Bits n’ bobs from this week’s genre news:

* TROLL HUNTER might have only just been released in the US (and still awaits a UK date) but that’s not stopped Hollywood already planning to give it the inevitable remake treatment. Chris Columbus’s production company 1492 has acquired the rights

from filmmaker Andre Ovredal to produce an English language version. Not seen the TROLL HUNTER trailer yet? Check it out, looks great…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLEo7H9tqSM

* How cool is this poster for CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER! Sadly for us, it was only issued to the cast and crew who worked on the picture. Boooo!

* There’s a sequel to HAWK THE SLAYER in the works?! Cool! Read about HAWK THE HUNTER on its official site.

* Okay, so GHOST RIDER was pretty dreadful, but we’re all routing for SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE to knock it out of the park, right? Here’s the sequel’s newly released synopsis: “It has been several years since making a deal with the Devil and Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage), living in self-imposed isolation, finds himself as the only person who can help save 10-year-old Danny – and ultimately the world – thanks to his unwanted and uncontrollable power – his ability to transform into the hell-on-wheels monster known as The Ghost Rider.”

* Friend of Starburst Kevin Smith is working on a comic book store-based reality TV show to be filmed in his very own JAY & SILENT BOB’S SECRET STASH. Described as PAWN STARS for fanboys, the programme will air in the States on AMC, and will hopefully find a home in the UK soon. Can’t imagine Walt Flannigan feels too chuffed about all this.

* There’s no UK release date as of yet, but we’re really hoping MONSTER BRAWL lives up to its awesome tag-line (‘It’s the Fight of The Living Dead!’) and trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ikVXJ7cn70

*THOR’s Idris Elba has signed on for Guillermo Del Toro’s upcoming monster movie PACIFIC RIM.

* After the disaster that was Joe Johnston’s 2009 version, Universal has decided to have another crack at their WOLFMAN property with the announcement that a Benicio Del Toro-free re-reboot is on the way, provisionally titled, erm, WEREWOLF.

* Check out these awesome new holiday shorts based on Sam, the sack-masked would-be horror icon that starred in the criminally ignored 2007 horror flick TRICK ‘R TREAT, (then go buy the DVD if you haven’t seen it already, trust me it’s the PULP FICTION of Halloween movies!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMt8pNn7Ux0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo5ZX8Mpg24

* Following Keanu Reeves’ departure from the long mooted live-action AKIRA adap, Albert Hughes has now stepped down as director. Could the project finally be dead? Looking that way.

 

Please share your thoughts on any of this stuff in the comments section below!