About this episodeKevin Smith reveals he wrote the 5-issue Marvel/Star Wars crossover comic 'Hope Assembles,' detailing the stri…AI summary
Kevin Smith reveals he wrote the 5-issue Marvel/Star Wars crossover comic 'Hope Assembles,' detailing the strict editorial rules and character constraints imposed by Lucasfilm and Marvel. The conversation also covers Smith's enthusiasm for 'Ted Lasso' Season 4, his pitch for a Jay and Silent Bob procedural crime show, and a nostalgic recreation of a childhood photo at Grauman's Chinese Theatre.
Key takeaways 5
The Marvel/Star Wars crossover 'Hope Assembles' was written by Kevin Smith, drawn by David Marquez, and released in January 2027 to coincide with Star Wars' 50th anniversary.
Smith negotiated with Lucasfilm to limit the scope of the crossover to the original trilogy rather than the entire saga, arguing that future anniversaries for 'Empire Strikes Back' and 'Return of the Jedi' would allow for more focused stories.
Strict editorial rules governed the comic, specifically regarding power scaling: lightsabers can cut through Captain America's shield and Wolverine's adamantium claws, but cannot cut through the Hulk.
Smith pitched a procedural crime show concept featuring Jay and Silent Bob partnering with a police detective, leveraging their dispensary as a setting and Bob's photographic memory/gadget skills as investigative tools.
Smith shared a personal anecdote about recreating a 1979 photo of himself and his brother at Grauman's Chinese Theatre with his family, highlighting the emotional significance of his mother's passing and family bonds.
Notable quotes 4AI-generated: wording and quote attribution may be wrong. Use the play link to verify.
“I ain't doing a dirty book, Jason, but I will do a Ted Lasso level type book. You watch Ted Lasso? ... I want to write a procedural with Jay and Bob and like we hook up with a cop.”
▶ 0:21Smith discussing his desire to write a romance-heavy but wholesome story like Ted Lasso, and pivoting to pitch a Jay and Silent Bob crime procedural.
“Go back and tell that kid, 'You don't do it.' Cuz you're afraid some people online might be like, 'I don't like it.' And you suck. Like 20-year-old boy on Jackson Street... Let's go to the 13-year-old Kev... Go tell that kid that like one day when you grow up, they're going to let you play with the toys. Write in the comic book page, man.”
▶ 6:58Smith reflecting on overcoming fear of online backlash to fulfill his childhood dream of writing Marvel comics.
“They're literally showing you things that any human being can do. Instead of choosing to be a [__] you just [__] hug a [__].”
▶ 20:51Smith praising the human-centric storytelling of Ted Lasso compared to superhero spectacles.
“She's like works for the CIA. She's an operative who brings on what they call a lionist who is a deep cover agent who infiltrates like an Iranian organization or whatever the [__] with a mission, a kill mission.”
▶ 28:25Smith describing the plot of the Paramount+ show 'Lioness' starring Zoe Saldana.
Chapters & Sections (25)▼
0:00Marvel and Star Wars Comic Crossover Detailschapter2
1:36Star Wars Marvel Crossover Pitch Process
5:03Comic Book Writing Process and Nostalgia
8:24Comic Book Covers and Magic Spoon Adchapter1
11:04Magic Spoon Cereal and Willie's Tonic
12:47Marvel vs Star Wars Crossover Ruleschapter1
16:00Writing MCU-Style Comic Dialogue
17:14Marvel Star Wars Crossover and Ted Lassochapter1
20:40Ted Lasso Character Appreciation
21:57Ted Lasso Season 4 Speculation and Castchapter2
23:35Ted Lasso Season 4 Cast Speculation
24:56Late Actor Cameos and Character Continuity
26:05Ted Lasso Writing Analysis and Special Ops Lioness Reviewchapter3
28:23Lioness Show Description and Genesis Rodriguez Anecdote
30:05Taylor Sheridan's Writing and Franchise
31:42Special Ops Lioness and High Potential TV Show Reviews
33:19Pitching Jay and Bob Procedural Mystery Showchapter2
34:42Integrating Weed Dispensary into Mystery Plot
35:55Procedural Show Character Dynamics and Plot
37:46Cannabis Show Concept and Smallville Homageschapter1
39:33Smallville Homages and CW Special Effects
42:14Recreating Childhood Hollywood Photoschapter3