Legion M, backed by its more than 100,000 members and 16,000 fan-owners, returns to San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) for its biggest activation yet, hosting star-studded events, industry parties, two fascinating panels—including an in-depth look at Legion M and Screen Media’s feature-length documentary “Memory: The Origins of Alien” which was acquired early this year at Sundance using Legion M’s innovative Film Scout platform—and amazing experiences for SDCC attendees to celebrate the power of fandom and see first-hand how the world’s first fan-owned entertainment company is revolutionizing Hollywood.
Legion M’s SDCC event schedule includes the late night (Friday, July 19 at 10 p.m. PDT) fan-premiere of the critically-acclaimed Sundance favorite “Memory: The Origins of Alien” followed by a special Q&A with the film’s director Alexandre O. Philippe (“78/52,” “The People vs. George Lucas,” “Doc of the Dead”) in the all-new TCL Chinese Theatre at Theatre Box®. The feature-length film, which premiered to rave reviews in the Midnight Section at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, unearths the largely untold origin story behind Ridley Scott’s cinematic masterpiece, and reveals a treasure trove of never-before-seen materials from the archives of “Alien” creators Dan O’Bannon and H.R. Giger. “Memory: The Origins of Alien” screening and Q&A hosted by Legion M and Screen Media is a must-see SDCC event for “Alien” fans celebrating the epic horror/Sci-Fi film’s 40th anniversary. Ticket information for the screening is coming soon on the legionm.com website!
Legion M’s Fan Lounge, presented by The Pop Insider, will take over Gaslamp Quarter’s Theatre Box and its brand-new Chocolate Lounge and rooftop bar and lounge at 701 Fifth Ave. (Fifth Ave. and G St.). SDCC attendees can grab a cocktail (cash bar), relax, recharge and enjoy a full slate of fan-centric activities, appearances, giveaways and exclusive events on Thursday and Friday, July 18-19 (12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. PDT) acomic con
Saturday and Sunday, July 20-21 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT). Inside, The Pop Insider, a daily pop culture news and review site for superfans, will give SDCC attendees a chance to “Fuel Their Fandom” with special Angry Birds phone charging stations. Fans can also stay up-to-date with all things pop culture by picking up the Con-exclusive, limited print edition of The Pop Insider magazine.
The Pop Insider will also be hosting a series of afternoon events and activities on the Theatre Box rooftop bar and lounge from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. PDT each day July 18-21, including a cosplay dance party and karaoke showdown. Cosplayers looking for a quick spruce-up can stop by the Cosplayer Repair and Pro-Artist Makeup Station sponsored by Spirit Halloween, get professional photos taken to commemorate the occasion, and may even star in an upcoming “Cosplayers Getting Coffee” YouTube episode. For the most up-to-date Legion M Fan Lounge and rooftop schedule, please visit www.legionm.com/sdcc2019. Activities will be added as confirmed.
Be sure to also check out two Legion M-hosted panels at San Diego Comic-Con. On Thursday, July 18 (7:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. PDT, Room 6BCF), “Fans Celebrating 40 Years of Alien,” co-hosted with Screen Media, will take a deep dive into the origins of “Alien” and its fandom while celebrating the classic horror/Sci-Fi film with the director of “Memory: The Origins of Alien” Alexandre O. Philippe, along with Legion M’s vice president of development David Baxter, Diane O’Bannon (Dan O’Bannon Estate), Will Linn (Joseph Campbell Foundation) and other special guests as they discuss Philippe’s upcoming feature documentary and debut the trailer for “Memory: The Origins of Alien.”
On Thursday, July 18 (2 p.m. to 3 p.m. PDT, Room 7AB) learn how you can become part of a Hollywood revolution and get involved directly in films, TV shows and digital content when Legion M executives host “Legion M: Fans Unite to Take Over Hollywood.” Legion M cofounders Paul Scanlan and Jeff Annison, along with Legion M COO and head of content Terri Lubaroff, vice president of development David Baxter and special guests, will reveal how Legion M is involved with films like the upcoming Kevin Smith “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot,” along with “Colossal,” “Mandy,” “Tolkien,” and “Memory: The Origins of Alien.” Legion M has made it possible for anyone to become a fan-owner. Find out how you can join the more than 100,000 Legion M members who have access to special screenings, industry events, and exclusive Legion M meet-ups.
Legion M 2019 San Diego Comic-Con Fan Lounge and Events Calendar
(All times Pacific)
To sign up for Legion M SDCC activation information: www.legionm.com/sdcc2019
Wed., July 17 (7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.) The Pop Insider San Diego Con Kickoff Event!, Coin-Op Game Room, 789 Sixth Ave.
Fuel Your Fandom at the ultimate Con kickoff party! The Pop Insider is hosting a can’t-miss pre-Con rager complete with retro gaming, dancing, giveaways and more, with Legion M, Spin Master Games, ARCADE1UP, Disguise, Inc., and Cosplayers Getting Coffee. This event is sold out. Limited press passes are still available. Members of the media can contact Kristen Joerger at kristen@lkprinc.com or 646-484-4577 to apply for press credentials. (Age 21+)
Thurs. and Fri., July 18-19 (12:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.) and Sat. and Sun., July 20-21 (10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) Legion M Fan Lounge presented by The Pop Insider @ Theatre Box Chocolate Lounge
Relax, recharge and have FUN at the Legion M Fan Lounge presented by The Pop Insider every day during San Diego Comic-Con. Mix and mingle with friends, Legion M executives and members, and other SDCC attendees while celebrating the power of FANDOM in the fan lounge. Fans will enter the Legion M Fan Lounge through a 45-foot facade of the Quick Stop featured in the upcoming Kevin Smith feature film “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.” The perfect SDCC photo opp will feature props from the actual Quick Stop set!
Thurs. and Fri., July 18-19 (12:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.) and Sat. and Sun., July 20-21 (10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.), Stargate Command, Theatre Box
MGM’s Stargate Command will present a replica “Stargate” photo opportunity in the Theatre Box lobby for the whole weekend and will give attendees a chance to spin the prize wheel for unique “Stargate” prizes, including mini-posters, pins, buttons, original SuperFan creations and more! Talent will be dropping by for autographs as well! Look for more information about schedules, podcasts, and more fun all weekend! www.stargatecommand.co/articles/events
Thurs., July 18 – Sun., July 21 (12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.) The Pop Insider’s Rooftop Pop-up Party! @ Theatre Box Rooftop Bar and Lounge
Join The Pop Insider as they “Fuel Your Fandom” with fan-focused events on the Theatre Box rooftop bar and lounge each day, including a cosplay dance party with DJ (12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.) and karaoke showdown (2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.). Stop by the Cosplayer Repair Station and Pro-Artist Makeup Station sponsored by Spirit Halloween any time!
Thurs., July 18 (2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.) “Legion M: Fans Unite to Take Over Hollywood” Panel, Room 7AB, San Diego Comic-Con
How can YOU become part of Hollywood, and get involved directly in films, TV shows and digital content? Legion M is the world’s first fan-owned entertainment company. Through equity crowdfunding, we’ve made it possible for anyone to become an entertainment investor and fan-owner. And it’s more than simply being a “shareholder,” members have access to special screenings, industry events, and exclusive Legion M meet-ups. Our panel of Legion M executives Paul Scanlan, Jeff Annison, Terri Lubaroff, David Baxter and special guests will reveal how Legion M is involved with films like “Bad Samaritan,” “Colossal,” “Mandy,” “Tolkien,” our latest films “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot,” directed by Kevin Smith (“Clerks” and “Dogma”), as well as “Memory: The Origins of Alien” directed by pop culture documentarian Alexandre O. Philippe (“The People vs. George Lucas”). Updates will also be provided on Legion M projects in development.
Thurs., July 18 (7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.) “Madness in the Method” sneak preview, TCL Chinese Theatre at Theatre Box
“Madness in the Method” – Jason Mewes’ (“Clerks,” “Mallrats,” “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back”) directorial debut is a hilariously insane crime comedy in which Mewes also stars, alongside Vinnie Jones, Gina Carano, Danny Trejo, and his View Askew costars Kevin Smith, Stan Lee, and Brian O’Halloran. Mewes will participate in a special Q&A after the debut screening. Ticket info coming soon!
Thurs., July 18 (7:15 p.m.-8:15 p.m.) “Fans Celebrating 40 Years of Alien” Panel, Room 6BCF, San Diego Comic-Con
A deep dive into the origins of “Alien” and its fandom with documentary director Alexandre O. Philippe (“The People vs. George Lucas,” “Doc of the Dead,” “78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene”), Diane O’Bannon (Dan O’Bannon Estate), Will Linn (Joseph Campbell Foundation), David Baxter (Legion M) and special guests as they discuss Philippe’s upcoming feature documentary “Memory: The Origins of Alien” and the sustaining power of Ridley Scott’s horror/Sci-Fi masterpiece with fandom. Trailer debut from the “Memory: The Origins of Alien” documentary will be shown.
Fri., July 19 (10:00 p.m.- 12:00 a.m.) “Memory: The Origins of Alien” Fan Premiere and Q&A, Theater Box
Come see the critically-acclaimed documentary “Memory: The Origins of Alien” followed by a special Q&A with the film’s director Alexandre O. Philippe (“The People vs. George Lucas,” “Doc of the Dead”). The feature-length film, which premiered to rave reviews in the Midnight Section at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, unearths the largely untold origin story behind Ridley Scott’s cinematic masterpiece, and reveals a treasure trove of never-before-seen materials from the archives of “Alien” creators Dan O’Bannon and H.R. Giger, including original story notes, rejected designs and storyboards, exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, and O’Bannon’s original 29 page script from 1971, titled Memory. The documentary also takes fans on an exploration of the mythical underpinnings of “Alien” and dedicates focus on the film’s iconic “Chestburster” scene. “Memory: The Origins of Alien” screening and Q&A hosted by Legion M and Screen Media is a must-see SDCC event for “Alien” fans celebrating the epic horror/Sci-Fi film’s 40th anniversary. Ticket info coming soon at www.legionm.com/sdcc2019!
Sat., July 20 (10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) The Night Time Show, Legion M Fan Lounge @ Theatre Box
Hosted by Nickelodeon star Stephen Kramer Glickman, Mike Black, Matt Walker, and Emmy Nominated writer Mike Glazer, The Night Time Show is one of the top entertainment industry podcasts in America. They are teaming up with Legion M and ASIFA to record interviews with award winning actors, legendary directors and industry giants.
Sun, July 21 (3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.) Potterhead Party, The Pop Insider’s Cosplay Dance Party on the Roof @ Theatre Box’s Rooftop Bar and Lounge, with Fantastic Beasts Dan Fogler podcast recording.
Join Legion M and The Pop Insider to close out SDCC with a Potter-themed event with giveaways, potion drinks, and a cosplay meetup, featuring star of Fantastic Beasts Dan Fogler! Then, join Dan as he records his popular podcast 4dXperience! from the roof at 5:30 p.m. Ticket information to follow on www.legionm.com/sdcc2019
For more information about Legion M and the Legion M Fan Lounge at San Diego Comic-Con, please visit www.legionm.com/sdcc2019. Be sure to follow Legion M on Instagram and Twitter at @LegionMOfficial for more SDCC announcements!

Streaming
Finally, the Cinderella story of the Richmond Greyhounds has come to an end.

We are now in a new season for the team, and they have started off on the wrong
foot. The team is broken up and Ted has his work cut out for him. The team goes
through a slump, and Ted is now doubting his coaching ability. Ted’s personal life
has also gotten out of control, and he discovers his ex-wife Michelle has started a relationship with their therapist. The wonderkid, Nathan Shelley, the former manager of West Ham has had a change of heart and leaves his job to be with his one true love, the waitress from his favorite restaurant.
She convinces him to return to the Richmond team he started out in and it’s quite evident that
everyone wants him back and held no hard feelings. All of Lawrence’s series he has worked on with others have just that right balance of slice-of-life drama with a little bit of ridiculous comedy that reality dishes us, normal folks, every day.
This all comes to a head in the potential series finale where Ted announced to
Rebecca that he will be returning to the States to his family after his mother tells
him that his son misses him. This puts the Richmond owner into quite a state of denial; doing everything from offering Ted the position of being the highest-paid coach in the league to selling the team after he leaves. The team is also affected by this decision as they perform a number from the musical The Sound of Music that is a more than touching farewell to this family.
This bleeds into their playing as in the final title match the first half is met with
bumbling and possible injuries to their star player Jamie.
After an energizing pep talk and a circle back to the first motivator in the
beginning, a sign Ted made up that said “BELIEVE”, the team dominate the second
half and win with a rousing closing scene that is reminiscent of any 80’s party
movie. It’s a fitting end for this pandemic darling that emotionally carried us through. It is
a must-see series even if you don’t like soccer (football).
Movie
No Question Mark Box Here; Super Mario Delivers a 1-Up in Theaters

If you were born in the ’80s, ’90s, or literally ANY decade after those, you know about Super Mario. A cultural phenomenon was brought to life on the big screen this last weekend. One that has not only stood the test of time but reinvented itself time and time again. This wasn’t even the first time it’s been made into a movie but, well, let’s be honest.. some of us choose not to acknowledge the LIVE action adaptation of the beloved game from 30 years ago.
It was pretty bad… But this was animation. ILLUMINATION animation at that. The Universal company that brought us Gru and his Minions, showed us the Secret Life of Pets, and gave us a reason to SING! Still, I had my reservations and even some concerns, especially when the casting was announced.
Eyebrows were raised. As big of stars as they were on paper, could they really deliver on voicing characters from a staple of our childhood? They did.
Chris Pratt and Charlie Day may not be Italian, and Jack Black may not be a King or Turtle creature from the Mushroom Kingdom, but they make the characters their own all while paying homage to the lore of a video game.
From the jump, the story reintroduces us to the brothers that just want to save Brooklyn one clogged sink at a time. We feel an instant connection and relate to these “underdogs of the plumbing world”. The movie is riddled with easter eggs, each of which tugs on the heartstrings of every generation of Mario fandom. And the soundtrack was beautifully put together to not only make us feel like we’re taking a walkthrough of the game but like an experience all its own with some familiar favorites thrown in.
Every word in the movie is pure eye candy for both those that are casual fans, and those analyzing every frame to see what they’ll catch next. Bowser’s ship, the Mushroom Kingdom, Kong’s arena, and the Rainbow Road.. They’re all meant to give us just enough of a “new” look at these amazing worlds, but stay true to how we remember them.
The movie itself moves along at the perfect pace. Although, if you don’t really know ANYTHING about the Super Mario Bros, you may have gotten a little lost and felt left behind in the green tunnel. But that’s ok! It’s an adventure of the imagination and a classic story of a boy that meets a girl and tries to save the world from a monster that wants to destroy it.
What’s funny is that you could easily say this is a story about two characters who couldn’t be more opposite if they tried, battling to win the heart of a princess. Who would’ve thought that the King of the Koopas was just trying to impress his crush?
And that song? Ohhh THAT song! It’s my new ringtone and deserves the Oscar for Best Original Song.
Back to the movie.
Universal and Illumination clearly understood the assignment. Is it missing some things or could things have been done differently or even better? Absolutely! We’re the worst critics of the things we hold nearest and dearest to our hearts. But if you’re up for going on a 90-minute adventure through amazing worlds, with awesome music, and characters that’ll make you smile and laugh, then this is the perfect movie to spring you into that warm summer feeling.
Plus there’s the whole part with karts and shells, and banana peels and oh my goodness how amazing was that?? It’s enough to make you want to stand up and cheer, then go home and destroy your friends and family on your favorite track haha.
The bottom line, it pays homage in all the right ways to the little guy with the mustache, while giving us something new and exciting. Take the kids and go see Super Mario Bros. You’ll be glad you did!
Events
Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment returns to WonderCon 2023


Justice League x RWBY: Superheroes & Hunters Opening Act Saturday, March 25 at 1:30 p.m. on North 200A. Talent confirmed so far to participate in the post-screening panel is Natalie Alyn Lind (Big Sky, The Goldbergs, Gotham) as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince and longtime RWBY cast member Lindsay Jones (Camp Camp) as Ruby, Kara Eberle ( RWBY: Ice Queendom) as Weiss, Arryn Zech (Detective Now Dead) as Blake and Barbara Dunkelman (Blood Fest) as Yang – along with Jeannie Tirado (Soul, Saints Row) as Green Lantern and Tru Valentino (The Rookie, The Cuphead Show!) as a cyborg. Also attending the panel will be producer/director Kerry Shawcross (series RWBY) and writer Meghan Fitzmartin (Supernatural, Justice Society: World War II).

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment returns to WonderCon 2023 with the big screen debut from DC Animated Films: highlights this year include the world premieres of the highly anticipated Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham and Justice League x RWBY: Superheroes & Hunters Part One the weekend of March 24-26 in Anaheim, California. Both screenings will be followed by panel discussions with actors and creators. Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham premieres at The Arena on Friday, March 24 at 6 p.m. Tati Gabrielle (Kaleidoscope, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Uncharted) as Kai Li Cain, Christopher Gorham (The Lincoln Lawyer, Insatiable) as Oliver Queen, David Dastmalchian (Dune, Suicide Squad, Ant-Man) as Grendon, producer/co-director Sam Liu (The Death and the Return of Superman), co-director Christopher Berkeley (Young Justice) and screenwriter Jase Ricci (Teen Titans Go! and DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem Across the Multiverse).
Both films will have encore screenings in the Arena on Sunday, March 26. Justice League x RWBY: Super Heroes & Huntsmen, Part One will screen at 12:15pm, followed by Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham at 2:00pm