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      <url>
        <loc>https://thedirect.com/article/james-gunn-lex-luthor-dcu-villain-replace</loc>
        <lastmod>2026-08-08T19:27:42Z</lastmod>
        <news:news>
            <news:publication>
                <news:name>The Direct</news:name>
                <news:language>en</news:language>
            </news:publication>
            <news:title>James Gunn Just Replaced Lex Luthor As the DCU&#x27;s Most Dangerous Villain</news:title>
            <news:publication_date>2026-08-08T19:27:42Z</news:publication_date>
            <news:keywords>Lanterns (Series), Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Superhero, Green Lantern, Green Lantern Corps (Team), DCU Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters, Lex Luthor, James Gunn, HBO Max</news:keywords>
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        <image:image>
          <image:loc>https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_full/1000009517.jpg</image:loc>
          <image:caption>Lex Luthor, played by Jesse Eisenberg, in the DCU</image:caption>
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      <url>
        <loc>https://thedirect.com/article/daredevil-born-again-season-3-disney-plus-return-logo</loc>
        <lastmod>2026-08-08T19:12:10Z</lastmod>
        <news:news>
            <news:publication>
                <news:name>The Direct</news:name>
                <news:language>en</news:language>
            </news:publication>
            <news:title>Daredevil: Born Again Season 3 Gets Bold New Logo Ahead of Disney+ Return</news:title>
            <news:publication_date>2026-08-08T19:12:10Z</news:publication_date>
            <news:keywords>Daredevil: Born Again, Action, Adventure, Superhero, Thriller</news:keywords>
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          <image:loc>https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_full/1000009509.jpg</image:loc>
          <image:caption>Daredevil, Disney Plus logo</image:caption>
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      <url>
        <loc>https://thedirect.com/article/marvel-studios-proven-hero-formula-jean-grey-fan-favorite</loc>
        <lastmod>2026-08-08T13:48:07Z</lastmod>
        <news:news>
            <news:publication>
                <news:name>The Direct</news:name>
                <news:language>en</news:language>
            </news:publication>
            <news:title>Marvel Studios Uses Its Proven Hero Formula to Make Jean Grey an Inevitable Fan-Favorite Character</news:title>
            <news:publication_date>2026-08-08T13:48:07Z</news:publication_date>
            <news:keywords>Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Superhero, X-Men (Team), Marvel Studios</news:keywords>
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        <image:image>
          <image:loc>https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_full/mcu-jean-grey-marvel.jpg</image:loc>
          <image:caption>Sadie Sink as Jean Grey with Marvel Studios logo.</image:caption>
        </image:image>
      </url>
    
      <url>
        <loc>https://thedirect.com/article/star-wars-force-rules</loc>
        <lastmod>2026-08-08T08:04:32Z</lastmod>
        <news:news>
            <news:publication>
                <news:name>The Direct</news:name>
                <news:language>en</news:language>
            </news:publication>
            <news:title>Star Wars Just Rewrote the Rules of the Force Forever</news:title>
            <news:publication_date>2026-08-08T08:04:32Z</news:publication_date>
            <news:keywords>Visions, Ahsoka, A Droid Story, Luke Skywalker, Rey, Disney+</news:keywords>
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          <image:loc>https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_full/star-wars-force-rules.jpg</image:loc>
          <image:caption>Star Wars Yoda using The Force</image:caption>
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      <url>
        <loc>https://thedirect.com/article/disney-andor-title</loc>
        <lastmod>2026-08-08T07:23:18Z</lastmod>
        <news:news>
            <news:publication>
                <news:name>The Direct</news:name>
                <news:language>en</news:language>
            </news:publication>
            <news:title>Disney Almost Gave &#x27;Andor&#x27; A Much Better Title</news:title>
            <news:publication_date>2026-08-08T07:23:18Z</news:publication_date>
            <news:keywords>Andor (Series), Cassian Andor, Disney+, Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller</news:keywords>
        </news:news>
        <image:image>
          <image:loc>https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_full/andor-disney-title.jpg</image:loc>
          <image:caption>Cassian Andor in Andor Season 2, played by Diego Luna</image:caption>
        </image:image>
      </url>
    
      <url>
        <loc>https://thedirect.com/article/creature-commandos-season-2-dc-heroes-villains-power-level</loc>
        <lastmod>2026-08-08T07:10:52Z</lastmod>
        <news:news>
            <news:publication>
                <news:name>The Direct</news:name>
                <news:language>en</news:language>
            </news:publication>
            <news:title>Creature Commandos Season 2: All 9 DC Heroes &amp; Villains Confirmed to Appear, Ranked by Power Level</news:title>
            <news:publication_date>2026-08-08T07:10:52Z</news:publication_date>
            <news:keywords>Creature Commandos (Series), Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Superhero</news:keywords>
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          <image:loc>https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_full/creature-commandos-season-2-characters.jpg</image:loc>
          <image:caption>Creature Commandos characters Nosferata, The Bride, Captain Atom</image:caption>
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      </url>
    
      <url>
        <loc>https://thedirect.com/article/marvel-studios-avengers-movie-logo-release</loc>
        <lastmod>2026-08-08T06:00:39Z</lastmod>
        <news:news>
            <news:publication>
                <news:name>The Direct</news:name>
                <news:language>en</news:language>
            </news:publication>
            <news:title>Marvel Studios Officially Debuts Logo for 6th Avengers Movie Release</news:title>
            <news:publication_date>2026-08-08T06:00:39Z</news:publication_date>
            <news:keywords>Avengers: Endgame, Avengers: Doomsday, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Secret Wars, Thunderbolts Movie, Avengers (Team), Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Superhero</news:keywords>
        </news:news>
        <image:image>
          <image:loc>https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_full/1000009511.jpg</image:loc>
          <image:caption>Avengers movie logo</image:caption>
        </image:image>
      </url>
    
      <url>
        <loc>https://thedirect.com/article/sterling-point-character-ages-ramona-ellis-oona-how-old-amazon-prime-video-series</loc>
        <lastmod>2026-08-07T23:05:28Z</lastmod>
        <news:news>
            <news:publication>
                <news:name>The Direct</news:name>
                <news:language>en</news:language>
            </news:publication>
            <news:title>Sterling Point Character Ages Vs. Actor Ages For Ramona, Ellis, Oona &amp; More In Amazon Prime Video Series</news:title>
            <news:publication_date>2026-08-07T23:05:28Z</news:publication_date>
            <news:keywords>Amazon Prime Video, Drama, Romance, Family</news:keywords>
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        <image:image>
          <image:loc>https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_full/1000009506.jpg</image:loc>
          <image:caption>Sterling Point main characters together</image:caption>
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      </url>
    
      <url>
        <loc>https://thedirect.com/article/dungeon-crawler-carl-author-confirms-that-the-peacock-show-will-keep-one-key-element-of-the-book-i</loc>
        <lastmod>2026-08-07T21:30:33Z</lastmod>
        <news:news>
            <news:publication>
                <news:name>The Direct</news:name>
                <news:language>en</news:language>
            </news:publication>
            <news:title>Dungeon Crawler Carl Author Confirms That the Peacock Show Will Keep One Key Element of the Book: &quot;I Don&#x27;t Want it to Turn Into Some Slapstick Comedy&quot;</news:title>
            <news:publication_date>2026-08-07T21:30:33Z</news:publication_date>
            <news:keywords>SDCC, Peacock</news:keywords>
        </news:news>
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          <image:loc>https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_full/Carl_Fixed.jpg</image:loc>
          <image:caption>Dungeon Crawler Carl art with San Diego Comic-Con logo in top right corner.</image:caption>
        </image:image>
      </url>
    
      <url>
        <loc>https://thedirect.com/article/spider-man-brand-new-day-jean-grey-not-evil</loc>
        <lastmod>2026-08-07T18:27:48Z</lastmod>
        <news:news>
            <news:publication>
                <news:name>The Direct</news:name>
                <news:language>en</news:language>
            </news:publication>
            <news:title>Spider-Man: Brand New Day Set Video Proves Jean Grey Is Not As Evil As You Think</news:title>
            <news:publication_date>2026-08-07T18:27:48Z</news:publication_date>
            <news:keywords>Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Superhero, Spider-Man, X-Men (Team), Hulk</news:keywords>
        </news:news>
        <image:image>
          <image:loc>https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_full/holsgrey.jpg</image:loc>
          <image:caption>Tom Holland as Spider-Man, Sadie Sink as Jean Grey</image:caption>
        </image:image>
      </url>
    
      <url>
        <loc>https://thedirect.com/article/dcu-boss-james-gunn-superman-man-of-tomorrow-spin-off-development</loc>
        <lastmod>2026-08-07T17:33:28Z</lastmod>
        <news:news>
            <news:publication>
                <news:name>The Direct</news:name>
                <news:language>en</news:language>
            </news:publication>
            <news:title>DCU Boss James Gunn Confirms Superman &#x27;Man of Tomorrow’ Spin-Off Show Is In Development</news:title>
            <news:publication_date>2026-08-07T17:33:28Z</news:publication_date>
            <news:keywords>Blue Beetle, Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Superhero, Man of Tomorrow (2027)</news:keywords>
        </news:news>
        <image:image>
          <image:loc>https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_full/james-gunn-superman-man-of-tomorrow-show-dc-dcu_1.jpg</image:loc>
          <image:caption>James Gunn, David Corenswet Superman, DC Studios.</image:caption>
        </image:image>
      </url>
    
      <url>
        <loc>https://thedirect.com/article/this-is-why-regular-show-the-lost-tapes-was-the-only-way-to-continue-the-show-after-244-episodes</loc>
        <lastmod>2026-08-07T16:55:31Z</lastmod>
        <news:news>
            <news:publication>
                <news:name>The Direct</news:name>
                <news:language>en</news:language>
            </news:publication>
            <news:title>This Is Why Regular Show: The Lost Tapes Was the Only Way to Continue the Show After 244 Episodes (Exclusive)</news:title>
            <news:publication_date>2026-08-07T16:55:31Z</news:publication_date>
            <news:keywords>Animation, SDCC</news:keywords>
        </news:news>
        <image:image>
          <image:loc>https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_full/Regular_Thumb.jpg</image:loc>
          <image:caption>Mordecai and Rigby in Regular Show: The Lost Tapes, San Diego Comic-Con logo in top right corner.</image:caption>
        </image:image>
      </url>
    
      <url>
        <loc>https://thedirect.com/article/inde-navarrette-on-board-mcu-x-men-movie</loc>
        <lastmod>2026-08-07T16:30:50Z</lastmod>
        <news:news>
            <news:publication>
                <news:name>The Direct</news:name>
                <news:language>en</news:language>
            </news:publication>
            <news:title>Inde Navarrette Reportedly “On Board” With MCU’s X-Men Movie</news:title>
            <news:publication_date>2026-08-07T16:30:50Z</news:publication_date>
            <news:keywords>X-Men (Team), Marvel Studios, D23</news:keywords>
        </news:news>
        <image:image>
          <image:loc>https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_full/indemovie.jpg</image:loc>
          <image:caption>X-Men: Days of Future Past, Inde Navarette in Obsession, X-Men: Apocalypse, Marvel Studios logo</image:caption>
        </image:image>
      </url>
    
      <url>
        <loc>https://thedirect.com/article/marvel-studios-first-hd-look-sadie-sink-jean-grey</loc>
        <lastmod>2026-08-07T16:12:01Z</lastmod>
        <news:news>
            <news:publication>
                <news:name>The Direct</news:name>
                <news:language>en</news:language>
            </news:publication>
            <news:title>Marvel Studios Officially Reveals First HD Look at Sadie Sink&#x27;s Jean Grey</news:title>
            <news:publication_date>2026-08-07T15:36:21Z</news:publication_date>
            <news:keywords>Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Spider-Man, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Superhero, X-Men (Team)</news:keywords>
        </news:news>
        <image:image>
          <image:loc>https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_full/jeangreymcu.jpg</image:loc>
          <image:caption>Sadie Sink as Jean Grey.</image:caption>
        </image:image>
      </url>
    
      <url>
        <loc>https://thedirect.com/article/nintendo-fifth-movie-villain-after-bowser</loc>
        <lastmod>2026-08-07T15:23:28Z</lastmod>
        <news:news>
            <news:publication>
                <news:name>The Direct</news:name>
                <news:language>en</news:language>
            </news:publication>
            <news:title>Nintendo Confirms Its 5th Major Movie Villain After Bowser</news:title>
            <news:publication_date>2026-08-07T15:23:28Z</news:publication_date>
            <news:keywords>The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Mario</news:keywords>
        </news:news>
        <image:image>
          <image:loc>https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_full/nintendo-movie-villain-zelda.jpg</image:loc>
          <image:caption>Bowser, Nintendo logo.</image:caption>
        </image:image>
      </url>
    
      <url>
        <loc>https://thedirect.com/article/hulks-son-skaar-spider-man-brand-new-day</loc>
        <lastmod>2026-08-07T13:59:30Z</lastmod>
        <news:news>
            <news:publication>
                <news:name>The Direct</news:name>
                <news:language>en</news:language>
            </news:publication>
            <news:title>Hulk’s Son Skaar Returns in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Director Confirms</news:title>
            <news:publication_date>2026-08-07T13:59:30Z</news:publication_date>
            <news:keywords>Spider-Man: Brand New Day, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, She-Hulk (Character), Hulk, Mark Ruffalo, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Superhero</news:keywords>
        </news:news>
        <image:image>
          <image:loc>https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_full/hulk-son-skaar-spider-man-brand-new-day.jpg</image:loc>
          <image:caption>Hulk&#x27;s son Skaar alongside Spider-Man.</image:caption>
        </image:image>
      </url>
    
      <url>
        <loc>https://thedirect.com/article/dc-lanterns-superhero-tv-shows</loc>
        <lastmod>2026-08-07T08:07:35Z</lastmod>
        <news:news>
            <news:publication>
                <news:name>The Direct</news:name>
                <news:language>en</news:language>
            </news:publication>
            <news:title>DC&#x27;s Lanterns Officially Marks the Start of a New Era For Superhero TV Shows</news:title>
            <news:publication_date>2026-08-07T08:07:35Z</news:publication_date>
            <news:keywords>Lanterns (Series), HBO Max, Peacemaker (Series), Creature Commandos (Series), Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Superhero</news:keywords>
        </news:news>
        <image:image>
          <image:loc>https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_full/lanterns-dc-superhero-tv-show.jpg</image:loc>
          <image:caption>Lanterns Hal Jordan, played by Kyle Chandler</image:caption>
        </image:image>
      </url>
    
      <url>
        <loc>https://thedirect.com/article/luke-cage-mike-colter-return-wanted</loc>
        <lastmod>2026-08-07T05:13:52Z</lastmod>
        <news:news>
            <news:publication>
                <news:name>The Direct</news:name>
                <news:language>en</news:language>
            </news:publication>
            <news:title>Mike Colter Got Exactly What He Wanted With Luke Cage&#x27;s Return - Except One Thing</news:title>
            <news:publication_date>2026-08-07T05:13:52Z</news:publication_date>
            <news:keywords>Luke Cage, Daredevil: Born Again, Action, Adventure, Superhero, Thriller, Mike Colter, Kingpin, Disney+</news:keywords>
        </news:news>
        <image:image>
          <image:loc>https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_full/luke-cage-mike-colter.jpg</image:loc>
          <image:caption>Mike Colter as Luke Cage in live-action MCU series</image:caption>
        </image:image>
      </url>
    
      <url>
        <loc>https://thedirect.com/article/avengers-doomsday-trailer-scenes</loc>
        <lastmod>2026-08-07T04:21:15Z</lastmod>
        <news:news>
            <news:publication>
                <news:name>The Direct</news:name>
                <news:language>en</news:language>
            </news:publication>
            <news:title>Avengers: Doomsday&#x27;s New Trailer Has 3 Scenes Fans Didn&#x27;t Like</news:title>
            <news:publication_date>2026-08-07T04:21:15Z</news:publication_date>
            <news:keywords>Avengers: Doomsday, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Superhero</news:keywords>
        </news:news>
        <image:image>
          <image:loc>https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_full/avengers-doomsday-scene-like.jpg</image:loc>
          <image:caption>Thor in Avengers Doomsday scene</image:caption>
        </image:image>
      </url>
    
      <url>
        <loc>https://thedirect.com/article/the-shards-who-the-trawler-serial-killer-hulu-bret-easton-ellis-book</loc>
        <lastmod>2026-08-07T00:17:55Z</lastmod>
        <news:news>
            <news:publication>
                <news:name>The Direct</news:name>
                <news:language>en</news:language>
            </news:publication>
            <news:title>The Shards: Who The Trawler Serial Killer Is In The Hulu Series Will Be A Complete Mystery If It Follows Bret Easton Ellis&#x27; Book</news:title>
            <news:publication_date>2026-08-07T00:17:55Z</news:publication_date>
            <news:keywords>Hulu, Thriller</news:keywords>
        </news:news>
        <image:image>
          <image:loc>https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_full/1000009501.jpg</image:loc>
          <image:caption>The Shards FX Hulu</image:caption>
        </image:image>
      </url>
    
      <url>
        <loc>https://thedirect.com/article/100-years-of-solitude-family-tree-buendia-relatives-seasons-1-2-netflix-series-pictures</loc>
        <lastmod>2026-08-06T21:01:26Z</lastmod>
        <news:news>
            <news:publication>
                <news:name>The Direct</news:name>
                <news:language>en</news:language>
            </news:publication>
            <news:title>100 Years of Solitude Family Tree - Buendia Relatives In Seasons 1 &amp; 2 of Netflix Series (Pictures)</news:title>
            <news:publication_date>2026-08-06T21:01:26Z</news:publication_date>
            <news:keywords>Netflix, Family, Drama, Fantasy</news:keywords>
        </news:news>
        <image:image>
          <image:loc>https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_full/1000009493.jpg</image:loc>
          <image:caption>100 Years of Solitude family tree with names and headshots.</image:caption>
        </image:image>
      </url>
    
      <url>
        <loc>https://thedirect.com/article/from-lanterns-to-widows-bay-here-are-all-the-best-offsites-san-diego-comic-con-2026-had-to-offer</loc>
        <lastmod>2026-08-06T20:49:13Z</lastmod>
        <news:news>
            <news:publication>
                <news:name>The Direct</news:name>
                <news:language>en</news:language>
            </news:publication>
            <news:title>From Lanterns to Widow&#x27;s Bay, Here Are All the Best Offsites San Diego Comic-Con 2026 Had to Offer</news:title>
            <news:publication_date>2026-08-06T20:49:13Z</news:publication_date>
            <news:keywords>SDCC, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Superhero, Comic-Con, Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Series), Family</news:keywords>
        </news:news>
        <image:image>
          <image:loc>https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_full/Offsites.jpg</image:loc>
          <image:caption>Rick &amp; Morty and Funko offsites at SDCC 2026; SDCC logo in top right corner.</image:caption>
        </image:image>
      </url>
    
      <url>
        <loc>https://thedirect.com/article/samara-weaving-x-men-role-emma-frost-look</loc>
        <lastmod>2026-08-06T19:51:30Z</lastmod>
        <news:news>
            <news:publication>
                <news:name>The Direct</news:name>
                <news:language>en</news:language>
            </news:publication>
            <news:title>Samara Weaving Manifested X-Men Role 2 Years Ago With Emma Frost Inspired Look</news:title>
            <news:publication_date>2026-08-06T19:51:30Z</news:publication_date>
            <news:keywords>X-Men (Team), Jake Schreier, Marvel Studios, Avengers: Secret Wars, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Superhero</news:keywords>
        </news:news>
        <image:image>
          <image:loc>https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_full/samarafrotst.jpg</image:loc>
          <image:caption>Samara Weaving and Emma Frost.</image:caption>
        </image:image>
      </url>
    
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