Discover the nostalgic charm and future excitement of geek culture as we cover everything from the Blu-ray release of the classic '90s Flash series to the star-studded news of Marvel's 'Fantastic Four'. Tune in for a peculiar twist with the mystery of Alligator Loki's vanishing act and join us as we root for his safe return. We're also talking about the latest scheduling changes from Sony, including the delay of 'Kraven the Hunter' and the anticipation building around the 'Karate Kid' sequel. And, if the White House ever seemed dull to you, wait until you hear about Mark Hamill's whimsical appearance ahead of Star Wars Day.
The episode takes a heartfelt turn with Joey Henney's search for his alligator pal, Wally, while also giving a nod to the legends of sci-fi with a special dedication at Pinewood Toronto Studios in honor of Star Trek. Gamers and board game enthusiasts will be eager to explore 'The Mandalorian Adventures', promising a card-based journey into the beloved Star Wars universe. On the flip side, I share a touching tribute to the late, great Bernard Hill, whose roles have left an indelible mark on our hearts. Strap in for a podcast episode that's packed with the perfect blend of retrospective joy and anticipation for what's to come in the geek-sphere.
Thanks for listening! Come visit the podcast at https://www.multiversetonight.com/ and the Pop Goes The Culture podcast network at https://popgoestheculture.com/
Discover the nostalgic charm and future excitement of geek culture as we cover everything from the Blu-ray release of the classic '90s Flash series to the star-studded news of Marvel's 'Fantastic Four'. Tune in for a peculiar twist with the mystery of Alligator Loki's vanishing act and join us as we root for his safe return. We're also talking about the latest scheduling changes from Sony, including the delay of 'Kraven the Hunter' and the anticipation building around the 'Karate Kid' sequel. And, if the White House ever seemed dull to you, wait until you hear about Mark Hamill's whimsical appearance ahead of Star Wars Day.
The episode takes a heartfelt turn with Joey Henney's search for his alligator pal, Wally, while also giving a nod to the legends of sci-fi with a special dedication at Pinewood Toronto Studios in honor of Star Trek. Gamers and board game enthusiasts will be eager to explore 'The Mandalorian Adventures', promising a card-based journey into the beloved Star Wars universe. On the flip side, I share a touching tribute to the late, great Bernard Hill, whose roles have left an indelible mark on our hearts. Strap in for a podcast episode that's packed with the perfect blend of retrospective joy and anticipation for what's to come in the geek-sphere.
Thanks for listening! Come visit the podcast at https://www.multiversetonight.com/ and the Pop Goes The Culture podcast network at https://popgoestheculture.com/
Speaker 1:
Tonight the original Flash on Blu-ray. Alligator Loki Goes Missing, mark Hamill Visits POTUS a new cartoon channel, and, remember, actor Bernard Hill. All then more on this edition of Multiverse tonight Comic books, sci-fi, fantasy and more. If you're looking for a roundup of geeky news, you're in the right place. This is Multiverse Tonight. And here's your host, thomas Townley. Well, hello and welcome to episode 214 of Multiverse. Tonight, of course, your host, thomas Townley.
Speaker 1:
And it's looking to be another stormy day here in Kansas on vacation, and we're going to get a chance for tornadoes and everything. So if I'm not here in two weeks, stay tuned to all the social media and see where you can donate to the fundraiser. Anyway, as I said, I'm on vacation. I need a week off every once in a while, and so this is a week off, although I took almost a week off a couple weeks back because I was sick. That wasn't fun. Being sick isn't fun. Anyway, let's get on with the DC Comics News, and this will be a quick show, by the way, because there's just not a lot going on at the moment.
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Anyway, and we begin DC Comics News with the Flash zooming its way onto Blu-ray this summer from the Warner Archive. Now, that's the 90s Flash just in case you're wondering which starred John Wesley Shipp as Barry Allen slash the Flash, which spun out the initial video game craze of the late 80s and 90s, but it didn't quite take the world by storm. It was canceled after just one season. Years later, it still has a good reputation with fans, and Shipp himself has cemented his legacy, providing the voice of Reverse Flash on Batman, the Brave and the Bold, and then both Henry Allen and Jay Garrick on the Flash TV series on the 90s back in 2014. The series also starred Amanda Pays and Alex Desiree, with beloved actors like Richard Belzer and Mark Hamill in recurring roles. And with that let's go on to the Marvel News.
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And Marvel News begins today with two of Sony's upcoming potential blockbusters having officially been delayed. The studio confirmed that the Sony Spider-Man Universe installment of Kraven the Hunter has been delayed to Friday, the 13th of December. Kraven the Hunter had previously been set to be delayed on August 30th, after already being pushed back almost a year due to the 2023 Hollywood strikes. Yeah, maybe that's a sign. Additionally, the new Karate Kid movie, which originally held the December 13th release date, has been pushed back to May 30th 2025. Reports indicate that this decision was made to allow Karate Kid to follow the final season of Cobra Kai.
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Now some odd news the alligator that portrayed Alligator Loki, the fan-favorite Loki variant from Season 1 of Marvel's Loki, has gone missing. The animal actor known as Wally, the emotional support alligator, was reportedly kidnapped from his handler, joey Henney secure enclosure while Henney was out fishing with friends in Brunswick, georgia, on April 21,. According to Southern Living. According to the social media posts, the kidnapper was some jerk who likes to drop alligators into someone's yard to terrorize them. From there the story gets even stranger. The government agency meant to handle orphaned and or injured animals sent a trapper out to the property where Wally had been dropped off. The trapper caught Wally but then dropped him off with a bunch of other gators into a local swamp. Now this may not seem like a dire situation to most onlookers, but apparently it's not a very good situation for an emotional support animal like Wally to be in. According to a post from the WallyGator account, the trapper said the chances of them finding Wally is slim to none, as there's difficulty even finding where to start. Quote we have been unsuccessful in getting specific information about a location to begin a search. Even the original swamp we were told is so large it would take months with an army to search. Thanks for all your continued support, tips and suggestions and prayers. All these are more appreciated than you know. Unquote.
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Joey Henney has been appealing to Wally's fans and Good Samaritans alike, pleading for help in finding his beloved friend. A recent Wally Gator TikTok post, henny pleaded quote we need all the help we can get to bring my baby back. There's a reward out for Wally's return safely, with no questions asked. Please help us, please. Unquote. Now, one of the latest posts as of the time of this show reveals that the calls for help may have gotten too much of a response.
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While the location where Wally has been released has been identified, the swamp again is very large and there are all kinds of legalities popping up when it comes to who can venture into the swamp and attempt to trap an alligator. The trappler told her the caller who reported Wally in her yard at that time his plan was to put Wally somewhere in the Okefenokee Swamp. This swamp is 438,000 acres. Now let me make that clear, guys, that anyone other than a licensed trapper caught with taking an alligator from here risked jail time and major fines. So while we know everyone wants to do a search and find Wally. It's not legal to do so, unquote. So, in our words, wally has gone to find Kermit the Frog in the Okie Fanokie Swamp. Now we wish him safe journeys.
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Marvel's the Fantastic Four cast just got a bit more fantastic with the addition of Emmy winner Paul Walter Hauser. Now no word on what role he'll be playing. The movie always stars Pedro Pascal as Reed, richard Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm and Evan Moss Bacharach as Ben Grimm. Matt Shachman will be directing the Fantastic Four, from a screenplay by Josh Friedman, jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer, and this movie is slated to open July 25, 2025.
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And with that, let's go on to the Star Wars news. Roger roger, star Wars news begins with Mark Hamill taking the podium in the White House press briefing room on May the 3rd. He told the Associated Press there, quote how many of you had heard Mark Hamill will lead the press briefing on your bingo cards, unquote. The Star Wars icon joked as he took the podium at the White House. Quote yeah, me either. Now, it's not such a far-fetched idea, however, once one considers the date of May 3rd, which was the weekday before May the 4th. Also, anyone who follows the quick with Hamill on social media knows he's a staunch Democrat.
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With his support, hamill got to meet with President Biden before the press briefing. And well, while Hamill noted that he had visited the White House during the terms of both Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama quote I was never invited into the Oval Office, unquote. Now it sounds like he finally checked that one off his bucket list. Quote. I only expected to be there for like five minutes, hamill said, but he showed us all these photographs. It was really amazing to me. Unquote. Now, what's more, hamill said but he showed us all these photographs. It was really amazing to me. Unquote. Now, what's more, hamill entered the briefing room wearing aviators that he said President Biden had just gifted him. Now, biden has a habit of gifting his signature dark brand and glasses to visiting celebrities like Chris Evans. Appreciative Hamill said that he loves the merch. The actor, as it turns out, gave something to the president as well. Quote.
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The Mandalorian is getting a board game. Asmodee's Unexpected Games has announced that the Mandalorian Adventures, a new card-based board game designed by one of the designers of Star Wars, imperial Assault and several other Star Wars games published by Fantastic Flight Games. The new game is based on the first season of the Mandalorian, which stars Pedro Pascal. The game, which will include missions pulled from the first season, will allow players to control eight characters over the course of linked story missions. Mandalorian Adventures also includes multiple game modes, one of which will include a trader mechanic. At the start of these missions, each player is given a card which says whether they're working for or against the Mandalorian. Players can choose which and how to portray the Mandalorian over the course of the game, leading to more tension at the game table. While Din Djarin and Groku have appeared in several tabletop Star Wars games, most notably Shatterpoint and Legion, this marks the first time that a game aimed at non-casual fans has been produced, solely focusing on the popular Star Wars character. The Mandalorian Adventures will be released on August 2, 2024, and will cost $49.99 American.
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Now let's go on to the Star Trek news. Pinewood Toronto Studios has rechristened one of its filming spaces in Star Trek's honor. The Pinewood Group announced this past week that the soundstage has been renamed the Star Trek Stage to celebrate it being one of Star Trek's longest-running film locations. The 800-square-foot stage at Pinewood Toronto Studios has been the home of some of Star Trek Discovery since January 2017. The stage now known as Star Trek. The Stage was used for housing the Ready Room and for International Federation headquarters. Most recently, star Trek Discovery also used the 45,900 square foot megastage and Stages 7, 9, and 12 at the studio, as well as the production facilities and workshops. Alex Kurtzman, exec producer of the production facilities and workshops. Alex Kurtzman, exec producer of the Star Trek franchise, in a press release said Pinewood Toronto Studios has become a second home for our Star Trek family and we're grateful that they've named a studio in honor of the franchise. In addition to the amazing soundstage, we've benefited from working with the talented artists in front of the camera and behind the scenes and look forward to our partnership with Toronto on. Sarah Farrell, general manager of Pinewood Toronto Studios, added we are so delighted to have hosted Star Trek Discovery over five seasons and the recently wrapped Star Trek Section 31 movie, and to celebrate the longstanding relationship with the franchise on our own Star Trek stage. We look forward to welcoming many more productions to come".
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Now let's go on to the Geek News. Geek News begins with Warner Bros negotiating to close a seven-figure film rights deal for Evangeline from the creator of Deadpool, rob Liefeld. It was one of his signature comic creations about an angel who fights the forces of evil. Most of the deals, apparently, are closed and Deadline hears that Margot Robbie is eyeing to star as the title character, subject to script. Olivia Wilde will direct and Poor Things scribe, tony McNamara will write the screenplay. A board to produce is Lucky Chap, which is Margot Robbie's production company that she runs with Tom Ackerley and Jose McNamara and Simon Kinberg and Aubrey Chon through their genre banner.
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Evangeline is an angel who fights the forces of evil and often finds herself face-to-face with demons and monsters. She was one of the most feared warriors in Heaven's Warhost, having single-handedly broke into Pandemonium, the outer fortress of Hell, to confront the devil himself. She's a fallen angel banished from Heaven by God after being tricked into questioning his love for humans. Evangeline was stripped of all her angelic abilities, except her great strength and her blood, which, once extracted from her body, can be used as a weapon or a miracle when it is empowered. By quoting verses from the Bible, evangeline uses her power to fight demons on earth and is being groomed to be humankind's last hope in the coming Armageddon. Well, doesn't that sound special? More Paul Walter Hauser news. The actor is ready to fight crime alongside Liam Neeson in the reboot of the Naked Gun franchise. Hauser is set to play Captain Ed in director Akiva Schaefer's untitled new Naked Gun film from Paramount Pictures that they plan to release July 18, 2025. Now George Kennedy previously played the role in the original film trilogy that kicked off with 1988's the Naked Gun from the files of Police Squad.
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Classic TV network MeTV is turning its cartoon block into a new network, into a new network. Owner Wagle Broadcasting Company announced Wednesday that it will launch MeTV Tunes as a new national TV network focused on classic animation from Hollywood-era shorts that are made for television favorites. Metv Tunes will launch June 25th. It's a collab between Wagle and Warner Bros Discovery, which has licensed content featuring its anime characters, including Bugs Bunny, daffy, duck, scooby-doo, tom and Jerry, george Jetson, topgat, yogi Bear, popeye, johnny Quest and Fred Flintstone. Metv already airs a daily program called Tune In With Me, which features a heavy emphasis on the Warner Bros animated library. Wagle touts MeTV Tunes as the only TV network destination dedicated exclusively to classic animation, as Warner Bros Discovery Cartoon Network companion Boomerang, which also runs old Looney Tunes, the Jetsons, the Flintstones, scooby-doo, popeye Shorts, also some more recent past 2000 cartoon episodes. Beyond Warner Bros titles. Metv Toons will also feature animated content from the other studios and distributors like Rocky Bullwinkle, woodley, woodpecker, casper, betty Boop and Speed Racer. Metv Toons will be available for distribution on over-the-air broadcast television, traditional and virtual operators, alongside a complimentary offering for ad support streaming services.
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Besides MeTV and MeTV Tunes, other Wagle networks include Heroes and Icons, start TV, catchy Comedy Movies, storytelligen, dabble and MeTV+. So are you ready to get some new animated TV on TV? Ready to get some new animated TV on TV? I liked the Boomerang Network to a point and then, you know, the content started to shift. And well, anyway, the long-awaited live-action Masters of the Universe movie is one step closer to becoming reality, with Amazon, mgm Studios and Mattel Films dating the project for worldwide theatrical release on June 5th 2026. Travis Knight, known for Kubo and the Two Strings and Bumblebee, is on board to direct, with Chris Butler writing the screenplay, following initial drafts written by David Callum and Aaron and Adam Nee Michelle films. Robin Brenner, escape artist Todd Black, jason Blumenthal and Aaron and Adam Nee Michelle films. Robin Brenner, escape artist Todd Black, jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch are producing.
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According to the official synopsis, masters of the Universe introduces a 10-year-old Prince Adam who crashed to Earth in a spaceship and was separated from his magical power sword, his only link to his home on Eternia. After tracking it down, almost two decades later, prince Adam is whisked back across space to defend his home on Eternia. After tracking it down, almost two decades later, prince Adam is whisked back across space to defend his home planet against the evil forces of Skeletor. But to defeat such a powerful villain, prince Adam will first need to uncover the mysteries of his past and become He-Man, the most powerful man in the universe. Well, that sounds oh well and good. I guess you know. I guess we'll just have to see. You know, can they find the right actor? Is this an origin story? What people really want to see? It's all up in the air. Anyway, finally today, actor Bernard Hill died early on Sunday morning. His agent, lou Colson, confirmed there's no cause to why he passed away.
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He's best known for playing Captain Edward Smith in 1997's Oscar-winning film Titanic and King Theoden in the Lord of the Rings series. His breakout role was on the BBC TV drama Boys from the Black Stuff, where he portrayed Usur Hughes, a character who struggled and often failed to cope with unemployment in Liverpool. Hill has also been seen in series two of the Responder, a BBC drama starring Morgan Freeman, which began airing this past Sunday. Other roles include the 1976 BBC broadcast of I Claudius, an appearance in 1982's Gandhi True Crime and A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1999, the Scorpion King in 2002, and 2008's Tom Cruise film. Valkyrie, the Manchester native, was born into a family of coal miners and had a varied on-screen career, coming to prominence acting in small realistic dramas before getting to star in films that made billions worldwide. He lived in Suffolk and is survived by his wife, mariana Hill, and their son, Gabriel. Again, that was Bernard Hill, who was King Theoden in the Lord of the Rings.
Speaker 1:
We wish you well, theoden, in the Lord of the Rings. We wish you well, theoden, king. And with that we come to the end of this edition of the show. Now please be sure to check us out on social media. We're on Twitter and Blue Sky at Multiverse, tom. We're also on Threads, facebook and Instagram at Multiverse Tonight.
Speaker 1:
If you've gotten some value out of the show and would like to pay it back, please head on over to MultiverseTonightcom, where you can find our Patreon and Ko-fi links, as well as check out our show notes. Visit our TeePublic store, leave some feedback and more, and if you're listening for the first time or watching for the first time over on Twitch and now Kik, thank you very much. Please hit that subscribe button. Share us with others. Special thanks to Shane Ivers for the intro music and Lobo Loco for the outro theme music. Thanks for watching this edition of Multiverse Tonight. We'll be back in two weeks with more sci-fi and comic book news. Now please exit the universe in an orderly fashion. Good night. The Multiverse Tonight is a production of Half-Baked Genre Productions. Copyright 2024. All rights reserved. This podcast is part of the Pop Goes the culture podcast network.