Welcome to this week’s PUNCHLIST, where we round up the biggest news in nerd culture. It might be from the MCU, board gaming, D&D, and more. But whatever the news is this week, you can bet it will eventually separate you from your money.
7. D&D: Ray Winninger Replaces Mike Mearls as Executive Producer
Mike Mearls’ silence on Twitter and Twitch is somewhat explained by a change of involvement with Dungeons and Dragons. Though he’s still working “in some capacity” for Wizards of the Coast, he is no longer involved in the tabletop RPG’s production.
+ More here: Ray Winninger is Head of D&D RPG Team
6. Theaters Are Threatening to Boycott Universal Studios Movies
After a successful video-on-demand (VOD) release of Trolls World Tour by Universal Studios, many theater companies are declaring that they will no longer book or show any of the company’s films.
We think theaters are huffing and puffing against a brick house, though. We’ve written at greater length about this news here.
+ More here: Regal Cinemas, AMC Theaters Ban Universal Movies
5. Lots of Movie News Even in the Midst of Closures
There is still plenty taking place on the movie front while production is shut down worldwide:
- Paramount Studios is rebooting GI Joe and developing an animated prequel to the Transformers series
- Disney is eyeing a live action Hercules movie with the Russo brothers
- LEGO found a new home with Universal Pictures (they were previously with Warner Brothers)
+ More here: Movie news
4. Taika Waititi to Direct Future Star Wars Movie
Thor: Ragnarok diretor Taika Waititi is confirmed to director and co-write an as of yet unnamed Star Wars feature film alongside Krysty Wilson-Cairns. The title is slated for 2024.
+ More here: Taika Waititi to Direct New Star Wars Movie
3. Frosthaven Sets New Kickstarter Record for Tabletop Games
Funding just shy of $13 million, Cephalofair Games’ Frosthaven is now the most successful tabletop game campaign on the crowd funding Kickstarter website. On top of that, over 600 retailers backed the project.
+ More here: Frosthaven Kickstarter Raises Nearly $13 Million
2. Kickstarter Lays Off 40% of Workforce
Despite record-breaking campaigns, the volume of projects hosted on Kickstarter has seen significant decline. As a result, 40% of their workforce was let go this week. But that was not before executives took pay cuts, and the severance packages are pretty strong.
+ More here: Kickstarter Layoffs
1. Sony Has Named The Universe Containing Their Marvel Properties
Sony’s lineup of Marvel titles was initially dubbed the “Spider-Man Universe of Characters” before being changed to “Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters.” Neither really rolls off the tongue, though, now do they? But the SPUMC is a thing now.
+ More here: Sony Announces SPUMC
Check back next Wednesday for more news for nerds. Better yet, scroll down just a few more inches and sign up for our newsletter, The Cable.
Tabletop Takeaways: Tips for Dungeon Masters with a Narrative Spin