Thursday, November 17, 2022

Netflix's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Series May Film Season 2 and 3 Back-to-Back

Netflix's highly anticipated live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series might film Seasons 2 and 3 back-to-back for a very practical reason.


Netflix may decide to shoot the second and third seasons of its live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender back-to-back, in order to avoid the young actors becoming visibly older between seasons.

Per Knight Edge Media, Netflix is already in preliminary talks to renew the hotly anticipated show and adapt the rest of the original series -- which ran for three seasons on Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008 -- earlier than expected. Stars Gordon Cormier and Kiawentiio are reportedly the greatest concern for producers, as they will be 14 and 17, respectively, by the time the second season starts filming -- several years older than their characters Aang and Katara are supposed to be.


Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender Characters Are Already Aged Up

The original Last Airbender show's three seasons were set over the course of a single year, and while the Gaang never celebrated any birthdays on screen, Aang was said to be 12, Katara 14, Sokka 15 and Zuko 16. The other young main characters of the live-action adaptation are reportedly less of a concern for Netflix, as Ian Ousley (Sokka) is currently 20, while Dallas Liu (Zuko) is 21. Presumably, the two would show fewer bodily changes over the course of a few years than the younger cast members would.

Deciding to film multiple seasons at once would not be an unprecedented move for Netflix, which shot another show with young stars, A Series of Unfortunate Events, back-to-back for its second and third seasons in 2017. Netflix has also reportedly renewed its popular fantasy series The Witcher for Seasons 4 and 5 and plans to shoo​​t them back-to-back. The streamer is also planning to film two sequels to action blockbuster Red Notice together in 2023, apparently due to the busy schedules of mega-stars Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot.

Production began on Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 1, which will adapt "Book One: Water," in November 2021 and wrapped in June 2022. Since then, casting news relating to minor characters has steadily been revealed. James Sie, the original voice actor for the Cabbage Merchant, officially confirmed that he will reprise the fan-favorite role in live-action, and Star Trek legend George Takei was announced as Koh, the Face-Stealer.

Other big names set to appear in supporting roles include Community's Danny Pudi as the Mechanist, Teen Wolf's Arden Cho as June, Ken Leung as Commander Zhao, and C.S. Lee as Avatar Roku. The main cast will also feature Kim's Convenience star Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Uncle Iroh and Daniel Dae Kim in a recurring capacity as Fire Lord Ozai.

Avatar: The Last Airbender will be available to stream on Netflix sometime in 2023, with an exact release date yet to be announced. The original animated series is currently available to stream on Paramount+ and Netflix.

Stream Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra on Paramount+ and Netflix! Try Paramount+ for FREE at ParamountPlus.com

Listen to the brand new podcast, Avatar: Braving the Elements!




Original source: CBR.com.
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Paramount+ Reaches New Heights With Most Subscriber Sign-Ups In A Single Day Since Launch

PARAMOUNT+ REACHES NEW HEIGHTS WITH MOST SUBSCRIBER SIGN-UPS IN A SINGLE DAY SINCE LAUNCH

"Tulsa King" and Football Reign Supreme on Paramount+

Service Delivering Most-Streamed "NFL on CBS" Season-to-Date


NEW YORK - Nov. 16, 2022 - Paramount+ today announced a record number of subscriber sign-ups in a single day since the relaunch of the streaming service.

Sunday's success was fueled by the must-see premiere of TULSA KING, starring Academy Award(R) nominee Sylvester Stallone, and the continued year-over-year growth of the NFL ON CBS with local market games streaming on Paramount+. The service has seen its most-streamed season ever, through Week 10.

"This is a significant milestone for Paramount+ and a clear indicator that our strategy of offering a total household product inclusive of marquee sports, breaking news and a broad range of premium originals is working," said Tanya Giles, chief programming officer of Paramount Streaming. "The combination of expanding the Taylor Sheridan universe with highly anticipated new originals like TULSA KING and the urgency that comes with watching live events is propelling our growth and further establishing us as a leader in streaming."

Sunday's record further cements the year-to-date growth Paramount Plus has seen leading the industry in U.S. sign-ups and gross subscriber additions, according to Antenna's September 2022 report.

About Paramount+

Paramount+, a direct-to-consumer digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, combines live sports, breaking news and a mountain of entertainment. The premium streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and the Smithsonian Channel. The service is also the streaming home to unmatched sports programming, including every CBS Sports event, from golf to football to basketball and more, plus exclusive streaming rights for major sports properties, including some of the world's biggest and most popular soccer leagues. Paramount+ also enables subscribers to stream local CBS stations live across the U.S. in addition to the ability to stream CBS News Network for 24/7 news and CBS Sports HQ for sports news and analysis.

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Stream a Mountain of Entertainment, including your Nickelodeon favourites on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!

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'Star Trek: Prodigy' Offers Meta-Murf-Osis Livestream Ahead of 'Crossroads'

Murf (Dee Bradley Baker), the lovable amorphous Mellanoid slime worm, is transforming, and fans online will be able to see the change in real-time just in time for "Crossroads," the 14th episode of Star Trek: Prodigy's first season. While you see Murf in his cocoon in the live stream, you might catch a crew member of the U.S.S. Protostar pop in on occasion. The worm was found on the Tars Lamora prison colony when it was found by the Brikar, Rok-Tahk (Rylee Alazraqui), who gave it its name in the premiere episode "Lost and Found."

Dee Bradley Baker in Star Trek: Prodigy. Image screencapped on Twitter by Bleeding Cool courtesy of Paramount+

In addition to Rok-Tahk and Murf, the crew of the U.S.S. Protostar is a hodgepodge of non-Starfleet aliens led by Dal R'El (Brett Gray); the Vau N'Akat, Gwyn (Ella Purnell); Tellarite, Jankom Pog (Jason Mantzoukas); and Medusan, Zero (Angus Imrie). Guiding them on the way is the hologram version of Capt Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew). At the end of part one, season one, we finally find out who the Protostar's original captain is in Chakotay (Robert Beltran), Janeway's former first officer.

Catching Up on Star Trek: Prodigy

Since the Nickelodeon series returned to Paramount+ for the second half of season one, the crew discover the Protostar's true purpose in "Asylum." In "Let Sleeping Borg Lie," as the title suggests, they encounter the Borg, one of Star Trek's greatest villains. Their most recent adventure in "All the World's a Stage" dealt with a pre-warp civilization known as the Enderprizians. Meanwhile, the nefarious Divinter (John Noble) is suffering from amnesia while onboard the Protostar under the watchful eye of Janeway, while the real Vice Admiral Janeway (Mulgrew) continues to be in hot pursuit.


Star Trek: Prodigy streams Thursdays on Paramount+. Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com.


Original source: Bleeding Cool.
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'Transformers: EarthSpark' Introduces Franchise's First Non-Binary Character

Nickelodeon and Paramount+'s brand new CG-animated Transformers: EarthSpark series has just introduced the iconic franchise's first non-binary character!


The Transformers franchise just introduced its first non-binary character. Known as Nightshade in the computer-animated Transformers: EarthSpark series, the revelation is made during the two-part finale, “Age of Evolution.” As Optimus walks his team through his plan to raid Mandroid’s lair, the Autobot leader uses random household objects and toys to represent the terrain and his allies. That’s when Nightshade notices a penguin bobblehead and asks if the figurine can represent them.

But Optimus hesitates as he doesn’t know which pronouns to use for the Terran Transformer. So Mo steps in after exchanging a knowing nod with her friend and says, “Nightshade’s pronouns are they/them.” The Autobot confidently follows up the reveal with, “He or she just doesn’t fit with who I am.”

The inclusion of a non-binary character as a celebration, others feel like it’s just another example of writers ignoring the past in favor of appeasing "social justice warriors".

But Nightshade isn’t the first Transformer who’s a member of the LGBTQ+ community. It’s been previously established that two characters in the IDW Transformers comics, Anode and Lugare, are a transgender couple, and and Arcee is transgender.

Interestingly, the franchise’s debate about gender has been ongoing since the 1980s, as writers slowly introduced new identity concepts which saw the robots turning into appliances or animals – and not just vehicles.

The first female Transformers were introduced in 1985 during an episode called “The Search for Alpha Trion” in the second season of the Generation One cartoon series. This allowed characters like Arcee to appear in Transformers: The Movie, but no toys were ever made for female Autobots. However, some fans argue that autonomous robots needing to be classified by a specific gender is completely unnecessary, since new Transformers were created with the Allspark in most continuities. These fans to argue that all Transformers should be regarded as genderless instead.

Now, with gender and sexual identity being two separate things, and since Hasbro sells the toys using he or she pronouns, new media for the franchise has seen gay, lesbian, and transgender robots introduced. Hopefully, these characters help children familiarize themselves with various gender identities and creates a future with less prejudice. Inclusivity and representation matters.

Fans can catch the first 10 episodes of Transformers: EarthSpark on Paramount+. Visit ParamountPlus.com for a free trial!

Developed by Dale Malinowski, Ant Ward, and Nicole Dubuc, the series is set years after the civil war between the Autobots and the Decepticons. The story begins when the Malto family relocates from Philadelphia to the small town of Witwicky, Pennsylvania.

There, young Robby and Mo Malto befriend a new breed of earth-born Transformers known as Terrans. With the help of cyber-sleeves, the children establish an emotional connection with Twitch and Trash. Mentored by Bumblebee, the kids work with the Autobots and Megatron (via the GHOST organization) to protect the planet from the remaining Decepticon forces and any other threat that comes their way.

Stream a Mountain of Entertainment, including your Nickelodeon favourites on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!


Original source: GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT.
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Network 10 and Nickelodeon Int'l Series 'Rock Island Mysteries' Returns to Queensland to Film Season 2

Network 10 and Nickelodeon series Rock Island Mysteries Returns to Queensland to film Season 2

PICTURED: Cast of Rock Island Mysteries Season 2. Image courtesy of Fremantle Australia, Paramount and Nickelodeon.

Popular Network 10 and Nickelodeon International children’s series Rock Island Mysteries has returned to the Gold Coast, with cameras now rolling on the second season.

There will be 20 new episodes of the Fremantle Australia production filmed over the next five months, supported by the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland’s Screen Finance program together with major production investment from Screen Australia.

Newly appointed Screen Queensland CEO Courtney Gibson said the series presents valuable return business from global production giant Fremantle Australia, whose other hit productions include Heartbreak High, Neighbours and Wentworth. 

“We’re so pleased to have Rock Island Mysteries back on the Gold Coast! The second season sees the continuation of around 150 Queensland cast and crew jobs and will generate approximately $11.2 million direct spend in the state — delivering a total of over $20 million investment across the life of the franchise so far.

“The continuing partnership between Fremantle, Nickelodeon, Network Ten and Screen Queensland also supports an illustrious team of Queensland-based key creatives, along with Heads of Department and crew.”         

Brett Popplewell, Head of Drama at Fremantle Australia, said they were delighted to start filming again in Queensland.

“Bringing Rock Island Mysteries back to Queensland for a second season is a real thrill for us. The Queensland crews are second-to-none and in a very competitive market we’re proud to have so many returning crew, as well as some well-established craftspeople joining us,” said Popplewell.

“This season we’re shooting at Pinnacle Studios in Helensvale where we’re able to access exceptional facilities on both studio stages and spacious, well-appointed offices.”

Popplewell also said that the pristine beaches and lush hinterland of the City of Gold Coast region present the ideal filming locations for the fantasy setting of Rock Island.

“The Gold Coast provides us with an astonishing array of unique locations, and we’ll again traverse beaches, quarries, marinas and use areas on Mt Tamborine in place of Rock Island’s mysterious jungles. For a kids mystery adventure show set in a tropical paradise, we couldn’t ask for a better world to make Rock Island Mysteries.”

Rock Island Mysteries is produced by Series Producer Timothy Powell and Jonah Klein of Fremantle Australia. Returning Queensland key creatives include Directors Jovita O’Shaughnessy (Darby and Joan, Home and Away) and Evan Clarry (The Bureau of Magical Things, Mako Mermaids), as well as Script Producer Stephen Vagg, Director of Photography Andrew Conder and Casting Director Tom McSweeney.  

The series follows irrepressible Aussie teenager Taylor Young (Gold Coast-based singer/actor Alexa Curtis) and her friends, who are driven by a renewed motivation to find Taylor’s missing Uncle Charlie after they reconnected in a mysterious portal to another world.

Currently nominated for the 2022 AACTA Award for Best Children’s Program, Season 1 premiered on 10 Shake in May this year and has since screened on Nickelodeon in Australia, New Zealand, U.K., U.S. and around the world.

Rock Island Mysteries Season 2 is set for a 2023 release on Network 10, while Season 1 is currently streaming on 10 Play, Paramount+ in Australia and Latin America and on Binge.

Other productions supported via Screen Queensland’s Screen Finance program include Upright season 2 now on Foxtel, Mistletoe Ranch which opens in cinemas from 17 November, Barrumbi Kids launching on NITV from 18 November and recently wrapped comedy series Limbo, premiering next year on ABC TV.

PICTURED: Cast of Rock Island Mysteries, Queenslander Izellah Connelly, and Inessa Tan, in hair and makeup for season 2. Image courtesy of Fremantle Australia, Paramount and Nickelodeon.

PICTURED: The cast of Rock Island Mysteries.

PICTURED: Behind-the-scenes of Rock Island Mysteries season one.


Originally published: November 17, 2022.

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