Latest news with #RocketRaccoon
Daily Mail
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Only Connect viewers fume 'standards are slipping!' as they call out question blunder just minutes into BBC quiz - but can YOU spot it?
Only Connect viewers fumed 'standards are slipping!' after calling out a question blunder just minutes into the BBC quiz. The game show, presented by Victoria Coren-Mitchell, 52, sees two teams of quizzing enthusiasts face off to answer tricksy brain teasers and logical puzzles. Asking contestants to find connections between seemingly obscurely related clues, the BBC Two programme has a particularly cerebral reputation. But even the cleverest of quiz shows does not always get things right - as fans saw when the first episode of the new series aired on Monday evening. Eagle-eyed viewers spotted the answer Victoria said was the correct response to one of the first questions of the episode actually appeared to be wrong. The host asked one of the teams: 'What is the connection between these apparently random picture clues?' The game show, presented by Victoria Coren-Mitchell (pictured), 52, sees two teams of quizzing enthusiasts face off to answer tricksy brain teasers and logical puzzles But even the cleverest of quiz shows does not always get things right - as fans saw when the first episode of the new series (pictured) aired on Monday evening A picture of British snooker player Ronnie O'Sullivan, also known as The Rocket, appeared on screen. This was swiftly followed by an image of Marvel comic book character Rocket Raccoon. The players were quick to spot the connection between the two was 'rocket', with Victoria soon confirming they were correct. She revealed the last two images they would have been shown to help them to get to the answer. These were a sketch of the early steam train Stephenson's Rocket, built nearly 200 years ago, and a photo of some rocket salad leaves. But viewers at home were adamant the sketch did not show Stephenson's Rocket - but rather another steam locomotive. One suggested it could be Puffing Billy - the oldest train of its kind, constructed by a colliery in 1814 near Newcastle-upon-Tyne for hauling coal. Meanwhile, another was determined it was Locomotion No 1, a different early steam train built by the same engineers as Stephenson's Rocket. While Robert Stephenson and Company - also Newcastle-based - built the Rocket in 1829, Locomotion No 1 was built four years prior, in 1825. One fan raged on X: 'First mistake on the new series of BBC Only Connect. 'This is Locomotion not Stephenson's Rocket.' Another replied to their comment on the social media platform, 'And on the very first question too!', while someone else weighed in: 'Standards are slipping.' One user was determined the correct image would have thrown them off had they been playing on the show themselves. 'Came here to the Only Connect trending comments to see this! I got the answer in two but if I'd needed a third, this would have thrown me.' Someone else said: 'Probably says more about me than anything else but the picture of Stephenson's Rocket in round one tonight wasn't Stephenson's Rocket. 'It was Puffing Billy. I shall now go back to looking for my life down the back of the sofa.' Meanwhile, another was determined it was Locomotion No 1, a different early steam train built by the same engineers as Stephenson's Rocket But fans were even disagreeing among themselves, in the comments section of this user's post. One corrected them saying, 'Locomotion No 1', while another threw their weight behind this too: 'It wasn't Puffing Billy either, it was Locomotion.' Only Connect, led by the dry, sarcastic Victoria, has become a firm fan favourite since it began airing in 2008. It is part of a mega brainy quiz schedule on BBC Two on Monday evenings, sandwiched between Mastermind and University Challenge. But Only Connect seems to be a cut above the rest as it is consistently BBC Two's most watched title of the week. Elsewhere on the channel's Monday night schedule, during Mastermind, viewers were also left shocked by a sense of deja vu around one of the contestants. The latest episode of the programme saw presenter Clive Myrie, 60, return to our screens to grill four new players. One contestant, Dennis Wang, took to the famous hot seat to answer his specialist subject questions about the Men's Euros between 2000 to 2004. One contestant, Dennis Wang (pictured), took to the famous hot seat to answer his specialist subject questions about the Men's Euros between 2000 to 2004 He managed to bag himself an impressive 12 correct questions. But his Mastermind debut did not mark the first time he has appeared on our screens. Dennis took part in Jeopardy UK! last year and managed to win his episode. He was also once the team captain for the so-called Crunchers team on Only Connect. Not only that, he was part of the University of Oxford's Worcester College team while appearing on University Challenge in 2016. Many recognised the player and flocked to X to share their frustrations. 'Don't think it's fair to have the same guy just competing on all the big quiz shows really? Seems a bit unfair #Mastermind.'; 'Mr Wang from #OnlyConnect ? #quizzymonday #Mastermind.'; 'Do they have a pool of people who are on every quiz show? You get the same people on this, Only Connect, University Challenge etc. #Mastermind.'
Pink Villa
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Bradley Cooper's Surprise Cameo in James Gunn's Superman Has a Special Marlon Brando Connection, Director Reveals
James Gunn's Superman is one of the most talked-about films of recent times. While David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan's chemistry on screen is heavily praised, another actor who took the audience by surprise is Bradley Cooper. The actor's cameo in the film was unexpected, yet impactful, giving the storyline the depth that it required. The Maestro star played the role of Jor-El, the father of Superman, in the superhero film and makes an appearance right at the beginning of the movie. The character was initially played by Marlon Brando in the original Superman, which was released in 1978. James Gunn talks about Bradley Cooper's surprising cameo in Superman While sitting down for an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the director and the co-head of DC revealed that he brought in Bradley Cooper by keeping Marlon Brando's character in mind. James Gunn said, 'I needed somebody who could play Jor-El, who had the stature of what we imagine that character to be.' He further explained, 'Somebody that could walk in the footsteps of Marlon Brando.' Gunn and Cooper have a long-standing working relationship. The duo previously worked together in the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, wherein the actor lent his voice for Rocket Raccoon. During his appearance on the recent episode of Jake's Takes, the filmmaker shared that his bond with the Oscar-nominated actor strengthened during the filming of the Marvel movies, and that made it easier for Gunn to approach Cooper for a cameo in Superman. The director said, 'We've stayed in close contact since the 'Guardians' movies, and I admire him greatly as an actor and as a director.' He continued to reveal, 'Hey, will you do me a favor? Come down, go to England, we're going to shoot you in a 3D environment, make a hologram of you, and you can play Jor-El.' As for the film, it revolves around Superman, who faces struggles in his personal life as well as at work. He gets questioned for his actions, and amid the conflicts, a tech billionaire, Lex Luthor, gets an opportunity to get the Man of Steel out of his way for good. Superman is running successfully in theaters.
Express Tribune
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
James Gunn reveals real-life inspiration behind Krypto in Superman reboot
Krypto, the caped canine in the new Superman film, may be computer-generated—but his inspiration is very real. Director James Gunn told The New York Times that Krypto's design was modeled after his own rescue dog, Ozu. To create the 3D version of the super-dog, Ozu was placed on a platform surrounded by cameras that captured every angle of his body—an experience Gunn admitted the dog 'despised.' The visual effects team behind Guardians of the Galaxy's Rocket Raccoon contributed to Krypto's creation. Many of Krypto's on-screen movements were also inspired by home videos of Ozu playing with Gunn's cat. For instance, the scene where Krypto enthusiastically jumps on Superman was based on that real-life footage. Gunn adopted Ozu, a mutt rescued from a hoarding situation involving 60 other dogs, just as he began writing Superman. In a social media post, he reflected on the early challenges: Ozu destroyed furniture, chewed shoes—and even ate Gunn's laptop. Despite the chaos, the dog became a source of inspiration. 'I remember thinking, 'How difficult would life be if Ozu had superpowers?'' Gunn wrote. 'And thus, Krypto came into the script and changed the shape of the story as Ozu was changing my life.' Though unruly, Krypto ultimately mirrors Ozu's journey—from a misfit to a hero—serving as a playful counterbalance to David Corenswet's composed Superman. Toward the film's end, it's revealed that Supergirl, played by Sirens star Milly Alcock, is Krypto's original owner. She had left him in Superman's care while off exploring space. With Alcock leading a Supergirl solo film now in post-production, fans can expect Krypto's next heroic chapter soon.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
James Gunn reveals the 'talking raccoon' changed his life; recalls the deep meaning behind 'I am Groot'
James Gunn , the 'Superman' director, opened up about how the talking raccoon from 'Guardians of the Galaxy' changed his entire trajectory of being involved in a superhero film. An unprecedented call, a flop film, lost hope, and a fictional character turned Gunn's life only for the better. Talking raccoon turned James Gunn's life... In an interview with GQ, Gunn revealed that he had been a fan of Marvel and DC comic books as well as films for a long time. However, he had delivered a failed box office film at the time and was going to quit filmmaking when he received a call from Marvel Studios. While he had his initial doubts about the idea, which sounded like 'Bugs Bunny in the middle of Avengers.' After thinking about the talking raccoon, James recalled the moment when he thought: What if it was real? 'It came to me that if [Rocket Raccoon] was real, that Raccoon would be the saddest creature in the entire universe, that to me…was the beginning of Guardians,' he said. 'That's why I knew that, from doing the first one to the last one, where it ended up, is where it needed to end up with this character basically having a spiritual awakening in which he goes outside of himself and sees himself in both a more important and less important way,' James said, before adding, 'That was the journey of those three movies for me. It was about Rocket, whose character who I've felt closer to more than any other character I've ever put on film, without a doubt. ' The story behind "I am Groot" Furthermore, James Gunn talked about the iconic line 'I am Groot,' and the character that could project his feelings with just three words. He mentioned that in the comics, Groot says the three words because of a strange thing, but in his version, it was special, as only the raccoon could understand it initially. As the story went on, the people close to him could understand the feelings, and by the end of it, it was portrayed where the audience as well understood, where Vin Diesel spoke more than the three words.
Geek Tyrant
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
James Gunn Says SUPERMAN Is His First Real Superhero Movie — GeekTyrant
James Gunn directed three Guardians of the Galaxy films and The Suicide Squad , but Gunn draws a sharp line between what came before and what he's doing now as co-head of DC Studios and director of the upcoming Superman film. Gunn says that Superman is his first real superhero movie, explaining in an interview with GamesRadar+: 'In one way, though, it's weird, because you say I've made superhero movies with Marvel, but I really didn't. Guardians were space adventurers. They really weren't superheroes. 'They didn't have secret identities or masks or costumes, or they had superpowers, but they weren't really superpowers. They were just the powers of wherever they were from." He makes a good point as The Guardians were cosmic misfits, not exactly spandex-wearing saviors in the traditional sense. Even The Suicide Squad was built around a bunch of criminals with sketchy moral compasses. Gunn adds: "So I think that, really, in a lot of ways, this is my first superhero movie, because even the Suicide Squad were supervillains. So that brought in a bunch of challenges in itself. Because superheroes, everything I do comes from a place of, 'Well, what if this was real?' 'You know, if I started telling the story of Rocket Raccoon, 'What if Rocket Raccoon was real? How would he exist? Where would he come from?' And with this, 'What if Superman was real? What are his beliefs? What is his relationship with his girlfriend like? What is his relationship to the government like?' So it really was coming from that place." I can see why Gunn believes that Superman is his first superhero film, and so far the first reactions have been mostly positive, and I'm excited about seeing it for myself. Superman flies into theaters on July 11th.
