February tends to be a slow month for new movie releases. But it’s also the perfect time to drop big announcements so that audiences can prepare for something big.
And we mean BIG – such as the first trailer for the most famous family of superheroes, as well as the latest developments on everyone’s favourite live-action anime adaptation. All this and more in today’s movie tea.
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” Trailer Drop & Analysis
To say that audiences are excited for the “Fantastic Four” trailer to drop, let alone the actual movie, is like saying Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” was just “okay.” Ever since the first image of Pedro Pascal, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Vannesa Kirby, and Joseph Quinn was shared, fans were already frothing at the mouth, begging for more news.
Finally, after a long, long wait, we’re given some deets about this exciting reboot. As many have theorised, the film is set in a futuristic version of the 1960s, perhaps amidst the United States and Soviet Union’s Space Race. What is absolutely fascinating is that the story stays true to the artstyle that we saw in the very first teaser image, leaning heavily toward that raypunk aesthetic that was extremely popular during the 1960s.
What’s also notable is that the trailer immediately showcases the big bad they are up against, and it’s none other than everyone’s favourite planet eater, Galactus (yes, it is actually Galactus and not a giant gas cloud like last time). This gigantic cosmic entity will be played by Ralph Ineson (known for his performance in “The Witch,” “The Green Knight,” and “Nosferatu”); alongside him will be Julia Garner (known for her role in “Wolf Man” and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”) as the Shalla-Bal version of the Silver Surfer.
If that last sentence didn’t make you raise a brow, it should, as the Silver Surfer is typically the male character, Norrin Radd. However, female characters have taken up the mantle of the chromatic alien, namely Norrin’s wife, Shalla-Bal. Though the character has only shown up on the big screen once and it was male, having the Shalla-Bal variation is already an interesting and bold step to take for a reboot, something that we’d like to know more about.
The film is directed by Matt Shakman (who’s largely known for his work in “WandaVision”), who’s strongly emphasised that he doesn’t want to make another origin story. He primarily wants the movie to revolve around the aftermath of the family receiving their superpowers and how they proceed from there. Though the trailer doesn’t share much information outright, we can already see this idea in motion, as the four main characters spend most of their time as established superheroes, reflecting on their past, rather than starting from square one. Hence, we foresee fans, particularly kids, cosplaying as their favourite member of the team.
Other details, such as the retro-stylised car, which might be the Fantasticar, their helpful robot assistant H.E.R.B.I.E., as well as glimpses of the space expedition that gave the four their superpowers, can be seen all throughout the trailer. Of course, the biggest detail of them all is the release date – 25th July!
Live-Action “ONE PIECE” Season Two Wraps Up Production
Let’s be honest: Netflix doesn’t have a great record when it comes to adapting anime into live action. Which is why, when an adaptation for the hit manga and anime “One Piece” was first announced, many preemptively rolled their eyes. However, what was truly shocking was that it was actually good, for a change, and fans were clamouring for more.
And more you shall receive, as the streaming giant has just announced that filming for the second season of the hit series has wrapped up, among other things. Netflix dropped a commemorative photo of the five (five for now) main characters, as well as many behind-the-scenes photos that will be released at a later date. Another bit of info comes in two written notes from the series’ creator, Eiichiro Oda, himself. The first (seen above) shows that Oda is heavily invested in the production of the show, working closely with both the cast and the production team to bring the story to life. He further reveals what we will actually see in Season 2, such as cast announcements (see the full list below) and story arcs, namely that the “story will cover Loguetown, Reverse Mountain (Twin Capes), Whiskey Peak, Little Island, and Drum Island.”
In the second letter (seen below), Oda elaborates that he actually went to Cape Town, South Africa, to be a part of the filming process. To say he was ecstatic would be quite the understatement, as he praises everything from the cast and set, to even the food. He concludes the brief letter by saying that this season will “surpass” the first one. If the series creator is this pumped about someone taking his work and remaking it into something new yet familiar, then we can’t wait for the final result.
However, according to The Direct, the series might not be released in 2025, as it doesn’t appear in any of the streaming giant’s promotional material for this year; hell, titles such as “Stranger Things” and Alice in Borderland” were featured on “NextOnNetflix” – but “ONE PIECE” isn’t. Netflix has not given a proper answer in regards to this, if any, resulting in many fans believing that it has been quietly pushed back to 2026. Which is a shame, but that just means we have something to look forward to next year, rather than bingeing on everything in one go.
Confirmed Cast Members & Roles:
- Rigo Sanchez (Outerbanks, Goliath) as Dragon
- Yonda Thomas (Redemption) as Igaram
- James Hiroyuki Liao (Barry) as Ipponmatsu
- Sophia Anne Caruso (The School for Good and Evil) as Miss Goldenweek
- Mark Penwill (Catch Me a Killer) as Chess
- Anton David Jeftha (Legacy) as K.M.
- Charithra Chandran (Bridgerton) as Miss Wednesday
- Sendhil Ramamurthy (Never Have I Ever, Do Aur Do Pyaar) as Nefertari Cobra
- Katey Sagal (Sons of Anarchy, The Conners) as Dr. Kureha
- Mark Harelik (Presumed Innocent, Preacher) as Dr. Hiriluk
- Daniel Lasker (Raised by Wolves) as Mr. 9
- Camrus Johnson (Batwoman) as Mr. 5
- Jazzara Jaslyn (Warrior) as Miss Valentine
- David Dastmalchian (Late Night with the Devil) as Mr. 3
- Werner Coetser (Getroud met rugby) as Dorry
- Brendan Murray (Raised by Wolves) as Brogy
- Clive Russell (Game of Thrones) as Crocus
- Callum Kerr (Monarch) as Smoker
- Julia Rehwald (Star Wars Young Jedi Adventures) as Tashigi
- Rob Colletti (The Many Saints of Newark) as Wapol
- Ty Keogh (24 Hours To Live) as Dalton
- Joe Manganiello as Mr. 0
- Lera Abova as Miss All-Sunday
Source: Entertainment Weekly, Deadline, Netflix
