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gillianblum.bsky.social
Gillian Blum — TheDirect.com
@gillianblum.bsky.social
470 followers 150 following 150 posts
she/her // intern @ abc7NY + writer @ The Direct 🔱 // ✏️ 📸 Playbill + Straus + Washington Square News // you got this // be amazing // stay whelmed & stay gold // gillianblum@thedirect.com
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gillianblum.bsky.social
#Thunderbolts* blew me away. It's clever, funny&full of heart. The script is a masterclass in self awareness, but doesn't sacrifice story to achieve that. Every character is expertly written&performed. The movie is lightning in a bottle, and exactly what the #MCU needs right now.
Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Bob (Lewis Pullman), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) stand in a doorway in "Thunderbolts*." John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian (David Harbour), and Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) in "Thunderbolts*." Everyone except Bucky is sitting down, tied up, while Bucky is standing up and speaking on the phone. (L-R) Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Bob (Lewis Pullman), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) and John Walker (Wyatt Russell) leaning to look through a doorway in "Thunderbolts*."
April 29, 2025 at 2:35 AM
gillianblum.bsky.social
It’s like they shook #FantasticFour Vol. 1, issues 48-50 and the new trailer fell out!!

#FantasticFourFirstSteps #MCU
A screen grab from the “Fantastic Four: First Steps” trailer showing the Human Torch flying up toward the Silver Surfer (who is not visible in the image). A page from “Fantastic Four,” Volume 1, Issue 49 showing the team in their uniforms looking up to the sky in fear and awe. Their speech bubbles reflect this. A screen grab from the “Fantastic Four: First Steps” trailer showing the Human Torch flying up toward the Silver Surfer (who is not visible in the image). Two panels from “Fantastic Four,” Volume 1, Issue 48, showing the Human Torch flying up and toward the Silver Surfer. There are thought bubbles with text reflecting Johnny’s realizations and response as he goes toward the Silver Surfer.
April 17, 2025 at 3:22 PM
gillianblum.bsky.social
Anyone who has been to #EpicUniverse-

How scary is Monsters Unchained?

For context: I scare VERY easily. I close my eyes for parts of Forbidden Journey (see pic). I’ve only been in HHN houses w/out scare actors.

I am determined to ride it, but want to gauge what to expect.
Gillian with her eyes squeezed shut on “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” at Universal Islands of Adventure.
April 8, 2025 at 3:51 PM
gillianblum.bsky.social
#PercyJackson is officially the season of a #DisneyPlus series with THE MOST EMMY WINS since the streaming service launched.

#PJO surpassed BOTH Seasons 1 and 2 of #TheMandalorian, which each got 7 wins in their respective years.
A still from "Percy Jackson and the Olympians," Season 1, Episode 8. Leah Sava Jeffries as Annabeth Chase, Aryan Simhadri as Grover Underwood, and Walker Scobell as Percy Jackson hugging outside. The Disney Plus logo in white, in front of a turquoise, gradient background.
March 16, 2025 at 7:05 PM
gillianblum.bsky.social
Thoughts at midnight when the embargo lifts. The reaction post is drafted in my notes app.

#CaptainAmericaBraveNewWorld  #CaptainAmerica
“Captain America Brave New World” poster.
February 11, 2025 at 7:10 PM
gillianblum.bsky.social
Feel free to treat this as a database of confirmed #PercyJackson s2 news, as of the end of filming.

Confused whether something was confirmed? Just hit ctrl+f and search the article for what you’re looking for!

#PJO nation, I hope you enjoy this. Working on it was a lot of fun.
“Percy Jackson” cast and crew members posing with a giant film slate.
February 5, 2025 at 8:20 PM
gillianblum.bsky.social
One more sleep until the #FantasticFour trailer, and this girl is prepared 4️⃣ the occasion!!!!
A mirror selfie of Gillian in a “Fantastic Four” T-shirt. Funko Pops of Johnny Storm and the Bombastic Bag Man (Spider-Man in a Fantastic Four uniform with a paper bag over his head). A sticker on a water bottle reading “Fantastic and Incredible and Amazing and Mighty and Invincible and Uncanny.” There are other visible stickers but the mentioned one is the only one entirely visible. A “Fantastic 4” sticker on a water jug.
February 4, 2025 at 4:41 AM
gillianblum.bsky.social
If you know me, you know how long I’ve been wanting to visit the Tokyo Disney Resort, ESPECIALLY Tokyo Disney SEA.

Let’s just say, it surpassed my extremely high expectations…
Gillian in front of Mount Prometheus at Tokyo Disney SEA. Gillian in front of Cinderella’s Castle at Tokyo Disneyland.
January 5, 2025 at 12:28 AM
gillianblum.bsky.social
I feel like there should be an animated #MCU adaptation of “Marvel Team-Up” after #WhatIf ends.

I’m a huge fan of one-shot anthology books like Team-Up, 2-in-1 and Marvel Comics Presents, and I think any of them would be perfect for the MCU, especially in animation.
The cover of the first issue of “Marvel Team-Up,” featuring Spider-Man and the Human Torch fighting the Sandman.
December 27, 2024 at 7:56 AM
gillianblum.bsky.social
Every day is a great day to love #Superman, but today is an especially great one.
Superman saving a child in the “Superman” trailer.
December 19, 2024 at 4:44 PM
gillianblum.bsky.social
#PercyJackson is officially the second most nominated 1st season of a Disney+ show since the streaming service launched.

The only one to get more is #WandaVision with 23 nominations.

#PJO surpassed #TheMandalorian, with 15 noms for its 1st season.

This is HUGE!!
Walker Scobell as Percy Jackson. The logo for Disney Plus.
December 12, 2024 at 6:34 PM
gillianblum.bsky.social
I love that my Spotify Wrapped gave me an accurate hyperfixation timeline for the past year.

#PercyJackson #TheOutsiders #TheBoys
A paused audio player for “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” by Christopher Cross. White text in front of a green-and-blue-and-purple space-like background reads: “January was your Smooth Slow Dance Yacht Rock phase.” Smaller white text under that reads: “You were really into artists like Christopher Cross, Starbuck, and Daryl Hall & John Oates.” Blue highlighted text in a different font under all that reads: “Percy Jackson release month (This song was in ep 3 and I became a little obsessed with it).” A paused audio player for “Great Expectations” by Brody Grant and the Original Broadway Cast of “The Outsiders.” White text in front of a green-and-blue-and-purple space-like background reads: “June was your Theatrical West End Broadway season.” Smaller white text under that reads: “You were all about artists like Brody Grant, Brent Comer, and Emma Pittman.” Brown highlighted yellow text in a different font under all that reads: “The Outsiders cast album releases in late May (I’ve seen the show 5x hopefully soon 6).” The account “@ outsiders musical” is tagged. A paused audio player for “Big Shot” by Billy Joel. White text in front of a green-and-yellow space-like background reads: “October was your Witchy 1960s Psychedelic Classic Rock moment.” Smaller white text under that reads: “You were big on artists like The Rolling Stones, Traffic, and Billy Joel.” Pink highlighted text in a different font under all that reads: “I started watching The Boys in late September/early October.”
December 4, 2024 at 3:22 PM
gillianblum.bsky.social
Thanksgiving acquisition.

#PercyJackson #PJO
A Percy Jackson Funko Pop inside the box.
December 1, 2024 at 12:12 AM
gillianblum.bsky.social
(Even more!)
Vincent D’Onofrio and Charlie Cox at a New York Comic Con panel. Gillian Blum with Chris Gallardo and Liam Crowley, all wearing Camp Half-Blood shirts. Gillian Blum at the “Creature Commandos” activation at New York Comic Con. Gillian Blum with several press and podcast friends. Most are wearing Camp Half-Blood shirts.
November 28, 2024 at 4:58 AM
gillianblum.bsky.social
(more highlights from this past year!)
Gillian Blum and other press and podcast friends at the “Percy Jackson” premiere. Gillian Blum smushed together with other press friends at the photo op at Fandom’s New York Comic Con party. A post from Becky Riordan reading: “In the television show he tries to poison Percy in another kind of way by sowing the seeds of doubt. Has Luke forever changed our young hero? Perhaps change can be a good thing? Time will tell. (Time = Kronos [winking emoji]) Thank you Gillian for the insightful and inspirational article! 2/2” Under that is Gillian Blum’s response, reading: “thank YOU so much, this really means so much to hear. this was an article I was really proud of, and it makes me so positively emotional to know it had this kind of impact [smiley face emoticon].” Kathryn Hahn and Josh Horowitz sitting and talking onstage. The photo is taken from the front row.
November 28, 2024 at 4:58 AM
gillianblum.bsky.social
While the actual date was a week ago, I consider the days before Thanksgiving as my The Direct anniversary. This marks 2 years!

This year has been unbelievable. I’ve had the most incredible opportunities, and have met/worked w/ the coolest people.

I feel so lucky to have this job every single day.
Gillian Blum at the “Percy Jackson” premiere, posing with Walker Scobell and Charlie Bushnell. Gillian Blum at the Sony New York Comic Con panel with other press friends! Gillian Blum interviewing Hynden Walch and Scott Menville at New York Comic Con. Gillian Blum posing in front of a “Deadpool & Wolverine” display.
November 28, 2024 at 4:58 AM
gillianblum.bsky.social
Courtney B. Vance, JUST ANNOUNCED as taking over as ZEUS in #PercyJackson, to @variety.bsky.social

Welcome to #PJO!

variety.com/2024/tv/news...
Highlighted text reading: "There are few moments in an actor’s career when you can honestly say that you’re about to board a series that has such a devoted fan base filled with characters beloved around the world and is based on a wildly successful book series."
November 25, 2024 at 6:24 PM
gillianblum.bsky.social
The venn diagram of #TheBoys and #Wicked is practically a circle, in this essay I will...
Madelyn Stilwell, The Deep, and Starlight from “The Boys.” Glinda from the “Wicked” movie.
November 24, 2024 at 7:25 PM
gillianblum.bsky.social
I’m not a fan of the word “skeet” for a couple reasons, but the main one is it feels like the Walmart version of this:
A comic panel showing Wolverine with his claws extending and shining. Red, semi-lopsided text reads "SNIKT." Wolverine has a speech bubble reading "Wanna Bet?" The panel is from Uncanny X-Men Volume 1 Issue 241 by Chris Claremont and Marc Silvestri.
November 24, 2024 at 7:08 PM
gillianblum.bsky.social
OK I like this one!
Text reading: “Get to know my writing. For every like, I will post one piece I wrote.”
November 22, 2024 at 4:48 AM
gillianblum.bsky.social
If “R+J” does anything right (it does everything right) it’s VIBES

#RomeoAndJuliet #RachelZegler #KitConnor

(dw my phone was off and away the whole show 🥰)
November 22, 2024 at 3:13 AM
gillianblum.bsky.social
this is THAT SHOW fr

#RomeoAndJuliet #RachelZegler #KitConnor
“Romeo + Juliet” Playbill at Circle in the Square.
November 22, 2024 at 1:37 AM
gillianblum.bsky.social
or that it would mess with the pacing.

I have to say, it works. The changes are so seamless that I honestly didn’t really notice how long it was. In fact, as “Defying Gravity” started, I wrote in my notes “I’m not ready for it to be over yet.”

If dividing it into two (18/?)
Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda in the "Wicked Movie" in a poppy field.
November 19, 2024 at 11:21 PM
gillianblum.bsky.social
was incredible.

“What Is This Feeling” is going to be slept on, simply because it is so early and sandwiched between TWaI and DtL (as it’s supposed to be). DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS SEQUENCE, and the amazing vocals in it.

I already talked about “Popular,” but I (15/?)
Ariana Grande as Glinda and the ensemble of the "Wicked" movie.
November 19, 2024 at 11:21 PM
gillianblum.bsky.social
She brings out the fierce independence and sharp wit that are essential to Elphaba. While her “Defying Gravity” is amazing (and yes VERY LONG!), it is her “The Wizard and I” that will go down in legend.

Jonathan Bailey’s Fiyero is spectacular. He brings a goofy (11/?)
Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in the "Wicked" movie.
November 19, 2024 at 11:21 PM