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‘The Defenders’: Cinematic Episode 1 Premieres at Comic-Con in Marvel Panel Full of Surprises

5 hours ago | Indiewire | See recent Indiewire news »

Marvel likes to catch people off guard, which it more than did today at Comic-Con with its highly anticipated event series “The Defenders.” After a short panel moderated by executive producer Jeph Loeb, featuring the massive cast of the Marvel crossover event, the actors “goaded” him into screening the first full episode of the series, which premieres August 18 on Netflix.

Read More‘Twin Peaks’: David Lynch’s Short Film, The Cast Reacts to Dougie, and More Highlights From Comic-Con

Before the screening, Loeb announced that “Iron Fist” was renewed for Season 2, and brought out “The Punisher” star Jon Bernthal to preview a clip from the upcoming “Daredevil” spinoff, one which featured Frank Castle in full-on vengeance mode, with no shortage of blood spilt.

“Frank’s very much in my heart,” Bernthal said. “I’m eternally grateful to get another crack at him.

Then, it was “Defenders” time. Developed by »

- Liz Shannon Miller

‘Twin Peaks’: David Lynch’s Short Film, The Cast Reacts to Dougie, and More Highlights From Comic-Con

6 hours ago | Indiewire | See recent Indiewire news »

Because “Twin Peaks” creators David Lynch and Mark Frost were unable to attend the series’ Comic-Con panel in San Diego, the director created a video greeting for the fans.

And, as you can imagine, it was beyond words. But since the short film has yet to be released, we’ll try to do it justice.

Lynch’s message never got past a simple greeting — “Good afternoon ladies and gentleman” — but he made the most of a static camera in a dark room. Pointed at the director sitting in a wooden chair, Lynch kept getting distracted by action offscreen.

First, someone walked out a door and fell, presumably, to his death. Then Lynch showed off a clinched hand holding a golf ball Lynch described as “the last golf ball O.J. Simpson hit before going into prison in Nevada” before the camera cut out. When it started up again, a horse, a gun, »

- Ben Travers

New Trailer For ‘The Lego Ninjago Movie’ Kicks Brick

6 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »

Given the financial and critical success of both “The Lego Movie” and “The Lego Batman Movie,” it’s reasonable to assume that we will be seeing a lot more Lego themed movies in the near future. The newest addition to the Lego Universe (who would’ve thought that’d be a thing?) is “The Lego Ninjago Movie” (check out the previous trailer here). The film follows a young master builder who has to fight off an evil warlord.

Continue reading New Trailer For ‘The Lego Ninjago Movie’ Kicks Brick at The Playlist. »

- Christian Gallichio

‘Celebrity Family Feud’ Photo Diary: Funny Gals vs. Funny Guys in ‘Most Competitive Game Yet’

6 hours ago | Indiewire | See recent Indiewire news »

Comedians may make you laugh, but don’t underestimate their competitive spirits. On Sunday’s “Celebrity Family Feud,” the Funny Gals take on the Funny Guys, and it’s far more intense than you’d expect.

The Funny Gals team — June Diane Raphael, Andrea Savage, Kristen Schaal, Nicole Byer, and Carla Gallo — and the Funny Guys team — Paul Scheer, John Gemberling, Adam Pally, Eugene Cordero, Horatio Sanz — compete in what has been reportedly been the most competitive match in the history of the show. We say reportedly because that’s what Scheer himself said, and he’s clearly biased. (Editor’s Note: IndieWire is also biased towards Scheer because he conducted one of the best interviews and photo shoots with “Bachelorette” Rachel Lindsay ever.)

Read More‘The Bachelorette’ Rachel Lindsay Gets Grilled By Comedian Paul Scheer And Tells All — IndieWire’s Turn It On Podcast

That said, the episode looks »

- Hanh Nguyen

‘The Defenders’: Jessica Jones And Company Are Back In New Comic Con Trailer

7 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »

They’re the Avengers of the Netflix Marvel world. Where the regular Avengers save the world from otherworldly threats, the Defenders save a small part of New York City from ninjas, normally by fighting them in tight hallways. With the release date fast approaching, Marvel and Netflix have released the second trailer for “The Defenders,” and it looks like all that waiting by the fans is going to pay off.

Continue reading ‘The Defenders’: Jessica Jones And Company Are Back In New Comic Con Trailer at The Playlist. »

- Charles Dean

‘Marvel’s The Defenders’: Watch the Action-Packed Comic-Con Trailer That Even Makes Iron Fist Look Cool

7 hours ago | Indiewire | See recent Indiewire news »

Marvel’s big crimefighting quartet is ready to punch through your TV.

“The Defenders,” the anticipated team-up between Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), Daredevil (Charlie Cox), Luke Cage (Mike Colter) and Iron Fist (Finn Jones) premieres in less than a month. At the show’s Comic-Con panel, Marvel and Netflix released a first their latest look at what audiences can expect.

Read More ‘Marvel’s The Defenders’ Look Ready to Crack Some Skulls in Stylish New Poster

This preview of the team and their fight against mysterious supervillain supergroup The Hand also showcases some of the show’s new characters, including Sigourney Weaver as season big bad Alexandra. “The Defenders” will also bring back favorites from the four individual series, like Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson), Matt Murdock associates Karen Page and Foggy Nelson (Deborah Ann Woll and Elden Henson), mandatory Marvel cameo artist Stan Lee and IndieWire’s favorite crazy whitefella Scott Glenn. »

- Steve Greene

‘Vikings’ Trailer: A Bloody Season 5 Promises War, Violence and Chopped Heads

7 hours ago | Indiewire | See recent Indiewire news »

When a trailer starts with a funeral, no one is safe.

“Vikings” released our first glimpse at Season 5 of the turn-of-the-8th century epic at Comic-Con on Friday and it looks like there are few characters who’ll get through the newest batch of episodes unscathed.

Read More Comic-Con 2017: Why The Annual Blending of Pop Culture Still Matters

For those unfamiliar with the previous 49 episodes of the series (all written by Michael Hirst), the trailer does an effective job of boiling down the show’s dense mythology into its rival factions. With the Season 4 finale leaving Lagertha pulling the strings as the Queen of Kattegat, this sneak peek also gives audiences a glimpse at where Ivar the Boneless (Alex Høgh Andersen), Floki (Gustaf Skarsgård) and Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) have ended up.

And then, there’s the battle scenes. These are not minor skirmishes, as one poor footsoldier’s decapitation can attest. »

- Steve Greene

‘Outlander’ Season 3: Cast Teases the Print Shop Scene as a ‘Huge Moment’ for Fans

8 hours ago | Indiewire | See recent Indiewire news »

The droughtlander is almost over as Book 3 of “Outlander” is coming back in September. As we pause in rematching the official trailer for the nth time, we have more to obsess over now that the cast and crew hit Comic-Con to tease Season 3.

Taking to the Ballroom 20 stage in San Diego’s Convention Center were stars Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Tobias Menzies, Sophie Skelton, and Richard Rankin, alongside Ronald D. Moore, Maril Davis and author Diana Gabaldon. While having the cast together looking good in contemporary clothes is always a good time, fans were also keen to see or hear anything more about Season 3.

As a special surprise, Jenna Dewan Tatum was the moderator for the panel. “I’m the hugest, biggest ‘Outlander’ fan,” she declared. During the lively panel, Tatum challenged the actors to a “Truth or Dance” game, and the audience had the honor of seeing Balfe and »

- Hanh Nguyen

Ratings Watch: ‘Game of Thrones’ Premiere Gives Rivals Summer Chills, But ‘America’s Got Talent’ Still Wins The Week

8 hours ago | Indiewire | See recent Indiewire news »

To paraphrase everyone’s favorite “Game of Thrones” star, Ed Sheeran: HBO is on its way to another castle on Nielsen hill.

(Apologies for that.) After three days worth of time-shifted DVR and VOD usage, last Sunday’s Season 7 premiere of “Game of Thrones” jumped to a 5.6 rating among adults 18-49, obliterating everything in its path. That was up 19% from the show’s already strong live+same day number.

What’s more, the rebroadcasts that night of last year’s finale, as well as the premiere (which repeated at 10:05 p.m. Et) also made it into the week’s top 25 adults 18-49 chart.

Earlier in the week, HBO reported that the Season 7 premiere reached a gross audience of 16.1 million viewers (Linear Plays + Same Day DVR Playback + Hbogo/HBO Now) up 50 percent from last year’s premiere. Per HBO, that performance set a record as the most watched premiere »

- Michael Schneider

‘Archer: Danger Island’: Season 9 Title and Premise Revealed, as Archer Heads to the South Pacific

8 hours ago | Indiewire | See recent Indiewire news »

Archer is going even further back in time next season. After a year in “Dreamland” — specifically the year 1947 — “Archer: Danger Island,” Season 9, will take place in the spring of 1939 on a remote beach locale in the South Pacific.

Announced by executive producer Matt Thompson during the Comic-Con panel in San Diego, it was also unveiled that Archer will be a seaplane pilot with one eyepatch and two partners: One is Pam Poovy, his co-pilot who he’s gotten into “many scrapes” with across the globe. The other is a “talking, fucking” parrot named Crackers, who will be voiced by Lucky Yates (who usually plays Dr. Krieger).

Lana is a princess on the island, while Mallory is a bar owner and (unlike last season) Archer’s mother. Mallory’s character in “Dreamland” was not related to Archer, and voice actress Jessica Walter said she was glad the familial connection has been restored. »

- Ben Travers

New ‘Preacher’ Season 2 Trailer: “I’m Here To Kill A Man”

8 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »

“Preacher” may not have much to do with its originators much anymore — “from the guys that brought you ‘This Is The End‘ and ‘Sausage Party‘ and the co-executive producer of “Breaking Bad“– but the show is still touting their names. Perhaps it’s because “Preacher” is a modest show for AMC and not a big player in their portfolio.

Continue reading New ‘Preacher’ Season 2 Trailer: “I’m Here To Kill A Man” at The Playlist. »

- Edward Davis

This is What Happens When You Don’t Vet Your Documentary Subjects

9 hours ago | Indiewire | See recent Indiewire news »

[Editor’s Note: Producer Susan MacLaury and her non-profit production organization, Shine Global, believed they found a unique story about the sex trafficking of young girls by desperate parents and the activist rescuing them. Deep into the production, however, alarm bells started going off about the veracity of their story. The resulting documentary, “The Wrong Light,” captures the story of the filmmakers questioning the girls and the shelter’s founder as they search for the truth. IndieWire invited MacLaury, a former educator and social worker, to discuss the lessons she learned and what all documentary filmmakers need to consider before they start a film.]

Read More: ‘City of Ghosts’ Review: An Unspeakably Gruesome Look Past the Banality of Evil

The inspiration for “The Wrong Light” came from Natalie Jesionka, then an adjunct professor at Rutgers University. She had just completed a Fulbright Scholarship in Thailand, in which she studied different approaches to counter the trafficking of young Thai girls. Natalie had been impressed in particular by Mickey Choothesa’s “upstream” approach that attempted to prevent parents from selling their daughters, then housed and educated those willing to surrender their custody to him.

We were excited to do this film because sex trafficking globally is a problem that annually affects millions of people, half of whom are children. From a documentary perspective, this was already an old story in late 2011, but telling it from the perspective of impoverished parents who felt they had no choice hadn’t ever been documented.

Our first shoot in Fall »

- Chris O'Falt

‘The Gifted’ Trailer: Mutants Are On The Run In New X-Men Series From FX

9 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »

Not unlike something like “Midnight Special,” FX’s new series “The Gifted,” centers on a family that discovers their children have mutant powers and go on the run. It’s yet another X-Men related series and another sign that like Warner Bros. and the CW, Marvel and Marvel Television, 20th Century Fox is eager to expand their X-Men universe into their related TV platforms like FX.

Continue reading ‘The Gifted’ Trailer: Mutants Are On The Run In New X-Men Series From FX at The Playlist. »

- Edward Davis