Film Bits: Rest in Peace Adam West: Former ‘Batman’ Star Dies at 88

Rest in Peace: Actor Adam West Dead at 88

Legendary actor Adam West died over the weekend at the age of 88. The actor was said to have had a brief bout with leukemia before succumbing to his illness. Best known for his campy portrayal of Batman in the 60s television series that aired on ABC, West had long been a TV mainstay prior to taking up the mantle of the Caped Crusader. Typically guest starring in roles on The Lawman, Sugarfoot, and Cheyenne, West made his name as something of a journey man. It was Batman that catapulted him to a lifetime of pop cultural relevance, however. His over the top style was perfect for the comedic intents of the series, which remains popular to this day despite the darker, more brooding portrayals of the hero in both comics and movies. Though the role hamstrung his career, West came to embrace the importance of his Batman over the decades, and just last year reprised his character in an animated movie based on the style and tone of the series. Younger audiences know him best as the absurd Mayor Adam West on Family Guy, which found the actor sending up his image in lovingly hilarious ways. West’s death was a tragic loss for fans of television and kitsch, though he leaves behind a legacy of work, good deeds, and great memories that are second to none among his peers.

‘Black Panther’ Trailer Shows New Potential for MCU

Marvel shocked the world with a stunning first trailer for Black Panther over the weekend, showing off the incredible look and feeling of Ryan Coogler’s (Creed) foray into the world of comic book filmmaking. While little is revealed about the overall plot to the upcoming film, fans got a look at Chadwick Boseman’s (42) titular character on his home turf of Wakanda, where Black Panther serves as both king and protector. The look and feel of the trailer was markedly different from the rest of the Marvel catalogue, giving us a taste of what will hopefully be a unique entry into the ever-growing series of films set within the comic book universe. As director, Coogler seems to have brought his own flair into the MCU house style, and the results, so far, are remarkable. This being just the first trailer, and with eight months to go until Black Panther hits theaters, there’s sure to be much more incredible footage coming down the pipeline. Here’s hoping the next trailers are even better. Black Panther hits theaters on February 16, 2018.

(Marvel)

‘Wonder Woman’ Dominates Box Offices for Second Week In A Row

Wonder Woman just can’t be stopped. DC’s superhero dominated the box office for the second weekend in a row, raking in a substantial $57.1 million in its domestic take. Newcomer The Mummy was cursed on arrival, however, taking in a paltry $32.2 million in ticket sales and casting a cloud of doubt across Universal’s plans for their Dark Universe. Meanwhile, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie dropped from second to third place in its second weekend in theaters, taking in only $12.3 million dollars, while Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales remains adrift with just $6.24 million. Rounding out the top five was Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2, which took in $6.2 million its sixth weekend at the box office. See below for the full top ten.