Benedict Cumberbatch Cast in Next Spider-Man Movie

According the Hollywood Reporter, Benedict Cumberbatch will appear as Dr Stephen Strange in the upcoming Spider-Man film. Strange will act as a mentor to Peter in the movie, much like Tony Stark and Nick Fury did in the last two.

Noah Centineo Cast in Black Adam Film

Noah Centineo has landed the role of Atom Smasher in DC's upcoming Black Adam film. Atom Smasher, aka Albert Rothstein, has the ability to change his size and strength.

Image credit: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Temuera Morrison Cast in The Mandalorian

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Temuera Morrison will play bounty hunter Boba Fett in the second season of Star Wars: The Mandalorian. Morrison has appeared in Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, and various video games as Jango Fett and his clones.

The Flash, Supergirl, & More Shut Down Production

In order to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus and protect their employees, Warner Bros TV Group has suspended production on several series, including The Flash, Batwoman, and Supergirl. Supergirl was scheduled to wrap next week, with Batwoman and The Flash originally scheduled to end production early next month. Legends of Tomorrow already wrapped a few weeks ago. In addition, Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has stopped work by its first unit as the director awaits results of a coronavirus test. WBTVG released the following statement,

With the rapidly changing events related to COVID-19, and out of an abundance of caution, Warner Bros. Television Group is halting production on some of our 70+ series and pilots currently filming or about to begin.  There have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on any of our productions, but the health and safety of our employees, casts and crews remains our top priority. During this time, we will continue to follow the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control as well as local officials and public health professionals in each city where our productions are based.

UPDATE: I'm seeing reports Supernatural has also shut down.

She-Hulk & Moon Knight Land Showrunners

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jessica Gao and Jeremy Slater will serve as showrunners for Marvel's She-Hulk and Moon Knight, respectively. Gao is known for her work on Rick and Morty, while Slater has worked on The Umbrella Academy.

Peyton Reed to Direct Ant-Man 3

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Peyton Reed is returning to direct a third Ant-Man movie. Reed previously directed Ant-Man and Ant-man and the Wasp.

Image via Getty

Rachel Maddow Cast in Batwoman

News anchor Rachel Maddow has landed the role of Vesper Fairchild on Batwoman. Fairchild is a radio and TV host who will never actually appear onscreen. Showrunner Caroline Dries commented,

We consider Vesper Fairchild to be the sardonic Voice of Gotham. In addition to Rachel’s interest in Batwoman, we thought she’d be the perfect casting choice because her own hard-hitting journalism wildly contrasts Vesper’s penchant for snark, gossip and criticism of female superheroes.

Photo credit: Steven Senne | AP

Ms. Marvel Series in Development

THR is reporting that Disney+ is developing a live-action series based on the hit comic book character Kamala Khan (aka Ms. Marvel, not to be confused with the original Ms. Marvel, Carol Danvers). Bisha K. Ali (Four Weddings and a Funeral) will serve as showrunner. A lead actress has not been announced at this time.

Art by Marguerite Sauvage, via Ms. Marvel (2014) #13

UPDATE: Marvel has confirmed the announcement, along with two more series: Moon Knight and She-Hulk

Just announced at #D23Expo, MS. MARVEL, an original series from Marvel Studios, only on Disney+ pic.twitter.com/serwRYXsRG

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) August 23, 2019

Just announced at #D23Expo, SHE-HULK, an original series from Marvel Studios, only on Disney+ pic.twitter.com/fUrYwfGLOQ

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) August 23, 2019

Just announced at #D23Expo, MOON KNIGHT, an original series from Marvel Studios, only on Disney+ pic.twitter.com/iMHyl7BuAQ

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) August 23, 2019

Taika Waititi to Direct Thor 4

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Taika Waititi (director of Thor: Ragnarok) has signed on to direct the fourth film in the franchise. There's currently no word on a title or release date, though I suspect we'll have more details Saturday during the Marvel Studios panel at San Diego Comic-Con. I, for one, hope they call the movie Thor 4: More Thor.

Image credit: Matt Sayles

Storm Reid Cast in The Suicide Squad

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Storm Reid has joined the cast of The Suicide Squad as Idris Elba's (currently unspecified) character's daughter.

Image via Getty

David Dastmalchian Cast in The Suicide Squad

According to The Hollywood Reporter, David Dastmalchian has landed the role of Polka-Dot Man (aka Abner Krill) in The Suicide Squad.

David Harbour Cast in Black Widow

According to the Hollywood Reporter, David Harbour (Stranger Things, Hellboy) has landed an unspecified role in Marvel's Black Widow movie.

PS. I'm on vacation, so updates might be a bit behind schedule for the rest of the week

Photo by Gage Skidmore

Wynonna Earp Season 4 Delayed

In case anyone was wondering why #FightforWynonna was trending yesterday, THR has confirmed reports that the studio (IDW) has delayed production for financial reasons. An air date was never officially announced, but was expected to be in mid-to-late summer, which would have required filming to start sometime around now. SyFy apparently only covers half the production costs, leaving IDW (which has had budget overruns on other projects) to try and recoup expenses via international distribution deals and take out loans. The network offered the following official statement,

SYFY ordered Season 4 of Wynonna Earp from IDW and is completely committed to the series. This has not changed.

UPDATE: IDW has released their own statement. Also, SyFy has offered additional funding and already granted a season 5 renewal (via Deadline)

IDW is committed to continuing to tell the Wynonna Earp story. Much like the fans, we are passionate about not only the series, but the comics, the characters and the overall message that the Wynonna Earp franchise carries. We are in the process of working out the details for how the Wynonna story will continue and will share new details very soon.

Loki Series Lands Showrunner

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Michael Waldon will act as showrunner, executive producer, and pilot episode writer for the upcoming Loki streaming series. The show will reportedly be set in the past and see Loki act as an "unlikely influencer on historical events."

Jac Shaeffer is Vision and Scarlet Witch Showrunner

Marvel's Vision and Scarlet Witch, which is in development as a potential series on Disney+, has added Jac Schaeffer as showrunner, executive producer, and writer of the pilot episode. Schaeffer has previously written for the upcoming Captain Marvel and Black Widow movies.

2 More Short Treks & New Animated Trek Series Coming

According to the Hollywood Reporter, CBS has ordered two animated Star Trek: Short Treks episodes, which will debut in the spring after the second season of Discovery (which will run through late April, assuming no gaps). Executive producer Alex Kurtzman also told them that an additional animated series (beyond the already-confirmed Lower Decks show) is in development, though he declined to provide details.

There's other animated things that we're building that are an entirely different perspective and an entirely different tone. What's exciting about it is not only looking at each animated series as what's the different tone but what's the different technology we can apply to these things so that visually they're entirely different?

No, not that animated series, the other one. No, the other, other one

Scott Derrickson to Direct Doctor Strange Sequel

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Scott Derrickson (director of the 2016 Doctor Strange movie) has signed on to direct a sequel. Filming is scheduled to start early in 2020, after a writer is found. It should be noted that Marvel has not formally confirmed the existence of a Doctor Strange sequel, or any other film after next year.

Image via Shutterstock

Nick Nolte Cast in The Mandalorian

Lucasfilm has cast Nick Nolte in an unspecified role in Star Wars: The Mandalorian.

Photo by Victoria Will

Gina Carano Cast in The Mandalorian

Gina Carano (Deadpool, Haywire) has joined the cast of Star Wars: The Mandalorian, according to the Hollywood Reporter. No information on her character is available at this time.

Photo by Gage Skidmore

Ryan Coogler to Write & Direct Black Panther 2

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Black Panther writer/director Ryan Coogler has signed on to write and direct the sequel. Marvel has not yet formally confirmed the existence of another Black Panther movie, but given the massive financial success of the first one, it's all but guaranteed to happen. The sequel will reportedly begin production late next year or in early 2020.

Photo by Gage Skidmore