Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has identified Supergirl as the "fourth pillar" of DC heroes, placing her alongside the established trinity of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.

Zaslav made this statement during an investor call while discussing the future of DC Studios under the new leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran. This designation signals Supergirl's elevated importance in the upcoming DC Universe (DCU) slate.

A key part of this focus is the planned film "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow," based on Tom King's acclaimed comic book series. Zaslav emphasized that Supergirl has a "great story," and her inclusion as a foundational character signifies a strategic move to expand and diversify the core heroes within the new DCU. This positions Supergirl for a major role in DC's cinematic future.

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The article views this as a refreshing and positive change, breaking away from the long-standing trope where Lois is either oblivious or spends significant time trying to uncover Superman's secret. This approach, the article argues:

1. Respects Lois Lane's intelligence as a top-tier investigative journalist, making it more believable that she would know.
2. Avoids retreading tired narrative ground, freeing up the story to explore new dynamics.
3. Allows the film to immediately establish a deeper, more mature relationship between Lois and Clark, focusing on them as a partnership.
4. Mirrors trends in more modern comics and successful adaptations like , where Lois knowing the secret early on leads to richer storytelling.
5. Saves screen time that would otherwise be dedicated to the "cat-and-mouse" game of hiding the identity, allowing for exploration of other aspects of their characters and the world.

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The Nerdist article, humorously titled "MAX CHANGES NAME BACK TO HBO MAX (WE WISH)," is not a factual report of a name change. Instead, it's an opinion piece expressing a strong desire for the streaming service Max to revert to its former name, HBO Max.

The author argues that the change from HBO Max to simply "Max" was a mistake because:

1. Brand Dilution: HBO has decades of brand recognition synonymous with prestige and quality television. Dropping "HBO" from the name significantly diluted this powerful brand.
2. Consumer Confusion: "Max" is generic and doesn't clearly communicate the service's core offering, especially the high-quality HBO content. The original "HBO Max" clearly signaled "everything HBO, plus more."
3. Perceived Demotion of HBO: Integrating HBO content with Discovery+ reality shows under the generic "Max" banner felt like it devalued the HBO brand, making it just another tile among many.
4. Widespread Dissatisfaction: The article implies that many consumers and critics were unhappy with the name change and the reasoning behind it.

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The Nerdist article highlights an impressive compilation video created by SportsNet New York (SNY), the broadcast home of the New York Mets.

This video transforms ordinary baseball moments, specifically from a Mets game against the Astros, into a "cinematic" experience. It achieves this by using techniques like slow-motion shots, a dramatic musical soundtrack instead of traditional commentary, and a focus on the tension, skill, and human emotion of the game.

The article praises SNY for this artistic approach, noting that the video (which went viral) elevates the viewing experience, making baseball appear epic and allowing viewers to appreciate the sport's inherent beauty, drama, and the incredible athleticism involved in a fresh, more profound way. It's described as a fantastic tribute to the game.

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The Nerdist article "The Best TV and Film Trailers We Can’t Wait to See in 2025" is a speculative look forward, listing movie and TV show trailers the author is most anticipating for projects expected in 2025 and beyond. It's not a review of trailers already released, but rather a wishlist of what they're excited to get a first glimpse of.

Key highlights from their anticipated trailer list include:

• DC Universe: James Gunn's Superman and Matt Reeves' The Batman Part II.
• Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU): A large number of entries, including Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, the MCU debut of Fantastic Four, Blade, and the next major event films Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (though its future is uncertain given recent events) and Avengers: Secret Wars (slated for 2027).
• Other Major Films: James Cameron's Avatar 3 and Pixar's Elio.
• Anticipated Horror/Genre Films: Robert Eggers' Nosferatu, Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein, the sequel M3GAN 2.0, and Maggie Gyllenhaal's star-studded The Bride!.
• TV Shows: While more film-focused, it also expresses anticipation for trailers for shows like The Penguin (a 2024 release, but its trailer is eagerly awaited), Daredevil: Born Again, and The Last of Us Season 2.

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The Nerdist article aims to spotlight the most exciting TV and film trailers that are building anticipation, ostensibly for releases in 2025, though many of the highlighted projects are actually slated for mid to late 2024.

The piece runs through a list of notable trailers, including:

• Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga: Praised for its epic scale and action.
• A Quiet Place: Day One: Noted for showing the terrifying beginning of the alien invasion.
• Twisters: Highlighted for its modern take on storm-chasing action.
• Deadpool & Wolverine: Celebrated for its humor, action, and the return of Hugh Jackman's Wolverine.
• Alien: Romulus: Applauded for its return to the franchise's horror roots.
• Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: Emphasized for its nostalgic elements and the return of original cast members alongside new faces.
• The Penguin (Max series): Noted for its gritty crime drama tone, expanding The Batman universe.
• Wicked: Praised for its visually stunning look and the performances of its leads.
• Moana 2: Highlighted for teasing a new adventure for the beloved character.

For each trailer, the article briefly discusses what makes it effective, such as its ability to convey tone, introduce characters, showcase action or visuals, or leverage nostalgia, ultimately building excitement for the upcoming releases. Despite the "2025" in its title, the article (published in May 2024) largely focuses on trailers for significant films and shows releasing in the latter half of 2024.

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The article reports that Tom Cruise has signed a new, non-exclusive "strategic partnership" deal with Warner Bros. Discovery. This deal will see him develop and produce original and franchise theatrical films, essentially giving him an office on their lot and allowing him to star in these projects.

Crucially, this does not mean he is leaving Paramount Pictures. In fact, the article highlights that  is reportedly in early development at Paramount. Ehren Kruger, the co-writer of Top Gun: Maverick, is said to be working on the script. It's also hoped that Joseph Kosinski (director of Maverick) will return, along with co-stars Miles Teller and Glen Powell.

The article emphasizes that Cruise will continue his relationship with Paramount, where he is also still working on the next Mission: Impossible film. The Warner Bros. deal is seen as a move to bring Cruise back to a studio where he had previous success (e.g., Edge of Tomorrow, Risky Business) and allow him to make a wider variety of films across different studios, rather than an exclusive commitment to one.

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The ending of Marvel's upcoming Thunderbolts movie was reportedly changed significantly following test screenings, according to industry insider Jeff Sneider.

The original cut of the film allegedly featured a "darker" ending where the character Sentry (Robert Reynolds), positioned as the main antagonist or "big bad," was killed off. However, test audiences purportedly reacted negatively to this, expressing a desire to see more of the powerful character.

As a result of this feedback, reshoots were undertaken to alter the ending. The strong implication is that Sentry will now survive the events of the film, potentially setting him up for future appearances in the MCU.

The Thunderbolts film assembles a team of anti-heroes and villains from the MCU, including Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier), U.S. Agent, Taskmaster, Red Guardian, and Ghost, brought together by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. The movie is scheduled for release in July 2025, and this change highlights how audience feedback can influence the final cut of major MCU productions.

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The Nerdist article reports that Krysten Ritter is rumored to be returning as Jessica Jones for the second season of Marvel's upcoming Disney+ series, .

This report, originating from insider Daniel Richtman (via ComicBook.com), suggests Ritter will reprise her popular role, though it has not yet been officially confirmed by Marvel Studios.

If the report is accurate, Ritter would join other actors from the Netflix Marvel era who are confirmed for Born Again, including Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Vincent D'Onofrio (Kingpin), and Jon Bernthal (The Punisher).

The article notes that Daredevil: Born Again underwent a significant creative overhaul. While its first season has yet to air, plans for a second season (where Jessica Jones would reportedly appear) are apparently already in development. Krysten Ritter has previously expressed her willingness and enthusiasm to play Jessica Jones again. Her potential return is seen as another step in integrating the Defenders Saga characters more fully into the mainline MCU, a move highly anticipated by fans..

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The Nerdist article discusses Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Val), played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and her role in assembling the MCU's Thunderbolts team.

Key takeaways:

1. Val's Mysterious Role: Val has been surreptitiously recruiting individuals like Yelena Belova and John Walker (US Agent) in projects like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Black Widow. She's positioned as a shadowy figure, potentially an "anti-Nick Fury," with unclear allegiances and motivations.
2. Comic Book Background: In the comics, Val has a complex history, initially as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who later became Madame Hydra. This duality makes her MCU counterpart's intentions even more intriguing.
3. The Thunderbolts Team (MCU): The confirmed MCU team includes Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier), John Walker (US Agent), Taskmaster, Red Guardian, and Ghost. The Sentry is also heavily rumored and teased. These are mostly anti-heroes or characters operating in moral gray areas.
4. Thunderbolts' Comic Origins: The original Thunderbolts were villains (Masters of Evil led by Baron Zemo) posing as heroes. Later iterations saw them as government-sanctioned teams of reformed villains or anti-heroes, sometimes comparable to the Dark Avengers. The MCU version seems to be leaning towards a team of morally complex individuals used for missions the Avengers wouldn't touch.
5. Val's Motivations & "Oxe Company": The article speculates on Val's goals. Is she working for a clandestine government agency, a private entity, or for herself? A set photo revealed the name "Oxe Company," which is speculated to be a front organization for Val's operations, possibly similar to how Roxxon operates in the MCU, or even a company she owns or works for.
6. Potential Purpose of the Team: The Thunderbolts could be a PR move, a deniable black-ops team, or Val's personal enforcers. Their dynamic will likely be volatile given the members' personalities.

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