Here’s the latest downthetubes round up of quick fire, mainly comic-related film and TV news items that caught our eye this Thursday 20th May 2021, including Batgirl, Flash and Loki items…

Hollywood Reporter has the scoop that the upcoming Batgirl project planned as a movie for HBO Max, is to be directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the duo behind the 2020 hit Bad Boys for Life, from a script by Birds of Prey’s Christina Hodson. The Warner Bros.’ DC feature centres on Barbra Gordon, daughter of Gotham City police commissioner James Gordon.
In other DC Comics related news, The Flash has begun filming, produced by DC Films, The Disco Factory, and Double Dream, and set for distribution by Warner Bros. Pictures.Intended to be the twelfth film in the DC Extended Universe, downthetubes understands a well-established talented British comic artist has provided storyboards. Since Burghley House in Peterborough, is just one location in the upcoming film, another British connection should be come as no surprise. The same estate was used for Wayne Manor in 1989’s Batman and 1992’s Batman Returns, which starred Micheal Keaton as the caped crusader, who is returning to the role for this film.
The Flash is being directed by Andy Muschietti from a script by Christina Hodson, executive produced by Marianne Jenkins with Michael Disco and Barbara Muschietti set as producers, with a current planned release date of 4th November 2022. The film will adapt the “Flashpoint” storyline and sees the Scarlet Speedster, played by Ezra Miller, travel back in time in an effort to prevent his mother’s murder, only to inadvertently splinter the future into a new timeline with Keaton’s 30-years-older Batman protecting it.
Green Lantern: The Hollywood Reporter has noted HBO Max’s Green Lantern has zeroed in on an actor to play Green Lantern Alan Scott, with Jeremy Irvine, who led the Bourne TV spinoff Treadstone, in talks for the role of the comic book hero. Scott is one of the higher-profile gay characters in the DC Universe, although that is only a relatively recent development.
Loki premieres on Wednesday, 9th June on Disney+ and The Beat suggests possible breakout character Miss Minutes is voiced by voiced by Tara Strong, “one of the most versatile voice performers in the industry who can safely say voiced your childhood”. Tom Huddleston reprises his role as Thor’s brother.

Away from superheroes, the UK Screen Alliance has published an interview with Tom Box, Managing Director and one of the co-founders of Blue Zoo, the multi-award-winning studio and animators of beloved shows Numberblocks and The Adventures of Paddington, and one of the founding member-companies of Animation UK, selected by Broadcast as one of the ‘Best Places to Work in TV’ twice. Find out more about their work here
Arnold Schwarzenegger is headed to Netflix for his first major scripted TV gig. The streamer gave an eight-episode order to an untitled global spy drama starring and exec-produced by Schwarzenegger, from Skydance TV. Created by Nick Santora (Jack Reacher), the series follows a father and daughter who learn they’ve each secretly been working as CIA operatives for years when they have to team up on a job.
And, finally, back at HBO, animated series My Adventures with Superman, with Jack Quaid voicing the titular character, scored a two-season order at HBO Max and Cartoon Network. In this latest DC superhero treatment, twenty-somethings Clark Kent, Lois Lane and their best pal Jimmy Olsen begin to discover who they really are and what they can accomplish as a team doing investigative reporting at the Daily Planet. Warner Bros. Animation is producing.
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The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
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