Podcast Excerpt – Geek Talk #40
Hosts: Derek Lun & Miles Bourne
Special Guest: JakeTalksComics
Miles: First of all, welcome back, Jake!
Jake: Good to be back. I've actually been looking forward to this one. [glances at Derek]
Miles: [laughs] Oh, I bet you have. [sarcastically] Why, Jake? Did something happen last time you were here?
Jake: Good thing you asked, Miles. See, Derek here made some… very questionable claims.
Derek: [groans] Alright, alright.
Miles: [chuckling] Uh-oh.
Jake: And I said I'd be back to collect receipts.
Derek: Fine! I admit it the Dark Knight was pretty good.
Jake: [grinning] Really? Better than The Winter Soldier? You said that was the best thing since sliced bread. So, say it. Say The Dark Knight is better than The Winter Soldier.
Derek: [laughs] Okay, okay… it was better. The Dark Knight was a good movie, alright? But The Flash was dog shit.
Miles: [mock gasp] OHHHHHH, here we go!
Jake: [laughs] Of course! The deflection I was expecting!
Derek: I mean, come on, I expected way more from DC after The Dark Knight. And The Flash? Total letdown. It was all over the place. Admit it, Jake.
Jake: [shrugs] Look, it had some issues. I'm not saying it's perfect. But "dog shit"? Really, Derek?
Miles: I'm gonna throw a hot take in here… I think The Flash was better than The Dark Knight.
Derek: [explodes] Oh, fuck off, Miles!
Jake: [laughing hard]
Miles: Okay, okay! But now that we've gotten that out of the way… this episode is going to be special. As you can see, Jake is back with us.
Jake: Which, of course, is why it's special.
[All laugh]
Miles: We asked you guys to send in your questions and hot takes about the MCU and DCU for us to tackle and trust me, we got some juicy ones.
Jake: Perfect. Let's get into it.
Miles: Jake, would you do the honors?
Jake: Gladly. [laughs as he reads] First question oh, this is good. "Hey Derek, remember when you said and I quote 'the only way I'm going to change my mind is if The Dark Knight turns out to be the greatest comic book movie ever made, and it completely shatters all my expectations'? End quote. So… have you changed your mind?"
[Laughter erupts in the room]
Derek: [smiles, shaking his head] Oh, come on. I already said this during our Dark Knight episode.
Miles: No, you didn't!
Derek: Yes, I did! I said it was great, alright?
Jake: [grins] Oh wait, there's more to this one. "Do you think an MCU movie considering all the movies they've announced will surpass it?"
Derek: Absolutely. It's gonna be Infinity War.
Jake: Really?
Derek: Yeah. Look at how they're building up to it. I think Infinity War is going to be the greatest.
Jake: [shakes head] I don't think so. Do I think Infinity War will be great? Sure. But topping The Dark Knight? That's a tall order. That movie is probably going to win a few Oscars this year.
Miles: I'll say this I think The Dark Knight will always sit a tier above anything else we get from the MCU or DCU from now on. In my opinion, it was perfect.
Jake: Maybe Batman 3 will top it.
Miles: Ah! Speaking of Batman 3, that's actually our next question. [reads off] "Do you think Adler just likes Batman more, since we've got three Batman movies in Phase One of the DCU? I couldn't believe it when they showed at Comic-Con that there's going to be a third movie next year."
Derek: Adler's got a hard-on for Batman. Let's be real. The guy literally said he's going to make, like, five or six Batman movies.
Miles: [laughs] Yeah, I think there's some favoritism going on here.
Jake: I don't think so. Maybe here's my theory: there won't actually be much Batman in Phase Two. If any at all. Remember, Adler's said he wants to do things differently from Marvel. I think instead of solo movies clogging things up, we're gonna start seeing team-up films after Justice League. Smaller team-ups. Like a World's Finest with Batman and Superman, or maybe a Trinity movie with Wonder Woman included. And Superman and Supergirl? That's definitely happening, considering Brainiac's already been teased.
Derek: [nodding] Okay, but I had a thought. Considering Thanos is going to be the big bad in Marvel, do you think DC will do Darkseid?
Jake: I don't see why not.
Miles: But then there are the similarities…
Jake: Yeah, people will say they're the same. But c'mon Thanos was literally a copy of Darkseid. And honestly, I think Adler could really pull off Darkseid in a way that he won't be compared to Thanos, since Thanos will be on screens first.
Derek: Darkseid is more compelling to me than Thanos. But yeah, the casual audience is definitely gonna draw comparisons.
Jake: That'll happen. No avoiding it.
Miles: About Justice League though I've been thinking. We're five DCU movies in, and there's still no clear tease for who the big bad is gonna be. Like, in Marvel, we knew the Tesseract was important from Captain America 1, and Loki was set up as the villain in Thor. But DCU? Nothing.
Derek: Maybe the Green Lanterns will give us something, since that's leading into Justice League.
Jake: Yeah, I agree. I don't see anything in Aquaman, but Lanterns? Definitely.
Derek: Maybe someone from Apokolips invades. [pauses] Oh Steppenwolf. Or maybe Darkseid himself.
Miles: No, no. Too early. Darkseid can't be in the first Justice League movie.
Jake: Well… maybe Adler does it differently, you know? Something to separate the DCU from Marvel.
Miles: Nah, I don't think so. Darkseid can't be a villain-of-the-week. Come on, man.
Derek: [snaps his fingers] Maybe Starro?
Jake: [grinning] Ohhh, now that would be great. That would be different.
Miles: True, the League did first form fighting Starro. But then again… Superman and Batman weren't even part of that original comic lineup. It could be Zod. A Kryptonian invasion. Or maybe Brainiac himself. What if that Brainiac tease wasn't just for Superman 2, but actually for Justice League?
Derek: Yeah, yeah that does make sense. Brainiac fits.
Jake: But then that doesn't explain Martian Manhunter. Adler already confirmed he's first showing up in Justice League. So my current theory? White Martians. Or even Hyperclan.
Miles: Ooooh, that makes sense. White Martians could be really cool. Wonder who they'll cast for J'onn, though.
Derek: [clears throat] Alright, next question. [reading] "What do you think of the Green Lantern cast, and do you think we'll get a Parallax Hal? Since John's the main Lantern and Hal's more the elder, experienced one. Also will Adler bring in Kyle or Guy?"
Miles: I liked the cast. Chris Pine and Damson Idris? Solid picks. And yeah, I hope we eventually see Kyle and Guy.
Jake: Parallax though? Probably not happening, at least not now. That's a big event.
Derek: Maybe Phase Three. Imagine Hal goes Parallax, causes huge damage to the Corps, and it all ties into a major Crisis-level event. Could even set the stage for Darkseid to make his move.
Miles: Okay, next one. [reading listener submission] "Hot take: I think the MCU is in trouble because of the sheer number of movies they've announced."
Derek & Jake: [both burst out laughing]
Jake: You're complaining about too many movies? My guy, come on. Just enjoy this era while it lasts!
Derek: Exactly. We finally hit the sweet spot superhero films from both Marvel and DC dropping back-to-back—and you're saying there's too many? Get outta here.
Miles: Alright, alright. Next one. [reading] "The Black Widow movie will be boring. It's just Marvel's answer to Wonder Woman."
Jake: [deadpan] No. Next question.
[Laughter fills the recording]
Miles: Okay this one's spicy. "Do you think Age of Ultron is in trouble? Especially after Joss left following the allegations?"
Derek: Honestly? I think it's going to be even better. The Russos are in, baby! If they bring something similar to what they did in Winter Soldier, some of my issues with the first Avengers could finally be solved.
Jake: Yeah, and honestly, it kind of looks like Marvel had some inkling about Joss before everything blew up. I know that sounds a little conspiratorial but they brought the Russos on board before all that news broke.
Derek: [grins] Feige, man. Big brain moves.
Miles: Okay, next one. "What do you think about the rumored deal between DC Studios and Netflix to make series set in the DCU like Marvel is doing with Daredevil and the Defenders shows?"
Jake: Oh, that's inevitable. Especially considering Adler's on Netflix's board. My money's on a Teen Titans series.
Derek: Titans would be great, but I'd still rather see a proper movie first.
Jake: Yeah, but think about the possibilities. A ton of DC characters would thrive in a serialized format. Imagine a show just about the police in Gotham street-level stuff.
Miles: [eyes widen] That sounds amazing.
Derek: Okay, next question it's for Jake. "What do you think Phase 2 of the DCU will be? Which new movies other than sequels? Also you were right, Reverse Flash rocked in The Flash movie. I think I like him better than the Joker."
Derek: [grins] Okay, I agree with the Reverse Flash stuff.
Miles: Wait I thought you said The Flash was dog shit.
Derek: I did. But I liked the parts where Eobard was in it.
Jake: [laughs] Derek, just say you liked it, man. MCU, DCU there's no competition.
Jake: [pauses, then answers] Okay, on what I think the new movies will be… I'm betting on sequels for Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, maybe Green Lantern. I'm not too sure about Aquaman yet I've said before, it's the one movie I'm least confident in for the DCU. But hey, I'll wait until it actually drops before making that call.
Derek: If Adler somehow makes Aquaman cool, then I'll say the DCU has officially surpassed the MCU.
Jake: [smirks] Okay, well, now I do think Aquaman will get a sequel.
[Laughter erupts]
Jake: Like I've said before, maybe we'll see some team-up movies—maybe Shazam. But one thing I know we won't see? Another Batman solo movie in Phase 2.
[More laughter]
Jake: You can hold me to that.
Miles: Alright, next one "What's up with the Justice Society in The Flash?"
Jake: [laughing] Check out my channel, guys. I've got an hour-long breakdown on it.
[Laughter continues]
Derek: Okay, but seriously, I'll give them this DCU needed to differentiate from the MCU, and I was pleasantly surprised they pulled it off with that JSA reference.
Jake: The movie that's "dog shit."
Derek: [laughs] Okay, maybe there are some good parts. That included.
Miles: [grinning] Next one "Do you think you can get Daniel Adler on the podcast?"
Derek: Oh, fuck yeah. That's the dream, baby.
Jake: Honestly? I think Adler's more likely to come on than people think.
Miles: Geek Talk #100 special guest Daniel Adler. Calling it now.
Derek: [leans into the mic] Daniel, I know you watch us. Come on the show. Make our dreams come true.
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Arcanum Games Acquires Monolith Productions
Arcanum Games has officially acquired Monolith Productions, following Warner Bros.' decision to shut the studio down earlier last year.
Monolith, best known for F.E.A.R., had been working on a new Lord of the Rings title before the closure. Unfortunately, that project will not be completed. Arcanum's leadership has confirmed that while the in-progress LOTR game is shelved, the technology and creative assets developed at Monolith will now be redirected into new projects.
John Sterling, head of Arcanum, released a statement earlier today:
"We're incredibly excited to bring Monolith into the Arcanum family. They bring decades of experience in storytelling and action mechanics, and their tools and assets will be invaluable to the ambitious projects we have planned. We want to honor their legacy by giving their developers the freedom to continue creating groundbreaking work."
Sterling did not comment directly on whether Monolith's cancelled LOTR game might be revived in another form, but suggested that their technology could be adapted for future Arcanum titles.
Arcanum, the studio behind the critically acclaimed Souls franchise, is already in active development on its third installment, currently slated for a 2017 release. Early leaks suggest it will continue to evolve the punishing combat and atmospheric world design the series is known for, but with larger environments and deeper RPG systems.
Arcanum is wholly owned by Daniel Adler, one of the biggest names in entertainment this decade. There are also rumors that Arcanum is developing a game set within Adler's literary works. Two names keep surfacing: Percy Jackson and A Song of Ice and Fire.
So far, Arcanum has neither confirmed nor denied these rumors.
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Post on r/Bitcoin
[DISCUSSION] Daniel Adler reveals he owns nearly 2% of Bitcoin in circulation
So apparently Daniel Adler claims he owns nearly 2% of all Bitcoin in circulation.
I didn't even know he was into crypto, but if that's true, he must have been an early adopter.
Did some quick math: Let's say it's around 1.7% since he said nearly 2%. That would be about 250,000 BTC based on the current supply.
That's like $60M worth of Bitcoin at today's price.
He's like the Winklevoss twins. I think they revealed they own about 70,000 coins thats nothingt compared what Adler has.
Top Comments
u/crypertnt
If true, Adler is a smart guy. He clearly knows the future is in crypto.
u/blockgttealist
I call BS. No way he has that much. That's whale-level only Sakamoto has more than Adler.
u/surprisffwl
Wait… Daniel Adler is tech-savvy? I always thought of him as a film guy, not like us.
u/balaneets
Tbh, he probably has some crypto-enthusiast financial manager guiding him.
u/invesindset
He's a really smart investor, though. His net worth is like $2B now, right? Wouldn't surprise me if a chunk of it is Bitcoin.
u/nuruncher84 replying to u/invesindset
Hold up. $2 BILLION?? No way… how the hell is he that rich already??
u/linkdropper9000 replying to u/nuruncher84
Check this https://www.reddit.com/r/Adlerholics/4xy9ab/speculation_on_daniel_adlers_net_worth/ it's a good discussion on where most of Adler's money comes from.
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Post on r/spiderman
It's official – Spider-Man is coming to the MCU!
[Link to article]
Sony and Disney have finally struck a deal Spider-Man is back on the big screen, this time as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe! I honestly can't believe it's happening. The last time we saw Spidey was with Raimi's movie, which deserved a proper sequel instead of getting scrapped.
Now the big question: who's going to play him? And how will Spider-Man fit into the MCU's current storyline? Whatever happens it's just great to finally have Spidey back where he belongs.
Top Comments
u/hydays55:
Fuck yeah, let's gooo!
u/filmne42:
I guess Sony realized that working with Disney is better than confusing audiences. The deal actually looks really good for Sony too.
u/excerfan77:
Marvel has become whole once more.
u/mcnboy88:
So I guess we'll see a tease in Age of Ultron?
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Midas Productions Signs Major Multi-Year Deal with Netflix
Midas Productions, founded by Academy Award–winning producer and writer Daniel Adler, has officially signed a multi-year partnership with Netflix to deliver two films per year for the streaming giant.
Netflix executives described the deal as a cornerstone of their strategy to strengthen their slate of blockbuster-style content.
"Daniel Adler and Midas Productions have proven they know how to create films that spark cultural moments," a Netflix spokesperson said.
As part of the agreement, Adler confirmed that all films developed under the deal will receive limited theatrical releases before streaming a strategy that mirrors Netflix's push into prestige filmmaking while maximizing reach through its platform.
In a statement, Adler expressed excitement about the deal:
"This partnership with Netflix allows us to expand the kinds of stories we want to tell and share them with a global audience."
Midas, which has already produced several box office hits and Oscar-winning films, will significantly increase its movie output under this arrangement. One of the most anticipated projects is Netflix's adaptation of Adler's bestselling fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire, which will be developed under the new deal. Netflix aims to turn the epic saga into a tentpole franchise.
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Post on r/Deadpool
Ryan Reynolds says Deadpool is not happening for now… and he also blames Daniel Adler for it??!!
So Ryan just did an interview (link below) where he talked about the whole Deadpool movie situation.
He basically said:
The leaked test footage years ago gave the movie a TON of momentum.It was close to being greenlit, but then the Disney/Fox merger slowed everything down.Now, according to him, it looks like Marvel Studios isn't really interested. Feige apparently told him directly that Deadpool is "not on the table for now." THEN Ryan drops this weird line about an "outside force" who doesn't like him, being part of the reason… and many are already speculating he's talking about Daniel Adler. There was even a deleted tweet from him directly blaming Adler for it.
Kind of wild considering Adler and Reynolds have thrown shade at each other before, it doesn't sound impossible.If this is true, why would Adler do it? And why would Feige even listen to someone who's basically an enemy?
Here's the interview link: Ryan Reynolds talks Deadpool future
Top comments:
u/MalFan9662
Not really surprised, tbh. Disney was never going to let an R-rated movie happen the way Ryan wanted. Don't know why he's blaming Adler though it feels like a reach.
u/spideerd56
Ryan, I get that you and Adler have beef, but there's no reason to drag him into this. Feige runs the MCU, not Adler.
u/coicgeek87
(posts a photo of Daniel Adler shaking hands with Bob Iger, with Kathleen Kennedy and Feige nearby)
Look, this was taken at Disney's private exec dinner at D23 like a month ago. Adler was there. He definitely could've influenced some decisions. Yeah, Ryan and Adler have thrown barbs at each other before, but maybe this time Adler took it too far.
u/Mtt55hard
If this is true, then Adler is literally sabotaging the MCU. He's cozying up to Disney execs and screwing over the guy he doesn't like. That's a big middle finger to us fans. Ryan is Deadpool. There's no one else who can play him especially after the leaked footage proved it.
u/hopeutant45
I knew this would happen when I first heard about the merger. Still holding out hope though.
u/wolverine2020
Wait, why are Ryan and Adler beefing anyway?
u/frdsggkeeper45 replying to u/wolverine2020
tumblr.com/fandomlorekeeper/ryan-vs-daniel-feud-explained explains the entire beef.
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DC Games Studios to Show Off Its Debut Title at Gamescom
The newly formed DC Games Studios is set to reveal its first game at Gamescom. According to multiple sources, yes it's reportedly a Batman game.
While details remain under wraps, early reports suggest the title will be a third-person open-world action game.
Industry insiders speculate the project has been in quiet development since late 2014 under DC's new in-house gaming division, created to unify and expand their properties across interactive media. If true, this could mark a major step in DC's strategy to mirror the cross-media success of its cinematic universe.
Though not officially confirmed, the game is expected to launch sometime in 2016.
The biggest question fans have right now: will Gamescom showcase a cinematic trailer or actual gameplay footage? DC Games has been teasing something "substantial," leading many to hope for at least a brief gameplay reveal.
Another hot debate centers on which version of Batman the game will follow. With the DC Cinematic Universe in full swing, could the studio tie it to Adler and Nolan's Batman trilogy? Or will it establish its own continuity?
We'll know more once Gamescom kicks off.
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Midas Productions Secures Rights to Frank Herbert's Dune
Midas Productions, Daniel Adler's production company, has officially secured the film and television rights to Frank Herbert's legendary Dune franchise.
The rights to Dune have a long and complicated history. Over the decades, Herbert's magnum opus has attracted filmmakers and studios eager to bring the sprawling saga to the screen. In the 1970s, Alejandro Jodorowsky famously attempted an ambitious adaptation that never materialized, while David Lynch's 1984 version split critics and audiences. Later, the Sci-Fi Channel produced a well-received miniseries in the early 2000s, but the cinematic rights continued to bounce between studios for years.
Midas Productions has now officially taken over the property from its previous rights holders, giving Adler's team control of both feature films and television series set in the Dune universe.
Adler, who has become one of Hollywood's most influential producer-writers, did not hide his excitement, saying it was his favorite book and that he will personally oversee the project to ensure it is adapted properly for the big screen.
Insiders note that Adler is planning an epic-scale film series covering the original novels, alongside television spin-offs exploring side stories and other corners of Herbert's world. Industry watchers say the deal also demonstrates Midas's growing influence.
No casting, directors, or timelines have been announced yet, but sources suggest development on the first film could begin as early as next year.