‘Mark Hamill’ & ‘Kevin Conroy’ Team-Up For ‘The Killing Joke’ Animated Movie

Batman: The Animated Series legends Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill have confirmed that they will once again face-off as Batman and The Joker in DC’s animated adaptation of The Killing Joke.

It had been rumoured that the voice acting duo had been tapped to star after DC announced they were working on brining one of their more controversial stories to the small screen at Comic-Con last year.

Comic Book Resources got the confirmation however when they had a chance to speak with Geekdom’s fan favourites: “I’ve had the great privilege of voicing Batman for more than two decades, and some of my favorite moments in the recording booth have been alongside Mark Hamill,” Conroy said. “Mark always enables me to be a better actor. I’m thrilled that we’re both back to bring these characters to life in one of the most heralded Batman/Joker stories of all time.”

Hamill, who will make his official return as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode 8 next year. Also shared the same sentiments as his his co-hort expressing that “the chance to work once again with Kevin Conroy, my favorite Batman, in what some consider the definitive origin of this iconic villain is a dream come true for me. I am beyond thrilled to return as The Joker in ‘The Killing Joke!“

Fans of the Cape Crusader will remember the story as a dark period for Jim Gordon and his family as The Joker sets out to prove that even a hero can become a villain given “one bad day.” The 1988 Alan Moore comic also revealed for the first time Joker’s origin story as a failed comedian and featured the iconic villain shooting Barbara Gordon – which not only ended her superhero career as Batgirl – but also confined her to a wheelchair until DC’s New 52 comic book reboot in 2011.

CBR also indicates that another voice-acting legend Tara Strong (Teen Titans, Powerpuff Girls, Rugrats) will voice Barbra Gordon while Twin Peaks’s Ray Wise will play her father Commissioner Gordon.

Although Warner Bros. have yet to reveal a release date for the film, this years Comic-Con San Diego attendees will be treated to the world premiere with the animated feature hitting stores later in the summer.

For all your Comic-Book-Animated-News, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx

The NXT Review – 9th March 2016

Whats up Wrestlings Peeps! Okay so first, I have a Major-LOL to get out the way with Corey Graves & Tom Phillips assertions that when NXT General Manager William Regal shows up, overtly complicated storylines become clearer. Really? This is a man that takes a whole two weeks (minimum) to decide what a draw means for the #1 contender spot. Just saying.

So with draws seemingly in Vogue with the WWE at the moment, I shudder to think how much that White-Board in Regals office will be getting serious work-out and wipe-down (insert dirty White-Board joke here) in the coming months.

But lets put the Hater-Aide away and leap into the match that took over the night and dude … they gave an entire episode of NXT to that Two-Out-Of-Three-Fall match! Props. And is that Sasha Banks, Hideo Itami and Michael “Freebirds” Hayes in the front row!? What an eclectically-odd bunch. Selfie anyone?

So we all know what was on the line for both men in this competition. But with the Main Roster lights looking ever closer for Sami Zayn, this easily could’ve been the last hurrah for the Ska-enthuasist before he saids goodbye to the yellow brand forever (or until they need him to perform double duty of course).

This match started as an intimate affair between wrestlers and fans.  The first 30 minutes was a measured back-and-fouth until Samoa Joe nailed a Muscle Buster to gain the upper hand, amping up the match, the fans and the stakes alike.

But this is where Zayn shines. With his final chance at Gold on the line he took it to the top rope, out of the ring and to the mat before locking in a koji-clutch for his first fall via tap-out.

From that point on, Joe ultimately takes it to the former Champ but Zayn is the man of the people and wouldn’t give up. Unfortunately he didn’t have too because with a Coquina Clutch firmly locked-in, Zayn passes out causing the Ref to call it a Fall in favour of Joe. Sidenote, when did we stop the hand raising thing?

You know, when the Ref raises the hand of a seemingly passed-out competitor once, then twice and a third time only for that guy to stop it before it hits the mat in a very Hulk Hogan-esque “Hulking-up” fashion. I miss that … the hand thingy, not Hogan, lets make that clear.

Anywho, Joe is your #1 Contender and I am totes-amosh because reasons.

I mean, I didn’t see a final NXT Title run in Zayn’s future. Obviously Samoa Joe is the sensible choice to go-forward to TakeOver Dallas given that the rumour mill has Zayn’s Monday Night RAW appearance as his welcome party to the main stage. But isn’t Joe also rumoured to be leaving soon-as. Like Post-WrestleMania RAW soon-as?

Hey whatever, Rumour-Mill will churn but I don’t wanna see Finn Balor lose the title only for Joe to just drop the title before moving up. There is president for that after all. Technically WWE’s Anti-Diva (and E!’s Total Divas Star) Paige never lost her title but rather gave-up the belt leading to a Tournament to award the next Women’s Champ. I wouldn’t put it past NXT to do that again, they love their Ttitle Tournaments after all. It just seems cheap to take the title off Balor to see that angle through is all.

Look at me, I’m totally Balor-Fan-Boying-out before the fact. But this is just the hokey crap that WWE pulls sometimes. M’eh, we will see. Prove me wrong WWE.

For all your Angry-Angry-Ranty-Ranty-WWE & NXT News, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx

‘Chewbacca’ Will Appear In The ‘Han Solo’ Origin Movie

The Young Han Solo standalone movie may have yet found its leading man but confirmation out of Disney reveals everyones favourite Furry-Wingman will be making an appearance.

Speaking at Deutsche Bank 2016 Media, Internet & Telecom Conference. Disney’s Chief Bob Iger dropped the Wookie Bomb that Star Wars mainstay Chewbacca will join a young Han Solo in the Phil Lord & Chris Miller Directed Anthology story.

In a interview with The Wrap, Iger touch upon the Gareth Edwards’ Rogue One, set “before what was George Lucas‘s first film.” Before revealing that Disney have “others in the works, including one, which is an origin story about Han Solo and Chewie. And that’ll come after ‘Star Wars 8’ in 2018. And then there’ll be possibly be more thereafter.”

The film will mark the first time Solo’s origin has been explored on screen under the Disney banner. Dark Horse Comics and Novel’s have previously established the early years and mis-adventures of Han and Chewie – including a dark period in Han’s life when he joined the Imperial Navy – before Disney ret-conned the expanded universe in favour of their new Marvel-led comic book timeline.

We will have to wait and see what Disney has in store for the Intergalactic-duo but with numerous actors vying for the role, it will be interesting to see who will join our favourite Wookie at the helm of the Millennium Falcon when the film hits theatres May 25, 2018.

For all your Furry-Best-Friend-News, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx

‘The Mummy’ Reboot Finds Its Female Lead

Universals second remake of the classic Hammer Horror The Mummy has acquired its female lead.

Variety broke the story that Peaky Blinders actress Annabelle Wallis will join the cast alongside Mission Impossible mainstay Tom Cruise and Kingsman: The Secret Service villainess Sofia Boutella, as an archaeologist who finds herself caught up in the Mummy caper.

The Mummy will mark the first film in Universals Avengers-esque monster franchise. With their 2014 offering Dracula Untold, remaining non-canon to their monster-universe after it was met with critical backlash and underperformed at the Box Office.

The story is being kept under-wraps but it will take place in present day with Cruise assuming the de-facto Rick O’Connell role played by Brendan Frasier in the previous Mummy Trilogy.

It was also previously confirmed that Boutella will assume the title role with Fringe Co-Creator Alex Kurtzman Directing.

The Mummy hits the Big-screen June 9, 2017.

For all your Monster-Madness-Reboot-News, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx

Disney Star ‘Zendaya’ Joins Sony’s Rebooted ‘Spider-Man’

Over the years various incarnations of Spider-Man have had the pleasure of locking-lips with some of Hollywoods elite babes – Kristen Dunst, Bryce Dallas Howard, Emma Stone – to name but a few.

Not bad for Marvel’s self-confess Geek.

Well now Peter Parker can add Disney Starlet, model and singer Zendaya to the list, as sources out of Deadline report that the triple-threat actress is to appear alongside Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in Sony’s third reboot of the Mega-popular Web-Headed-Hero.

Details are sketchy as to who Zendaya will play but Deadline did indicate that her character will be called “Michelle“. The name will lead many comic-book fans to predict that the actress will embody the character of Michele Gonzales. The Muay Thai, Tae Bo kickboxing, shotgun wielding criminal defence lawyer and former-flamer of Peter Paker who made her comic book debut in The Amazing Spider-Man #592.

Sony’s reboot will be Hollands first solo Spider-Man movie after the British actor makes his first appearance in the role alongside Chris Evan’s in Captain America: Civil War. The Jon Watts directed film will also mark the first time a Spider-Man franchise will fall under the banner of Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe after both studios agreed to share the character after the commercial flop of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014).

Watts and Sony will shoot the new Spider-Man film this year with a projected release of July 7, 2017. Before then fans will be able to get their first look at Tom Holland when Captain America: Civil War opens in theatres April 29 this year.

For all your Web-Slinging-Heart-Breaker-News, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx

First Look At ‘Saban’s Power Rangers’ & New Details Revealed

90’s kids have been treated to their first look at the rebooted versions of Jason, Billy, Zack, Kimberly and Trini. Popularly known as the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers.

The names might sound familiar but the faces are most definitely new – as is their kick-ass teen-tude – with the movie’s Director Dean Israelite revealing to Entertainment Weekly that Lionsgate’s reboot will be a thoroughly modern affair. A coming-of-age story that will follow the misfit bunch of “disenfranchised and disparate” high-schoolers who – rather than friends – will start off as enemies.

So far, so Guardians of the Galaxy. But despite the clear Marvel inspiration, Israelite promises that the Power Rangers will retain their nostalgic appeal with the costumes “being different from any other superhero costume that’s out there.“

“One key that’s different to the Power Ranger suits is that they’re not really suits that people get into”, reveals Israelite. “They’re suits that morph onto our kids, so they already have this almost metaphysical quality to them.” With the director confirming that the new costumes will have a “really modern, edgy, badass, aspirational quality.”

As actors Dacre Montgomery, RJ Cyler, Ludi Lin, Naomi Scott and Becky G bring their own brand of attitude to next era of the Rangers. So too will Hunger Games legend Elizabeth Banks, who will slip into the delectably evil shoes of Rita Repulsa, a role in which Israelite believes she was born to play.

“It’s very exciting that we got [Banks], and I think what she loves is the opportunity to really embrace the insanity and deliciousness of Rita Repulsa in terms of how weird and wonderful that character was, and really dive into and consume that character,” quipped Israelite. “You should always be off-balance when you’re watching her. Is she insane? Is she totally calculated? Does she know what she’s doing? Elizabeth can toe that line really well.”

With production starting on the movie earlier this week, it will be sometime before Power Ranger fans will get to see the primary-coloured-heroes hit the big screen sometime in 2017.

In the meantime however, be sure to pick up BOOM! Studios comic book revival of the Mighty Morphin’ team including everyone’s favourite Green Ranger, Tommy Oliver.

Available at your local Comic Book shop now.

BOOM! … I’m sure my cheque is in the post.

For all your Go-Go-Power-Rangers-News, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx

The NXT Review – 3rd March 2016

Whats up Wrestling Peeps! We are firmly on our way to WrestleMania but with so much time between now and then (and a WWE Network Special known as “RoadBlock” in place), everything is up-in-the-air in NXT.

With that in mind, the superstars of the yellow brand step up their game in a bid to get notice, with the Tag Team division proving no exception. Talking of the division, is it just me or did that security footage of Dash & Dawson attacking Team SAWFT look a tad old skool 8-Bit video gamey to you? The artificial slow-down to the footage just made the guys look jumpy in a classic Super Mario Bros. dealio.

Damn it! Every-time Enzo goes high risk now i’ll have the Boooop sound in my head. Have to say, not hating it. Amusing.

Given the rotation of wrestlers, as NXT wants to do, it means that we get the cold hearted Aussie Emma back on our screens this week (yay). With the jacked-up Barbie Doll with a screeching feature (Batteries not included) Danna Brooke in tow (boo!).

Having the opportunity to see Emma’s ringwork against Auska at TakeOver London, its criminal how underutilized the mat technician is within NXT. I mean it is probably smart to pair Emma with a the fairly-green Santana Garrett, wrestle safe and all that. But why on Earth is she not in title picture? Of course I wouldn’t want to bump anyone out of the scene, meh perhaps Eva Marie maybe. But to have Auska move up without Emma is leaving Dollars-at-the-door. Wheres the follow-up to TakeOver London? A blow-off match. I’d take a good ol’fashion grudge match without the title involved even (remember those WWE) rather then nothing. Okay granted they may have put a pin in it but then don’t taunt me with Corey Graves and Tom Phillips mentioning the feud between the two because thats … thats just … mean.

So after spoilers on the internet because you know, internet-gonna-internet. Austin Aries finally arrives in NXT. Now of course I know who Aries is because Google has eliminated the need to ask people things and make yourself look like a pop-culture-recluse. But I haven’t seen him wrestle ‘cus I don’t watch TNA and haven’t got round to YouTube-ing his ass at this point because, you know, life.

But Aries inside a WWE ring seems like a big deal so I will cheer or boo appropriately with relation to his Face-Heel O-Meter. But for now, I remain neutral and underwhelmed. Not even under because thats harsh, just Whelmed.

A Young Justice reference for the kids there.

On to the Main Event and I feel the need to bemoan the use of Neville on NXT. Its sacrilege because the name is crap. It just sounds nerdy to me. More-over I’m probably sensitive that they didn’t go ahead with the dual persona idea I mentioned last week but you know. Whatever.

Moving on. Its good to see Neville back on the brand that established him as the legit badass Gravity-defiying Motha-F’er he is. He is after all the longest reigning NXT Champion (So far), with this match celebrating that fact because I have no doubt that Finn Balor is being positioned to supersede that in the future.

That aside, this match lived up to hype. Both men being well-matched in a reversal heavy performance apropos of their skill-set and the fast story telling that the reality era has become accustomed too. That begin said (and it may be just me), but hasn’t Balor been wrestling Heel-style for some time now or what? And its not even flagged by Graves or Phillips, so in the world of WWE my opinion is non-canon, but I get the slight whiff or arrogance of late.

Its feasible that Balor is simply growing in confidence, which kudos to him because his matches are some of the more exciting on the roster. His skill set and repertoire also befitting an aggressive style could be throwing me off. But speaking as an Edge fan, everyone loves a Heel Champion. So it wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world. Just don’t bring back Vicki Guerrero anytime soon because ain’t nobody got time for that.

His gracious win at the end puts a kibosh on that idea for now of course.

But a guy can dream, right?

For all your NXT-News & Reviews, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx

‘WWE’ Goes Animated With ‘Surfs Up 2: WaveMania’

WWE’s history with cinematic offerings has been sketchy at best but their Animated ventures have proven far popular with Sony now getting in on the action with Surfs Up 2: WaveMania.

The number one wrestling company and Sony Entertainment will co-produce and finance the animated sequel while WWE will get some good use out of the VOD Network in marketing the feature film.

Some of the WWE’s biggest stars will also lend their voice to the project with John Cena, Triple H, The Undertaker, Paige and even the head honcho himself Mr. McMahon receiving animated counterparts. Known as Hang 5, the wrestling team will help hero Cody Maverick search for the legendary wave The Trenches.

Rainmaker Entertainment will handle the animation while Hotel Transylvania 2 story artist Henry Yu will direct. It is unknown whether original movie star Shia LaBeof will return to voice Maverick, but given the stars much publicised bar fighting and paper-bag wearing antics. It seems unlikely given WWE’s PG target audience.

For all your Animated-Wrestling-News and NXT Review, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx

‘Saban’s Power Rangers’ Starts Production

Saban’s Power Rangers starts production in Vancouver today. The reboot Movie will see the Original Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers once again return to the big screen to stop the Evil Rita Repulsa.

Production company Lionsgate released an outline of the film:

“Saban’s Power Rangers follows five ordinary high school kids who must become something extraordinary when they learn that their small town of Angel Grove – and the world – is on the verge of being obliterated by an alien threat. Chosen by destiny, our heroes quickly discover that they are the only ones who can save the planet. But to do so they will have to overcome their real-life issues and band together as the Power Rangers before it is too late.“

Project Almanac (2015) Director Dean Israelite is helming production with Dacre Montgomery, RJ Cyler, Ludi Lin, Becky G and The Martians’ (2015) Naomi Scott stepping into the roles of Jason, Billy, Zack, Trini and Kimberly.

Skatronixxx also reported early last month that The Hunger Games star and Pitch Perfect 2 Director Elizabeth Banks would play infamous Power Rangers villain Rita Repulsa.

Saban’s Power Rangers is expected to hit our screens March 24, 2017.

For all your 90’s-Nostalgia-Butt-Kicking-News, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx

‘CBS’ Casts Their ‘Nancy Drew’

CBS already have a super-sleuth in the form of Jonny Lee Miller’s Sherlock Holmes in Elementary, but that hasn’t stopped the Network from bringing everyones favourite girl Detective Nancy Drew to the small screen.

A source out of Entertainment Weekly revealed that the CBS series – simply titled Drew – will offer a grown-up take on the teenage investigator, with the popular long-running series of novels serving as inspiration.

Persons of Interest star Sarah Shahi will play the 30-something Drew, now a hard-nosed NYPD detective, who “investigates and solves crimes using her uncanny observational skills, all while navigating the complexities of life in a modern world.“

Shahi will star alongside Vanessa Ferlito as Drew’s former partner, Anthony Edwards as Nancy’s father and Felix Solis, a lieutenant at the NYPD.

The Pilot is yet to shoot but should the series get pick up, it may be only matter of time before we see a crossover with Miller’s Holmes.

Well … we can only hope, right?

For all your Detective-Pilot-News, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx