We start this week’s pop culture news recap with the announcement that veteran British actor Michael Gambon has died aged 82 from pneumonia. In recent years, Gambon was perhaps best known for playing Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter film series – from 2004’s Prisoner of Azkaban onwards – as well as his Top Gear appearances.

Gambon is the fourth major adult member of the Harry Potter cast to pass away, following original Dumbledore Richard Harris, Alan Rickman (Snape), and Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid).

Film

Out of the blue, the first trailer has dropped for Argylle, an all-star action comedy from Kingsman and Kickass’s Matthew Vaughn, in the vein of Romancing the Stone and The Lost City. Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard) is the shy and reclusive author of a hit spy novel series, but her quiet life is upended when real-life espionage events begin to mirror her creations, and the line between fiction and reality starts to blur. Fortunately she has cat-allergic secret agent Aiden at her side as they race to escape killers on their tail.

Vaughn has managed to assemble quite a cast for Argylle, which consists of new faces and returning collaborators. These include Henry Cavill, John Cena, Ariana DeBose, Dua Lipa, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, Sofia Boutella, and Samuel L. Jackson.

Argylle comes to cinemas on 2 February 2024.

Coming out in time for this year’s US Thanksgiving is Wish, Walt Disney Animation’s next big musical fantasy adventure – and now we have a full-length official trailer for the movie.

In cinemas from 22 November, Wish is set in a magical kingdom of Rosas, which is ruled over by King Magnifico (Chris Pine), who has the ability to make people’s wishes come true. Except, Magnifico isn’t so benevolent, and when his apprentice, sharp-witted idealist Asha (Ariana DeBose) makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force, an inevitable clash is set up. Out of interest, Alan Tudyk voices Valentino, a goat who gains the ability to speak.

Fighting for relevance and credibility, the Golden Globe Awards have announced two new categories for 2023:

  • Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, where the 8 nominees are selected from the highest-grossing and most-seen films of the year. i.e. the biggest, best-received cinema hits.
  • Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television, to honour outstanding stand-up comedians, whether individuals or an ensemble. There will be 6 nominees in this category.

Why the shake-up? The Golden Globes have been mired in controversy in recent years, for everything from exclusionary attitudes and straight-up unethical awards practices, to accusations of racism and sexual assault by its former president. In fact, this year, the awards weren’t even televised. That will change next year though, with the ceremony currently set to air on 7 January 2024.

Series

After 148 days – that’s around 5 months – the Writers Strike is over, as the Writers Guild of America negotiators found common ground this week with representatives for Hollywood studios. Click on the link above for some of the key terms of the agreement, which covers remuneration, staff numbers for writers’ rooms, and the use of AI in the writing process.

Netflix’s first-ever animation showcase, DROP 01, took place this week. You can check out all the announcements and first looks here (which include the next He-Man installment, Edgar Wright and Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim anime, and Sonic Prime Dash), but we had eyes only for Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, which enjoyed a teaser world premiere during the livestream.

Still listed as “coming soon,” this project was announced back in 2021, with Hayley Atwell voicing the pony-tailed adventurer. Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft has Red Sonja and The Witcher: Blood Origin’s Tasha Huo at the creative helm, while the series is produced by Legendary Television with Crystal Dynamics, and animated by Castlevania and Blood of Zeus’s Powerhouse Animation. Reportedly, the series is set after the events of the 2013 – 2019 game trilogy and will act as a bridge between Survivor Lara and the Classic iteration of the character, essentially bringing the timelines together.

Finally, we close off this section with the official trailer for the Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Specials.

David Tennant’s version of The Doctor (well, kind of) and Catherine Tate’s Donna Noble return for three special episodes to be broadcast in November on BBC One in the UK and Ireland, and Disney+ internationally. Also appearing are Neil Patrick Harris as iconic franchise villain the Toymaker, last seen back in 1966, and Ncuti Gatwa will make his debut as the Fifteenth Doctor. Russell T Davies is on showrunning and writing duties for this old-meets-new event, which has fans giddy with excitement.

Lifestyle

Comic Con Africa 2023 has come and gone. If you missed our coverage of the fourth-ever CCA, you can read our reflection on the jam-packed four-day event, as well as check out our cosplay showcase.

For the record, you also still have a couple of days to take advantage of a special 2-for-1 deal which will see you be part of the first ever Comic Con Africa Cruise with MSC Cruises, which is taking place over 4 days in March next year. For the record, the Balcony Cabins are more premium, and with all costs factored in, you’ll be looking at a total of approximately R13,500 for two people together (R6,750 pp), excluding any drinks and additional packages you may wish to bolt on.

Gaming

Just three quick gaming news tidbits for you today:

  • The Writers Strike may be over but the actors’ union strike may be expanding. Poised to join their film and series brethren now will be video game performers after over 98% of SAG-AFTRA members voted in favour of a strike authorization against the offer from 10 major video game companies. Bargaining over the Interactive Media Agreement, and the terms of that contract, continues in the meantime.
  • PlayStation head Jim Ryan – PS’s answer to Xbox’s Phil Spencer – is leaving the company in March next year after almost 30 years. Ryan will be retiring.
  • Another game has bowed out of the 2023 Quarter 4 release battle. Dontnod and Focus Entertainment’s dark and intriguing action RPG Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is shifting out to 13 February 2024 after initially announcing a 7 November 2023 debut. This 3-month delay is to try and ensure it receives the attention it deserves on launch. Banishers is coming to Windows PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles.

Comics & Books

Square-jawed, hard-hitting police detective Dick Tracy is making a return to the page with Mad Cave Comics. Chester Gould’s Golden Age comic strip was massively popular in its day, leading to radio serials, merchandise like Tracy’s signature two-way radio watch, and eventually Warren Beatty’s highly stylised and Oscar-winning 1990 big screen adaptation.

This new comic series, described as a reinvention, promises “a grounded, noir take” on the character and his corrupt city world. Steering the ship for the initial story arc are the creative team of authors Alex Segura, Michael Moreci, and artist Geraldo Borges, with creative consultation from Chantelle Aimée Osman.

Dick Tracy #1 goes on sale in March 2024.