[SDCC 2019] Star Trek: Picard Trailer – Patrick Stewart Is Back In The Captain’s Chair!

It was also revealed that Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes, Marina Sirtis, and Jeri Ryan would be reprising their roles!

The Slushoverse Theory: The Shared Realities of J.J. Abrams!

It feels like we are always talking about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or the DC Extended Universe, or whatever new series in development with a “shared universe” idea has hit the webs this week.

After the success of the MCU, it was no surprise to see some of their work with a shared universe emulated by other franchises and studios. However, it’s easy to forget that while the MCU has basically perfected the idea, they were not the first studio, series, or franchise to dabble with a shared universe.

So today, we will be discussing one of the most interesting yet relatively unknown shared universes out there, and how it relates to other theories that we have seen over the years. Today we will be examining J.J. Abrams, Star Wars, Lost, and a number of other franchises that theoretically exist in the same cinematic universe.

Welcome to The Slushoverse Theory.

Star Trek Beyond – New Trailer Provides Hope

Star Trek Beyond marks the third installment of the rebooted Trek timeline, and the newest trailer has some fans sighing in relief.

Depending on who you speak to, the 2009 reboot of the Star Trek film franchise, which saw the timeline altered, was either a fun, inclusive film, that brought a new, younger audience into the Trek fandom – or it was about the worst thing ever. Those who preached the latter were a group composed mostly of elitist, old school fans who felt betrayed by the faster-paced action flick, as though the studio was stealing something dear away from them.

Watch Sci-Fi’s Finest Share A Drink Or Two In This Star Wars Mash Up Video

In any film fans cinematic history they will no doubt have seen at least one great science fiction movie. Some of these movies will have released in their lifetime, while others needed to be sought out. But no matter what era they are made in, or how they became a part of our film lexicon, the best ones still have that sense of awe and magical wonder about them that makes them something quite special.

As a fan of the genre myself, I am always looking out for videos that give me that aforementioned buzz. So when I came across this unique mash-up video, the Sci-Fi nerd in me was doing cartwheels of joy (figuratively not literally, I am much too heavy for that). World Wide Interweb, the creators of the video in question are no strangers to the mash-up and compilation video it seems. Their Daily Motion page has over a hundred of these videos, all covering various aspects of entertainment.

New Star Trek Series to Stream in January 2017

“When is Star Trek coming back to television?”

The question has been raised since the last series, Star Trek Enterprise, ended its run in 2005 after four seasons. And the question not only gets raised each time the movies hit the big screen, but when that other space opera continues to Force its way into households, first through the Clone Wars animated series and currently via Rebels.

Firebox: Great Pop Culture Gift Ideas

As we approach the holiday season, people have begun checking out numerous shops and websites, looking to find that one quirky gift that will knock the socks off their friends and family. Now there is a wide array of potential places to go for these seasonal gifts, but Grizzly Bomb wanted to bring your attention to one we found that could be the answer to all your shopping needs.

Firebox is a site which was set up in 1998 and has an eclectic array of items for fan-boys and girls of all ages. The site is even proud to say that their products are “not for everyone” and that is certainly true, as you will soon find out. Below are some of Grizzly Bomb’s favorite items from quite honestly a mind-boggling collection of treats. So feast your eyes on items as diverse as Breaking Bad candy,  underwear for that certain time of the month, and none non-conventional Garden Gnomes!

Abrams Not Directing Star Trek 3, Details a Hidden Into Darkness Cameo

News has hit the web of J.J.Abrams confirming he won’t be directing the next installment of Star Trek; it is hardly surprising, considering he now has the chance to play in a whole other universe with Star Wars Episode VII. And now that Star Trek‘s characters have been well-established it will be nice to see how someone else runs the rebooted franchise. In an interview with Collider, Abrams had this to say about the direction the Star Trek franchise would be heading without him:

[quote]”It’s a little bittersweet. But, I will say that I’m going to be producing the movie. Whomever it is that directs the film will be someone we all know is going to keep the cast and crew in good hands. I feel very lucky to have been part of it, and it definitely feels like the right time to let someone come in and do their own thing. I certainly don’t want someone to come in and try to do what I would have done. We want to hire someone who’s gonna come in and bring their own sensibility. I’m very excited to see what comes next, despite feeling jealous of whomever that person is.”[/quote]

Moving onto news from Yahoo Movies, it is no secret that fans love finding Easter eggs in their beloved movies. Apparently J.J.Abrams does too: He let slip that Star Trek Into Darkness featured a cameo that may have passed the audience by:

[quote]”R2’s really been in all of the movies I’ve done, really for no other reason than I’m a huge fan, and when I was a kid I realized that R2 was also in ‘Close Encounters. Actually, I’m putting a ‘Star Wars’ character into ‘Star Trek’ as an homage to ‘Close Encounters.’ So there you go.”[/quote]

Below is the scene in question and it’s a doozy [Second image below]. Just for fun there is also a cameo by R2 from the first Star Trek movie [Pictured first below].

 

Incidentally this is not R2D2’s only appearance in other movies. Take a look at the images below to see the little guy popping up in other great films:

Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Photo from http://www.movie-club.net

Transformers. From themovieblog.com

Indiana Jones. Photo from http://www.movie-club.net

More from Indy. Photo from http://www.planetadeaficiones.com

So good news is mixed with bad but the suggestion that a Star Trek character could turn up in the Star Wars universe is certainly intriguing. Jabba’s palace and Mos Eisley cantina seem the most likely of places from the old movies for said character to turn up but who knows? Keep reading Grizzly Bomb for more up to date Star Wars news. Before you go check out Geek Exchange website showing even more of Abrams’s Easter eggs.

SDCC 2013 Rumor Mill: J.J. Abrams May Quit Star Wars?

Here’s some news that may cause massive system shock to Star Wars fans everywhere: Rumors that J.J. Abrams may be contemplating dropping out of Star Wars Episode 7! Dun Dun Dun! It’s pretty much just a rumor floating around the San Diego Comic Con, but still that would be dreadful news from the viewpoint of a geek like me, who thought there would never be another Star Wars movie ever! Then to find out that not only were there more coming, but they weren’t being directed by George Lucas! I love the J.J. Abrams choice for the man in charge simply based off the success of the Star Trek franchise these past 4 years. If he could turn a Star Wars fan like me (who hated Star Trek since first seeing it as a child) into a believer then just imagine what he can do with the galaxy far far away! Check out the rumor from over at IGN below:

 

[box_dark]Badass Digest‘s Devin Faraci claims that while at this past weekend’s San Diego Comic-Con, he kept “hearing tons of rumors that JJ Abrams is on the verge of dropping out of Star Wars”.

Faraci added, “This has been something I’ve heard for a while now, and from multiple insiders. I know that he didn’t want to shoot the movie in England and was overruled, but that happened a while ago. This weekend at Comic Con I continued to hear these whispers. No director for [Star] Trek 3 has been found yet – might Abrams end up coming back after all, leaving Star Wars to someone else? I’m expecting Star Wars news out of the German Star Wars Celebration at the end of the month – if there is some sort of announcement of a title or casting and Abrams isn’t there, start wondering.”[/box_dark]

 

To sort of calm the nerves of Jed-Heads everywhere, Lucasfilm has denied any of these rumors thus far. However much comfort that provides everyone I’m not so sure, because of course they’re not going to admit to any problems with Disney’s newest milking of one of the most profitable franchises ever. Would Abrams departing be the end of Star Wars? No, of course not. Although, they would have been off to a great start to only settle for something mediocre with some of the talent out there nowadays. Here are my three worst case scenarios if J.J. Abrams jets from the project:

1.)    Star Wars, Directed by Brett Ratner

2.)    Star Wars, Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson

3.)    Star Wars, Directed by Stephen Sommers

Please, Disney (and essentially Lucasfilm), spare me any of the above heartbreak or I just may explode into oblivion. I suppose we’ll see in the coming months after the D23 Expo from Disney and the German Star Wars: Celebration if these rumors bear any fruit. Fans are expecting some sort of casting news by the time these geek gatherings occur…. me included.

Terminator and Dumb and Dumber Sequels Are in The Pipe Line But Do We Actually Want Them?

It has been sequel crazy lately with two movies in particular popping up as interesting choices. The one most people will be frothing at the mouth in anticipation for is the Terminator movie that could be in the works. Over at The Wrap they reported that Paramount is trying to get the distribution rights to the franchise. The Terminator trademark is owned by Megan and David Ellison who paid a whopping 20 million to buy it way back in 2011 and have been trying to get Terminator 5 up and running ever since. If you are unfamiliar with these two, they have worked on such projects as Zero Dark Thirty, Star Trek and Mission Impossible. The news that Paramount is showing an interest could mean things are finally coming together.

Then, this news came online from The Arnold Fans about The Terminator himself Arnold Schwarzenegger becoming involved in the movie. Not just involved either, he thinks he will be back to play the role he made famous. In an interview with the website he was quoted as saying:

[quote]“I’m very happy that the studios want me to be in Terminator 5 and to star AS the Terminator, which we start shooting in January and I’m also going to do King Conan – to play that role and also to do another Twins movie. So I feel very proud of that. I feel very happy and I’m looking forward to doing those films.”[/quote]

He seems quite sure of himself that Terminator 5 will have him in the hot seat again (as well as Twins 2 but let’s not get started on that right now). The main problem is that the Ellison’s are on a time frame. The rights switch back to James Cameron in 2019 and though that seems far away now, with casting, production, and advertising seemingly not done yet they really need to pull their fingers out if they want to make a movie before the rights expire.

Then in what can only be described as a shrug your shoulders in dismay news, rumours have surfaced again (via Collider) that the Dumb and Dumber, titled Dumb and Dumber To (no, really that’s how it’s spelled) sequel could still be on as the Farrely brothers search for a new home for their sequel to the hit 1994 comedy. Warner Brothers have passed on it and it seems that Red Granite (Horns) are possibly going to take it on board with them getting the foreign distribution rights. They only have a few movies under their belt though and it makes you wonder if they will have the finance to pull this off. Not much else is known at this stage other than the film will have both Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels reprising their roles and the plot involves a search for Harry’s daughter so they can help with a kidney transplant.

The question that keeps coming up again and again in my mind is “Who Cares?” The Farrelly Brothers have had a bad run of it recently with most of their films getting worse and worse. With films and TV becoming more and more extreme, it seems their cheeky blend of gross out and childish humour is not really needed anymore. It was almost 20 years since Dumb and Dumber was released and with the prequel completely missing the point and entertaining no one I just wonder if there is still an audience for this movie. If there is it has to be a pretty big one to get the Farrelly’s back on top. The original is a fun film and I would rather it stay that way than possibly ruin it with an unnecessary re-launch.

Then we move to Terminator 5 which will have an audience already built in for it. Will fans flock back in their droves to see this new installment even if Arnie is back? Well if we look at the gross from these films I think we get our answer.

Terminator Salvation = $371 million worldwide

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines = $433 million worldwide

Terminator 2: Judgment Day  = $519 million worldwide

It is still making money but it is suffering from the classic case of diminishing returns. They have already tried to go the reboot / prequel route with Salvation and with Christian Bale and a CGI Arnie it still did less than Terminator 3 did. Unfortunately Arnie is not the main draw he once was with The Last Stand under performing at the box office, will his role in this be enough for movie goers to pay out their hard earned cash? And how the heck are they going to make him look like his earlier counterpart because Arnie is showing his age now, he is not the young killer we once saw destroying a police station. Unless this is done on the cheap, I do not see it making back its money. Whether I am right or wrong or whether these films even get made is unclear at the moment, but stay tuned to Grizzly Bomb for more updates as they arrive.

Star Trek Into Darkness: 15 Actors You Might’ve Missed

So with the huge principal cast of Star Trek Into Darkness, it’s easy to overlook some of the smaller roles, but there is some interesting casting here. We thought it was worth noting some of them, see how many you picked out.