> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.theomnicosm.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Monthly September 2024 - URL: https://www.theomnicosm.com/the-monthly-september-2024-2/ - Published: 2024-09-29T13:00:59.000Z - Updated: 2024-09-29T13:00:59.000Z - Description: Three things to know. Two trailers to watch. One article to read. Here’s what you need to know for this month. - Author: Bill Kuchman - Tags: Popculturology • The Monthly, Popculturology, SNL, Marvel Hello! Welcome to the first edition of **The Monthly**. Life gets busy, and it can be hard to keep up with the news — even if you’re a **Popculturology** subscriber. **The Monthly** is your quick guide to the past month of pop culture news. Three things to know. Two trailers to watch. One article to read. **The Monthly** hits your inbox on the last Sunday of every month. ## Sign up for Popculturology and Snackology Join the hundreds of subscribers who already get the free newsletter every Friday — plus The Box Office Report, Deep SNL Thoughts, The Monthly, special editions and Snackology. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. ➕ Already a ****Popculturology** subscriber? ****Please consider becoming a supporter** by [****upgrading your account**](https://www.theomnicosm.com/#/portal/). 🍪 Wanna add ****Snackology** to your subscription? ****Update your email preferences** [****on your account page**](https://www.theomnicosm.com/#/portal/). --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f4/8b/f48be8ca-23c6-4d81-b0cf-da2fb0785911/content/images/2024/09/092924-banners1-2.jpg) ****James Austin Johsnon** on **SNL*, ****Kyle Chandler** in **Bloodline* and ****Tom Holland** in **Spider-Man: No Way Home*. / Netflix, Marvel Studios ## 3 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ### Crisis averted *SNL* creator **Lorne Michaels** threatened a shakeup when it comes to who plays **Donald Trump** on the show, [telling *The Hollywood Reporter*](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/snl-interview-trump-jokes-2024-election-lorne-michaels-future-1236005680/?ref=popculturology.news): “I think \[**James Austin Johnson**\] will be there, but I don’t want to get into what I’m doing.” And last night, Michaels showed that he was bluffing. As *SNL* kicked off its milestone fiftieth season, audiences saw Johnson return to the role that he’s held since beginning his tenure on the show in 2021\. This is a huge relief. Johnson’s portrayal of Trump is unparalleled in *SNL* history. What a bizarre move for Michaels to sow the seeds that Johnson wouldn’t be the show’s Trump anymore. Did the season premiere’s cold open depend way too much on celebrity cameos? Absolutely. I’ll have more on that later today when **Deep SNL Thoughts** hits your inboxes … • • • ### Kyle Chandler puts a ring on it Warner Bros. wanted a movie star to anchor *Lanterns*, its upcoming Green Lantern detective series for Max. Names like **Josh Brolin**, **Chris Pine** and **Matthew McConaughey** were tossed around. In the end, the role went to **Kyle Chandler**. While I wouldn’t call Chandler a movie star, the man is a pro when it comes to TV shows. *Friday Night Lights*. *Bloodline*. And how can anyone forget *Early Edition*? *Lanterns* is a major piece for James Gunn’s plans for his rebooted DCU. The **Ryan Reynolds** version of the character was a flop and Zack Snyder never officially brought the character into the DCEU. Chandler, along who whoever is cast as John Stewart in *Lanterns* (possibly *Rebel Ridge*’s **Aaron Pierre** or *The Piano Lesson*’s **Stephan James**, [according to a Friday report](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/lanterns-aaron-pierre-stephan-james-1236014011/?ref=theomnicosm.com)) and **Nathan Fillion** as Guy Gardner in *Superman*, will set the tone for the Green Lantern Corps in the DCU. [***(Deadline)***](https://deadline.com/2024/09/kyle-chandler-lanterns-hal-jordan-dc-green-lantern-hbo-1236097081/?ref=theomnicosm.com) • • • ### The next Spider-Man film finds its director Marvel Studios is keeping it in the family when it comes to who’ll direct the follow-up to *Spider-Man: No Way Home*. **Destin Daniel Cretton**, who directed *Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings*, is reportedly in talks to helm **Tom Holland**’s fourth Spider-Man movie. This is a huge job. *Spider-Man: No Way Home* grossed $814.8 million in North America (No. 3 all time) and $1.909 billion worldwide (No. 7 all time). And here’s a wild one: No version of the live-action Spider-Man franchise has ever lasted long enough for a new director to step in. **Sam Raimi** directed all three **Tobey Maguire** films. Then the franchise died. **Marc Webb** directed both **Andrew Garfield** films. Then the franchise died. But now Cretton will follow **Jon Watts** with Holland still in the title role. [***(The Hollywood Reporter)***](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/spider-man-4-finds-its-director-1235995984?ref=theomnicosm.com) --- 💰 Like what you’re reading on ****Popculturology**? [Send ****a one-time tip to show your support** for the newsletter. ](https://www.theomnicosm.com/#/portal/support) --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f4/8b/f48be8ca-23c6-4d81-b0cf-da2fb0785911/content/images/2024/09/092924-banners2-5.jpg) ****Florence Pugh** in **Thunderbolts\** and ****Pedro Pascal** in **The Last of Us*. / Marvel Studios, HBO ## 2 TRAILERS YOU NEED TO WATCH ### Thunderbolts\* *Thunderbolts\** doesn’t open until next May, but Marvel Studios has wisely started the promotional machine for the mysterious MCU movie. We need plenty of time to speculate what the asterisk in the title means. C’mon, **Kevin Feige**, give us hint. They’re the Dark Avengers, aren’t they? *Thunderbolts\** is also a major test for the MCU when it comes to bringing together the myriad pieces of the post-*Endgame* world. Will audiences head to theaters for a film anchored by **Florence Pugh** and **David Harbour**’s *Black Widow* characters, the villain from the second *Ant-Man* film and **Wyatt Russell**’s character from a Disney+ series? • • • ### The Last of Us HBO released a hopeful and happy trailer for the second season of *The Last of Us* this past week. Oh wait. I have that wrong. Dread. The trailer is full of dread and doom. Fans of the acclaimed series have been waiting patiently for Season 2\. It’s coming. And it looks like it’s going to hurt. --- 📱 Follow me on [****Twitter**](https://x.com/billkuchman?s=21&ref=theomnicosm.com), [****Threads**](https://www.threads.net/@billkuchman?ref=theomnicosm.com), [****Bluesky**](https://bsky.app/profile/billkuchman.bsky.social?ref=theomnicosm.com) and [****Instagram**](https://www.instagram.com/popculturology/?ref=theomnicosm.com). --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f4/8b/f48be8ca-23c6-4d81-b0cf-da2fb0785911/content/images/2024/09/092924-banners3-2.jpg) ## 1 ARTICLE YOU NEED TO READ ### Who Owns Tanis’s Secrets? Paleontology’s Biggest Controversy The Tanis dig site is a fascinating story. The paleontological find allegedly not only captures the deaths of an absurd number of creatures that died the day an asteroid hit Earth and ended the reign of the dinosaurs, it does so with a wealth of detail that scientists have never before seen. The problem? The person who control Tanis does so with a level of secrecy that ignores the usual protocol for this kind of discovery. This piece from **Kerry Howley** took the story of Tanis a step further, dissecting a bitter rivalry between **Robert DePalma** and **Melanie During**. [***(New York Magazine)***](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/tanis-site-controversy-paleontology-fossils-during-depalma.html?ref=theomnicosm.com) --- ## CATCHING UP Here’s what you might have missed from **Popculturology** and **Snackology** this month ... ### Friday Newsletter - [*The Wild Robot* is an emotionally devastating masterpiece](https://www.theomnicosm.com/the-wild-robot-is-an-emotionally-devastating-masterpiece/) - [*SNL* unveils killer host lineup ... but Lorne Michaels hints at a grim future](https://www.theomnicosm.com/snl-unveils-killer-host-lineup-but-lorne-michaels-hints-at-a-grim-future/) - [It’s time to scrap the live-action *Moana* remake](https://www.theomnicosm.com/its-time-to-scrap-the-live-action-moana-remake/) - [‘Larger and more toxic butterflies to come’: George R. R. Martin isn’t happy with *Dragon* changes](https://www.theomnicosm.com/larger-and-more-toxic-butterflies-to-come-george-r-r-martin-isnt-happy-with-dragon-changes/) ### The Box Office Report - [It’s *Beetlejuice Beetlejuice* … Beetlejuice as *Transformers One* opens at No. 2](https://www.theomnicosm.com/its-beetlejuice-beetlejuice-beetlejuice-as-transformers-one-opens-at-no-2/) - [*Beetlejuice Beetlejuice* continues hex on box office](https://www.theomnicosm.com/beetlejuice-beetlejuice-continues-hex-on-box-office/) - [It’s showtime for *Beetlejuice Beetlejuice* with a $110M opening weekend](https://www.theomnicosm.com/its-showtime-for-beetlejuice-beetlejuice-with-a-110m-opening-weekend/) - [*Deadpool & Wolverine* closes out summer on the cusp of $600M](https://www.theomnicosm.com/deadpool-wolverine-closes-out-summer-on-the-cusp-of-600m/) ### Snackology - [I try to crack the mystery of Mountain Dew VooDew Zero Sugar](https://www.theomnicosm.com/i-try-to-crack-the-mystery-of-mountain-dew-voodew-zero-sugar/) - [Is Kelce Mix a fearless cereal? Or would Taylor Swift shake it off?](https://www.theomnicosm.com/is-kelce-mix-a-fearless-cereal-or-would-taylor-swift-shake-it-off/) - [Did I go bananas for McDonald’s Kit Kat Banana Split McFlurry?](https://www.theomnicosm.com/did-i-go-bananas-for-mcdonalds-kit-kat-banana-split-mcflurry/) - [I found the Oreo Coke Zero Slurpee. And it’s disappointing.](https://www.theomnicosm.com/did-i-go-bananas-for-mcdonalds-kit-kat-banana-split-mcflurry/) - [Hey, you got Coca-Cola in my Oreos](https://www.theomnicosm.com/hey-you-got-coca-cola-in-my-oreos/) - [Kicking off Halloween with Pumpkin Pie M&Ms and Kit Kat Ghost Toast](https://www.theomnicosm.com/kicking-off-halloween-with-pumpkin-pie-m-ms-and-kit-kat-ghost-toast/) - [Yes, I bought four Mountain Dew Baja Blast Gelato cups from Taco Bell](https://www.theomnicosm.com/yes-i-bought-four-mountain-dew-baja-blast-gelato-cups-from-taco-bell/) ### And beyond - [Hoth Takes #54: Some of Grace’s Best Friends Are White Guys](https://hothtakes.wordpress.com/?ref=theomnicosm.com) ****Popculturology** is written and produced by ****Bill Kuchman**. Copyediting by ****Tim Kuchman**. 💰 Like what you’re reading on ****Popculturology**? 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You can also follow me on [****Twitter**](https://x.com/billkuchman?s=21&ref=theomnicosm.com), [****Threads**](https://www.threads.net/@billkuchman?ref=theomnicosm.com), [****Bluesky**](https://bsky.app/profile/billkuchman.bsky.social?ref=theomnicosm.com) and [****Instagram**](https://www.instagram.com/popculturology/?ref=theomnicosm.com). ![Spikezoft Media](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f4/8b/f48be8ca-23c6-4d81-b0cf-da2fb0785911/content/images/size/w1600/2024/02/spikezoft-logo-final-1.png) **Popculturology** is a Spikezoft Media publication. ***Issue No. 240*** Want to remove the **The Monthly** from your **Popculturology** subscription? **[Please click here](mailto:popculturology@gmail.com?subject=The%20Monthly%20unsubscribe&body=Please%20remove%20the%20The%20Monthly%20from%20my%20Popculturology%20subscription.)** to notify **Popculturology** via email.