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Thanos & Drax Had One-On-One Fight in Avengers: Infinity War Concept Art

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New Avengers: Infinity War concept art reveals a proposed one-on-one face-off between Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) and Thanos (Josh Brolin). Though Drax did square off against Thanos in a group battle on Titan alongside other Avengers like Iron Man and Doctor Strange, earlier drafts of the story gave Drax the opportunity to finally hold Thanos accountable for the death of his family on his own.

On their visit to Knowhere in Avengers: Infinity War, Drax, Star-Lord, Gamora, and Mantis attempt to stop the Mad Titan themselves by retrieving the Reality Stone from The Collector. Unfortunately, Thanos uses that very stone to fool the Guardians of the Galaxy and thwarts their mission. It sets up an opportunity for Drax to confront Thanos as a result of him murdering his wife and daughter, but Drax is ultimately cast aside with little effort. However, a one-on-one fight between the two was being considered for the movie at one point, though it ultimately fell through.


So far, fans know that Drax will appear in next year's Avengers 4, though given his fate following Thanos' finger snap in Avengers: Infinity War, it's unclear how he'll factor into the film's narrative. That same lack of clarity for Drax's future extends to the firing of James Gunn this past year from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, with the fate of the entire Guardians of the Galaxy crew up in the air. For now, audiences have no choice but to wait for Avengers 4 to explain how exactly some formerly deceased characters will make a return (or, at the very least, they may only have to wait until the trailer drops, which is rumored to happen in the next couple of weeks).

As for the concept art, Fuentebella said that they were created early on in the development process of Avengers: Infinity War, so screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, as well as directors Joe and Anthony Russo, likely contemplated over countless versions of the film - from the story itself to various character arcs. And, while the reception of the film was generally positive, it would've been satisfying to see Drax have the opportunity to finally confront Thanos one-on-one, considering it's been the crux of his personal arc since his introduction in 2014.

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Rian Johnson Thanks Star Wars Fans (& Critics) on Last Jedi's Anniversary

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Celebrating the anniversary of The Last Jedi's release, Rian Johnson extended a message of gratitude to Star Wars fans. Johnson served as both writer and director on the latest installment of the long-running saga. Despite receiving positive reviews from critics and many fans, the film garnered a significant amount of backlash from others. Frustrations from certain fans occasionally spilled over into outright vitriol aimed at both Johnson and the film's stars. Kelly Marie Tran, who played new addition Rose Tico, experienced the brunt of said aggression, ultimately leaving social media as a result.

Away from the outwardly abusive subset of fans, criticism largely revolved around Episode VIII's depiction of Luke Skywalker. Despite Johnson stating that the characterization remained consistent with the original trilogy and concept art revealing that this version of Luke remained true to plans put in place even before The Force Awakens, some fans remain displeased. Even now, a year later, the debate rages on, with The Last Jedi considered equally the best and worst of the franchise. Johnson, who is also responsible for Looper and directed some of the best episodes of Breaking Bad, has since moved back to his own original projects. His next film, Knives Out, is currently in production.
Posting on Twitter, however, Johnson took time out to express his gratitude to fans of Star Wars for the experiences and interactions of the past year. The director focused equally on both sides of the reactionary spectrum, thanking the "supportive" and the "argumentative" alike. Johnson goes on to deem getting to hear from and meet fans has been the "experience of a lifetime". Check out the full, impassioned tweet below.

Johnson only refers to the last year, but his time within the galaxy originally created by George Lucas extends far beyond that. News that he would work on the film first broke in 2014. With work towards the installment already in motion, Johnson would spend the next three years of his life building towards the release. Though he's now focused on another project, his work in the Star Wars universe is set to continue with a separate trilogy of films.

All in all, that is a lot of time and energy to pour into something. Whatever people may think of The Last Jedi and what he added to the official canon, there is no denying that the writer/director gave his all to the project. The fact that he has since used what free time he has to express gratitude to the fans, both polite and hostile alike, only further demonstrates his character. Although a few will use even this as a chance to hit out at Johnson, many have returned the gesture with their own messages of thanks and appreciation.

Despite the divisive reaction to the film, The Last Jedi went on to earn over $1 billion at the box office. Though the series, overall, has floundered somewhat with the underwhelming performance of Solo: A Star Wars Story, anticipation remains high and speculation remains rife for Episode IX. Whether people are looking forward to the continuation of what Johnson delivered or hoping for a complete retcon, it's sure to bring audiences flocking. As well as that, the buzz surrounding the first planned TV show of the collective universe, The Mandalorian, indicates that the franchise could easily bounce back from any perceived damage caused by The Last Jedi.

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Robert Downey Jr Responds To NASA's Avengers: Endgame Tweet

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After NASA replied to the multiple demands from Marvel fans to do something to bring Tony Stark back from space, Robert Downey Jr. has replied back. The highly anticipated trailer (and title release) for Avengers: Endgame finally dropped last week, leaving fans with a lot of questions waiting to be answered and a lot of material for fan theories.

One of the biggest and most emotional moments from the trailer is right at the beginning with Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) stranded in space, leaving a message for Pepper Potts and explaining he has ran out of water, food, and soon oxygen as well. Fans took their worry over Tony’s fate to social media, asking NASA for help. To the surprise of most, the agency responded, and now Tony Stark himself has some words for them.
Via his official Twitter account, Robert Downey Jr. replied to NASA’s recommendation on what to do to bring Tony Stark back safely. But the exchange didn’t end there, as NASA replied back to Downey, saying that “failure is not an option”. Check out their exchange below.

As mentioned above, the first trailer for Endgame made way for a new wave of fan theories, most of them focusing on how Tony Stark will make it out alive. Some of them say Captain Marvel will be the one who rescues Tony, others say it will be Pepper Potts herself in her Rescue armor. Others say Tony will go through an experience similar to that in the first Iron Man film - where he was kidnapped, badly injured, and yet created the first Iron Man armor - only that this time he is stranded in space.

There’s also the possibility that Tony won’t make it out alive. Whether he dies in space or under different circumstances, Tony’s demise is one of fans’ biggest concerns as Robert Downey Jr.’s contract ends with Endgame (along with Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth’s contracts). NASA might not be the key to Tony’s rescue and/or survival – after all, Thanos’ snap wiped out half the population of the universe – but it’s nice to have their support.

Having NASA reply to something related to a film – and without it being about the physics involved in the film – is not something fans would expect, but it’s fun to see the agency have some fun and a different type of interaction with people on social media. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has had a huge impact in pop culture, so it’s nice to see NASA putting all seriousness aside for a bit and let go for a couple of, well, tweets.

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"Charmed" Star Shannen Doherty Dies at 53
American actress Shannen Doherty has passed away at the age of 53, her management confirmed. In 2020, Doherty publicly revealed that she was terminally ill with cancer but emphasized that she was not yet at the end of her life.

Her manager released a statement regarding Doherty's death: "With a heavy heart, I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty. On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after years of fighting the disease. Surrounded by her family in her final moments, she was also accompanied by her beloved dog, Bowie."

A Career That Began in Childhood
Born in Memphis in 1971, Shannen Doherty began her career as a child star. One of her first significant roles was as Jenny Wilder, the niece of Laura Ingalls Wilder, in "Little House on the Prairie" during its ninth and final season in 1982. Doherty also appeared in the subsequent movies of the series. In 1986, she took on a leading role in the drama series "Our House," which ran for two seasons and centered on a grandfather who takes in his widowed daughter-in-law and her three children, with Doherty playing the eldest child.

Breakthrough and Controversy
Doherty's breakout role came later in "Beverly Hills, 90210," produced by Aaron Spelling. She played Brenda Walsh, a character that significantly impacted her life both on and off screen. Doherty stayed with the show for four seasons, but the entertainment press often highlighted conflicts among the cast, with Doherty frequently portrayed negatively compared to her colleagues.

Despite these controversies, producer Aaron Spelling cast her in another leading role in "Charmed" in 1998. The series was a hit for the young network The CW, but Doherty left after three seasons due to reported tensions with co-star Alyssa Milano.

Life Beyond the Spotlight
Doherty continued to work largely out of the limelight, starring in films and joining the short-lived teen soap "North Shore." In 2010, she participated in "Dancing with the Stars" but was quickly eliminated. She returned to the "Beverly Hills, 90210" franchise in 2008 for a storyline in "90210" and again in 2019 for the "meta" series "BH90210," where the original cast played fictionalized versions of themselves. In 2020, she made a guest appearance in "Riverdale," dedicating the episode to her late "Beverly Hills" co-star Luke Perry.

Public Battle with Cancer
Doherty first revealed her breast cancer diagnosis in 2015. By 2017, after a double mastectomy and chemotherapy, she announced that the cancer was in remission. However, in 2020, she disclosed that her cancer had returned and metastasized, making it incurable, though her doctors believed she could have several more years with appropriate treatment.

Doherty used her remaining time to raise awareness about the ability of cancer patients to continue working. She faced challenges finding roles due to insurance issues related to her health. She also participated in numerous podcasts discussing her experiences in the film industry and openly shared her cancer journey on social media.

Shannen Doherty's legacy is marked by her resilience and dedication to her craft, as well as her efforts to inspire and inform others about living with terminal illness. She will be remembered as a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and an enduring figure in the entertainment industry.

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"Euphoria": Production of Season 3 Casts Its Shadow
Fans of the teen drama "Euphoria" are accustomed to waiting patiently. After the first season premiered on HBO in 2019, over two and a half years passed before the second season aired, mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The eagerly anticipated third season will also take some time to arrive, but there is now a tentative timeline for the start of production.

The cameras are set to start rolling in January 2025, suggesting that the new episodes could potentially air in the US later that year. Various factors contributed to this delay: the writers' strike in the US, Sam Levinson's work on the new HBO series "The Idol" (as reported by TV Wunschliste), and other commitments of lead actress Zendaya, who is in high demand as a young star.

Zendaya, along with her co-stars Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, and Colman Domingo, will return for the third season. Other cast members include Eric Dane, Maude Apatow, Storm Reid, Alexa Demie, Hunter Schafer, Nika King, and Dominic Fike. Whether the series will continue beyond the third season remains uncertain, with growing speculation that it may be challenging to reunite the busy stars again.

The Story So Far
The series centers on 17-year-old Rue (played by Zendaya), who has struggled with mental health issues for years and has been abusing drugs alongside her prescribed medications. After an overdose exposes her drug use, she returns home to live with her widowed mother (played by Nika King) and younger sister Gia (Storm Reid), but she quickly resumes her drug use. Rue forms an intense friendship with newcomer Jules (Hunter Schafer) as both navigate their lives as outsiders in the small town of East Highland. Their classmates are also on their own journeys of self-discovery and search for meaning.

Season 3 Details
There are no specific plot details for the third season yet. The showrunner, writer, and director Sam Levinson, inspired by an Israeli miniseries, continues to helm the project. He also serves as an executive producer alongside Ravi Nandan, Drake, Zendaya, Will Greenfield, Ashley Levinson, Ron Leshem, and Daphna Levin. In Germany, "Euphoria" is available on Sky.

As fans await the next chapter of "Euphoria," the anticipation grows for how the series will evolve and what new challenges and stories will unfold for Rue and her friends in East Highland.

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"Dune: Prophecy": New Teaser Trailer Announces Series Premiere
The second part of the "Dune" remake was released in German cinemas at the end of February. It has long been known that a prequel series titled "Dune: Prophecy" was also in the works. During the current Upfronts, the release of the series on the streaming service Max in the USA was announced for this fall. The first season will consist of six episodes.

Overview of "Dune: Prophecy"
The prequel "Dune: Prophecy," initially announced under the title "The Sisterhood," is set 10,000 years before the events of the two films. It explores the origins of a mysterious religious cult that aims to control the future of humanity. The series is inspired by the novel "Sisterhood of Dune" by Frank Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. The story centers on sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen, played by Emily Watson ("Chernobyl") and Olivia Williams ("The Crown"). They confront forces that threaten humanity's future. The sisters rise to power within a secretive order that eventually becomes the legendary Bene Gesserit sect.

Originally, Shirley Henderson was set to play Tula Harkonnen, while the character Natalya, now portrayed by Jodhi May ("The Witcher"), was initially to be played by Indira Varma. Due to production delays— the "Dune" series was first announced five years ago— and scheduling conflicts, the roles had to be recast. Additional cast members include Travis Fimmel, Mark Strong, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, and Josh Heuston.

Production and Direction
The series also saw changes in its direction team. Several episodes, including the premiere, were directed by Anna Foerster ("Outlander"), after the originally hired director, Johan Renck, stepped down (as reported by TV Wunschliste). "Dune: Prophecy" was developed by Diane Ademu-John ("The Haunting of Bly Manor"), who serves as co-showrunner and executive producer. Alison Schapker ("Westworld") is the second showrunner and also an executive producer.

As the anticipation builds, fans of the "Dune" franchise can look forward to diving deeper into the lore and history of this epic universe with "Dune: Prophecy," which promises to deliver new and exciting stories from the enigmatic world created by Frank Herbert.