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.
– Principal photography has started on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and with that has come the first official photo from the film. In addition, the official press release announces some new cast members, with the most prominent being Kurt Russell, who has long been rumored/connected to the role of Star Lord’s father. The film is set to open on May 5, 2017.
– Image Expo is coming back…as the lead in to Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle. On Wednesday, April 6, Image will roll out the event – featuring talent like Jonathan Hickman, Joe Harris, and Leila del Luca – where they announce new books and generally get the hype train moving. What is very odd, however, is waiting this long to announce the Expo. Many comics professionals – including our own Leo Johnson – have already purchased their airfare/hotel rooms for the convention, and it will be expensive/inconvenient to change their plans now. Regardless, stay tuned for all the news that comes out of the Expo on April 5.
– Congratulations to our pal Joshua Hale Fialkov, who has signed an exclusive writing contract with Oni Press. Josh is one of the true good guys in all of comics, and we couldn’t be more thrilled for him. Congrats, Josh!
– In what appears to be a situation where a dumptruck full of money could certainly sway him, Anthony Mackie currently has no desire to startin a Falcon solo film. Huh.
– Ben Affleck has reached out to both George Clooney and Christian Bale for advice about playing Batman. Clooney’s advice was ‘unrepeatable,’ and Affleck made sure that this Bat-suit had a zipper. If rumors/the trailers are to be believed, Affleck is looking to be the best part of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice.
– Check out the animated trailer and ten page preview for Valiant’s “A&A” over at CBR.
– Warner Bros is planning a live action “Astro Boy” film, and have hired the screenwriters from San Andreas to write it. Brian trivia: as a kid, I always thought Astro Boy was Namor.
– After debuting in her own animated web series last summer, next week sees Vixen make her debut on Arrow, and there is a trailer for the episode, titled “Taken.” I presume Vixen will have a particular set of skills…
– And, finally, in an effort to truly become the Smallville of 2016, Gotham is introducing Azrael to its second season. Nothing says “a show about how Batman began” like introducing every character that was created due to Batman while Bruce is still a pre-teen.
