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When there’s a discussion about bringing video game adaptations to big screens, you wouldn’t think of Pac-Man as a choice. It’s a simple game that’s repetitive and doesn’t bring in terms of the story or characters. However, Pac-Man was picked by Prime Video’s Secret Level as one of the franchises to be focused on.

Secret Level featured a unique take on Pac-Man. (Image via Prime Video)

Secret Level didn’t feature a faithful adaptation of Pac-Man. The show shook a radically different direction by featuring Pac-Man as a titular who’s trying to make it out of a maze that has no exits and is filled with bloody battles and extreme gore. It was undoubtedly a horrifying experience, but it still doesn’t come close to a fan-adaptation that will truly scare you for life.

Secret Level‘s Pac-Man fails against this fan adaptation...

Saturday Night Live actor Bowen Yang was accused by an extra who's worked on the NBC series of getting Shane Gillis fired back in 2019. However, Yang has spoken out on the allegation to note how that's not the case.

Six years ago, Yang and Gillis had both been hired to join SNL as new performers. Problematic jokes Gillis had made about Asians on his comedy podcast resurfaced soon after his casting was announced, boosting a social media movement for SNL to cut ties with the risqué comedian. The SNL team ultimately acquiesced by firing Gillis, though the bridges have been rebuilt, with Gillis having since appeared on the show as guest host. Ahead of his second guest-hosting stint on March 1, comic and SNL extra Michelle Best posted a comment on an Instagram video shared by NBC to "acknowledge" that Yang was allegedly responsible for Gillis' firing.

Related'Don't Negotiate With Terrorists':...

The upcoming animated Secret Level show is hoping to perfectly adapt a wide range of game franchises to the TV medium. Prime Video's Secret Level creators are developing 15 episodes, which will focus on a wide range of games, including Dungeons & Dragons, Pac-Man, Unreal Tournament, and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. Several famous actors have signed on, ranging from Arnold Schwarzenegger to Keanu Reeves to Gabriel Luna. The show is expected to premiere on Prime Video on December 10.

In an interview with Screen Rant, executive producer and director Dave Wilson opened up about the show and the unique difficulties of its development. When asked about the Warhammer episode in particular, Wilson referenced the dreary atmosphere, the brutal narrative, and the lack of any true isolated story. Instead, the episode will focus on communicating the tone of the franchise, rather than showcasing any particular point in its story. Check out his full quote below:

I'll take it,...

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In this exclusive interview with CBRs Kevin Polowy, Secret Level creators Tim Miller and Dave Wilson share the creative inspiration behind their highly anticipated adult-animated anthology series. They explore the unique blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and dark humor that sets Secret Level apart and captivates audiences, offering insights into the innovative storytelling approach that makes each episode a standout experience.

Miller and Wilson reveal the influences and ideas that fueled the creation of this groundbreaking series, discussing their favorite games and how gaming has shaped their artistic vision. In a fun twist, they even mention that Keanu Reeves expressed interest in joining the project! Fans will get an exclusive look into the world of Secret Level and discover the passions that drive these visionary creators.

For all those who can't wait for the premiere of the upcoming animated anthology series Secret Level, you can expect to dive into its first episodes starting December 10, 2024, but theres a catchthe 15 episodes will be released in two separate drops on Prime Video, and there's a very good reason for it, too. During an interview with Colliders Steve Weintraub at New York Comic Con, Tim Miller and Dave Wilson revealed the reasoning behind the staggered release strategy, which they believe will build anticipation and create more opportunities for each episode to shine.

Bloodshot: Jared Leto (Suicide Squad, above) is in talks to star in Bloodshot, based on a comic book series. First published in 1992 by Valiant Comics, the stories revolved around a former mob killer who is controlled against his will by nanotechnology that's been injected into his bloodstream, giving him superhuman strength and healing abilities. Dave Wilson will direct; Sony hopes the movie will help launch a new franchise. [Deadline]   Wonder Woman 2: This past weekend at Comic-Con, Wonder Woman 2 was listed as a forthcoming project from Warner Bros. Now the studio has scheduled the sequel for release on December 13, 2019. Gal Gadot is expected to reprise her starring role; director Patty Jenkins has not yet been confirmed to return, but she has been working on...

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Jared Leto’s performance as The Joker in Suicide Squad was met with less than positive notices, and there’s no word yet if he’s ever going to return to the Dceu. But the actor isn’t letting that stop him from pursuing other comic book projects. THR reports that Sony Pictures is eyeing Leto to star in Dave Wilson’s adaptation of the comic Bloodshot. Per THR, “the story centers on a mob killer named Angelo Mortalli who enters a witness protection program. When he is betrayed by a handler, he becomes part of a secret experiment to …...

Sony Pictures is courting Jared Leto to star in Bloodshot, an adaptation of the comic from Valiant Entertainment, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Leto has the offer to play the title character, but dealmaking has yet to begin, according to sources.

Dave Wilson is attached to direct the sci-fi/action feature project, which would be produced by Neal H. Moritz and Toby Jaffe through their Original Film banner.

Described as being, in part, a crime-oriented Frankenstein thriller, the story centers on a mob killer named Angelo Mortalli who enters a witness protection program. When he is betrayed by a handler, he...

Exclusive: Jared Leto is in talks to star in Sony’s Bloodshot which is based on indie comic book publisher Valiant Entertainment’s IP. The project, which is being produced by Neal Moritz, is being directed by Dave Wilson who is partnered with Deadpool director Tim Miller’s at Blur Studios. This is the second film from a five-picture deal that was the result of a deal between Beverly Hills-based Dmg and Valiant. Sony acquired the Bloodshot series from Valiant back in 2012…...

Two years ago, Sony, in partnership with comic book publisher Valiant, made a big splash by announcing a package of five superhero movies. Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, who teamed on John Wick, were lined up to direct Bloodshot, revolving around a military operative who is controlled against his will by nanotechnology that's been injected into his bloodstream. The original intention was to release Bloodshot this year, but as often happens in Hollywood, it's taken a bit longer than expected. Now, though, Dave Wilson is set to direct from a script by Eric Heisserer (Arrival) and the movie is ready to begin casting, according to The Wrap. Reportedly, Sony has a "wish list" of eight actors for the lead role, including Oscar Isaac (Star Wars: The Force Awakens...

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It looks like Sony Pictures is finally looking to move forward with their big screen adaptation of the comic series Bloodshot. We haven't heard anything on the film since it was announced a couple years ago. John Wick directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch were originally attached to direct, but now it will be directed by Dave Wilson, who is Deadpool director Tim Miller’s partner at Blur Studios. The script for the film comes from Arrival screenwriter Eric Heisserer.

The studio is currently looking at casting an actor in the lead role and they have a shortlist of eight actors they want. The Wrap has learned of five actors on that list including Oscar Isaac, James McAvoy, Jake Gyllenhaal, Nicholas Hoult, and Mark Wahlberg.

The comic series was published by Valient in 2012 and the story follows "a soldier brought back from the dead by a secret government agency, turned...

Mike Cecchini Simon Brew Jul 26, 2017

Jared Leto has emerged as Sony's choice to headline the Bloodshot movie...

A notable update here. Sony is homing in on its lead for the planned Bloodshot movie, and it looks like it's picked an actor who wasn't on the original shortlist. Jared Leto is now reported to be in talks for the title role in the film. If he signs up, it's likely to be for a few movies, too. Dave Wilson remains attached to direct.

Previously (May 2017)

We're moving closer to that Valiant Cinematic Universe. For quite some time now, Sony has been developing properties from Valiant Entertainment's excellent line of superhero and sci-fi projects, including Harbinger, Archer & Armstrong, a Quantum & Woody TV series (with the Russo Bros. involved), and Bloodshot. Bloodshot, the story of a nanite powered super soldier, will kick things off, to be followed by the Harbinger movie. And right now,...

Something big this way comes, and it is an entirely new adaptation of a DC comic book property. Lionsgate has lined up the project, which will bring The Monolith to movie theatres – having enjoyed a 12 issue run between 2004 and 2005. Created by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti, the plot is a variation on the idea of the Golem – a legendary, destructive aberration made of clay.

The movie will mark the feature film debut of director Dave Wilson and writer Barnett Brettler. Despite his big screen inexperience, the name of Dave Wilson brings with it some weight, as his day job is in the role of creative director at Blur Studios. Blur is the brainchild of Tim Miller – director of box office hit, Deadpool.

The plot of the graphic novel series sees former addict Alice Cohen receive news that she has been bequeathed an old Brooklyn house by her late Grandmother. In it,...

Need a little pick-me-up this holiday season? Look no further than the scores of "layaway Santas" who are flooding the stores this holiday and proving that the Christmas spirit truly does live in the hearts of many Americans. The way layaway Santas work is simple: do-gooders visit stores that have a layaway department, such as Wal-Mart, Kmart or Toys "R" Us, and offer to pay off the holiday layaway bills of others who are struggling to save enough to put presents under the tree. Layaway Santas have been around for ages, but the idea gained traction recently when the Associated...

Rush is rated R in the U.S. but G in Quebec, tiger cub swim tests, An Astronaut’s Guide To Life On Earth

The Blacklist is the only new show of the fall I still have a Season Pass for, and I love Alan Alda, so I’m incredibly excited that he’s set to guest star on the show, as an enemy of Red who threatens to kill him.

In the United States, Rush was rated R for nudity, violence, language, and sexual situations. In Quebec, it’s rated G, for all audiences. They decided the nudity was incidental, mostly people getting out of bed, which children have probably seen. And the violence was mostly car crashes, which were no worse than government produced seat belt commercials. So who’s right?

Maxim Martsinkevich, the Russian man behind Occupy Pedophelia, which has been producing the kidnapping and torture of gay men videos,...

Saturday Night Live, “George Carlin/Billy Preston, Janis Ian”

Written by Lorne Michaels, Michael O’Donoghue, Anne Beatts, Tom Davis, Al Franken, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Herb Sargent, Tom Schiller, Rosie Schuster, Alan Zweibel

Directed by Dave Wilson

Aired on October 11, 1975 on NBC

Possibly (and very arguably) the most influential television show of all time, Saturday Night Live (SNL for short) is American comedy (albeit with a bit of Canadian help) exemplified: irreverent, absurdist, made for short attention spans, and continually being both panned and lauded by critics. Whether you still lock your door in fear of Land Shark, turned the show off in 1980 and never looked back, or are in need more cowbell, you know the magic that is SNL. Like a boy band or Santa Claus, we each have our favorites and picture a certain cast as the “real” SNL. For example, there are people who swear by the...

Gosh darn that Entertainment Weekly!

Curse you, Martha Thomases!

Damn those Republicans!

Off with your head, John Ostrander!

I’m the New York Giants’s Lawrence Tynes. I’m the place kicker here. I’m the one who gets the game going. Yeah, that’s right. Monday is the start of the week here at ComicMix. The calendar week may start with Sunday, but Monday is the real start of the week, isn’t it? As in first day of the work week and first day of the school week.

(Btw, what y’all thinking about the Giants first-round draft choice, running back Dave Wilson? I’m liking him. Yeah, that’s right. Football season is just about here. Deal with it. Go Giants!)

And here it is Monday, and I’m sitting here on Sunday afternoon without a thing to write about.

I was going to write about Superman...

So what were the top films of 2011? It's a really tough question to ask, and a pretty bold one to answer among peers with equally strong opinions. I've been reading through a lot of the 2011 film retrospectives, top 10's, and best of lists with many critics complaining about 2011 being a light year for great film. I personally disagree. Sure the mega-plexes didn't offer much substance in 2011, but cheer up Charlie because if you stuck close to the arthouse theaters then you found the golden tickets. The nominations and votes of the Smells Like Screen Spirit staff have been tallied and scored to represent the collective opinion of the total results. As always we encourage you to agree or debate in the comments section; so without further ado I give you Smells Like Screen Spirit's Top 10 Films of 2011: 10. Bellflower "Painfully discussing the highs and lows of love, as well...

Director: Sean Durkin Writer: Sean Durkin Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Sarah Paulson, John Hawkes, Hugh Dancy, Brady Corbet, Louisa Krause, Julia Garner, Christopher Abbot, Maria Dizzia Critics seem to be pretty split on Sean Durkin's Martha Marcy May Marlene, and I cannot seem to understand why. Other than its title, which I for some reason find impossible to remember, I can find very little to be wrong with Mmmm. I have not read Dave Wilson's review of Mmmm yet, but I did notice that we both gave the film the same rating (a lofty 9 out of 10). I suspect that Dave W.'s review is less tangential than mine promises to be; in fact, I am opting for avoiding any discussion of the plot in order to stay completely clear of spoilers... I know there are many readers out there who want to know more about a film before deciding...

Director: James Franco Writers: James Franco, Vince Jolivette, Stacey Miller, Michael Gregg Michaud (book) Starring: Val Lauren, Jim Parrack, James Franco, Vince Jolivette, Stacey Miller I have not read it yet, but I bet Dave Wilson's review of Sal is much more informative than mine. I plan on more of a drunkenly loose diatribe of why James Franco's bio-pic of Sal Mineo (Val Lauren) -- the teen idol and star of Rebel Without a Cause and Exodus -- is so damn important. Sure, Sal is destined to suffer the same cultish fate of most films about gay protagonists (Howl being an all too perfect example), but I think it deserves much, much more than that because Sal is a beautiful, sexually ambiguous portrait of a gay film star's final day of existence. Making a film that takes place within the rigid confines of the final day of its...

The opening pages of my memoir, to be published September 13, 2011:

I was born inside the movie of my life. The visuals were before me, the audio surrounded me, the plot unfolded inevitably but not necessarily. I don't remember how I got into the movie, but it continues to entertain me. At first the frames flicker without connection, as they do in Bergman's Persona after the film breaks and begins again. I am flat on my stomach on the front sidewalk, my eyes an inch from a procession of ants. What these are I do not know. It is the only sidewalk in my life, in front of the only house. I have seen grasshoppers and ladybugs. My uncle Bob extends the business end of a fly swatter toward me, and I grasp it and try to walk toward him.

Hal Holmes has a red tricycle and I cry because...