvel’s rich legacy of stories, characters and creators and the world outside your window. Each documentary will dive into the rich historical, cultural and societal context that has become inseparable from stories of the Marvel Universe. Timing: Year One

RECENT RELEASES

Disney+ will serve as the exclusive streaming home of Walt Disney Studios films beginning in 2019 including:

Captain Marvel
Avengers: Endgame
Star Wars: Episode IX

LIBRARY HIGHLIGHTS

FILMS

Iron Man
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (animated series)
Thor: The Dark World

TELEVISION SERIES

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man
Star Wars Rebels
Star Wars: The Clone Wars

TITANTALK 020: "Young Justice: Outsiders Part 1" is Up!

"Why does Violet Harper want to sit outside?"
"There was nowhere for us to sit inside.  And I needed air.  Ugh, I feel strange."
"Yes...Strange that no students wished to sit with Violet Harper and Fred Bugg With Two Gs.  How will Happy Harbor teenagers learn about Violet Harper and Fred Bugg With Two Gs if Violet Harper and Fred Bugg With Two Gs do not interact with Happy Harbor teenagers?  Are Violet Harper and Fred Bugg With Two Gs freaks?  Because Fred Bugg With Two Gs doesn't feel like a freak.  (Sighs)  But Fred Bugg With Two Gs must look like a freak."

-- Fred Bugg (with two gs) and Violet Harper, Young Justice: Outsiders -- "Another Freak"

Hello again, Titans fans!  My fellow TitanTalker Jesse Jackson is unavailable this time, but I'm back with another new episode of TitanTalk: The Titans Podcast!  This time, I'm joined by Phil Perich from Capes and Lunatics to review the first 13 episodes of the DC Universe animated series Young Justice: Outsiders, including Nightwing and the Outsiders, Darkseid and The Light, Batman Incorporated, and more!

TITANS TOGETHER!

In this episode, Phil and I discuss things like Jesse scaling things back, Phil watching the original Young Justice series, both of us rewatching the original Young Justice series to prepare for Outsiders, Phil's son and other kids liking Forager, Jason Spisak taking on the role of Forager after Kid Flash was killed off, Khary Payton voicing 90% of the black male characters, the classic '80s DC comic Batman and the Outsiders, Nightwing and Tigress leading the Outsiders, Aqualad becoming the new Aquaman, Black Lightning struggling with his powers and being traumatized, Brion Markov becoming Geo-Force, Terra being teased in a version of New Teen Titans storyline "The Judas Contract", wondering if Beast Boy will hook up with Terra, the Doom Patrol Go! sequence parodying Teen Titans Go!, Deathstroke taking out everyone in "The Judas Contract" except Dick Grayson, Vandal Savage's secret alliance with Darkseid, who's who in The Light, the various New Gods teases, the disappointing opening titles, The Light killing Ocean Master, Grant Morrison's Batman Incorporated, why the Outsiders need their own spinoff series, Roy Harper's security company, Nabu still using Zatara's body to be Doctor Fate, Young Justice comic writer Peter David writing an episode, our favorite episodes of the first half, Harper Row from Scott Snyder's Batman run, being tired of Nightwing telling Geo-Force to calm down and have patience, Phil watching the Doom Patrol episode from Titans, some Doom Patrol Season One news, George Perez announcing his retirement, and more!

If you'd like to check out episodes of TitanTalk, you can find us on...

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Be sure to come back soon for Episode 021 as Jesse returns so we can discuss the first episode of the new DC Universe series Doom Patrol!  Look for more of TitanTalk: The Titans Podcast on iTunes, Google Play Music, YouTube, Libsyn, and the official Southgate Media Group website!

JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. THE FATAL FIVE Animated Cast Announced

Get ready to face the future.

The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that the upcoming animated DC Universe Original Movie Justice League vs. The Fatal Five has announced its voice cast, which features a mix of returning and new actors, along with the animated debut of Green Lantern Jessica Cruz.

According to the official synopsis for the movie, "Justice League vs. The Fatal Five finds the fate of the Earth hanging in the balance when the Justice League faces a powerful new threat — the Fatal Five!  Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman seek answers as the time-traveling trio of Mano, Persuader and Tharok terrorize Metropolis in search of budding Green Lantern, Jessica Cruz.  With her unwilling help, they aim to free remaining Fatal Five members Emerald Empress and Validus to carry out their sinister plan.  But the Justice League has also discovered an ally from another time in the peculiar Star Boy — brimming with volatile power, could he be the key to thwarting the Fatal Five?  An epic battle against ultimate evil awaits!"

The cast includes:

Elyes Gabel (Scorpion, Game of Thrones) as Thomas Kallor/Star Boy
Diane Guerrero (Doom Patrol) as Jessica Cruz/Green Lantern
George Newbern as Clark Kent/Superman
Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne/Batman
Susan Eisenberg as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman
Peter Jessop (Mass Effect) as Tharok
Matthew Yang King (Batman Ninja) as The Persuader
Sumalee Montano (This Is Us) as Emerald Empress
Philip Anthony Rodriguez (Grimm) as Mano
Tom Kenny (Spongebob Squarepants) as Bloodsport
Daniela Bobadilla as M'gann M'orrz/Miss Martian
Kevin Michael Richardson as Michael Holt/Mr. Terrific
Noel Fisher as Querl Dox/Brainiac 5
Tara Strong as Imra Ardeen/Saturn Girl

Created in 1967 by Jim Shooter and Curt Swan, the Fatal Five first appeared in Adventure Comics (vol.1) #352 as a gang of supervillains assembled by the Legion of Super-Heroes to help them destroy the Sun-Eater threatening Earth.  They battled the Legion numerous times, in various incarnations, with Validus killing Lyle Norg, the Legionnaire known as the first Invisible Kid.

The Fatal Five has appeared in other animated projects, including the Justice League Unlimited episode "Far from Home" and the Legion of Super Heroes animated series.  In addition, the Persuader appeared in the Smallville episode "Legion", the only member of the group to appear in live-action.

Justice League vs. The Fatal Five is expected to arrive on direct-to-video sometime in Spring 2019.

Sony Pictures Developing Animated SPIDER-WOMEN Film

The webbed women of Marvel are getting their own animated movie.

Deadline is reporting that Sony Pictures is working on an animated Spider-Women film that will "focus on three generations of women with Spidey powers."

According to the article, Bek Smith (Zoo) will write the script, with Amy Pascal producing.

It's not known if Spider-Women will be connected to the previous animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which featured Hailee Steinfeld as Spider-Gwen/Gwen Stacy.  The studio is already working on a sequel that continues with the Miles Morales Spider-Man.

Presumably, Spider-Women will be based somewhat on the recent Marvel Comics event storyline "Spider-Women", that was centered around the superheroes Spider-Gwen, the Jessica Drew Spider-Woman, and Silk.  

The Jessica Drew Spider-Woman was created in 1977 by Archie Goodwin and Marie Severin, first appearing in Marvel Spotlight #32.  At a young age, Jessica's family moved to a lab built by her father and Herbert Wyndham near Mount Wundagore in Transia, where she became gravely ill from months of uranium exposure.  To save her life, her father injected her with an experimental serum based on irradiated spiders' blood.  She was later captured by a HYDRA reserve unit under Count Otto Vermis, who erased her memories, brainwashed her, and recruited her as a HYDRA agent under the codename Arachne.  After an encounter with The Thing, she recovered from her brainwashing, and took on the identity of Spider-Woman. The two superheroes soon encountered Modred the Mystic, who removed HYDRA's memory implants and restored Jessica's memories.

Spider-Gwen, a.k.a. the Gwen Stacy Spider-Woman, was created in 2014 by Jason Latour and Robbi Rodriguez and first appeared in Edge of Spider-Verse #4 as the Earth-65 version of Gwen Stacy.  Instead of this Earth's Peter Parker, this Gwen Stacy was the one bitten by the radioactive spider during a demonstration on the use of radioactive rays at a science exhibit.  She became a superhero going by the name of Spider-Woman.  Shortly after she began fighting crime, Peter Parker attempted to exact revenge on those who bullied him in Midtown High School, becoming Earth-65's version of the Lizard.  Gwen subdued him, but Peter died towards the end of the battle due to a chemical that he used.

Silk was created in 2014 by Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos, first appearing in The Amazing Spider-Man (vol.3) #4, following a brief cameo in issue #1.  After the radioactive spider that gave Peter Parker his Spider-Man powers, the spider bit Cindy Moon as well.  Soon after, Cindy’s abilities manifested, including organic webbing (unlike Peter), but she was unable to control them.  Some time later, the character known as Ezekiel approached the Moon family and offered his help with Cindy controlling her newfound abilities.  After six years of training to use her powers, Cindy was locked up inside a facility by Ezekiel to protect her and the other "spiders" from the villain called Morlun and his family known as the Inheritors.  After learning of her existence, Spider-Man immediately searched for Cindy to break her out of the facility where Ezekiel had kept her.  Cindy made her way out of the facility to finally see the city of New York, and became the superhero known as Silk.

CBS All Access Orders STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS Animated Series

Redshirts, your time has come at last.

CBS All Access has announced a two-season order for Star Trek: Lower Decks, an upcoming half-hour adult animated comedy series that will "focus on the support crew serving on one of Starfleet’s least important ships."  

The animated series is from Rick and Morty head writer and executive producer Mike McMahan.  Star Trek: Lower Decks will be CBS All Access’ first original animated series and the first project to be produced by CBS Eye Animation Productions, a new animation arm of CBS Television Studios.  Secret Hideout’s Alex Kurtzman and Heather Kadin and Roddenberry Entertainment’s Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth and Katie Krentz will serve as Executive Producers alongside McMahan.  Aaron Baiers, who brought McMahan to the project, will serve as a Co-Executive Producer.

McMahan said, "As a life-long Trekkie, it’s a surreal and wonderful dream come true to be a part of this new era of Star Trek.  While Star Trek: Lower Decks is a half-hour, animated show at its core, it’s undeniably Trek — and I promise not to add an episode at the very end that reveals the whole thing took place in a training program."  McMahan's remark, as Trek fans probably know, was a sly reference to "These Are the Voyages...", the controversial 2005 final episode of the UPN series Star Trek: Enterprise.

Reportedly a longtime Star Trek fan, McMahan started a Twitter account in 2011 where he posted episode plots to a fake season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.  They were such a hit that Simon & Schuster hired him to write a readers’ guide to a fictitious eighth season of TNG titled Star Trek: The Next Generation: Warped: An Engaging Guide to the Never-Aired 8th Season.  McMahan has also written "The Escape Artist", an upcoming episode of Star Trek: Short Treks, the CBS All Access series of live-action Star Trek shorts. 

Executive Producer Alex Kurtzman remarked, "Mike won our hearts with his first sentence --'I want to do a show about the people who put the yellow cartridge in the food replicator so a banana can come out the other end.’  His cat’s name is Riker.  His son’s name is Sagan. The man is committed.  He’s brilliantly funny and knows every inch of every Trek episode, and that’s his secret sauce -- he writes with the pure, joyful heart of a true fan.  As we broaden the world of Trek to fans of all ages, we’re so excited to include Mike’s extraordinary voice."

Star Trek: Lower Decks will be the first official Star Trek animated program since Star Trek: The Animated Series, which aired on NBC from 1973-74.  The new series will be the fourth Star Trek series on CBS All Access, after Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Short Treks, and the upcoming untitled Star Trek series featuring Sir Patrick Stewart reprising his role as Jean-Luc Picard.

HARLEY QUINN Casts Kaley Cuoco as Harley, Releases First Look Trailer

Harley Quinn just returned fire at Deadpool.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the world premiere screening of DC Universe's series Titans at New York Comic Con featured actress Kaley Cuoco, who announced that she's starring in the streaming service's upcoming animated series Harley Quinn, based on the DC Comics character.

Cuoco, 32, is best known as Penny on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory and has appeared in the movies The Wedding Ringer and Virtuosity. Her other TV appearances include episodes of Prison Break, Charmed, Northern Exposure, 8 Simple Rules, The Ellen Show, Ellen, and My So-Called Life.

Announced back in November 2017, Harley Quinn is a new adult animated comedy that follows Harley’s adventures after she breaks up with the Joker and strikes out on her own. With the help of Poison Ivy and a ragtag crew of DC castoffs, Harley tries to earn a seat at the biggest table in villainy: the Legion of Doom.

The voice cast also includes Lake Bell (Wet Hot American Summer) as Poison Ivy, Diedrich Bader (Veep) as Batman, Alan Tudyk (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), Ron Funches (Powerless), JB Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Jason Alexander (Seinfeld), Wanda Sykes (Black-ish), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), Natalie Morales (Bojack Horseman), Jim Rash (Community), Tony Hale (Veep) and Chris Meloni (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit).

In addition, the announcement featured a 50-second "first look" teaser trailer for Harley Quinn, featuring Cuoco's Harley and her gal pal Poison Ivy inside Arkham Asylum, breaking the fourth wall and directly addressing the New York Comic Con audience. In the trailer, Harley claims her new show "has got comedy, action, incredibly gratuitous violence, and unlike that Deadpool cartoon, it's actually comin' out." She also states "everyone in my show is gonna have fun or I will bash their f#@%ing heads in!"

At that moment, Batman drops down from outside to say "There's no fun in Arkham, Quinn," causing Harley to dismiss him as "a real buzzkill."

If you'd like to check out the first look trailer for Harley Quinn, you can view it below thanks to the official Warner Bros. TV account on YouTube...




Harley Quinn is expected to debut on DC Universe sometime in 2019.

THE DEATH OF SUPERMAN Animated Film Cast Announced

Brace yourselves, the death of Superman is coming...again.

TV Insider has revealed the principal voice cast for The Death of Superman, the latest DC Comics animated movie, the first part of a two-part epic that adapts the popular '90s Superman comics storyline "The Death and Return of Superman."  The second part, Reign of the Supermen, is expected to arrive sometime in early 2019.

According to the article, Jerry O'Connell will once again voice Superman/Clark Kent, following his previous three animated films as Superman in Justice League: Throne of Atlantis, Justice League vs. Teen Titans, and Justice League Dark.  

Rebecca Romijn will provide the voice for Lois Lane, while Rainn Wilson will voice Superman's arch-nemesis, Lex Luthor.

Other cast members include returning DC animated movie actors Jason O'Mara as Batman, Rosario Dawson as Wonder Woman, Christopher Gorham as The Flash, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern, Matt Lanter as Aquaman, and Shemar Moore as Cyborg.  Rocky Carroll will provide the voice for Cyborg's father, Dr. Silas Stone, while Patrick Fabian will voice Cyborg Superman/Hank Henshaw.

In "The Death of Superman" story arc, Superman battles an immensely powerful and seemingly unstoppable creature of unknown origin named Doomsday across the United States.  In the fight's conclusion in Superman (vol. 2) #75, both combatants apparently die from their wounds in the streets of Metropolis.  The world reacts to Superman's death in the following arc, "Funeral for a Friend," until four superpowered individuals emerge, each claiming to be Superman.  This eventually leads to the original Superman's return in "Reign of the Supermen."

The Death of Superman will be the second DC animated film to adapt "The Death and Return of Superman," after the 2007 film Superman: Doomsday, which starred Adam Baldwin as Superman, Anne Heche as Lois Lane, and James Marsters as Lex Luthor.

The Death of Superman is expected to be released on blu-ray, DVD, and digital sometime in Fall 2018.

SUICIDE SQUAD: HELL TO PAY Animated Film Cast Announced

If you're a Suicide Squad fan, there's going to be hell to pay. 

The Hollywood Reporter has revealed the voice cast for Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay, the upcoming Warner Bros. Animation film based on the DC Comics antihero superteam. 

According to the article, Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay "sees Amanda Waller's secret team Task Force X (consisting of Deadshot, Bronze Tiger, Killer Frost, Captain Boomerang, Harley Quinn and Copperhead) sent to retrieve a powerful mystical object that they will risk their lives to steal. Unfortunately for the Suicide Squad, there are other villains who want the prize, and they must win a race to get it, in order to stay alive."

And here's the full cast list:

Deadshot - Christian Slater
Bronze Tiger - Billy Brown
Captain Boomerang - Liam McIntyre
Killer Frost - Kristin Bauer van Straten
Copperhead - Gideon Emery
Harley Quinn - Tara Strong
Amanda Waller - Vanessa Williams
Zoom - C. Thomas Howell
Scandal Savage - Dania Ramirez
Professor Pyg - James Urbaniak
Silver Banshee - Julie Nathanson
Vandal Savage and (Count) Vertigo - Jim Pirri
Maxum Steel - Greg Grunberg
Blockbuster and Tobias Whale - Dave Fennoy
Knockout - Cissy Jones
Dharma - Natalie Lander
Punch - Trevor Devall
Two-Face - Dave Boat

 This will be the third time the Suicide Squad will appear in an animated project, after the Justice League Unlimited episode "Task Force X" and the animated film Batman: Assault on Arkham.

Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay is expected to be released on blu-ray, DVD, and digital sometime in Spring 2018.

DC Digital Service Orders HARLEY QUINN Adult Animated Series

The DC Comics digital service is getting a bit more animated.

Deadline reported that the still-unnamed DC Comics digital service has given a straight-to-series order for 26 episodes of a half-hour adult animated series based on popular DC Comics character Harley Quinn.  The series is the third DC Comics adaptation to receive a greenlight from the upcoming digital service, after the revived animated series Young Justice: Outsiders and the live-action series Titans.

According to the article, Harley Quinn will "also feature Poison Ivy and a cast of heroes and villains — old and new — from the DC universe."  The animated series follows Harley, who "finally has broken things off with the Joker once and for all and attempts to make it on her own as the criminal Queenpin of Gotham City."

The article also mentions that Australian actress Margot Robbie, who portrayed the character in the 2016 film Suicide Squad, is "at the top of Warner Bros.’ wish list for actresses to voice the title character in the animated series, and she is expected to be approached for the gig."

Harley Quinn will be from Powerless executive producers Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker, and Dean Lorey via Warner Bros. Animation.  Sam Register, president of Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Digital Series, will also serve as executive producer. Jennifer Coyle (DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year) will be a producer with Halpern and Schumacker’s Ehsugadee Productions in association with Warner Bros. Animation.

The project is still in development, so the above artwork from Harley Quinn comic book artist Amanda Conner may not be representative of the series' final design.