Worst possible Lando's

Young Han Solo Casting

So the Star Wars people are moving right along with giving us this Star Wars related movie a year plan of theirs.  One of the side angle movies is going to be a young, Han Solo story and Disney is in the process of trying to cast a young, Han Solo.  A list of actors dropped in the article above and to say its underwhelming or non-inspiring would be an understatement.  Each of them is wack in their  own, special way, and, say what you will about Harrison Ford, he was a great Han Solo and them is some large, Wampa sized shoes for any actor to try and fill.

But people forget, because he was the only Black dude in the movies, how big of a star Billy Dee Williams was.  He owned the role of Lando as a handsome, smooth talking, ruffian- the equal to Han Solo in that regard.  So putting just anybody in that role would not go over well in the Blerd community!

But my thought was, if that sorry ass list was the best actors they had for Han Solo, the list of actors they must have for Lando is probably even worse.  There is no way they do a young, Han Solo movie without introducing us to his sometime friend, Lando Calrissian.  So I said to myself, "Self, who could possibly be the WORST actor they could cast as Lando?  I am sure we all hope for the best and Michael B Jordan or Chadwick Boseman takes the role and we'll all sleep better at night.  But if they pass, who could Disney hire that would make Black Twitter want to riot on the Internet streets?

My top 3 nightmare hires.... In alphabetical order!

Nick Cannon

He would be thirsty enough to audition and drum up support for himself on line like he did for the Richard Pryor bio-pic.  Hell no to the former Ms. Mariah Carey.  I would burn all my Star Wars shit if he got the role.

Kevin Hart

He is probably too busy making other bad movies to do this. Plus he would need a booster seat to actually fly the Millennium Falcon.

Jaden Smith

Just NO. Please God, NO!  Please no more science fiction movies for you for a few more years. Please allow the stink of After Earth to die!


Leave your worst suggestions in the comments section or on our Facebook feed or on Twitter!
#worstLando

Man, Fck Hal Jordan!

Chris Pine not offered GL

So this news that Chris Pine was NOT actually offered Green Lantern dropped this week.
In the article, Pine says he was never offered the role and that was pretty much the end.  The rumors were pretty hot that he was going to revive the role of Hal Jordan to play Green Lantern in the Justice League movies for the DC expanded Universe.  I like Chris Pine.  I think he is a fine actor and all that, but enough already with Hal Jordan as Green Lantern.

There is nothing remotely interesting about Hal Jordan as Green Lantern- except when he lost his mind and killed a bunch of Green Lanterns. That's it!  Its the reason DC creators made such a drastic change for Hal Jordan because the character is as milk toast as you could possibly get.  People were way more interested in Hal Jordan as the Spectre than they were with him as Green Lantern.

 Plus we have already seen this version of Green Lantern fail in a movie already.  The Ryan Reynolds Green Lantern movie should/will go down as one of the worst comic adaptations ever along with Catwoman.  DC should be thinking all the way outside the box on Green Lantern.

John Stewart

The logical succession is John Stewart.  And I know people reading this is gonna think I'm saying this because he is black and that is part of it- there needs to be representation of people of color on the screen in Justice League and its perfectly OK to have two black people be on the team with Green Lantern and Cyborg( I am not sure how to qualify Aqua-bro, yet). John Stewart's back story as a military man could play right into the Justice League movie.  Maybe he works with/for the Amanda Waller and CADMUS?  Maybe he was recruited from his military service to be Green Lantern?  There is so much to explore with John Stewart as Green Lantern.  But, honestly,  my overall wanting to have John Stewart has more to do with him NOT being Hal Jordan.  John Stewart is more interesting and people who grew up on Justice League and Justice League Unlimited on Cartoon Network are more familiar with this version of Green Lantern.  It just makes sense on multiple levels. But who could play John Stewart?  There have been rumors of Tyrese and Lance Gross.  Friend of @brothascomics Curtis Cook has also had his name thrown out there.

But if they don't go with John Stewart, lets look at the other two logical choices.

Kyle Rayner

Now you'd have to be a hardcore DC head to know that Kyle Rayner is actually half- Mexican.  His real dad was a CIA agent and Mexican- even though he is drawn fairly Caucasian in the comics and they rarely acknowledge his Hispanic heritage in the books.  If Black people are not represented in comics and sci- fi/fantasy, Hispanics are even less represented. Kyle Rayner would make a good, young Green Lantern.  Maybe he could be trained by Hal Jordan and the Green lantern Corp,  or succeed Hal Jordan as the Green Lantern of Earth.  Again, anyone but Hal Jordan.  Who could possibly play Kyle Rayner? If they cast him as Hispanic, there are a few actors out there who would make sense. I like Victor Rasuk.  He is a good actor and could definitely play the role of young, Kyle Rayner!  But Prince Royce would be a good choice, too.

Guy Gardner

Well if Blacks and Hispanics are underrepresented, Gingers are underrepresented, too.  The best thing about Guy Gardner as Green Lantern is that his give a fuck button is all the way broke! This "be the hero, anti- hero" thing could work well in a movie and could make for some awesome constructs from him with his power ring.  His backstory as a former juvenile delinquent, turned cop could give his character some needed back story.  Plus his Deray vest would like sweet as hell on film.  Trying to find a real redhead actor, who is also a bad ass in Hollywood would make for some crazy casting.  I am sure they would just dye job up somebody!  But my choice would be Ewan McGregor; although I think the Star Wars craziness put him off fan boy movies forever!

I swear if DC thinks we need to see sorry ass Hal Jordan again as the star of movie, they really don't have a clue or give a damn about their fans.  I mean honestly, I'd rather see Kilowog star in the movie before Hal Jordan again!

Hopefully DC sees the error of their ways and goes another way! I'm begging you DC, please no more Hal Jordan!

The Producer

Who Should play Cable

Who Should Play Cable

Our friends over at Cinema Blend got a chance to talk to the creator of Deadpool, Rob Liefeld and he made a suggestion on who should play Cable in the Deadpool sequel..... Jon Hamn.  Mr. Mad Men himself as Nathan Dayspring?  As much as I hate Rob Liefeld, that is a perfectly good suggestion.

For those who are unfamiliar, Cable is the child of Cyclops and his cloned wife Madelyn Pryor.  He is a class 5 level mutant with telepathy and telekinesis and even though he was born in "our" timeline, he was sent to the future because he was infected with a techno virus and had to be sent away for a cure.  Cable grows up in an era where Apoclype rules the world and he spends most of his time time traveling back and forth to prevent his future from happening.  That is like the most 90's comics thing I have ever written.

Now Cable's look in the comics is absolutely ridiculous( we owe Mr. Liefeld for that) and definitely would have to be adapted greatly for the big screen.  But as an actor, Hamm could pull it off easy. But where do you put Cable? Does he go into Deadpool 2 if the movie is successful enough to spawn a sequel( I have my doubts).  Do they place Cable in any of the other mutant movies that Fox appears to want to throw down our throats( New Mutants or XForce- he has ties to both teams).  Fox is basing all their non Xmen plans on Deadpool. Its a risky strategy to expand the mutant universe outside of the Xmen but #foxgonnafx.  We will all find out when Deadpool hits theaters on February 12!

The Producer

Gambit: What could I have done?

"What more could I have done?"
"There were warning signs, I should have paid more attention!"
"Looking back, you could see there were problems."

These are not quotes from the latest mass shooting in the United States.  These are the quotes fan boys and girls will be making after the Gambit movie makes its way into theaters in 2017 or later....

Gambit Production begins March 2016

The news dropped today that production on the Doug Liman directed and Channing Tatum starring, Gambit will begin production in New Orleans in March, 2016.  This is after many pre production delays including contract renegotiation's with the star, the original director dropping out, and script after script revision.  Finally, production will begin this spring with a TBD actual release date of the movie.

I fear we will all be making these statements after the movie is released- hell probably before once set leaks come out and we see "Bucket Head" Channing Tatum dressed as our favorite Cajun.  I have been hard pressed to find one person who has been on board with his casting( He's too big". He's too dumb!" He can't act. He can't get the accent right").  So I wonder why Fox is so full steam ahead of making this movie?  Gambit is top five in terms of most popular Xmen, right?  So him HAVING a movie is not that big of a surprise.  The surprise is why Fox is not allowing or the character to grow BEFORE giving him a headline movie.  Why not place the character in an X-Men movie first and then spin him off from there( like Marvel is doing with Black Panther).  This way, the character has some backstory and audiences are more familiar with the character.  This way you don't have to spend 45 minutes of the Gambit movie telling an origin story that no one wants to see.

And on top of that.... If Gambit is top 5 in terms of popularity and you believe so much in the character and his importance in the X-Univrse, you telling me you couldn't find someone better than Channing Tatum to play the lead?  C'mon man?!  I am not sure if he is too big for the role but I know dude cannot act and there will be a level of smooth that the character needs to pull off and Channing Tatum cannot do that.  Maybe I'm wrong but I doubt it!

So now we are left with a movie with every possible pre- production concern moving forward.  Could we have done more as fans? Should there have been on line petitions?  Sit ins? Boycotts? Rain dances? Voodoo dolls? Something/anything to stop this travesty from happening?  What more could I have done? Sadly, I think its probably too late!

Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Facebook
Podcast on Soundcloud
Podcast on ITunes

Comic Shop Profile: Tate's Comics

Tate's Comics
4566 N University Drive
Lauderhill, FL 33351
954-748-0181

A new feature we are adding to Brothascomics- Comic Shop Profile.  The first comic shop we are going to profile is Tate's Comics in Lauderhill, Florida.  I picked Tate's to profile first because it was my shop for over 13 years when I lived in South Florida and it is literally one of the best shops in the country.

Just some background... when I moved to Florida and got my first adult paying job, I was looking for a store to get books.  I went to a few that were more local to my house for a while but they wound up going out of business.  Then one day, i was just driving down University Drive and saw their sign and pulled in and I never went to another store.

The owner is Tate Otati and his back story on how he came to own the store and the history of the store can be found on their website.   Tate's dad, Tony, who also works at the store, was a school teacher( like me at the time) so we bonded over comics and the state of education in Florida.  The place just felt like home.  Wednesday's at Tate's became like a religion for me and I always felt welcomed- even as a blerd.

The store is a treasure trove for all your nerdly needs.  Of course there are comics, but the collectibles and statues are top notch. There are movie props galore and all of it is for sell if you got deep pockets.  The staff is wonderfully adorkable and can answer any geekly questions that you throw at them.  This does not even speak to the Japanese snack tastings, the Not at Comic Con Comic Con event and the huge party they throw on Free Comic Book Day.  Hell, there have been date nights and movie meet ups for the latest and greatest nerd features.  Plus, Big Hutch would kill me if if I didn't plug their Gaming Satellite for all your RPG needs.

Since I have moved, I've been back to visit a few times and people still remember me and always treat me as kindly as the first day I walked in.  Great store, great staff.... If you ever get a chance to visit South Florida and you are a nerd/geek/blerd, you need to check out Tate's Comics!

Tate's Comics on Facebook

Follow Tate's Comics on Twitter

Follow Tate's Comics on Instagram


Check out our video profile of the store and look for the camera shy owner Tate Otati!  Thanks for Joanne for the interview and the staff for being so kind to me while we shot inside the store.

Marvin Lewis and Bengals - Dead Men Walking

       The Bengal's season is over !! The Bengals are looking at going 3-5 during the second half of the regular season. Whomever they play in the 1st round of the playoffs will be favored by the experts to win.  Andy Dalton won't be ready to play. McCarron will be sacrificed to either the Jets or the (ugh) Stealers. Marvin will be 0- 7 in the Playoffs. Former  Bengal coaches' Mike Zimmer in Minnesota and Jay Gruden in Washington will also get beat in their playoff games to complete the Circle of  Futility.


            I'm hoping that the following doesn't happen in order


1.  The Stealers beat the Bengals in the 1st round again
2.  The Jets beat the Bengals in the 1st round  again
3.  Carson Palmer wins the Super Bowl with the Cardinals
 IV.   Patriots win #5
5.  Stealers win # 7


I hope I'm wrong

Is it worth a Redbox: Ricky and the Flash

My first admission before the review is that in the 1980's, I was a huge Rick Springfield fan.  HUGE! Bigger than any straight, black dude from the hood should've been.  I am not sure why?!  The music was alright, but I am not sure that is what made me such a fan.  Like I wanted to be dude.  If I had been white, I would've walked, talked, and dressed like dude.  I woulda had my hair done like him..... I mean, I was a huge fan.  So when I saw the trailer for this movie a while ago, I was like, " Hey, that's Rick Springfield"! And I made a mental note in my head that I would see this movie just because he was in it.  I mean, I saw Hard to Hold- the movie he starred in the 80's so....

But is Ricki and the Flash worth a Redbox.... sadly, NO. And I mean that sadly part because the movie is depressing as shit.  The trailers played it up as a dramedy but the comedy part is lacking really and I'm not sure if they were trying to make funny moments.  Its a full on drama!  The story goes that Ricki( Meryl Streep) is an aging, wanna be rock star.  In her younger years, she abandoned her family( husband and 3 kids) to pursue her dream of music and left her Indiana home to move to California.  Like most, it did not work out and her kids hate her for leaving and her husband, played by Kevin Kline, has moved onto marry again( the incredible Audra Mcdonald)

But an event with the daughter, played by Streep's real life daughter, Mamie Gummer,  forces Ricki to come home and deal with the mess her child's life is.  Its overwrought with drama as she seeks to reconnect with her children and the husband she left behind.  Streep seems to channeling Chrisie Hynde from the Pretenders as her inspiration.  Rick Springfield plays her lead guitarist/boyfriend who offers her support through all the drama.  There is some cover music played and if you are a fan of Streep, seeing her "rock out" may give you some thrill.  But overall, the movie is bland, the acting is bland, and I am blander from having to watch it and review it for you.

So, no this movie is not worth your $1.50. Its easy to see why this bombed at the box office.  Too much drama for your mama and as much as I like Rick Springfield, even my fan boy caping for him could not make this watchable for me.