Are Any Ventriloquists Stable?

Cold Open And What’s Ahead

SPEAKER_01 0:04

Tonight, Star Trek Webcomics, what's coming up? And we remember Donald Gibb and Tom Kane, all of them more on this edition of Multiverse Tonight. Welcome to Multiverse Tonight, your source for Geek News. We dissect films, games, comics, and much more, bringing you insightful commentary on pop culture. This is Multiverse Tonight. Now here's your host, Thomas Townley. Well, hello there, and welcome to episode 265 of Multiverse Tonight. I'm of course uh your host, Thomas Townley. And uh, well, halfway through May, yeah. Droughts stirring outside. My 3D printing is uh getting interesting. Well, I've gotten like stuff to upgrade it, but I don't know if I have the skill to do to do these upgrades. So you know, I might just end up selling what I've bought. It'll be someone else's game.

SPEAKER_00 1:09

Yeah.

Considering A Kansas House Run

SPEAKER_01 1:10

That's fine by me. I can always buy a printer that does more of what I want, you know, at some point in the future. Um, I'm also considering running for public office. Yeah, you heard me. Um I'm I'm weighing a run for uh Kansas State Representative. That's a Kansas House of Representatives. So it'd be a state office. I'd actually make more money than I am making a Walmart. Interestingly enough. But uh Yeah, it's yeah. I think right now my thought is to wait two years to run because I would have to have all the paperwork and all the all the stuff done and into the Secretary of State's office by basically the first of next month. So it's already halfway through May, so it's like you know, maybe I should just hold off on that. You know, the the the odds of my winning in this cycle are probably no better than my winning in the next cycle. You know, this is a a deep red Republican district.

SPEAKER_00 2:28

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 2:29

Um the last time a Democrat faced off against the Republican, they got about 30% of the vote. So, you know, I would people would have to be really ticked off the Republicans and want to send a message that they, you know, really don't like what the Republicans are doing. And I don't know if this guy's, you know, done, you know, done enough to make himself even uh a flip in people's minds to be mad at him about anything. So again, you know, again, my my thoughts right now are to wait two years unless the uh Democrats, which is what I am, uh the Democrat unless the Democrats say, you know, hey, we'll uh take care of pretty much everything. You just you know get your get your ass to Topeka, get the form filled out, and we'll you know we'll get we'll take care of everything else, just you know, run. If they do that, I'm I would do it this year, but uh not oh wait. Yeah, no, no sense in in rushing to this. And it's just because I think, well, we're in a terrible place and people need to stand up.

SPEAKER_00 3:46

Yeah.

Star Trek Goes Canon On Webtoon

SPEAKER_01 3:48

And I'm not gonna go for local office here because you know uh basically I haven't lived here my whole life, so you know my name doesn't mean anything. But uh other than that, and that's kind of depressing, though. Let's go on to uh a little bit of Star Trek news. Star Trek News begins with Star Trek, which has been shaping popular sci-fi and entertaining the masses for just shy of 60 years. And over these past six decades, the series has placed trails in terms of representation, whether it be on TV, movies, comic books, etc. Well, now they're going to be exploring webcomics, uh unleashing two brand new canonical side stories connected to Deep Space Nine and Voyager. The two series called Stargazers and Recollection will respectively focus on original characters and stories cruising the promenade of a post-war Deep Space Nine and a mysterious Federation Starship later in the timeline between the next generation and Voyager, respectively. Both will explore mysteries of their own, but with two vastly different tones, true to the multifasted spirit of Star Trek. Now, uh, what this is on the Webtoon app, as announced by Webtoon and Paramount product products and experiences. Stargazers comes first laying to charge in May 17th, 2026. Featuring an assortment of familiar faces and friendly species, Stargazers, a Star Trek story launches this spring with three episodes free for readers immediately on May 17th, so live as yesterday, as well as five available for FastPass with new installments totaling 40 episodes. The webcomic is written by Jarrett Melendez and initially set up sets up a slice of life premise of Leon just as he's finishing school and navigating his life. Stargazer is illustrated by Kasai Entertainment's famed webtoon studio. Leon's primary companions include his close friend, the young Bajoran Churi, a new passing flame named Inno, and the surprisingly casual reveal of a changeling friend from the Great Link. Genega, working as a hairstylist and makeup artist on the promenade. Leon is a help hapless, helpless flirt, soon finding love on a collision course with first love backed up by loyal friends and his adorable dog Alfie, as likely Alfred Quadrant. At its heart, Stargazers is prominently a boy's love story in its approach to romance, perfectly fitting for Deep Space Nine and its massive strides with Star Trek's first same-sex kiss in uh in the show's fourth season. Speaking of stories impact and their uh and their Paramount's head of global publishing, Amy Girosco. Amy Juroshow, that's a name. Quote: One of the most remarkable things about Star Trek is that even after six decades, there are still new front track new frontiers to explore, not just in story, but in how these stories are told. We're introducing Star Trek on a new platform with Webtoon. Well, Webtoon, that's all one word, creating a uniquely immersive experience for our audience, as well as an exciting evolution for the franchise and a powerful way to connect with both Devote fans and new demographics as these as they discover these original stories. Now, Recollection is a Star Trek story written by New York Times bestselling author Sam Mags, illustrated by Kissai Entertainment. A tonal shift releasing later in 2026, Recollection focuses on a young amnesic woman waking up on a mysterious Federation vessel with six art passengers and a holopilot, Jad, who seems to be withholding the full truth from them. As the group reaches a remote outpost in search of truth, the protagonist encounters a Vulcan who recognizes her, providing a device that unlocks fleeting glimpses of her lost memories. Recollection will release later in summer of 2026, with 40 episodes total.

SPEAKER_00 8:10

So webtoons.

DC Studios Man Of Tomorrow Update

Warner Bros Animation Slate Teases

SPEAKER_01 8:13

Yay? Ooh. Frankly, frankly, I'd rather just read the ones from IDW. I you know they're just just as good. This this sounds more like uh kind of YA uh manja type stuff, and that's not really my cup of tea, but if it is yours, go go ahead and get your uh fill of it. Anyway, let's go on to the DC Comics News. His character details are being kept in a pretty secure location. DC Studios so far has had no comment about the casting. Walls came up on the 2000s TV classic Friday Night Lights and originally shared in the Peacock limited series Fight Night, The Million Dollar Heist with Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Hart. On the film side, he led the Hulu remake of White Men Can't Jump and appeared in the Netflix hit Carry-On as the best friend to Taryn Egerton's TSA agent, as well as the horror horror comedy The Blackening. In 2022, he starred opposite Brian Cox as a veteran of the drama in the drama feature Mending the Line. Now, Man of Tomorrow is uh rare director James Gunn's follow-up to last year's Superman. David Cornsweat returns as Superman with Nicholas Holt as Lex Luthor, this time teaming up to take on the threat of Brainiac played by Lars Esinger. Adriana Arjona joined the franchise while lantern star Aaron Pierre is on the call feed along with Rachel Brosnahan, Scholar Gizondo, Sarah Sampio, Isabella Merced, Nathan Fillian, and Edie Gethy Geth. The film has a release date of July 9th, 2027, and follows 2026 DC titles Supergirl and Clayface, as well as the TV series Lanterns due out later this year. Well, let's go on to the geek news. Geek news begins with Warner Brothers Pictures and Animations event on this past Tuesday, which Drew filmmakers, creatives, and journalists as the team's leaders laid out their vision. WBPA President and Chief Creative Officer Bill Damaske hosted the open house at the Burbank Studio lot where Warner Brothers Motion Picture Group co-chair and CEO Pam Abde joined him to deliver opening remarks. The event was timed to take place and the lead up to the studio's presentation at next month's Annecy International Animation Film Festival. During her speech, Abdi teased a number of projects that are in active production, including The Cat in the Hat, with the Dr. Seuss adaptation featuring Bill Hayter in the titular role and hitting theaters in November. Abdi noted that this marks the animation studio's first feature since its rebrand that began with Damaski's 2023 hiring. She explained that the film, quote, sets the tone for what WBPA represents today. Filmmaker-driven, visually ambitious, and designed as a true theatrical event, unquote. Abdi also expressed excitement that the Annecy presentation will include the debut screening for Daffy Season. Directors Todd Wilderman and Hamish Greaves shorts centers on Daffy Duck learning that Elmer Fudd is newly obsessed with soccer, which is appropriate considering it's just ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Quote, we're also thrilled to be unveiling an Annecy Daffy Season, a Looney Tunes theatrical short that re-establishes our commitment to bringing Looney Tunes back to the big screen.

unknown 12:39

Unquote.

Sam Raimi Revives Magic

Disney Upfronts And Streaming Dates

Peter Jackson Honored At Cannes

Rings Of Power Season 3 Details

Weird Al Musical Heads To Broadway

Planet Of The Apes Returns Again

Remembering Donald Gibb

Remembering Voice Legend Tom Kane

Where To Follow And Support

SPEAKER_01 12:40

Abdi went on to express her excitement for such forthcoming original animated features as the musical Bad Fairies starring Cynthia Arrivo and set for release next year. Also on Horizon is the Melissa McCarthy-led Marty Clause and the adaptation of author Marissa Myers The Lunar Chronicles, Dynamic Duo, Tom and Jerry, Meerkat Manor, Hello Kitty, and Oh the Places You'll Go, among the other titles teased at the event. In his remarks, Damaski praised Abdi and fellow Warner Birds film co-chief Mike DeLuca for their commitment to his plan. And describing the slate that you will see seven features hit the big screen in three years, Damaski said, quote, different looks, different styles, different tones, connected with what I hope will be heart, hope, humor, and a scale that earns the big screen and remaining an artist first community, unquote. Of course, it's all subject to change if uh Paramount does, in fact, get a hold of Warner Brothers, so your mileage may vary. Sam Raimi has selected, has settled on his next directing effort. As his follow-up to Send Help, Raimi will direct Magic, Lion Gate's modern take on a William Goldman novel that was previously turned into a 1978 called Horror Classic, featuring Anthony Hopkins as a mentally unstable ventriloquist. Wait a minute, there are mentally stable ventriloquists? Ramey is already on board to produce the update, having set it at his eponymous production company late last year. Mark Swift and Damien Shannon, who wrote Send Help for Raimi and who previously penned Freddie vs. Jason and the remake of Friday the 13th, wrote the script for Magic, which will be an updated take on the 76 novel by William Goldman. Magic, the original, starred Anthony Hopkins as Corky, a magician who reaches fame alongside his Ventrocus dummy, the obnoxious and wisecracking Fats. Faced with the prospect of signing a network deal for his own show, but afraid of revealing his fragile mental state, the magician takes off for the Catskills, where he tries to reconnect with the high school love, even as Fats begins to murderously take control of the situation. The movie also starred Anne Margaret and Burgess Meredith and was directed by Richard Attenborough. The movie generated buzz before its release of 20th Century Fox with a TV ad that focused just on the face of the dummy, which declared, Magic is fun, we're dead. Anyway, Disney's annual upfront presentation to advertisers in New York kicked off with some high-energy antics and singing courtesy of the viral sensations, the Savannah Bananas. Not long after, it was revealed that the team's Banana Bowl streamed live on Disney Plus in October as part of a larger partnership with Disney that includes standout player Jackson Olsen joining Dancing with the Stars. Also, Ahsoka star Rosario Dawson and her very own droid promised fans an even bigger and better season two of the series will debut in early 2027, according to Dawson. That is nearly a four-year gap between season two and the first season, which was released back in August of 2023. Marvel stars Robert Downey Jr., Tom Hiddleston, and Paul Betney followed suit, including a first look at the upcoming Disney Plus Marvel series Vision Quest and news that the show would premiere in October of 2026. FX then took over with their usual big swing for one of their shows. This year it was the creepy performance in honor of FX franchised American Horror Story, complete with people in latex suits, scary clowns, and a whole gang of druids. Starring Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Gabber Day Sid, Gabri, Gaboray Sidbay, Billy Lord, and Emmy Roberts. They took the stage to announce love story star Paul Anthony Kelly's addition to the show's 13th season. This was followed by a first look at Ryan Murphy's news series, The Shards. Don't mistake that for The Sharts, which uh is another problem all entirely. Um it was a Lord of the Rings reunion at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday night as Oscar winner director Pierre Jackson received an honorary pomme d'or from Elijah Wood, who played Frodo Baggins in the fantasy franchise. In the speech, Wood recalled meeting Jackson for the first time at 18 after sending in an audition video, quote, he had seen a VHS tape I made with friends in the woods of Griffith Park. And now they wanted to meet the young man who had just sent it. And when I little and when a little while later the call came that I was going to be Frodo Baggins, I sat down on the floor of my bedroom and I understood with the whole of my being, my life had just been divided into before and after. And I know I'm far from the only person who has had their life changed by Peter Jackson, unquote. Accepting the award from Wood with a hug, Jackson commented that he's grown a little bit of facial hair since the first time they met 27 years ago. Quote, if someone does a remake of Gone with the Wind, it would be could be your role, Jackson joked. Then he delivered a heartfelt speech about how Cannes helped to save the Lord of the Rings franchise after two time of bad press during the disastrous AOL time warner merger. Quote, we had shot Lord of the Rings over three years, and we shot all three films at the same time, he recalled. And the press was sort of weird. It was a strange time because Warner's was being sold. What goes around comes around. And so all the press was sort of talking about this great folly. What happens if the first film fails? What are they going to do about films two and three because they're already made? It was a huge gamble, but all the media was going about the gamble. About the gamble was going to fail, unquote. Twenty-five years later, Lord Jackson, Lord of the Rings is still going strong. Jackson, executive, produced the animated installment, The War of the Pro Rahim, in 2024. Gollum and actor Anthony Circus is stepping behind the camera to direct 2027's Hunt for Gollum. And in March, Jackson announced that Stephen Colbert and his son Peter are developing the next chapter in the franchise titled Shadows of the Past. The third season of the Lord of the Rings prequel series will debut on November 11th. The news was announced to have the Amazon presentation to advertisers at the fronts in New York City, where the company also released a new image of Sauron wearing a crown. The Rings of Power is set thousands of years before the original books and movies during the second age of Middle-earth. According to the official description, season three will take place several years after the events of season two, picking up at the height of the War of the Elves and Sauron, as the Dark Lord seeks to craft the one ring that will give him the edge he needs to win the war, bind all peoples to his will, and at last rule all of Middle-earth. According to Amazon, season one remains the biggest TV launch ever, while season two is among the top five most watched returning series ever. Both statistics were measured in terms of 91-day viewership. Amazon also says the series attracted over 185 million viewers overall and is one of the company's biggest contributors to new prime video signups. Dare to be stupid, the Weird Al Musical is coming to Broadway, featuring the music of Weird Al Yankovic. The Mulan Rouge director Alex Timbers and writers Scott Brown and Anthony King, who wrote Gutenberg The Musical, as well as Beal Juice, are attached. Tony Award-winning Sea View, Every Brilliant Thing, and The Fear of 13 is on board to produce. The musical will feature songs from Yankovic's four-decade song party catalog, including White and Nerdy, Amish Paradise, Eat It, Smells Like Nirvana, Like a Surgeon, Like a Surgeon, and uh many more. Ever quote, ever since I was a middle-aged man, I've always wanted to be a part of the New York theater community. Plus, the one thing people always say about Broadway is it's severely lacking in Weird Al-based entertainment. And I think this musical should fix that problem immediately. Quote, said uh Weird Al. Quote Timber in a statement, Timber said, quote, I first fell in love with Al's music with the release of Dare to Be Stupid, and I've remained an avid fan ever since. Now it's a dream come true to work with one of my comedy heroes, bringing an original story set to his beloved songbook to the stage. What Al, Anthony, and Scott are creating is unexpected, subversive, meta, and hilarious. I can't wait for the world to experience it. Additional details of the Dare to Be Stupid musical are to be announced shortly. Wonderful tours around, you know. I might be, you know, willing to see that. Uh 20th Century Studios is returning again to the Planet of the Apes. Matt Shackman, who directed Marvel Studios Fantastic Four First Steps, has been tapped to helm a new installment of the long running sci fi franchise. Josh Friedman, who co wrote First Steps, will uh write the script for this new uh movie in a twist or the of an astronaut seeing the Statue of Liberty on the seashore. The new feature product will never. Not be a sequel to Kingdom, which made 397.3 million worldwide and was generally considered a success. Kingdom was a continuation of the trilogy produced starting in 2011 that rebrewed the franchise and focused on the ape leader known as Caesar. Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, who were producers on the previous ape films, are back for this one. So, a new ape film, but it's not gonna be a sequel, which sounds like another reboot. Yay, reboot! I don't know, I'd just rather just as soon watch the original. Damn you! Damn you all the hell. And uh on some sad news. Donald Gibb, who is best known for playing ogre in the Revenge of the Nerds franchise, has passed away at the age of 71. The actor's son Travis shared with TMZ that his father had died on Tuesday evening due to health complications. Travis said that his dad died in his Texas home and was surrounded by family who loved him deeply. The outlet reports that Gibb had ongoing health issues that led to his death, with the family asking fans for prayers and privacy during the difficult time, knowing that their father will be deeply missed and forever remembered. Gibb was famously known for playing the lovely, lovable brood Frederick Aloysius Ogre Pulowski in the 1984 comedy film directed by Jeff Kanew, who reprises the role in 1907's Revenge of the Nerds 2, Nerds in Paradise, and uh also reprise it in the TV film sequel of the franchise in 1994's Revenge of the Nerds for Nerds in Love. Other films in which Gibb was credited or was featured in include Meatballs Part 2, Jocks, They Still Call Me Bruce, Amazon Women on the Moon, Blood Sport, Missing Pieces, Blood Sport 2, The Next Cumite, U.S. Marshall's Durango Kids, The Biggest Fan, and Hancock, just to name a few. In TV, uh, Gibb had a guest starring role on Miami on Magnum P.I. and the A Team, as well as Night Rider, Facts of Life, My Two Dads, Nightcourt, MacGyver, Quantum Leap, Cheers, Boy Meets World, and Seinfeld, among others. He was also regular on the HBO sitcom First and 10, which ran for six seasons. The actor shared credits with Delta Burke and O.J. Simpson throughout its 80s episode run. Between 1993 and 1998, Gibb appeared on the ABC Sitcom Step by Step, as well as Unhappily Ever After, Pacific Blue, Hanging with Mr. Cooper, Arless Varankus Closet, The Wrang on the Rust Young and the Restless, and many others. Donald Gibb was 71 years old. And finally, this just broke today. Tom Kane, the prolific voice actor, whose body of work includes popular turns as Yoda in the Star Wars Clone Wars series, as well as Professor Eutonium on the Powerpuff Girls, died today at the age of 64. Kane's death came from stroke compilations hospitaled in Kansas City, Missouri, and was announced by his talent agency. Quote, from his unforgettable performances in Star Wars to countless animated series, documentaries, and games, Tom brought wisdom, strength, humor, and heart to every role he touched. His voice became part of our lives, our memories, and the stories we carry on with us, they said in a statement. Kane suffered a stroke in 2020 that left him unable to speak or write. He retired in 2021, but did manage to attend the Lexington Comic and Toy Convention in Kentucky this past March, reuniting with the Powerpuff Girls cast for its first public appearance in years. Kane provided the mellifluoice for the long-suffering ballet Woodhouse on the FX Admate series Archer, taking over the role from the late George Coe in 2014, played the Rabbit Mr. Herriman on Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Lord Monkey Fist on Kim Possible on Kim Possible, and the Smart Monkey Darwin on the Wild Thornberries, and portrayed Magneto and Ultron for Marvel Projects. Born on April 15th, 1962, in Overland Park, Kansas, Thomas Kane Roberts started voice acting when he was 15 while attending South while attending Shawnee Mission South High School. Quote, I started calling local advertisers and offered my services. It didn't occur to me anyone got actually paid for it, he said in a 2010 interview. Kane graduated from the University of Kansas in 1984 and began at Lucasfilm adding miscellaneous small voice parts for its video games starting in 1996. He took on Yoda for the first time in a game released in 1999. He continued as Yoda on the TV series Star Wars Clone Wars in 2003 and the 2008 Clone Wars film, where he also voiced Admiral Yularin. And for many projects over the years, he also provided the wartime-like narration that kicked off each episode of the Clone Wars. Quote, I didn't work on being Yoda. I saw the movies 53 times, so for the voice was very much in my head. Everybody tries to do Yoda, not just voiceovers, but everybody. I was doing stuff for LucasArt, and I was goofing around and reading Yoda lines. And what I didn't know was that Frank Oz, the original voice of Yoda, was directing a movie. They recorded it and played it for George Lucas, and I've been Yoda ever since. Meanwhile, Kane voiced the Dorky Dad Professor Eutonium and the villain him on the Cartoon Network's The Powerpuff Girls from 2016 to 2019. And also served as the voice of the Walt Disney World monorail system and the announcer for several Academy Award broadcasts. Survivors include his wife Cindy, whom he married in 192, and their nine children, six through adoption and fostering. Again, Tom Cain, dead at the age of 64. He will be missed. And that brings us to the end of this edition of the show. Please be sure to check us out on social media. We're on Blue Sky at Multiverse Tom Thread, Facebook, and Instagram at Multiverse Tonight. If you've gotten some value out of the show and would like to pay it back, please head on over to multiverse tonight.com, where you can find our Patreon, Kofi Links, check our show notes, visit our Tee Public Store, and so much more. And if this is your first time listening, thank you. Thank you very much. And welcome. You know, go ahead, hit that subscribe button, share it with others. Special thanks to uh Shane Ivers for the Infra Music and Lobo Loco for the Utro 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 goodness. Now please exit the universe in an orderly fashion. Good night.

SPEAKER_00 29:16

Awesome and welcome.