Welcome back to The Rundown, our daily breakdown on comic news stories we missed from the previous day. Have a link to share? Email our team at rundown@multiversitycomics.com.
– DC Comics is expanding the world of Tom Taylor and Yasmine Putri’s medieval fantasy series “Dark Knights of Steel.” CBR has the exclusive reveal of the new prequel one-shot “Dark Knights of Steel: Tales From the Three Kingdoms,” which focuses on Bruce, Zala, and Kal-El, the heirs to the House of El. Taylor shares writing duties with co-writers Jay Kristoff and C.S. Pacat, with Nathan Gooden providing art alongside other unannounced creators. “Dark Knights of Steel: Tales From the Three Kingdoms” features a cover by Neil Googe with variants by Dan Mora, Ejikure, and Jay Anacleto. The one-shot hits shelves on September 6.
– The first day of Netflix’s Geeked Week 2022 festival has wrapped, and it was stuffed with first looks and premiere announcements for their upcoming programming. Among their highest profile upcoming series is the comic adaptation The Sandman, which received both its first full trailer and its official release date. Based on the DC Vertigo series written by Neil Gaiman, Tom Sturridge stars in the titular role as the Master of Dreams striving to restore order to the realm of the Dreaming after being held captive for a century. Along with the previously announced cast, Netflix’s presentation confirmed that Mark Hamill would appear in the series as Merv Pumpkinhead. Developed and executive produced by Gaiman, showrunner Allan Heinberg, and David S. Goyer, The Sandman awakens on August 5.
– Also among Netflix’s hot projects is the “Addams Family” reimagining Wednesday, the “twisted new series” from director Tim Burton and showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. Based on the original comic strip by cartoonist Charles Addams that has since grown to include numerous film and TV adaptations, the teaser offered a first look at Jenna Ortega in the title role of the series, which will focus on her time as a high school student at Nevermore Academy. The main cast of the series includes Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Addams, as well as Riki Lindhome, Percy Hynes White, Gwendoline Christie, and previous Wednesday Addams actress Christina Ricci. Wednesday snaps its way to Netflix this fall.
– Netflix gave a look behind the scenes at the upcoming live-action adaptation One Piece. Deadline has a good write-up of the reveals about the series, which is based on the manga by Eiichiro Oda. The presentation featured the announcement of new cast members Langley Kirkwood (Captain Morgan), Celeste Loots (Kaya), Alexander Maniatis (Klahadore), Craig Fairbrass (Cheff Zeff), Steven Ward (Mihawk) and Chioma Umeala (Nojiko). They join the previously announced cast led by Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy, with his Straw Hat Pirates crew rounded out by Mackenyu (Zoro), Emily Rudd (Nami), Jacob Romero Gibson (Usopp) and Taz Skylar (Sanji). The set sneak peek offers a preview of the series’ scope, offering first looks at the expansive set of Baratie Bar, and previews of ships like Luffy’s Going Merry and Alvida’s Miss Love Duck. Steven Maeda and Matt Owens are showrunning the series, which is currently in production.
– Netflix also provided teasers for upcoming seasons of several of its current programs. The third and final season of Locke and Key premieres on August 10. Warrior Nun will premiere its second season this fall. The manga adaptation Alice in Borderland teased its upcoming second season, and the webtoon adaptation All of us are dead received an official announcement for its second season renewal. You can find the rest of Netflix’s previews here, including teases for highly anticipated upcoming projects like Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities and a full trailer for the Resident Evil series. Netflix’s Geeked Week continues today, promising previews of their upcoming film slate.
– Comic artist Tula Lotay is contributing the cover to the upcoming prose novel The Winter Soldier: Cold Front. Via CBR, this is the third novel in New York Times-bestselling author Mackenzi Lee’s Marvel Rebels and Renegades series, following Loki: Where Mischief Lies, and Gamora and Nebula: Sisters in Arms. The new book focuses on Bucky Barnes attempting to solve a mystery that spans across time, with half the story taking place in 1941 during his time with the British Special Operations Executive, and the other half set in the Soviet Union in 1954. The Winter Soldier: Cold Front is due out on February 7, 2023.
Continued below– The cast of Marvel’s upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 continues to grow following the recent wrap on filming. Via Deadline, Oscar-nominee Maria Bakalova (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm and the upcoming Bodies Bodies Bodies) is joining the film in what Deadline refers to as “a key role.” James Gunn has been teasing the involvement of an “unannounced actor” who is neither Bakalova or the recently announced Daniela Melchior. Neither of the two women’s roles have been announced. That pair joins the returning cast of Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Sylvester Stallone, Karen Gillan, and Elizabeth Debicki, as well as fellow franchise newcomers Will Poulter and Chuk Iwuji. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is scheduled to launch May 5, 2023.
– The upcoming anthology spinoff Tales of the Walking Dead has set its premiere date. Via Decider, the six episode series will focus on both new and established characters from the Walking Dead world in stories AMC says have their “own distinct tone and point of view.” The announced cast includes Walking Dead alum Samantha Morton, as well as Olivia Munn, Terry Crews, Parker Posey, Anthony Edwards, Poppy Liu, Jillian Bell, Embeth Davidtz, Daniella Pineda, and more. Channing Powell showruns the new project. Tales of the Walking Dead premieres on August 14 on AMC and AMC+.
– The Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation has announced the #ReadLoveSupportBinc social media challenge to celebrate independent book and comic stores as well as their employees. Starting June 10, the Binc Foundation is partnering with authors and creators on the initiative that aims to generate support for shops. “Our bookstores are a national treasure and I’m thrilled to have this chance to join together with fellow authors and readers to let booksellers across the country know how much we appreciate all they do,” said author Will Schwalbe. The Binc Foundation has provided a link with resources for those who would like to participate in the challenge, featuring printable posters and images for sharing on social media.
– Finally, “Dr. Stone” artist Boichi has a new gig at Webtoon. Via Popverse, Boichi (real name Park Mu Jik) will draw “Super String,” a series based on the mobile RPG of the same name, written by Webtoon’s chief creative officer Yoo In-Wan. Like the game, the comic will feature characters from various Webtoon series, while following “a young man who struggles alone to protect his family in a world where heroes of various dimensions wage war on Earth.” It will debut on Webtoon’s Japanese LINE Manga app in late 2023.
