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And there's another heap of trailers already that we don't want to keep from you. Here are our highlights of the last few days:

SUPERMAN
Last night, we got a better look at what to expect from James Gunn's »Superman« thanks to a second trailer. And it's already clear that we're in for the typical Gunn blend of grounded humor, exaggerated characters, arguably too much content for a single film, and very human (or alien) emotions. Especially the relationship between Clark Kent/Superman, played by David Corenswet, and Lois Lane, portrayed by Rachel Brosnahan, comes through strongly in the opening scene. As a couple, they radiate a deep familiarity, yet during an interview, Lois asks hard-hitting questions without sparing her partner. It becomes apparent that Clark is somewhat naive and not fully aware of the responsibility that comes with being a "godlike" figure. It's great to see how effortlessly Corenswet shifts his tone and demeanor when transitioning from Clark to Superman - a scene that feels very reminiscent of Christopher Reeve. One true goosebump moment in the trailer is when John Williams' iconic melody kicks in, in a monumental new arrangement, accompanied by the voices of the two most important men in Clark's life: his adoptive father Jonathan Kent (Pruitt Taylor Vince), offering words of encouragement, and his greatest adversary Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), whose words drip with contempt. »Superman« will hit theaters as the DCU's theatrical debut this July. Watch the trailer here:
https://youtu.be/Ox8ZLF6cGM0

IRONHEART
Now let's switch from DC to its biggest competitor, Marvel, and from the start of a new superhero universe to the iron heart of a well-established one. »Ironheart«, the next Disney+ series from the MCU, is just around the corner. Although the show, created by Chinaka Hodge (»Snowpiercer«) with executive producer Ryan Coogler (»Black Panther«, »Sinners«), is set to hit screens this June, we've only seen leaks so far - no official footage until now. The series spent a long time in release limbo, especially due to the screenwriters' strikes, and had already wrapped filming in November 2022, which led to doubts it would ever see the light of day. But now it's finally here, and the trailer promises plenty of excitement and fun. After the brilliant, flying armor building Riri Williams returns from her trip to Wakanda in »Black Panther: Wakanda Forever« to her hometown of Chicago, she teams up with the ambiguous character Parker Robbins, a.k.a. The Hood. The trailer already suggests that this character, played by Anthony Ramos, could be one of the show's highlights. Much like Bob from »Thunderbolts*« recently, Marvel finally seems to be getting the hang of creating three-dimensional villains. 
So, here's the trailer for »Ironheart«:
https://youtu.be/WpW36ldAqnM

NOBODY 2
Bob Odenkirk returns in August as suburban dad and former assassin Hutch, and this time, the bad guys won't even let him relax on a family vacation. Odenkirk's deadpan style, combined with »John Wick«-like action, makes this film series the perfect popcorn experience. The new trailer - this time featuring an expanded family cast including a grandfather (played by Christopher Lloyd) - makes it clear that the movie doesn't take itself too seriously and is just here to deliver fun. 
Check out the trailer for this punch-packed sequel:
https://youtu.be/-5X2pt95cIo

After a long break since the last part of the horror film series, »Final Destination: Bloodlines« is hitting theaters today. Although we don't expect a profound story with spectacular twists and complex characters (we'd still like to be surprised 😉), we definitely expect a good amount of tension that would make us want to cover our eyes. Even the trailer leaves us filled with horror as fate takes its course for the clueless victims:
https://youtu.be/UWMzKXsY9A4

What appears to be a series of dramatic coincidences in »Final Destination: Bloodlines« is actually the terrifying game of death. After all, he takes the lives that are rightfully his - or that should never have existed. As her grandmother once did, Stefani (Kaitlyn Santa Juana) sees in terrible visions how her family dies in tragic accidents. To prevent this nightmare, the student searches for a way to break the cycle of death. While doing so, she comes across the answer to why death has set his sight on her family.

The acclaimed anthology series »Love, Death & Robots« - or, as it might more accurately be called by now: Cats, Death & Robots - finally returns today with its fourth season after a three-year break.

What began as an experimental project has since grown into a cultural phenomenon. The show's unique concept involves the team around Tim Miller and David Fincher sending a selection of scripts - based on short stories by various sci-fi authors - to animation studios around the globe. The result: an astonishing range of styles, techniques, and visual identities that turned »Love, Death & Robots« into a milestone for mature, artistically driven animation, and that helped the series change the perception of the medium, together with titles like »Arcane« and the Spider-Verse films.

While the first season often echoed the outdated, hypersexualized gender roles of its source material, the series has since developed a darkly humorous and sharply satirical tone - biting, clever, and consistently surprising. Fun fact: for the first time, David Fincher himself has directed one of the episodes in what is clearly a passion project for him with the voices of the Red Hot Chili Peppers - definitely something to look forward to.

And yes - the cats. Always the cats! 😻💀🤖

Today, we'd like to briefly introduce three new trailers that all fall within the horror genre.

THE CONJURING: LAST RITES
The Conjuring universe typically brings forth the most terrifying creatures, most notably the possessed doll from »Annabelle« and the malevolent demon from »The Nun«. However, we must not forget that the origin of those entities lies in the paranormal investigations of the Warren family. In »The Conjuring: Last Rites« Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) take on one last case, as usual based on (more or less) true events. This September you can see in theaters how the story of the two ends. The trailer is definitely not for the faint of heart:
https://youtu.be/FSAz556s0fM

THE LONG WALK
What happens when you can't walk anymore? This question is answered with a gunshot to the head in »The Long Walk«. A group of young people is forced to take one step after another, without rest and without a finish line, until the last one is left standing. The story is based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. The film is directed by Francis Lawrence, who also was the director of the »Hunger Games« series except for the first part. »The Long Walk« starts in theaters this September. Here is the trailer:
https://youtu.be/vAtUHeMQ1F8

TOGETHER
Insane horror, dark humor, and a bit of romance - that's probably the best way to describe »Together«. Millie (Alison Brie) and Tim (Dave Franco) have been together for many years. However, after a move to the countryside, the couple's relationship is at a crossroads. Before they can decide how to proceed, a supernatural event brings a fresh breeze into their lives. The film will hit theaters this summer and deals with the topics of closeness and distance in a completely unexpected way. Fun fact: the actors in the two main roles are married in real life. Perhaps that's why they appear so authentic in the trailer:
https://youtu.be/v4Xu-jxRG5c

»Peacemaker« returns! The streaming service Max released the first official teaser on YouTube at the end of last week - and it's really making us excited for Season 2!

While the first season was created before James Gunn and Peter Safran brought the new DC Universe to life, Season 2 will now be the first live-action show to join the DCU, following the animated series »Creature Commandos«, which got off to a strong start in December, and the superhero blockbuster »Superman«, which is scheduled to hit theaters on July 10.

The first overlaps are already apparent in the teaser, in which Peacemaker appears to be invited to a job interview and fails miserably to convince the jury, consisting of Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), and Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), of his skills. All three will previously make their DCU debut in »Superman«. The teaser also reveals something else: Frank Grillo appears again as Rick Flag Sr. ... and he still has a score to settle with Peacemaker.

Of course, we can also look forward to seeing the rest of the team from Season 1 again - although each of them has their own little problems to deal with ...

Click here for the teaser:
https://youtu.be/-QwXokuIZjM

The season premiere has been announced by the US streaming service Max for August 21. Information on when and where Season 2 will arrive in other countries is still pending.

The events surrounding the bankruptcy of Diamond Comic Distributors continue!

The company, which includes the manufacturers Diamond Select Toys and Gentle Giant, filed for bankruptcy at the beginning of the year. After we reported to you a little over a month ago that Diamond would likely be acquired by Alliance Entertainment, there has now been a twist in this matter. Diamond disagreed with this takeover and preferred Ad Populum, which owns NECA, among others, and Universal Distribution. Alliance sued and won, but later withdrew from the deal. After some back and forth, Ad Populum and Universal Distribution were finally confirmed as the new buyers.

If all goes well, Diamond Select Toys, Gentle Giant, and NECA will soon be sister companies - let's hope for the best!

Finally - Netflix dropped the first teaser for the highly anticipated 3rd season of »Squid Game« yesterday, which has definitely stoked excitement for the series finale!

Roughly half a year after season 2 left us with a pretty abrupt cliffhanger, Netflix will bring us the final games on the 27th of June! And the teaser already hints at a few things without giving away too much: Gi-hun (player 456) reunites with the remaining participants who have survived the revolt; the two warring sides continue to be pitted against each other; the VIPs return; Jun-ho's search continues; In-ho is back as the front-man; and the end of the preview teases a huge event - but see for yourselves:
https://youtu.be/Lb6v6AUFWrM

10 years ago, »Mad Max: Fury Road« celebrated its premiere in Hollywood.

As children of the 80s, we grew up with the Mad Max films by Australian director George Miller. The second installment of his dystopia, in particular, captivated us -the dusty desert setting, the brutal action, the souped-up rust buckets, the punk outfits, the spectacular stunts, and above all, the young Mel Gibson as coolness personified!

In 1999, it was announced that the series would be getting a late fourth installment. The last Mad Max film, »Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome« dated back to 1985. However, the film project spent years in production hell for a variety of reasons. In 2003, Mel Gibson dropped out, and with that, another film seemed to be buried.

We weren't expecting it at all anymore when George Miller confirmed in 2010 that a fourth installment, »Mad Max: Fury Road«, would be released. Tom Hardy would take on the lead role of Max, with Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult also mentioned as leading roles.

When the film was released in 2015, we were initially a bit skeptical. Late sequels to beloved film series had disappointed us too often, so that was reason enough to dampen our anticipation somewhat. And would it even work with a new actor in the iconic Mad Max role? Would the film be able to continue the old action tradition? And, after such a long time with a now 70-year-old in the director's chair, were we in danger of a lackluster, rehashed CGI mess that we would hate at worst?

But fortunately, things turned out very differently. The action was well-crafted, and Tom Hardy as Mad Max and especially Charlize Theron as Furiosa knew how to deliver. The film was hailed as an action masterpiece. In IMDb ratings, it even ranks higher than »Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior« which at 7.6 is the highest-rated film in the original trilogy. »Mad Max: Fury Road« eclipses it with an impressive 8.1.

The prequel, »Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga«, followed in 2024 and tells the backstory of Furiosa, this time played by Anya Taylor-Joy. In »Mad Max: The Wasteland«, the planned sequel to »Mad Max: Fury Road«, Tom Hardy is set to return as the titular character.

If you're now in the mood for »Mad Max: Fury Road«, you'll find it on Netflix.

We're somewhat surprised that, despite all the success of the true action classics of the 80s and a vital resurrection of the franchise over the past 10 years, »Mad Max« has had so little impact on the collectibles world, aside from a few car models and a handful of bootlegs. It's about time some of the big-name manufacturers finally ended their slumber and blessed us with some cool incarnations of both Gibson and Hardy as Mad Max, and of course, Furiosa in the Theron and Taylor-Joy versions - not to mention the picturesque supporting characters, all of whom would make fantastic action figures.

Tim was at the theater a few days ago to watch »Thunderbolts*«, and is now delivering his spoiler-free review, as promised:

Last Thursday saw the release of Marvel's latest blockbuster »Thunderbolts*« - but after the mixed bag of recent years since »Avengers: Endgame«, the real question was: Is this even going to feel like a blockbuster? The last MCU phases struggled under the pressure to constantly outdo themselves. The multiverse storyline lacked direction, emotionally flat narratives and soulless CGI overloads drove audiences away. True successes like »Spider-Man: No Way Home« or »Deadpool & Wolverine« mostly thrived on nostalgic cameos. Meanwhile, potential new Avengers like Ant-Man, Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel or the new Black Panther drowned in mediocre visual effects and godlike powers that left little room for compelling storytelling. And »Eternals« completely failed as an attempt to launch a new superhero team.

Sure, there were bright spots like »Shang-Chi« - though it still lacks a clear connection to the wider MCU - and the bittersweet finale »Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3«. Series like »Loki« and »WandaVision« also made strong contributions to the universe. But overall, it just doesn't feel like we're being properly set up for a major multiversal threat. Even though »Captain America: Brave New World« was better than expected, it came off rushed and almost desperate to cement Sam Wilson as the new central MCU figure before Doctor Doom comes knocking.

And now we have »Thunderbolts*«: a team composed of charming but minor characters from less celebrated entries like »Black Widow« or »The Falcon and the Winter Soldier«, plus a somewhat underdeveloped yet tragic figure from »Ant-Man and the Wasp«. None of them were ever front-and-center MCU staples, nor are their powers particularly exciting. Even Bucky Barnes, aka the Winter Soldier - though popular - has mostly remained a supporting character. Still, the trailers gave me cautious hope. And now I think: this underrated, low-key ensemble might be exactly what the Multiverse has been missing.

Because let's not forget who originally made the MCU great: an arrogant billionaire with no powers, a scrawny and shy kid who wakes up lonely in the wrong time (loneliness being a major theme in »Thunderbolts*«), a disgraced, humiliated and arrogant god, and a colorful bunch of criminals - none of whom started off as moral beacons. They all had to grow into their roles. And that's exactly what we get here again. No nostalgia cameos, no requirement to have studied the entire MCU timeline. This film stands on its own and works well even for newcomers.

What's particularly great is how this ragtag crew of outsiders gradually grows into a real team - strongly reminiscent of »Guardians of the Galaxy«. The humor feels natural and character-driven, not like tacked-on slapstick. That's the film's biggest strength: its quirky, complex characters. Especially Yelena (Florence Pugh), who is heavily depressed after the death of her sister, shines. She gets the narrative space to evolve as the new Black Widow, with a layered, morally ambivalent personality. It's her Film, she IS the central character.

We don't need perfect heroes, garish suits or a long list of absurd powers - we need relatable, well-drawn characters. And »Thunderbolts*« delivers exactly that. It offers true cinematic moments of awe, with touches of psychological thriller and subtle horror elements that keep you glued to your seat without drowning in meaningless CGI mayhem.

Alongside Florence Pugh, Lewis Pullman stands out as Bob aka Sentry: rarely has an MCU antagonist been this nuanced. He evokes memories of Homelander from »The Boys«, Joaquin Phoenix's Joker, and even Jobu Tupaki from »Everything Everywhere All At Once«. I was genuinely surprised by how his story unfolded - completely different from what the trailers hinted at. Huge applause to the trailer editors for that! And David Harbour as Red Guardian is simply a joy - lovable, out of place, and laugh-out-loud funny.

I'm not exaggerating when I say: this is in my oppinion one of THE best MCU films. And one major bonus: this film finally gives me hope that »Avengers: Doomsday« might actually work. While it stands strong on its own, it also fits perfectly into the larger MCU puzzle. And you should definitely stay for the mid- and end-credit scenes - they finally give us meaningful content again, not just random teasers for characters that vanish into nothingness.

8/10 for the cinematic experience and 9.5/10 for its place in the MCU and overall significance for Marvel.
And to show the big bosses at Disney, that we want complex, morally grey characters like Bucky and Yelena leading the way, the box office numbers need to speak for themselves - so get to the cinema!

Here you can watch the first almost 60 seconds of the movie:
https://youtu.be/vZvlQObjL8o

And there are great news for collectors: Of course, Hot Toys won't miss out on the opportunity to recreate the »Thunderbolts*« team in 1/6 scale! Just a few hours ago, they dropped a teaser for the first five figures from the movie - the rest will surely follow soon.

Dear Star Wars fans and collectors, get your credits together - because the new collectibles announced for MAY THE 4TH yesterday by Hot Toys, Sideshow, and others were truly impressive ... extremely impressive!

Hot Toys had already used the Star Wars Celebration at Easter to introduce some new 1/6 scale figures. We've had the first editions of Jar Jar Binks and Poe Dameron listed for pre-order in our shop since the weekend. Also available online are Palpatine (Darth Sidious) and Darth Nihilus, as well as the new version of the 1:1 Grogu and the 1/6 »Rebels« version of Darth Vader from Hot Toys' partner brand HONŌ STUDIO.

As a highlight for May 4th, Sideshow held a fantastic showcase on YouTube, packed with Star Wars highlights:
https://youtu.be/TrDqrYPoSJs
For all 1/6 scale collectors, the second wave of »Scum & Villainy« figures will be a dream come true. In addition to a new edition of Jabba the Hutt, including Salacious Crumb, we can look forward to even more villains: Bib Fortuna, Kithaba, Klaatu, Vizam, Tessek, Wooof, and Pagetti Rook - what magnificent scum!
Two Premium Format Figures were unveiled: Wicket and Luke, of which the Luke Skywalker & X-Wing: Red Five, Standing By PFF has just landed in our shop for pre-order. We imagine this statue will be polarizing due to its design and high price. The adorable Ewok Wicket, on the other hand, is simply precious and practically a must-have for any Star Wars collection. Check out the details, especially the paint job - fantastic!

Iron Studios hasn't been idle either, scoring points with two new Art Scale Statues for Star Wars Day: Mace Windu makes his 1/10 scale debut with a dismembered Battle Droid, and with the impressive Darth Vader on Throne, we get a scaled-down version of the already sold-out Legacy Replica Statue. Both new items are also listed in our shop starting today.

Blitzway shouldn't go unmentioned either - even though it's difficult to get hold of their Star Wars 1/4 scale statues due to licensing and distribution issues. In addition to the previously shown statues of Anakin Skywalker and the young Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), Ben Kenobi (Sir Alec Guinness) and Luke Skywalker have now been unveiled - also at the Celebration in Japan. On top of that, a 1/4 Superb Scale Darth Vader statue was teased ...

You can't complain, can you? We think there were some really great new releases and are excited to be able to offer them in our shop as soon as possible. What was your highlight among the reveals?

Happy Star Wars Day, dear Moister Farmers, Cantina Band members, and Podracer mechanics - we wish you a wonderful May the 4th, on which the Force may once again be with you 🌌!

To celebrate the day, we're welcoming a new manufacturer to our shop: SalesOne, and for a great start, we even have a 10% discount coupon that is, of course, valid for their Star Wars repertoire, but also for all other SalesOne items in our shop:
MAY4SALE10

The special offer runs until May 11, 2025 - after which the coupon expires.

Apart from that, we were busy today because we are currently producing exciting content for you again.. On today's Star Wars Day, Sven is in the studio with a very special guest to film the new 🚀 ABGESPACED 🚀 episode. If you're curious, you can get a sneak peek in our Instagram story 😉.

May the 4th be with you!

„My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius - commander of the Armies of the North - General of the Felix Legions - loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius - father to a murdered son - husband to a murdered wife - and I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next!“ 

Who doesn't get goosebumps reading these lines? 25 years ago yesterday, Ridley Scott's »Gladiator« premiered in Los Angeles. The film marks the return of a genre that had been declared extinct.

Let's rewind: The epic film with stories from ancient Rome or Greece, often with Christian or biblical references, began in Italy in the 1910s with films like »Quo Vadis?« (1913), »The Last Days of Pompeii« (1913), and »Cabiria« (1914). This happened at a time when one-reelers, i.e. films on a single reel and thus with a running time of around 15 minutes, were the rule rather than the exception. »Cabiria«, with a running time of 148 minutes, made a particularly deep impression on American director David Wark Griffith. Instead of making a new short film every week, thus releasing 52 films a year, Griffith decided to take a year to make a long, elaborate film. The epic film had arrived in Hollywood.

In 1925, the first film adaptation of »Ben-Hur«, directed by Fred Niblo, made film history. No name is more closely associated with the genre than Cecil B. DeMille, whose films include »The Ten Commandments« (1923), »The King of Kings« (1927), »The Sign of the Cross« (1932), »Cleopatra« (1934), »Samson and Delilah« (1949), and again »The Ten Commandments« (1956).

In the 1950s, »Quo Vadis?« (1951) by Mervyn LeRoy and »Ben-Hur« (1959) by William Wyler were huge box office hits. Stanley Kubrick's »Spartacus« (1960) was dedicated to gladiators. In 1963, »Cleopatra« nearly drove the production company 20th Century Fox into bankruptcy. In 1964, »The Fall of the Roman Empire« was made, directed by Anthony Mann, and one of the inspirations for »Gladiator«.

The success of Hollywood films gave rise to a slew of B-movies made in Italy, the so-called sandal films. From the mid-1960s onward, audience tastes changed. Monumental films were becoming less and less popular. In Italy, Spaghetti Westerns replaced sandal films. And in Hollywood, the era of New Hollywood directors slowly dawned.

The genre had been dormant since the mid-1960s, until »Gladiator« came along, taking advantage of the rapid development of computer-aided visual effects to bring ancient Rome to life as never before. Historical authenticity was not a concern. Any historian will surely tear their hair out at the events depicted, the unruly carnage of the gladiatorial forces, and not least Russell Crowe's sci-fi fantasy helmet. Almost nothing is accurate, but the film is pure fiction and not a history lesson.

A major advantage of the opus is that it avoids degenerating into a CGI storm, but rather uses the effects to credibly portray the conceived world and relies on character drama and its archetypes - with Russell Crowe, who won an Oscar for his Maximus, Joaquin Phoenix, who achieved stardom with his Commodus, and the then little-known Connie Nielsen as Lucilla.

The young cast was supported by hand-picked character actors from the old guard: Richard Harris as Marcus Aurelius, Derek Jacobi as Gracchus, David Hemmings as Cassius, and above all, Oliver Reed as Proximo, who sadly passed away three weeks before the end of filming.

Also worth mentioning are the supporting actors and fellow gladiators Djimon Hounsou as Juba and our top export Ralf Moeller as Hagen.

»Gladiator« was nominated for 12 Oscars and bagged five Golden Boys. In addition to Crowe's award, it won the Oscar for Best Picture. Other nominees included Ridley Scott for Best Director and Hans Zimmer for his congenial film music.

Without the success of »Gladiator«, subsequent epic films like »Troy« and »Alexander«, the HBO series »Rome« and the Starz series »Spartacus« would likely not have come to fruition. Last year, after 24 years, Ridley Scott made »Gladiator II«, which is certainly entertaining, but a tired shadow of the original.

There are countless films that shaped the 80s and have a permanent place in our movie library of all-time favorites. One of these glorious flicks is undoubtedly »Gremlins« ...

NECA has held the license for ages and, to our delight, has repeatedly contributed to the franchise with numerous adaptations of the little monsters.

The Evolution of the Gremlin 3-Pack was announced in the course the 40th anniversary of »Gremlins« last year. It includes Gizmo, Mogwai Stripe, and Gremlin Stripe. The three figures illustrate the evolution and transformation from the cute Mogwai to the sinister Gremlin and serve as a reminder to always follow the rules: Don't get them wet. Keep them away from bright lights. And for goodness' sake, don't feed them after midnight! A warning on the beautifully designed packaging reminds us of these vital rules once again.

A special highlight are the movable eyes of Gizmo and Mogwai Stripe, which make the figures appear much more lifelike and thus also offer a big plus point for your toy photos. A chainsaw, a skateboard, and a circular saw blade provide some chaotic action.

If you don't already have any Gremlins in your 80s collection, this 3-pack is a perfect start. We hope you enjoy our 💥 Product of the Month 💥 for the merry month of May as much as we do!

It's Cinema Thursday again, and what better way to wrap up the May Day holiday than with a solid dose of Marvel mayhem? Sounds like a pretty good plan, right?
Because starting today, Yelena (Florence Pugh), Bucky (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), Walker aka U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko) - and Bob (Lewis Pullman)? - are suiting up to defend Earth as the »Thunderbolts*«. The Avengers won't be showing up, so the chaotic bunch recruited by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) needs to pull it together and face down new threats by any means necessary. Forget noble superheroes - this is a job for questionable antiheroes.

Our Tim will catch the movie in theaters and share a spoiler-free review in the coming days. Here's one of the many trailers that dropped for this movie:
https://youtu.be/-sAOWhvheK8

Fortunately, despite the avalanche of spots and trailers, the actual plot of »Thunderbolts*« was kept relatively secret. First reviews are calling it the best Marvel film since »Avengers: Endgame«. That sounds promising! We wish you a great day off and lots of fun at the movies!

Yesterday we stumbled across the first trailer for »The Smashing Machine«, the new film from A24, and WOW ... it looks really promising!

The biographical sports drama revolves around the life and career of wrestler and MMA fighter Mark Kerr, which were derailed by his drug addiction. The lead role is played by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who, given his own past as a professional wrestler, is naturally predestined for the role. And we're thrilled to see him in a truly challenging role. His physical transformation already impressed us in the trailer. Alongside him, the amazing Emily Blunt plays Kerr's then-wife, Dawn Staples - always a plus, if you ask us. A few martial arts pros like Oleksandr Usyk, Ryan Bader, and Bas Rutten complete the cast and lend authenticity to the in-ring scenes. The film is directed by Benny Safdie, who had already previously delivered a hit for A24 with »Uncut Gems«, together with his brother.

The film is scheduled for release in the US on October 3rd. We expect »The Smashing Machine« to hit big screens here shortly thereafter. Watch the trailer here:
https://youtu.be/aRpnP3LZ99g

Hot Toys is very busy as always – especially in this anniversary year! The numerous new Star Wars releases that premiered at Celebration in Tokyo are already highly anticipated and, as always, are quickly making their way into our pre-order section. Palpatine (Darth Sidious) and Darth Nihilus were just added today!

But the leader in the 1/6 scale section recently teased something really cool that may have gotten lost in the flood of Star Wars news ... namely David Corenswet as Superman from the upcoming James Gunn blockbuster, which will be hitting cinemas in July! We think it's awesome – not only because »Superman« is likely to be one of the cinematic highlights of the year, but also because the new suit design is simply fantastic! Long live the trunks 😉.

It's turning out to be a truly special year for the fastest-growing entertainment industry: We've already covered »Assassin's Creed Shadows« extensively here, the brilliant remaster of »The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion« from 2006 dropped completely out of nowhere, the controversy over Nintendo's pricing strategy for the Switch 2 is omnipresent, and »Kingdom Come: Deliverance II« is a masterpiece that has exceeded all expectations and is already being considered a very likely contender for the "Game of the Year" award. The latter serves as an example for a category of games to which today's first new release also belongs: a game developed by a small European indie studio that can easily compete with current AAA games in every respect.

Last Thursday, the small French studio Sandfall Interactive released the beautiful »Clair Obscur: Expedition 33«, triggering a wave of excitement over the weekend. The turn-based RPG is heavily inspired by the »Final Fantasy« series, but with its painterly, very French Art Deco style, it exudes a unique charm and visually resembles the »Bioshock« games more. The story is highly emotional and complex, the gameplay very unique, and the soundtrack feels like its own character within the game's world. The voice cast is also top-notch, featuring performances by Charlie Cox (»Daredevil«), Andy Serkis (»Lord of the Rings«), and Jennifer English (»Baldur's Gate III«), among others. In just three days the game reached one million sold copies, faster than »Assassin's Creed Shadows«! Watch the trailer here:
https://youtu.be/2VaLOc1FpSo

Also on Thursday, »Ghost of Yōtei«, the long-awaited sequel to the 2020 smash hit »Ghost of Tsushima«, was announced with a trailer and a release date set for October 2nd. »Ghost of Yōtei« takes place roughly 329 years after the events of the first game, and the new "Ghost" or "Onryō" this time is the warrior Atsu, who seeks to avenge the death of her family. It was announced that the RPG elements would be expanded, giving players more influence over Atsu's development. Check out the trailer:
https://youtu.be/PVBLJYjSAhg

For this year's Alien Day, FX Networks dropped two very special treats from the upcoming TV series »Alien: Earth« last Saturday!

In the »Gestation Complete« teaser, all alien midwives get a - admittedly gross - crash course:
https://youtu.be/QhayoedSG50
The slimy look and the visual effects are incredibly well done, in our opinion.

The short teaser clip »Crate« is just as creepy:
https://youtu.be/GzzMvcAbjUE
We can brace yourselves for five different life forms approaching earth - still encased in safety containers ... for now!

Are you looking forward to the release of »Alien: Earth« this summer, or are you already peeing your pants? We think it's going to be really good 😉!

What you can definitely look forward to is the soon-to-arrive Scorched Xenomorph Ultimate Figure from »Alien: Romulus« by NECA. As we previously reported, the immense backlog of NECA shipments is slowly but surely clearing up - and this fantastic figure is finally included in the current shipments 😃👽!

One hundred years ago tomorrow, »The Phantom of the Opera« premiered at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco and was a complete flop with audiences ... for the second time! But more on that later ...

One hundred years is quite a long time, and of course, that's apparent when watching the film. Lon Chaney's first appearance as the Phantom is slowly and carefully prepared, but aside from the magnificent sets of the Paris Opera on the legendary Stage 28 the first 45 minutes of the film exude, for a modern audience, mostly boredom. After that, the film slowly picks up pace, and for the first time, we see a little more of the Phantom, whom we've only caught a few glimpses of before as a shadow or a quickly passing figure. Now, Christine Daae (Mary Philbin) comes face to face with her masked mentor for the first time.

It takes almost an hour until we finally experience the big moment we've all been waiting for. Lon Chaney, as the masked Phantom, plays devotedly on his organ. Behind him stands Mary Philbin, wrestling with her curiosity. She wants to know who is behind the mask. Finally, she can no longer resist the temptation - she tears the mask off his face and we witness one of the first jump scares in film history.

Lon Chaney, also known as the Man with a Thousand Faces, always did his own film makeup and often endured physical torture for his art. For his Phantom mask, which was kept top secret until its unveiling in the aforementioned film scene, he created the illusion of his noseless skull with the help of a piano string that positioned his nostrils. Even today - 100 years later - this dramatic appearance still resonates.

When we talk about Lon Chaney today, it is often these masks that are repeatedly highlighted. Be it his Quasimodo in »The Hunchback of Notre Dame«, his appearance in the sadly lost »London After Midnight« and of course »The Phantom of the Opera«. But it's often overlooked what a great actor Chaney was - just look at his highly nuanced handwork!

Memorable scenes in the film also include the masked ball scene on the steps of the opera house, shot in Technicolor two-color, and Chaney's appearance as the Red Death, as well as the hand-colored scene on the roof of the opera house with Chaney in his bright red costume. It's still spooky to this day!

The film's production history was extremely difficult. According to cinematographer Charles Van Enger, the relationship between Chaney, the other cast members, the crew and director Rupert Julian was strained. Eventually, the star and the director stopped speaking, Van Enger served as a go-between. He would report Julian's directions to Chaney, who responded: „Tell him to go to hell.“

The first cut of the film was shown in Los Angeles in January and was a failure with both studio executives and test audiences. It's unclear whether Rupert Julian dropped out or was fired. In any case, Edward Sedgwick was commissioned to do extensive reshoots to save the film. Sedgwick attempted to shift the film's plot toward a romantic comedy with action elements. This attempt, as mentioned above, also backfired.

Universal editor Maurice Pivar and director Lois Weber re-edited the film. Most of the scenes shot by Sedgwick were cut, with the exception of the ending, in which the Phantom is chased by a mob and subsequently thrown into the Seine. Much of the original footage from Julian was reinserted into the movie. This final version premiered on September 6, 1925, at the Astor Theatre in New York City. We still see this back and forth today with some major blockbuster productions. It seems like not much has changed in 100 years.

In the end, the film was a huge success. Even though it's more melodrama than horror, Lon Chaney's appearance here, as well as in other silent films of the 1920s, marked the beginning of what would later usher in the golden age of Universal Monsters in the early 1930s and after the introduction of sound.

Even if the plot and character models are now a bit dated, the film is of course an important document of film history that should be seen at least once. »The Phantom of the Opera« is now in the public domain and you can watch it on YouTube for free:
https://youtu.be/uA2pvD-hx9Y

Kaustic Plastik and Infinite Statue & Collectibles have paid homage to the great Lon Chaney in two ways: First with a 1/6 scale figure of »The Phantom of the Opera«, the deluxe version of which even includes a movie-accurate organ. The second Chaney incarnation is the Man in the Beaver Hat from »London After Midnight«, the holy grail of lost films. This version is also available in a deluxe edition, which includes the pendulum clock that can be seen in many stills:
https://www.space-figuren.de/Kaustic-Plastik

Anyone who ordered from us in April had our postcard in their Easter basket. This wonderful card shows Link in full Easter fever, because Ky sent him on an egg hunt 🥚🐰!

The enchanting photo that adorns our April postcard was taken in Ky's kitchen. With some artificial greenery, she created a spring-like, idyllic setting, into which the figure from Good Smile Company's Nendoroid series for the game »The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask« fits perfectly. Ky made the eggs out of polymer clay - and, of course, colored them herself!

For more great toy photos, be sure to check out Ky aka @captaindangerous on Instagram 😊🌼!