DC Goes All In: Absolute Batman, a Joker Anime, and Krypto Get Animated

DC Goes All In: Absolute Batman, a Joker Anime, and Krypto Get Animated

DC Studios dropped three major animation announcements at Annecy this morning, and this episode breaks down all of them. The headliner is an Absolute Batman animated series with the comic's own creative team steering the ship, followed by Joker: Laugh Riot, an original anime that flips the Batman formula on its head, and a Krypto series that brings a much lighter, family-friendly energy to the slate. No manor, no money, all Batman, and that is just the start. Beyond the three big reveals, this one digs into why these announcements matter for the bigger picture. With projects like Mister Miracle from Tom King already in the works, DC is treating animation as a real priority rather than a side project. The takeaway is simple: animation has become the place where these characters can be told accurately and ambitiously, the same way Invincible and X-Men '97 proved the medium can carry the most compelling superhero stories around. * 00:00:00 DC Studios' Big Annecy Announcements * 00:00:04 Absolute Batman Gets an Animated Series * 00:00:29 Joker: Laugh Riot, DC's First Anime * 00:00:57 Krypto and the SpongeBob Connection * 00:01:17 Why Animation Is No Longer a Side Project for DC * 00:01:32 Listener Question and Sign Off * Absolute Batman is getting an animated series with Scott Snyder showrunning and artist Nick Dragotta producing, so the comic's creative team stays intact. No release date yet. * The Absolute Batman comic has sold more than 6 million copies, with the first volume already on its 11th printing. This version is a working-class Bruce Wayne with no fortune, no manor, only one parent lost, and a civil engineer who builds all his own tools. * Joker: Laugh Riot is an anime from WB Animation, DC Studios, and Japan's SOLA Entertainment, the studio behind The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, with the same director attached. * The Joker story is original: after Batman is killed, the Joker tears through Gotham's underworld hunting the culprit, because he realizes he does not know who he is without Batman. * The Krypto series is the furthest out and the most lighthearted, following Superman's dog as he runs with a gang of misfit criminals. C.H. Greenblatt of SpongeBob fame is developing it, so expect that playful energy. * The bigger story is that DC is putting real weight behind animation now, with Mister Miracle from Tom King and more on the way. Following the lead of Invincible and X-Men '97, animation is where these comic-accurate stories can truly shine. * "If you're not on the absolute train yet, get on it. It's so good." * "He works on the city during the day, fights crime at night, and he's beefy as hell." * "Animation is no longer a side project for these guys. They're actually putting a lot of mustard behind this." For the latest geek news, head to GeekFreaksPodcast.com, our source for everything covered on the show. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, leave a review, and share it with a fellow geek using #GeekFreaks. Follow us: * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast [https://www.facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast] * Threads: https://www.threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast [https://www.threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast] * Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast [https://www.patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast] * Frank: @franklourence79 * Thomas: @thomascraigviii Are you reading Absolute Batman? What are you most excited to see animated? Drop your questions and hot takes in the comments, and we may read them on a future episode. TimestampsKey TakeawaysMemorable QuotesStay Connected

Magic School Bus Live-Action Movie: Elizabeth Banks Takes the Wheel as Ms. Frizzle

The Magic School Bus is heading to the big screen for the first time ever, and this one is for the millennials. On this episode of Geek Freaks Headlines, we break down the news that Elizabeth Banks (Hunger Games, 30 Rock, The Lego Movie) is attached to star as the legendary Ms. Frizzle in a live-action adaptation. Rob Letterman, who directed Detective Pikachu, is writing the treatment and directing. We get into why this has been a long time coming, with Legendary having held the rights since 2020 and sitting on the project for about six years. We also talk format: this will not be fully live-action but a hybrid, which likely means a CGI or animated bus, and we float whether the movie will be an origin story or just one of Ms. Frizzle's classic adventures. From there we go nostalgic, looking back at the original 1994 to 1997 PBS series and the icon that is Lily Tomlin, and we get honest about the bigger question: do we even need a remake, or should kids just watch the originals? The answer comes down to access. These stories about friction, motors, and the digestive system still have a lot to teach, and if a new generation gets to ride along with Ms. Frizzle, that is a trip worth taking. * 00:00 The Magic School Bus Heads to Live-Action * 00:13 Six Years in Development at Legendary * 00:25 Hybrid Format and What the Movie Could Be * 00:33 Franchise History and the Lily Tomlin Legacy * 00:42 Remake Debate: Do We Need One * 00:55 Why Ms. Frizzle Still Matters * 01:11 Listener Question: Your Favorite Episode * Elizabeth Banks is attached to star as Ms. Frizzle in the first-ever live-action Magic School Bus movie. * Rob Letterman, director of Detective Pikachu, is writing the treatment and directing. * Legendary has held the rights since 2020, so this has been roughly six years in the making. * The film will be a hybrid rather than fully live-action, so expect the iconic bus to be CGI or animated. * It is still unclear whether the story will be an origin tale or a standalone Magic School Bus adventure. * The first books arrived 40 years ago, and the beloved PBS series ran from 1994 to 1997 with Lily Tomlin voicing Ms. Frizzle. * The remake conversation lands on access: a lot of kids today simply do not have these classic stories in front of them, and Ms. Frizzle still has plenty to teach. * "This one's for the millennials." * "Lily Tomlin as the voice of Miss Frizzle. What an absolute icon." * "You don't need a remake to just have the kids watch the originals." * "Miss Frizzle has a lot to teach." If you enjoyed this episode, do us a favor and hit subscribe so you never miss a headline. Leave us a rating and review wherever you listen, it genuinely helps more geeks find the show. And if you know someone who grew up riding the bus, share this episode with them and tag it with #GeekFreaksHeadlines. We want to hear from you. Do you have a favorite Magic School Bus episode? Are you team nostalgia or team let-the-kids-watch-the-originals? Drop your thoughts and your listener questions and we may read them on a future episode. * News source: GeekFreaksPodcast.com [https://geekfreakspodcast.com/] * Facebook: facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast * Threads: threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast * Patreon: patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast Magic School Bus, Elizabeth Banks, Ms. Frizzle, live action movie, Rob Letterman, Detective Pikachu, Legendary Entertainment, Scholastic, Lily Tomlin, nostalgia, millennials, kids movies, family movies, geek news, pop culture, entertainment news, movie news, remakes, PBS, animation

Dungeon Crawler Carl Is Officially Coming to Peacock: The CGI Test That Made It Happen

Peacock has handed Dungeon Crawler Carl a straight-to-series order, and this one is locked in. No pilot, no waiting to see if it sticks. In this episode of Geek Freaks Headlines, we break down the greenlight, why the project went live-action instead of animated, and the single thing author Matt Dinniman did to make sure the show would actually look good before signing off. We also get into the San Diego Comic-Con panel that should reveal a lot more about season one, plus a quick personal check-in on the Dungeon Crawler Carl reading journey so far. If you have been following this story since the rights deal first surfaced, this is the payoff moment fans have been waiting on. Timestamps * 0:00 Peacock officially greenlights the Dungeon Crawler Carl series * 0:14 The animation vs. live-action debate and Matt Dinniman's response * 0:20 The Princess Donut CGI test that locked in the greenlight * 0:31 The San Diego Comic-Con panel with Chris Yost and Matt Dinniman * 0:38 Personal reading update and joining the Carl fan community Key Takeaways * Peacock ordered a full first season, not a pilot. The project is fully confirmed and moving forward. * The biggest fan complaint from previous coverage was that the show should have been animated rather than live-action. * Dinniman addressed that head on, saying he would not let the project move forward if the CGI looked bad. * CGI work was already done on Princess Donut, the most prominent CGI character, to prove it would hold up. That test is what cleared the way for the greenlight. * A Comic-Con panel with Chris Yost and Matt Dinniman is on the schedule, likely bringing season one details. Memorable Quotes "It's official. Dungeon Crawler Carl series just got greenlit over at Peacock." "He was not going to let this project happen if the CGI looked bad." "Matt himself is the one that said the CGI is good enough for the show to happen." Call to Action If you are as hyped about this as we are, do us a favor and hit subscribe so you never miss a Headlines drop. Leave us a review to help more geeks find the show, and share this episode with the Carl fan in your life. Tag us with #GeekFreaks when you do. Catch every story we cover at GeekFreaksPodcast.com. Follow Geek Freaks * Facebook: facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast * Threads: threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast * Patreon: patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast Host: Frank at @franklourence79 Listener Question What do you want to see most from the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, and are you team live-action or did you want animation? Drop your questions and we may answer them on a future episode. Dungeon Crawler Carl, Peacock, Matt Dinniman, Chris Yost, Seth MacFarlane, Fuzzy Door, LitRPG, Princess Donut, live action adaptation, San Diego Comic-Con, SDCC, sci-fi TV, fantasy TV, book adaptation, Universal Global Television, geek news, pop culture podcast, Geek Freaks, Geek Freaks Headlines

Add to Cart: Book Picks, a Comic Renaissance, and Why Princess Donut Owns Our Hearts

Amazon's buy two, get one free book deal is live, and this episode is a fast hit list of what is actually worth stacking in your cart. The rundown moves from page to screen picks like Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir and the full Hunger Games run by Suzanne Collins, into BookTok favorites like A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, plus the nightstand pile of Fourth Wing and Red Rising that is still waiting to get read. From there it is classics worth revisiting (The Outsiders, Holes, and The Hobbit as the perfect one chapter a night read with kids), a heartfelt nod to Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, and the latest from John Green. The comic corner gets real love this week with Absolute Batman Volume One leading DC's current renaissance and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow standing out as a personal favorite of the decade, with the movie adaptation landing soon. The whole thing builds to one top recommendation that the entire friend group is hooked on right now: Dungeon Crawler Carl, the paperbacks included in the deal, the audiobooks worth the Audible promo, and Princess Donut earning her own hand painted figurines. * 00:00:00 Welcome and the Amazon buy three book deal * 00:00:13 Page to screen: Project Hail Mary and The Hunger Games * 00:00:26 BookTok picks and the growing nightstand pile * 00:00:39 Classics worth revisiting and Born a Crime by Trevor Noah * 00:00:57 Comic corner: Absolute Batman and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow * 00:01:33 The number one pick: Dungeon Crawler Carl * 00:02:10 Princess Donut, figurines, and the Audible deal * 00:02:25 Shop local, used books, and closing thoughts * The Amazon deal applies to full franchises, not single titles, so you can grab every Hunger Games book in one cart instead of just the first one. * BookTok keeps delivering. A Court of Thorns and Roses, Fourth Wing, and Red Rising are the BookTok and nightstand trio worth starting with. * The Hobbit is the standout family read, built for one chapter a night with kids. * Absolute Batman Volume One is proof DC is in a creative renaissance right now, and the trade collections finally make it easy to follow. * Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow carries Saga and Guardians of the Galaxy energy with artwork worth getting tattooed, and it is the source material for the upcoming movie. At seven dollars it is a steal. * Dungeon Crawler Carl is the top recommendation of the week, with paperbacks included in the deal and an Audible three months for a dollar promo making the audiobooks an easy entry point. * Shopping local is always the first suggestion, and Amazon's used book listings from libraries and Goodwill are a solid budget route, even if they sit outside this particular promo. "If you're like me and TikTok will get you buying a book any day of the week, here's some TikTok gold." "It's a renaissance in DC right now, and one of, if not my actual favorite comic books in the last decade." "It's got Saga vibes, kind of Guardians of the Galaxy vibes. There's heart and pain in it, but also just beautiful artwork. Tattoo worthy artwork." "It is my most highly recommended media of everything right now." "If you told me how much I would love a little cat with a tiara on her head. I just want everything for Princess Donut." If you grabbed something off this list or you have a pick we missed, tell us. What is on your nightstand to do list right now, and what should everyone be adding to their cart this week? Send your recommendations and we will read them on the next episode. If this helped you stack a better cart, follow Geek Freaks Headlines, drop a five star review, and share this episode with the reader in your life who needs a new obsession. Tag us with #GeekFreaksHeadlines so we can see what you are reading. Get more geek culture news at https://GeekFreaksPodcast.com [https://GeekFreaksPodcast.com] * Facebook: https://facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast [https://facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast] * Threads: https://threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast [https://threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast] * Patreon: https://patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast [https://patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast]

Mike Myers Teases Austin Powers 4: Nostalgia Trap or Smart Bet?

Yeah, baby... maybe? Mike Myers stopped by Trevor Noah's podcast and lit the fuse on a question fans have been circling for years: are we getting another Austin Powers movie? In this Geek Freaks Headlines breakdown, we unpack Myers' tease, weigh whether the franchise still has a place in 2026, and dig into why the math might actually work even if the films haven't aged gracefully. With Shrek already on his comeback slate, the conversation turns into a bigger debate about nostalgia, mid-budget comedies, and which revival fans would actually welcome. (Hint: Wayne's World keeps coming up.) Topics covered: the Mike Myers Austin Powers tease, the aging-franchise problem, the Scary Movie comedy comparison and its soft box office, the economic case for mid-budget studio comedies, and the revival fans might prefer instead. Timestamps * 0:00 Austin Powers Might Be Back * 0:09 The Nostalgia Problem and an Aging Cast * 0:21 The Scary Movie Comparison * 0:37 The Case for Bringing It Back * 0:52 Your Take in the Comments Key Takeaways * Mike Myers floated the possibility of a new Austin Powers during his Trevor Noah podcast appearance. * The skeptic case is real: the films lean on humor that hasn't aged well, and the cast keeps getting older. * Shrek is already returning for Myers, so an Austin Powers revival would stack onto a growing nostalgia slate. * The new Scary Movie sits in the same tongue-in-cheek, embrace-the-silly comedy lane, but it underperformed at a reported 175 million worldwide. * The counterargument is jobs: mid-budget comedies keep crews working and money moving through Hollywood. * If any Myers revival lands cleanly, a new Wayne's World might be the easier sell. Memorable Quotes "I love nostalgia like every other millennial, but I don't know if we need this one back." "This is one of those mid-budget movies that actually keeps Hollywood flowing, gets people employed, so why not bring it back?" "Mike Myers, you can make something new." We Want to Hear From You Should they make a new Austin Powers movie, or is it time to hang that hat up? Drop your take in the comments and tell us which Myers revival you would actually show up for. Call to Action If you enjoyed this one, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, leave us a rating and review to help more geeks find the show, and share this episode with a friend using #AustinPowers. Read More and Follow Us Get the full story and all our latest coverage at GeekFreaksPodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast [https://www.facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast] Threads: https://www.threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast [https://www.threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast] Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast [https://www.patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast] Austin Powers, Mike Myers, Austin Powers 4, movie news, Shrek 5, Wayne's World, Scary Movie, Hollywood reboots, movie sequels, nostalgia, comedy movies, Trevor Noah podcast, Geek Freaks Headlines, entertainment news, pop culture