As Hypable preps for new year of entertainment news, we let you know what we’re personally most excited for in the upcoming twelve months.
See ya, 2016. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. From its Bowie-murdering start to its Fisher-stealing end, there’s no way to sugarcoat the fact that last year was rough in a lot of ways, even without delving into the terrifying political climate. Even our fictional content suffered: the controversy over new Potter canon, the cancellation of Agent Carter, and the bizarre mess that was the entire Suicide Squad situation are just a few examples of moments that fans were left disappointed and confused by media that they were really looking forward to.
However, we’re optimists, it’s a new year, and 2017 is set to bring us a fresh new basket of goodies that we can’t wait to dig our fannish teeth into. As release dates draw closer, we’re already counting down for our most anticipated movies and books, the TV shows we can’t wait to welcome (or welcome back) onto our screens, and the unique new content or live experiences that make being a fan that much more special. Here’s what some of our staff are most eagerly awaiting.
Andrew Sims – @sims
Movie Release? The Lego Batman Movie. (I almost selected Fifty Shades Darker but figured too many of you would yell at me.) Trailers for the second film in WB’s newfound LEGO franchise look absolutely hilariously thanks to Will Arnett voicing the troubled Caped Crusader. If 2014’s The Lego Movie was any indication, The Lego Batman Movie should be a delightful and visually pleasing filmgoing experience.
Reading Experience? For me, I’m looking forward to a trio of sophomore releases from new authors. First, The Girl on the Train author Paula Hawkins will drop Into the Water, a book that sounds like it’ll please Train fans. Second, Simon and the Homo Sapiens Agenda author Becky Albertalli will release her second novel The Upside of Unrequited. And finally, Adam Silvera (More Happy Than Not) will release History Is All You Left Me. Those last two are LGBT themed and follow two excellent LGBT debuts from the same authors.
Oh, and I’m hoping J.K. Rowling publishes a new book (like Cormoran Strike Book 4).
TV Moment? An nontraditional pick here: I haven’t been watching much television because there’s too much TV out there. It’s overwhelming! I have a few shows I’m sure to tune into (John Oliver, UnReal, Shameless, The Affair, for example), but as someone who cut the cable box a couple years ago, I’m frustrated by how broken the current streaming TV landscape is. I’d like to see Apple or someone else Make Streaming TV Great once and for all. Give us *one single place* to watch *everything*, even if it’s going to cost a little money… Can we finally figure out streaming TV in 2017?
Fannish Highlight? The Harry Potter fandom experienced a rebirth in 2016 thanks to Cursed Child and Fantastic Beasts, so I’m really looking forward to seeing what J.K. Rowling has to share in the year ahead. We’re off to a promising start thanks to her new website, which she says she’ll update more often than her last. It even has a hidden page where she’ll debunk rumors!
Ariana Quiñónez – @Ariana_Qz
Movie Release? Lin-Manuel Miranda crying at the Oscars. This isn’t a movie. BUT the Oscars are all about movies, so I’m saying that it counts. Also when I replay Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Oscar speech on loop for 48 hours I’m sure it will feel like watching a sweeping epic. P.S. — I know it is so 2016, but I’m going to need you all to go watch the majesty that is Moana.
Reading Experience? Windwitch by Susan Dennard. I raved about the first book in this series Truthwitch here on Hypable, but after waiting over a year and a half for the sequel, I’m ecstatic to pick up its stormy sequel Windwitch. Susan Dennard is truly one of the most generous authors around (her website and newsletter offer invaluable, insightful tips for writers) and her honesty about the unglamorous side of writing makes me root for her as I would for a friend. So far, the Witchlands series has been a joy to read— a fun, often flirty fantasy with an Avatar: The Last Airbender vibe.
TV Moment? Underground season 2 with Harriet Tubman. If you still have yet to watch season 1 of Underground then excuse me but right now, in this moment, you are wasting precious minutes of your life. Underground is a sweeping epic of a show with an astounding ability to humanize history, so as the show inches ever closer to the start of the Civil War, I can’t wait to see what Harriet Tubman’s new presence will bring.
Fannish Highlight? Yallwest Book Festival. I’ve been to Yallwest in Santa Monica for two years in a row now, and I can’t rave enough about the west coast festival that puts Young Adult literature front and center. It’s all of your favorite authors in one place! And the food trucks are truly delicious.
Brittany Lovely – @britlovely237
Movie Release? Trainspotting 2. Trainspotting is a movie I watched way too young. But something about it captivated me. I watched it over and over for years after that first viewing where I overrode the library’s parental rental code until it became one of my favorite films. I slogged through Irvine Welsh’s difficult novels until the words on the page became as familiar as the beats of the movie. The third book, Porno takes place ten years after the novel Trainspotting. And thus, ten years later, no worse for the wear, the entire cast and director Danny Boyle reunited to film Trainspotting 2. I cannot wait to experience the continuation of the story that took me 10 full years to appreciate and grow to love.
Reading Experience? Universal Harvester by John Darnielle. Wolf in the White Van by John Darnielle stands out in my mind as one of my favorite reading experiences. It’s no wonder I the man who performs the music of the Mountain Goats can put pen to page and create a cathartic experience through the words he strings together in perfect harmony. Universal Harvester hits the shelves in late February and I cannot wait to get my hands on yet another story that shows the magnitude of the world that exists inside a pinprick on a map of America.
TV Moment? Look. Asking me to choose what television moment I am looking forward to most in 2017 is an impossible task. The Americans fourth season in 2016 was the best television of the year. So why wouldn’t I want to watch The Americans season 5? The Leftovers took 2016 off and returns for the final episodes in April. It is one of the darkest and most deeply touching stories about humanity on television. Why can’t I choose that? How about American Gods? BoJack season 4? I’ll tell you why in two words– Star Trek. Bryan Fuller may no longer be attached as showrunner, but honestly, I cannot wait for the show regardless of his involvement. IT’S NEW STAR TREK!
Fannish Highlight? This summer I’ll be heading back down to Austin, Texas to attend the ATX Television Festival. Two years ago I covered the Gilmore Girls reunion that launched a thousand negotiation ships into the revival waters and fell in love with this festival. If you love TV, and tacos, I could not recommend purchasing a badge enough. During my time there I spoke with Marta Kaufmann about queso, attended numerous panels with writers, directors, and the people who make the magic happen behind the scenes. In addition, screenings are held with the casts of the latest comedies and dramas on TV. You never who you’ll run into or where inspiration will strike while you’re there. And that is half the fun!
Brook Wentz – @BrookWentz
Movie Release? If you haven’t heard about Logan Lucky yet, trust me, that’s going to change very soon. This film is dripping in Hollywood talent and you won’t be able to escape the sphere of its reach in days to come. Channing Tatum, Daniel Craig, Adam Driver, Hilary Swank, Katherine Heigl, Katie Holmes, Seth MacFarlane and Sebastian Stan are just some of the actors who will be starring in this Steven Soderbergh-directed film. The movie is being pitched as an Ocean’s Eleven-like heist film centered around a NASCAR event, and Soderbergh came out of his self-imposed retirement to make it. So yeah. You read that right. An original Soderbergh heist movie, starring a whole ensemble of beautiful people, driving fast cars, and stealing things. I’m 100% down.
Reading Experience? Without a doubt, the reading experience I’m most looking forward to devouring this year is The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. If you’ve had the honor of reading Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe you’ll know exactly why I’m excited for this author’s newest novel. Sáenz is a gifted young adult writer who makes the teenage experience so accessible and endearing with his prose and insight that I’m finding his work just as accessible in my twenties as I would in my teens. Not only does he manage to reach into the rich tapestry of the Mexican-American experience, he often adds a LGBTQ perspective that enriches his stories even more. This book in particular focuses on best friends Sal and Samantha and the confusing and conflicting process of growing up with an adoptive gay father in their loving Mexican-American family. I’m so incredibly excited to read The Inexplicable Logic of My Life which is scheduled for release on March 7, 2017.
TV Moment? Another slightly-off-the-beaten-trail thing I’m excited for this year is the new Showtime series I’m Dying Up Here. This 1970s drama centers on the lives of up-and-coming stand-up comedians in Los Angeles. Based on the memoir of the same name by William Knoedelseder and produced by the legendary Jim Carrey, it stars the spectacular Oscar-winning Melissa Leo alongside Ari Graynor, Clark Duke, and Ronald Cyler II, with guest spots from Alfred Molina, Cathy Moriarty, and Sebastian Stan. The first official trailer, narrated by Stan, debuted yesterday, and my hopes for this show increase with each new element I see. The bad hair doesn’t even drive me away either, because it adds a level of immersive reality that can sometimes be lost in period piece shows. Anyways, the tone of the show looks amazing, as does the potential of an honest exploration of the darkness that haunts most comedians and gets them onstage in the first place. The pacing, the dialogue, the easygoing yet frantic vibe of the 70s, it’s all there. I can’t wait to see what this show has to offer.
Fannish Highlight? Apart from potentially crashing Natalie’s Hawaiian vacation (see below) the fannish activity I’m most excited for this year completely revolves around the MCU. If you don’t follow the Marvel Cinematic Universe then you may not be aware that four, maybe five, new installments will begin filming this year. The Black Panther, Infinity War: Part One, Infinity War: Part Two, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and possibly Captain Marvel all go into production in the next few months. It’s a strange phenomenon to describe to those who don’t follow the filming process of big budget MCU films, but the experience of tracking, discussing, and analyzing the filming news can be as much fun as the film itself. Yeah, I know, I’m weird. But I honestly can not wait for the first day we see Brie Larson stroll on set next to Chris Evans. Or the day Evangeline Lilly is seen throwing a punch at Karen Gillan. These are all complete fantasy scenarios, but this wide open field of endless possibility? It has me excited beyond measure for 2017. P.S. For those of you paying close attention, you might have noticed a trend in the things that I’m excited about this year. If I just pretend like it’s not happening, can you maybe just look the other way…?
Caitlin Kelly – @purplehrdwonder
Movie Release? Wonder Woman. Despite covering all the CW superhero shows for Hypable, which are all DC properties, I haven’t been this excited for a DC Comics film in a long time. Not only is it a film about a character other than Supes or Bats, it finally stars a female hero. Wonder Woman was the highlight of Batman v. Superman for me, so I’m excited to see her on her own. This movie has been a long time coming (including film and television projects that didn’t get off the ground,) and I sure hope it was worth the wait.
Reading Experience? Stormlight Archives book 3. Brandon Sanderson is a ridiculously prolific fantasy writer whose many works and worlds somehow stand apart from one another. He’s written numerous books that I adore (like the Mistborn trilogy), but the Stormlight Archives series is perhaps his most impressive work. The book takes place in a world whose social system is based on the colors of people’s eyes and whose terrain is regularly assaulted by violent storms. The upcoming third book, titled Oathbringer, is expected to come out November 17 and will continue the adventures of the heroic Kaladin, the regal Dalinar, the brilliant Shallan and co.
TV Moment? Young Justice season 3. While no firm date has been given for the highly anticipated season of the formerly-canceled series, it seems most likely to air sometime in 2017. Despite critical acclaim, the show was reportedly cancelled after two seasons because too many girls were watching the show. Fans, however, have clamored for its return and, with years of new fans (like yours truly) finding the show on Netflix and falling in love with it, it was finally renewed by Warner Bros. Following the proteges of the members of the Justice League, Young Justice follows the adventures of Robin/Nightwing, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Superboy, Miss Martian and Artemis (with the team expanding in season 2) as they take on foes like Vandal Savage, Ra’s al Ghul, Lex Luthor, Queen Bee, and Sportsmaster.
Fannish Highlight? Joining a Forever Young Adult book club. One of my resolutions for 2017 is to find new places to find fandom enjoyment. One such avenue I’ve discovered through some online searching is the Forever Young Adult book club, which is a book club for adults who enjoy reading young adult fiction. I intend to join a local group in 2017 to find more people with similar interests near me.
Donya Abramo – @virtual_don
Movie Release? It’ll come as no surprise to anyone that my most anticipated movie of 2017 is the next installment in the Star Wars saga – the as-yet-untitled Episode VIII. Though it may be a little more bittersweet now than prior to Christmas, due to the passing of Carrie Fisher, I’m no less eager to see what’s next for General Leia’s fledgling Resistance as they continue to oppose the First Order, what the trio of Rey, Finn and Poe have been up to since we last left them, as well as spending more time with Luke. Not to mention the addition of Kelly Marie Tran’s character, the first woman of color with a lead role in the franchise – not counting Lupita Nyong’o, who played CGI alien Maz Kanata. With countless questions still left to answer – such as the identity of Rey’s parents, what Luke was doing on Ach-to, and perhaps a more definitive answer on Poe’s sexuality – and the first trailer yet to drop, it’s going to be a long, agonizing wait until December 2017.
Reading Experience? Burner by J.S. Lenore is the novel I’m looking forward to most this year. I’ve been fortunate enough to read an early draft of her first novel in the Affinity series, which she is publishing herself, but I’m excited to see how it has developed and changed since those early days. For anyone that loves urban fantasy — think along the lines of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files — it hits all the right spots. It follows homicide detective Kim Phillips, a Medium, as she attempts to stop an invisible serial killer. The world building and characters are something I’ve become invested in very quickly, and J.S. Lenore has been teasing just enough of the content via social media, her website and blog to give everyone a taste of what to expect. The novel is due some time in spring of this year and I’ll be counting down the days until I get it in my hands. If you’d like to receive updates on when the Burner is due to be released, you can sign up to J.S. Lenore’s newsletter.
TV Moment? I was bitten by the Voltron bug later than most, due to a packed schedule and little time to sit and enjoy it when it originally dropped on Netflix. I was a fan of the show when I was younger, and had been excited for the reboot – especially with the likes of Joaquim Dos Santos and Lauren Montgomery of Avatar fame behind it. I certainly wasn’t disappointed when I finally got around to watching the show and have been on tenterhooks for season 2, particularly with the bombshell in the first season finale. With the taster I got at New York Comic Con, where they aired the second episode, I know it’s going to be just as great as its freshman run. But, sweet quiznak, I just need to know if Shiro is okay, alright?
Fannish Highlight? As long as budget and schedule allows, I’ll be joining some of my fellow Hypable writers and returning for a fourth year to Indy PopCon. Based out of the Indiana Convention Center, PopCon has stolen my heart as one of my favorite convention experiences, not least for the love with which it is run. It has community at its core, and a love for all aspects of fandom, and has a focus on local and independent creators. I’ve been fortunate enough to host a variety of live podcasts and panels at the convention — from discussing my place as a Woman in Fandom, to chatting with Indiana’s 501st Legion about everything they do for charity and beyond.
Kendra Cleary – @kendravictoria
Movie Release? Thor: Ragnarok. It may not be the most popular opinion, but the Thor movies are some of my favorite in the MCU. It’s always great to see Thor come down to Earth to help out the Avengers, but I can’t wait to see what’s going on back in his own world. I’m also really looking forward to the Hulk’s involvement in Thor: Ragnarok, since this could be the closest thing to a solo Hulk film that we’ll ever get with Mark Ruffalo and the current MCU. Not to mention, it has been way too long since Loki’s made an appearance and I’m counting down the days until we see him again.
Reading Experience? Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth. Yes, Allegiant (and Insurgent, for that matter) had its flaws and the future of the Divergent film series has become uncertain, at best. However, those things don’t change the fact that Veronica Roth created so many characters that I love, a romance I obsess over, and a world that was really fun to live in for three books! For those reasons, I am more than willing to give her new “duology,” Carve the Mark a shot. I’m excited to see what Roth can do with a more supernatural/sci-fi world and to meet the characters that she populates it with.
TV Moment? The series finale of The Vampire Diaries. After obsessively following the lives of these vamps for eight seasons, it’s finally time to say goodbye. I’m a sucker for endings and I have no doubt that this one will result in a lot of ugly crying, hopefully in the best way possible. Although there’s still no confirmation that Nina Dobrev returned for the finale to reprise any of her many roles, I’m holding out hope that we’ll see her and a few other fan favorite characters, leading up to the end. No matter who shows up in the finale (but seriously Elena had better be in it), I’m confident that we’ll get a satisfying send off for Salvatore and co.
Fannish Highlight? Binge listening to a new Taylor Swift album. It’s been over two years since Taylor dropped her pop album, 1989, and the world is more than ready for some new Swift anthems to jam out to. 2016 was a very dramatic year for her, so she has more than enough material to deliver her best album yet in 2017. I can’t wait to sing along to every note of it.
Kristen Kranz – @kranzie85
Movie Release? Guardians of the Galaxy 2. There are a ton of movies to look forward to in 2017 (not all of which are comic book related), but the one that I am most excited about is definitely Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Chris Pratt has quickly claimed the top spot on my favorite actors list over the last year or two, and his work in the original Guardians of the Galaxy movie had a lot to do with that. He is a comic genius, and I can’t wait to see what Starlord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Groot are up to in the latest installment.
Reading Experience? Roar by Cora Carmack. If I could only read one new book in 2017, it would, hands down, be the upcoming series starter Roar by Cora Carmack. Anyone who’s ever seen a rec list from me knows my love for Cora and all her books, but I am so very excited to see her dive into the world of YA High Fantasy with this new series. The Stealing Storms series is set in a world where thunderstorms and the like contain magic that the main character, Aurora Pavan, needs in order to protect her people as their queen. Since she has yet to show a trace of the magic her family has been born with for generations, she must find another way to get her hands on it. She basically has one of two options. She can either agree to an arranged marriage to a foreign Stormling prince, or by stealing the magic straight from the storms themselves. Tell me that doesn’t sound like the coolest premise. I dare you. This has been at the top of my to-be-read list since I first heard about it more than a year ago, and June definitely can’t get here soon enough.
TV Moment? The Time After Time premiere. One of my favorite things discovered at San Diego Comic Con this past summer was the magic of Kevin Williamson’s newest project, Time After Time. The series, starring Freddie Stroma as H.G. Wells and Josh Bowman as Jack the Ripper, places these historical figures in present day New York City after Jack steals H.G.’s time machine and whisks himself away to escape capture by the police. H.G. goes after him and that’s where this series begins. After sitting down with the stars and creative forces behind this show, it was clear that Time After Time has a lot more going for it than some pretty faces and a flashy premise. While it’s not the only new time travel show to hit the screen this season, Time After Time is definitely the one I know I don’t want to miss.
Fannish Highlight? Apollycon 2017. I’ve been completely immersed in the wonderful world of contemporary romance for the last few years, obsessively trying out all sorts of different subgenres from paranormal to suspense and just about everything in between. While I still love a good YA novel here and there, most of my reading comes from the romance genre nowadays. I am beyond excited to finally meet many of my favorite authors face to face this March when I get a chance to go solo to Apollycon in Orlando, FL. Not only will I finally have a opportunity to talk Harry Potter with Cora Carmack (whose praises I sang above), but I will hopefully get a chance to meet so many more amazing women who have created my favorite characters including Jay Crownover, Molly McAdams, Kylie Scott, Samantha Young, and Alice Clayton, to name a few.
Laura Byrne-Cristiano – @newyorkerlaura
Movie Release? Beauty and the Beast. I loved the original Disney movie. It was one of the few animated movies to ever be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Belle is everything we want in a heroine: she’s smart, independent, not reckless and rash, she’s loyal, she sets goals. In short, she’s something we’d like to see in many more Disney Princess characters. Outside of the whole Disney connection, live action musicals are on the rise. Certain musicals have the potential to be amazing on film. Given the huge leaps in CGI and prosthetic that have been made over the past several years, I anticipate Beauty and the Beast looking nothing short of spectacular. The really exciting part for me, however, is the cast. There are multiple Academy, Tony, and Emmy awardwinners in the cast. Many have done live theater which gives them such an advantage in bringing this larger-than-life musical to the screen.
Reading Experience? The final novel in the Throne of Glass series l. I have been following the Throne of Glass Series since it came out. I watch the selfish and self-doubting Celaena Sardothien transform into the confident and giving Aelin Ashryver Galathynius. Last year, my pick for most awaited novel was the fifth book in the series which lived up to its hype and then some. The final chapter in the the Throne of Glass series will be an epic showdown. Aelin’s friends, confidants, and former enemies will have to band together to save the kingdom, and in fact, save Aelin herself. Will they all get out alive in the war that is to come? It remains to be seen.
TV Moment? Outlander season 3. It’s no secret that I’m a huge Outlander fan, not just of the TV series, but also of the novels. Of all Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander novels, Voyager is my favorite, and Voyager is what season 3 is all about. The first part of the season is Claire, Briana, and Roger hunting Jamie through time. It’s not just a matter of where is he, but it’s also when is he. Ultimately, they do find him, and Jamie and Claire will have their reunion after being separated for twenty years. The reunion scene in the book is my favorite reunion in any novel, ever. No pressure, Starz, you need to get this one right!
Fannish Highlight? This summer I’m spending two weeks in Paris. A lot of the time, I’m going to be attending a conference, but other days I’ll have to myself, and I’m strongly considering checking out Disney Europe. I’ve been to both Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida, so I’m really interested to see what Disney outside of the USA is all about.
Michal Schick – @inkasrain
Movie Release? Spider-Man: Homecoming. Well, Star Wars and Wonder Woman were both taken, so I’ll go with Spidey! While I’m still somewhat skeptical that we really need another incarnation of Peter Parker, I really am looking forward to seeing what the combined powers of Sony and Marvel offer up. The recent trailer is unequivocally charming, and the more Awkward Surrogate Dad Iron Man we get, the better. I’m also excited to see a genuinely fresh take on Mary Jane, for once. And hey, Peter looks like he’s having fun — at this point, so am I.
Reading Experience? Thick as Thieves by Megan Whalen Turner. Megan Whalen Turner is my own personal George R.R. Martin. (In addition to, you know, George R.R. Martin.) A true genius at storytelling, Turner takes her very sweet time crafting the books in her Queen’s Thief series; the latest installment was released back in 2010. But Thick as Thieves, coming in May, will bring fans back to the sly and secret-laden world of Eugenides and his fellow monarchs — this time with the Mede servant Kamet shouldering the narrative. I expect twists and turns galore, but I doubt I’ll see what Megan Whalen Turner has in store.
TV Moment? The Defenders. I mean. I MEAN. Look, it’s eight episodes of Netflix and Marvel’s most acerbic, taciturn, and hilariously self-destructive heroes attempting to get over themselves and work together. Matt Murdock and Jessica Jones are definitely not team players, and Luke Cage seems to be over the concept as well. (We’ll have to see about Danny Rand come March.) Throw in just about every side character you can think of and top the Sundae with Sigourney Weaver, and Sweet Christmas! I just can’t wait to dig into this mess.
Fannish Highlight? Schedules are still pending, but after almost 20 years of loving Harry Potter, I may finally be going to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios! They say you forget about the outside world while walking those cobbled streets, and frankly, that sounds desperately appealing… and maybe even necessary.
Natalie Fisher – @nataliefisher
Movie Release? In 2015, Matthew Vaughn’s Kingsman: The Secret Service thrilled me to my very core with its subversive James Bond meets Scott Pilgrim meets Eliza Doolittle take on the traditional British spy genre. I’m not an action movie junkie, but Kingsman is surprisingly character-driven – the relationship between Colin Firth’s Harry Hart, the ruthless, elegant mentor figure, and new Kingsman recruit Gary “Eggsy” Unwin, played by rising star Taron Egerton, was something special. Not a whole lot is known yet about the sequel Kingsman: The Golden Circle. Given that Kingsman ends at the beginning of Eggsy’s new life as a secret agent, there could be tons of stories to tell, but my stomach swooped when a promo poster featuring the broken glasses of Harry Hart over the phrase “Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated,” was released online, signifying a massive plot twist. Another such promo poster confirmed Channing Tatum’s involvement as an American agent, and those factors are enough to have me climbing the walls until October.
Reading Experience? Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology. In theory, I’m extremely interested in myths and legends, and I know a lot of factual information about the deities and mythological creatures from various cultures. However, in practice, I find it a little difficult to read the stories themselves, especially in their more traditional forms. Gaiman’s upcoming publication of Norse Mythology may help to change that for me, as he is a writer with a knack for making huge, complex, important ideas unintimidating, allowing the reader to widen their mind and understand more sort of without realizing what’s been done to them. Preview chapters have proven that his retelling is just as engaging as the rest of his huge body of work, and I’m particularly looking forward to the audiobook version. Norse Mythology is also reported to tie the myths together in a somewhat overarching novel-length story, and it will also be interesting to see Gaiman’s take on the traditional incarnations of Odin, Loki, and others whose modern incarnations featured so heavily in American Gods. Speaking of…
TV Moment? Last year, my most anticipated moment in television was “literally any news about Bryan Fuller’s American Gods” adaptation instead of anything actually, you know, airing. While 2016 did deliver some extremely special new obsessions to my screen (Supernatural, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, The Queen) it still gave me no gods, but now — now it is coming. 2017 is Shadow’s time in the sun, and with a world premiere set for South by Southwest in March, I hope we’ll see most of the first season well before SDCC — last year’s panel was a huge success, so the response to an actively airing show will be gigantic. I’ve also got to mention the 100th episode – and series finale – of Teen Wolf. Due to Not Another Teen Wolf Podcast, my relationship with that show and its team has become unconditional, and while the prospect of it all ending is really sad, I’m excited to see how it comes together at the close and what paths the pack will go down.
Fannish Highlight? (Potentially) attending a fan convention in Hawaii! I tend to lose all the paid holiday from my day job in order to travel for events or experiences – whether it’s San Diego Comic-Con, a concert tour, the opportunity to see a certain actor in a Broadway show — and I love doing that, but it means that I’ve never taken a typical vacation for the hell of it. This year, I hope to kill two birds with one stone by attending a convention in Hawaii and taking advantage of the fantastic hotel rates offered to con-goers by booking the full week in advance at in the beachfront resort hotel where it’s taking place. A week of traditional tropical paradise vacation is about all the relaxing I can stand before needing to actually DO something, but it will be a novel experience to see how normal people spend their downtime before capping off the holiday with my “traditional” vacation pastime — a weekend locked in darkened rooms with my favorite television stars.
Pamela Gocobachi – @pamelagocobachi
Movie Release? Like many of my fellow Hypable cohorts, I’m incredibly excited for some of the big franchises set to return with new installments this year. That being said, I’m also incredibly excited for Pixar’s Coco to be released in November of 2017. As a descendant of Mexican immigrants on my mother’s side, I’m automatically intrigued by any big film that sets out to represent a culture I strongly identify with. And while I’m still a little bit nervous to see how Pixar handles setting out to portray Dia de los Muertos, a holiday my family celebrates every year, I’m cautiously optimistic that they’ll do a good job of things in the end!
Reading Experience? This year, I’m incredibly excited to tackle quite a few books that are getting the silver screen treatment! That being said, one that I’m very much looking forward to reading is Madeline L’Engle’s A Wrinkle In Time. I’m not sure how I missed this one growing up, but somehow I managed to get through primary school without having picked up a copy of this book. Aside from the stellar cast attached to star in Ava DuVernay’s upcoming adaptation, the thing that’s got me even more excited to pick up A Wrinkle In Time is hearing just how much everyone who’s already read it loves the book!
TV Moment? Confession time: up until December of 2016, I’d never once seen an episode of The CW’s The 100, but all that changed once we committed to getting caught up on the hit CW series on Hypable’s Hype Podcast before season 4 premieres in February. Similar to what we’ve done with Gilmore Girls, we’ve committed to watching the series one season at a time, and recording Specials to coincide with each season. I’m completely overwhelmed in the best way possible by the response we’ve gotten from The 100 fandom after announcing that we’d be dedicating a series of podcast episodes to the show, and their excitement for the series and our upcoming episodes has got me incredibly excited to discuss the series on Hype!
Fannish Highlight? I’m looking forward to hopefully heading back to both WonderCon in Anaheim in the spring, and then San Diego Comic-Con in the summer! I’m also looking forward to another amazing year of getting to discuss pop culture and fandom news with my fellow Hype Podcast cohosts. We’ve got some exciting stuff planned for 2017 and I can’t wait to share that with our listeners!
Selina Wilken – @SelinaWilken
Movie Release? It’s a toss-up between Wonder Woman (which I’m cautiously optimistic for, despite DC Comics’ current trajectory) and Star Wars: Episode VIII. I was, unfortunately, massively let down by Rogue One, and am very much looking forward to returning to the (in my opinion) more compelling and empowering story of Rey, Finn and Poe. 2017 is going to be a massive year for movie franchises in general though, so there’s a lot to look forward to!
Reading Experience? In 2017 I’m planning to re-read Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings series for the first time since watching Return of the King in the cinema. Even though I still think the LotR saga is the best book-to-film adaptation ever made, there are so many fantastic sequences from the books that the movies cut out, which I’m excited to rediscover.
TV Moment? The return of The 100. Impossibly, the extra-long hiatus has only made me more excited for the return of my favorite TV series currently on the air. Every season, The 100 has gone to new and unexpected extremes, and I can’t wait to find out how the writers tackle the new challenge of a seemingly unavoidable apocalypse!
Fannish Highlight? With a little luck, I’ll be going to SDCC for the second time. Otherwise, I’m mainly excited for all the cool special episodes and interviews we’ve got planned for Hypable’s Hype Podcast!