Tom Hardy is back as Eddie Brock/Venom in Sony’s third chapter of their Venom film franchise, with the new instalment officially titled Venom: The Last Dance. This is expected to be the final film in a trilogy.
In The Last Dance, “Eddie and Venom are on the run. Hunted by both of their worlds and with the net closing in, the duo are forced into a devastating decision that will bring the curtains down on their last dance.” They look to be going up against multiple symbiotes, including Knull, who in the comics was essentially the symbiote God. Squeeze in a trip to Las Vegas, and this third film promises a lot of gooey fun.
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, Peggy Lu, Alanna Ubach and Stephen Graham also star. The film is directed by Kelly Marcel from a screenplay she wrote, based on a story by Hardy and Marcel. The film is produced by Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, Amy Pascal, Kelly Marcel, Tom Hardy and Hutch Parker. This marks Marcel’s directorial debut, having written all three Venom films.
The cult director Jeff Lieberman, famous for such iconic movies as Squirm, Blue Sunshine, and Just Before Dawn is flying over to the UK in late October for two unique events.
He is first heading up North to Manchester for the city’s annual Festival of Fantastic Films; the legendary celebration of all things fantastique, which has been running since 1990 and takes place October 25th – 27th at the Pendulum Hotel. Tickets can be purchased at: https://fantastic-films.uk/
Jeff is then heading to the West Midlands, where he will be subject to an intimate and unique celebration of his films hosted by Midlands boutique label Treasured Films. His five features, plus some of Jeff’s lesser-known short works, will be screened at the independent Lume Cinema, Kidderminster, situated near Birmingham.
The event takes place on Nov 2nd – 3rd. Jeff will be in attendance and will be taking part in Q&A sessions, meet and greets and will be signing autographs and posing for photos.
If it feels like Destin Daniel Cretton is nabbing jobs left and right, that’s because he is: the filmmaker is now in talks to direct Spider-Man 4 for Marvel Studios and Sony. Cretton previously helmed Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings for Marvel, and is behind the upcoming Wonder Manseries that stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. Beyond that, the filmmaker remains attached to direct the live-action adaptation of Naruto, as well as a sequel to Shang-Chi.
This Spider-Man film is expected to see Tom Holland return to the role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers are back on script duties. The project will reportedly begin shooting early next year. It is unclear what path the story may follow, since No Way Home ended with the world forgetting Peter Parker.
Destin Daniel Cretton had also been signed on to direct Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (now Avengers: Doomsday, which will be directed by the Russo Brothers) but left the project after dramatic changes in the production schedule and evolution, which stemmed from star Jonathan Majors’ assault trial. Marvel has reportedly been keen to find him another feature to direct ever since.
Stay tuned for further updates on this fourth Spider-Man instalment as we hear them!
Star Trek: Picard actor, Todd Stashwick, is joining Paul Bettany and James Spader in Marvel Studios’ untitled Vision series, the follow-up to the Disney+ series WandaVision.
The actor is reuniting with Terry Matalas, who served as showrunner on Picard and will next be helming this MCU series. The pair also worked together on 12 Monkeys, the series adaptation of the Terry Gilliam thriller that starred Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt. It’s unconfirmed who Todd Stashwick will be playing in this upcoming Vision series.
Bettany is reprising his role as Vision, the synthezoid who fell in love with Wanda Maximoff/the Scarlett Witch and was destroyed by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War. In WandaVision, he returned via Wanda’s grief and magic, but also as a rebuilt android, now white. Spader is reprising his role as Ultron, the defence program-turned-sentient annihilator of humanity, as seen in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
The series is meant to be the third part of a trilogy that began with WandaVision and continues in Agatha All Along, the latter of which debuts on Disney+ later this month and centres on Kathryn Hahn’s villainous witch, Agatha Harkness.
The Vision series is expected to begin filming at the start of 2025, with eyes on a 2026 release date.
Sony genre label Screen Gems has acquired the film rights to the horror anthology comic book, Ice Cream Man, with Wednesday creators and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice writers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar aboard the project. The pair will produce the adaptation via their Sony-based Millar Gough Ink banner.
Published by Image Comics, the storyis described as such: Chocolate, vanilla, existential horror, drug addiction, musical fantasy…there’s a flavour for everyone’s misery. Ice Cream Man is a genre-defying comic book series featuring disparate ‘one-shot’ tales of sorrow, wonder, and redemption. Each instalment features its own cast of strange characters, dealing with their own special sundae of suffering. And on the periphery of all of them, like the twinkly music of his colourful truck, is the Ice Cream Man-a weaver of stories, a purveyor of sweet treats. Friend. Foe. God. Demon. The man who, with a snap of his fingers-lickety split – can change the course of your life forever.
The comic was written and created by W. Maxwell Prince, with Martin Morazzo and Chris O’Halloran creating the artwork. The project is in early development and the studio is actively looking for a writer. Prince will act as executive producer on the feature.
The comic continues to be published on an irregular schedule.
Abbott stars as Blake, a San Francisco husband and father, who inherits his remote childhood home in rural Oregon after his own father vanishes and is presumed dead. With his marriage to his high-powered wife, Charlotte (Garner), fraying, Blake persuades Charlotte to take a break from the city and visit the property with their young daughter, Ginger (Matilda Firth). But as the family approaches the farmhouse in the dead of night, they’re attacked by an unseen animal and, in a desperate escape, barricade themselves inside the home as the creature prowls the perimeter. As the night stretches on, however, Blake begins to behave strangely, transforming into something unrecognizable, and Charlotte will be forced to decide whether the terror within their house is more lethal than the danger without.
Whannell directs Wolf Man from a script he co-wrote with Corbett Tuck, as well as Dumb Money’s Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo. The film co-stars Sam Jaeger, Ben Prendergast and Benedict Hardie. Blumhouse is producing the pic.
Watch the teaser trailer for Wolf Man below, ahead of its cinema release on January 17th, 2025.
John Gore Media Limited – who own Hammer Films – has acquired Silver Salt Restoration, the premiere UK restoration studio as part of their ongoing commitment to preserving cinematic history.
Silver Salt, which has a long history of working with some of the industry’s leading names including Arrow, Studiocanal, and the BFI, will now take on some of the iconic films within our portfolio, particularly those under our Hammer Films label, to ensure they are revitalised for future generations.
As part of this exciting and strategic development, Hammer Films, under the John Gore Media umbrella, will benefit directly from the expertise of Silver Salt Restoration.
Silver Salt is currently working on the remastering of rare Hammer Films cult classics, many of which have been out of circulation for years. These films will undergo meticulous 4K restoration and preservation, allowing both dedicated fans and new audiences to experience these forgotten gems in the highest possible quality.
This November, Hammer Films celebrates its 90th anniversary. To mark the occasion, a special documentary, Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters, will air on Sky. The documentary will explore the studio’s legacy, its most iconic productions, and its lasting impact on British cinema. The restoration of these rare classics perfectly complements the celebrations, as Hammer Films honours its past while looking toward an exciting future.
John Gore
John Gore, CEO and Chairman of John Gore Media, commented on the acquisition: “We are delighted to welcome Silver Salt Restoration into the John Gore Media family. This acquisition not only strengthens our film restoration capabilities but also aligns perfectly with our mission to uphold the highest standards in cinematic preservation. As Hammer Films approaches its 90th anniversary this November, alongside the Sky documentary ‘Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters’, we are more committed than ever to ensuring that our classic films, including these rare cult titles, are preserved and presented in the best possible quality for both loyal fans and new audiences.”
Mark Bonnici
Mark Bonnici, Managing Director of Silver Salt Restoration, said: “Joining the John Gore Media family is a significant milestone for Silver Salt Restoration. We have always been dedicated to excellence in film restoration, and it’s inspiring to be part of a group that shares our passion for preserving cinematic heritage. Restoring these rare Hammer Films cult classics in stunning 4K gives us the opportunity to bring these hidden treasures to new audiences while preserving the enduring legacy of Hammer Films.”
“As Hammer Films approaches its 90th anniversary, these restoration projects are a fitting tribute to its illustrious past and an exciting step into the future. With the combined efforts of John Gore Media and Silver Salt Restoration, we are dedicated to continuing our tradition of excellence in storytelling and film preservation, ensuring that these cinematic treasures remain vibrant and accessible for decades to come.”
We look forward to seeing what the team-up will bring for us!
ReedPop, the folk behind the MCM Comic Con events, have announced a scholarship scheme, aimed at helping would-be writers, comic book artists, game developers, voice actors get a start in the geek media industry.
Conventions are a fantastic way to meet and talk to people in the industry, and figure out how you want to contribute.
The winner of the MCM Scholarship will be granted free entry for all three days of MCM Comic Con x EGX, a three-night stay at a hotel near ExCeL London and a cash prize of £500. The winner will also receive a bespoke itinerary based on their career goals but will also be free to explore the show as they please.
EGX is the UK’s largest video games consumer, trade and careers event. Produced by ReedPop, EGX features the latest games on both PC and console, stage presentations by well-known games designers, and the opportunity to chat with developers on the show floor.
The show follows a series of heinous crimes, potentially supernatural in nature. Detective Lois Tryon ( Niecy Nash-Betts ) takes the crimes personally. Lois grapples with a strained relationship with her daughter, a husband in long-term hospital care and her own inner demons. She accepts the help of Sister Megan ( Micaela Diamond ), a nun and journalist with the Catholic Guardian. As Lois and Sister Megan uncover clues, they find themselves ensnared in a sinister web.
Disney+ have announced that FX’s Grotesquerie, Ryan Murphy’s new horror drama series, will premiere with the first two episodes on September 26th exclusively on Disney+ in the UK. It is a ten-episode season.
Toy fans are gearing up for this Friday’s Hasbro Pulse Con, which promises to deliver news on some of the most exciting toy and game releases in the galaxy. Fans of Star Wars, Transformers, GI Joe Dungeons and Dragons, and Magic: The Gathering would be wise to tune in to the custom YouTube channelhere this Friday.
If you can’t wait, however, some really cool toys are already available for pre-order on the HASBRO PULSE website.
First up, we have Collectible Punisher and Bushwacker action figures inspired by the character’s appearance in Marvel’s The Punisher War Journal comic. A rogue assassin known as Bushwacker has a bizarre power that gives him shape-shift skin and arms – represented here with detachable hands that come in gun and grenade launcher configurations. The Punisher himself comes with a variety of weapons and two heads, both of which are angry.
Star Wars fans will be pleased to learn that Star Wars The Vintage Collection K-2SO is also now on pre-order; everyone’s favourite ANDOR / ROGUE ONE sarcastic robot is a must-have for collectors.
GI JOE fans will be delighted to learn that the deluxe re-imagining of the Action Force / G.I. JOE Classified Series Cobra Rattler Ground Attack Jet is still funding on the Hasbro Pulse site at the time of publication. Hurry, though; it ends soon.
