Virtual Stan

Cold Open And Show Setup

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Tonight, Tom Holland is ready to pass it on. Minecraft Movie Squared, Rambo get the prequel, and remember film editor Marcia Lewis. All that and 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 multiple. This is Multiverse Tonight. Now here's your host, Thomas Townley.

Host Welcome And Spring Check-In

SPEAKER_00 0:33

Well, hello, and welcome to Multiverse Tonight. I'm of course your host, Thomas Townley. And uh, well, it's a nice spring day today. It's a nice spring spring day today, well, early summer I should say. Um it's warm outside, we've gotten rain the past few days, so you know everything's greening greening up more, things are growing.

Running For Kansas House Plan

SPEAKER_00 1:06

And uh recently I've made a decision about uh my future, more importantly, my political future. I've decided in to run for Kansas House of Representatives, District 114, but not this year. It's just there's just there was just no time to get this ball in motion.

SPEAKER_01 1:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:32

Now right now there is a candidate running for the Democratic nomination. Uh I again, yeah. Wish him wish him well, support him. Happy that. But you know, I I can wait two years. This will give me a time to, you know, build a platform, you know, think about what I want to run on, you know, how I want to run, you know. And and you know, maybe you know, put together a tidy little sum of money maybe, so that I can, you know have at least a fighting chance. I mean, it's a heavily heavily Republican district. You know, the the best shot it would have would be it would be like a thirty percent chance of of unseating the Republican. But, you know, you have to try. If you don't try, it's not really a battle, it's not really an election, it's a sub election. And you're just selecting the one person or writing in, you know, some other name. And I've done that in the past. I'll do it again this year, but again, gotta try.

Tom Holland On Passing Spider-Man

SPEAKER_00 2:53

So uh with that, let's go on first to the Marvel news. He said in the interview, quote, for whoever's next, whether that is a Miles Morales or Spider Gwynne or Spider-Woman or something like that, I would love to be a part of setting up the next chapter. Whatever that looks like, I don't know, but if I could do what Downey did for me, then I would be so content swinging off into the sunset, unquote. Now, since his debut as the red and blue uh crime fighter, Holland has emerged as one of Marvel's most valuable stars. His first standalone film, Spider-Man Homecoming, started strong with 880 million out of the worldwide box office back in 2017. Its two sequels, uh Far From Home and No Way at Home, explode to 1.1 billion and 1.9 billion, respectively. The latest Star Wars Spider-Man adventure, Brand New Day, which hits theaters a month from the end of this month, July 31st, is poised to be another box office smash. Now in a profile with GQ, Holland said, quote, Brand New Day had to shoot a few additional scenes, which is described as the icing on the cake. Quote, I can possibly say that the stuff we're doing, we don't need. The movie works and sings as it is. We're just adding the icing on the cake in certain areas. We're finding some ways to add a little bit more humor. We're layering in a villain plot line in a new way and some really fun stuff, unquote. So, yeah, that's great. You know, the way you know he wants the it wants the help, you know, whoever takes the spider role next. You know, whether that's a brand new a brand new version of Peter Parker or you know the Gwen Stacy version of Spider-Man or Miles Morales, whoever. That's great.

AI Stan Lee Voice Ethics Debate

SPEAKER_00 5:28

In a move that feels straight out of a Marvel multiversal twist. Legendary creator Stan Lee is getting a digital second act. AI, the AI Audio Giant 11 Labs has just inked a massive deal with Stan Lee Universe to bring the late writer's iconic voice and likeness back to life through their new iconic mass marketplace. Now, companies can now license an AI generated version of Stan for commercial use, while fans get some pretty cool toys to play with too. We're talking about a visual generator that lets you pop Stan into comic-inspired panels and the 11 reader app, which where his voice, meticulously trained on professional recordings, can narrate any book for you. But the big highlight for True Believers has to be the Stan Lee Book Club of the Month, launching with Robert Lewis Stevenson's Treasure Island. There are even more super new superhero cinematic music filters to set the mood. The estate says that this all about me meets spans where they are keeping that Excelsior energy alive in the digital age. Of course, Stan isn't alone in this digital frontier. We're seeing more estates from Judy Garland to Val Kilmer exploring how AI can preserve a legacy, provided it's done with consent and creativity. So uh what do what do you guys think? Is it is this the future fandom? Should legend stay on the page? Should no one be recreated until after a hundred years? That's you know, personally my my uh thought is that it should be a hundred years before you can be recreated digitally. And uh always has to be, you know, always has to be noted that's AI, so you're not mixing up what they said in the real life with what some companies, you know, making them say, hello, true believers, it's Stan Lee for Pepsi. You know, we we don't want that.

SPEAKER_01 7:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:24

Of course I find it funny that they're having him read like Robert Lewis Stevenson's like, okay, so we're just gonna make him do public domain stuff?

unknown 7:33

Ooh.

Star Trek Game And 60th Comic

SPEAKER_00 7:37

So uh shifting gears to the and shifting gears, let's go on to the Star Trek news. Truck fans have a big reason to celebrate. As the franchise approaches its 60th anniversary, Independent Studio Monumental has just pulled the curtain on Star Trek Warp, a brand new free-to-play digital collectible card game coming to PC and Matt Clair this year. Now, this isn't your standard card battler. Warp introduces a tactical seven-lane battlefield where positioning is everything for your attack and defense. They've also revealed a unique warp mechanic designed to scale your card draws as the match intensifies, giving players a fighting chance to turn the tide even when they're on the brink of defeat. Of course, it wouldn't be Star Trek without the legends. You'll be able to play with iconic characters and starships from Kirk, Spock, Picard, Data, 709, and others. Whether you're looking for competitive PvP battles or low pressure P vs E brawls against AI, it sounds like there's a lot to explore here. You can wish list the game on Steam right now. IDW Publishing is getting ready to boldly go where no comic has gone before for the 60th anniversary. This September, just days before Star Trek Day, the publisher is launching a massive 68-page one-shot special, the Star Trek 60th anniversary comic. IDW's senior group editor, Heather Antos, called the project Bigger, Bolder, and the lineup of 10 brand new stories confirms that. The special isn't just anthology, it's a cross-franchise celebration with a creative roster that spans from iconic comic book names to literal Star Trek legends. Here is a closer look at the unique voyages crammed inside the single issue. First off, the legendary return of Harry Mud, one of the last living writers from the original series and creator of the Tribbles, David Gerald, is returning to the universe to pan a sequel to a famous Harry Mudd story. Gerald noted that the chance to create a sequel to Harry Mudd's dilemma was icing on the cake. Next up, the Lower Decks What If showrunner Matt McMahon offered a trip, a tree for Lower Deck fans with a post-cancellation hall deck what if scenario, allowing us to check in on the Cerritos crew with art by Mike and Laura Alred. McMahon called it a blueprint for what a new season would be like. Also, Brian Michael Bendis' Trek debut, comic book heavyweight Brian Michael Bendis, is making his first ever foray into the Trek Comic Universe with a classic focus story featuring Sulu. Bendis said he jumped at a chance to express his affection for all things Star Trek with this piece. Next up, the comic will do some next generation stories focusing on Wharf, written by David Walker, and a separate venture featuring both Beverly Crusher and Picard from writer Dave Baker and artist Nicole Goh. A new flagship prelude, writer Christopher Cantwell and artist Isaac Sanchez contribute a pivotal prelude that sets up the next question for the franchise. What's next? This story serves as the handoff from Picard to a soaring new direction for the upcoming Star Trek number one flagship series. And rounding out the Jam Pack 68-page issue is a Star Trek animated series story by Ryan North and artist Derek Charm, a Starfleet Academy story from writer Megan Camarina, and an original series tale focused on Scuddy by Dana Gould. The Star Trek 60th Anniversary Special Comic will sell for $8.99 as scheduled to release on September 2nd.

Comic Shops Close And Movie News

SPEAKER_00 11:20

Now let's go on to the Geek News. Geek News begins with Things from Another World, the Cult Classic Comic, the Cult Favorite Comic and Collectibles chain owned by Dark Horse Comics, shutting down all of its stores after 46 years in business, including its flagship location at Universal Cat City Walk in Los Angeles. The store will close its doors on September 30th. Dark Horse Comics announced the closure in a company statement saying that the retailer stores in Milwaukee and Beaverton, Oregon will close June 30th, while the massive Universal City Walk location in Universal City will shutter on September 30th. The company did not provide a specific reason for the closure. Quote, this was not an easy decision, and we do not take lightly the impact it has on people affected, they said in the statement. Now the shutdown marks the end of an era for comic book collectors and pop culture fans who flock to the stores for decades to hunt down rare comics, toys, collectibles, and movie memorabilia. Dark Horse currently ranks as the nation's fifth largest comic provider behind DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Image Comics, and IDW publishing. The California flagship became a major destination for tourists and comic book fans visiting Universal Studios after opening in 1993. The closure also comes about a year after Things from No World quietly shut down its online site on April 30th, 2025, eliminating online sales for customers. Everything is squared away for the highly anticipated sequel to the hit Minecraft movie, which is now officially titled A Minecraft Movie Squared. A Minecraft movie, Warner Brothers and Legendaries PG Adventure headlined by Jack Black and Jason Mamoa, dominated the spring 2025 box office, which followed a group of misfits who were pulled through a portal into Cubic World and guided by an expert crafter named Steve, played by Black, which debuted to a record $163 million domestic opening and ultimately crossed $960 million worldwide. Oscar nominee Daniel Brooks, Matt Berry, and Jennifer Coolidge also starred in the movie based on the massively popular video game. Production is currently underway for the sequel with Jared Hess returning to direct and Oscar nominee Kristen Dunst joining the cast. Hess also co-wroted the screenplay with Chris Galeta. A Minecraft movie Squared is dated for theatrical release on July 23rd, 2027. John Rambo, a prequel to the long-running action franchise, will hit theaters next summer. Lionsgate has slated the film for June 4th, 2027. It's scheduled to debut just ahead of Disney's Star Wars Starfighter on May 28th, and a few weeks before Sony's Spider-Man Beyond the Spider-Verse on June 11th, and Warner Brothers Oceans prequel June 25th. John Rambo will serve as an origin story, taking place before the events of 1982's First Blood, the Sylvester Stallone-led action adventure that ignited the franchise. Sequels include 1985's Rambo First Blood 2, Part 2, 1988's Rambo III, 2008's Rambo, and 2019's Rambo Last Blood. The series revolved around a United States Army Special Forces veteran whose Vietnam War experience traumatized him but also gave him superior military skills. He used those abilities to fight corrupt police officers, enemy troops, and drug cartels. Nick Santino is taking over as the Sloan character, and he'll star alongside David Harbour as Major Trotman, as well as Yao and James Franco in unknown roles. So uh Lionsgate Slate in 2027 will also include Daydrinker starring Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz, Mel Gibson's The Resurrection of Christ Part 1, The Handmaid's Secrets, and Lair of the Year of the Fall 2, and Hunger Game Sunrise on the Reaping. So, did anyone really call for a Rambo's Rambo prequel? I know I didn't.

Remembering Editor Marcia Lucas

SPEAKER_00 15:44

Anyway, let's go on with uh course our solemn duty, which is to uh let you know those of us, those who have gone before. Marshall Lewis, the film editor who won an Oscar for editing Star Wars, directed by her former husband George Lucas, and shaped several influential films in the 1970s, died Wednesday at Rancho Mirage, California, at the age of 80. According to her family's attorney, the uh she died of cancer. Quote, Marshall will be remembered as a brilliant storyteller, trailblazer for women in film, a loving mother and grandmother, a generous host, and a loyal friend whose humor and sparkle filled every room she entered. Her influence on film is indelible, but those who knew her best will remember the way she made life feel more vivid, more beautiful, more fun, and more full of love. Her work was known for its emotional intelligence, rhythm, and humanity, a rare ability to find the truth of a scene and bring heart, momentum, and clarity to the screen. Marcia Lewis was sometimes called George Lucas' secret weapon, co-editing George Lucas's American graffiti, for which she won, for which she was Oscar nominated, and then won an Oscar for editing Star Wars. She also edited Return of the Jedi, as well as Martin Scorsese's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Taxi Driver, and New York, New York. She played a significant role in helping her husband shape these Star Wars films. In his book, The Secret History of Star Wars, Michael Kaminsky wrote, Marsha, along with many of George's friends, critiqued which characters worked, which ones didn't, which scenes were good, and Lucas composed the script in this way. Marsha was always critical of Star Wars, but she's one of the few people Lucas listened to carefully, knowing she had a skill for carving out strong characters, unquote. Now, George Lucas told Rolling Stone back in 1977 that it was her idea to have Obi-Wan die on the Death Star. Quote, the more I thought about Ben getting killed, the more I liked the idea because, one, it made the threat of Vader greater, and that tied in with the force and the fact that he could use the dark side, unquote. Mark Hamill said in an interview that, quote, I know for a fact that Marsha Lewis was uh responsible for keeping for convincing him to keep that little kiss for luck before Carrie Fisher and I swung across the chasm in the first film. George Lucas thought people were laughing in the previews, but according to Hamill, she said, George, they're laughing because it's so sweet and unexpected. And her influence was such that if she wanted to keep it, it was in. Born Marsha Lou Griffin in Modesto, she was raised in North Hollywood and started out as a film librarian before serving at an intereditors guild apprenticeship. There she met George Lucas when they were both hired to work with legendary editor Verna Field. She married George Lucas in 1969 and served as assistant editor on his first feature film, THX 1138. They divorced in 1983. Her second marriage, which ended in 1993, was to Tom Rodriguez, who worked as a production manager at Skywalker Ranch. She is survived by her daughters Amanda Lucas and Amy Soper, her grandchildren Felix, Alina, and Knox, and her chosen family Sarah Dyer and John Taylor. Again, Marsha Lewis dead at the age of 80.

Where To Follow And Support

SPEAKER_00 19:02

And that brings us to the end of the show for today. Now uh be sure to uh check us on social media. We're at Twitter, or excuse me, we're not on Twitter anymore. We're at Blue Sky at multiverse tom and uh threads, Facebook and Instagram, 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'll find our Patreon and Ko-Fi links. Check you'd be able to check our show notes, visit our T Publix store, leave some feedback and uh more. If you're this is your first time listening, thank you very much. Uh please go ahead and hit that subscribe button, give us a like, and share us with others. Special thanks to Shane Ivers for the intro music and Lobo Loco for the outro theme music. Thank you for watching this edition of Multiverse Tonight. We'll be back in two weeks with more sci-fi and comic book news. Now, please exit the universe in an orderly fashion. Good night.