Welcome back to The Beat Digest, a twice-weekly round-up of the biggest comics-related news stories we’ve missed every Tuesday and Friday. Is there a story out there you think we should cover? Be sure to let us know in the comments.
§ Dynamite revealed Vampirella: Paradise, a new series by writer Tom Sniegoski and artist Edu Menna for November. Picking up from the recently concluded Armageddon series, the book finds Vampi in a literal paradise, but it’s not what it seems. “Classic foes from her rogues gallery return, as the Mad God of Chaos and the Blood Red Queen of Hearts haunt and corrupt this new world. It’s up to Vampirella to unfold the darkness as she is called to battle once more!” In the meantime, the character will star in the Witchblade, Darkstalkers, and Pathfinder crossovers this September and October.
§ Via Variety, Disney has confirmed Shawn Levy and Ryan Gosling‘s Ghost Rider movie will be released on July 28, 2028. The company previously announced the X-Men reboot will precede it on May 5, and that Black Panther 3 would follow on December 18. Disney also confirmed another Marvel film for November 9, 2029, following the two untitled ones scheduled for May 4 and July 13 of that year. Levy and Gosling’s Star Wars: Starfighter will debut in the meantime on May 28, 2027.
Speaking of Marvel, Disney Junior revealed HAIM’s Este Haim will guest star as Hallows’ Eve on the Spidey and His Amazing Friends special Spidey and the Avengers: Halloween Team-Up!, airing September 24. Series songwriter Patrick Stump will also guest star and duet with her as Jack O’Lantern. It’ll mark the first appearance from Hallows’ Eve outside the comics: the character, real name Janine Godbe, was originally introduced by J.M. DeMatteis and John Romita Jr. in 1995, before adopting her current alter-ego in 2022’s Amazing Spider-Man #14.
§ Deadline reports former 007 Pierce Brosnan has joined the cast of Extraction 3, along with Don Lee (Eternals), Joe Taslim (The Furious), Chi Lewis-Parry (28 Years Later), and Siena Agudong (Netflix’s Resident Evil). Lee will reprise his role from the Korean spin-off Tygo, which is currently in post-production. Filming on Extraction 3, the latest film in the Netflix series based on the Oni-turned-Ignition Press comics, starring Chris Hemsworth as mercenary Tyler Rake, is now underway in Australia.
§ Playbill shares the upcoming off-Broadway musical Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen has been cast, with Sophia Anne Caruso (Netflix’s One Piece, The School for Good and Evil) landing the lead role of Colette, a brothel worker in early 20th century Paris. The show, based on the manga by Moyoco Anno, will run from October 15, 2026, to January 3, 2027, with previews beginning September 25. Tickets will be available Thursday, August 20.
§ The winners in the juried categories for the 78th annual Emmy Awards were announced. Character designers Uzoma Dunkwu and Takashi Okazaki both won Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation, respectively for Eyes of Wakanda‘s first episode “Into the Lion’s Den,” and Star Wars: Visions‘ “The Duel: Payback.” You can check out the full list at the link. The Creative Arts Emmys will be presented on the weekend of September 5-6, and the Primetime winners will be revealed on Sep. 14.
§ Finally, the 2026 Astra TV Award winners were also announced. Witch Hat Atelier won Best Anime Series, beating out Sakamoto Days, Rooster Fighter, and more. Christina Ricci won Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for Wednesday, marking the second time she’s won an Astra for the show, and Jason Ritter (Lanterns, Gravity Falls) received the Generations Award, in recognition of how he has continued the legacy of his late father John Ritter. For the full list, click the link.
