Pixar have released exciting details on the forthcoming follow-up to their 2001 hit MONSTERS INC!

Entitled MONSTERS UNIVERSITY, the story will reveal how Mike & Sully (voiced by Billy Crystal and John Goodman respectively) first met back in school, and how they became enemies – before ultimately becoming the bestest of friends. Awwwww.

Many characters from the original will return alongside the furry leads, amongst “a whole host of new faces” according to Disney (…they’re not quite selling me on this yet, how about you?)

Well if that blistering plot synopsis didn’t do it for you, then hang on to your hats – cos Disney today also unveiled the film’s logo! Check it out…

Oh. It’s the same as the last one.

The film is due for release summer next year, with CARS director (that

‘s it, final straw, count me out) Dan Scanlon at the helm.

Excited? No, me neither. Let’s face it the first one was rubbish anyway. Disagree? Let us know in your comments below!{jcomments on}

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Ok, so what if we were to tell you that a new AMITYVILLE film was on its way? Can’t imagine there are many readers fist-pumping the air with joy right now. But what if we were to tell you that TWO new AMITYVILLE flicks were on the way? “Boo-yah!”

News of the first Amityville project broke last week, with Hannibal Classics announcing they were in the process of developing AMITYVILLE: THE LEGACY 3D. The fact that this was to be the TENTH(!)* incarnation of the haunted house franchise meant the announcement garnered a less than enthusiastic response here at Starburst.

But then came the unusual news that Dimension Films have revealed they too are getting into the Amityville game with THE AMITYVILLE HORROR: THE LOST TAPES.

Huh? Wha? And ultimately – WHY?!

Well, seems Dimension might have been a little miffed that Hannibal Classics beat them to the punch, since they have long held the official rights to the franchise based on Jay Anson’s original “true story” (don’t snigger) from 1977.

So while Hannibal are mining the unofficial** 1988 book ‘Amityville: The Evil Escapes’ by John G. Jones, Dimension are making an ‘actual’ sequel to the 1979 movie (though they’re taking the steadily getting stale ‘found footage’ route with it this time around.)

Can either of these movies succeed where the Ryan Reynolds 2005 reboot failed? We’ll have to see when both LEGACY and LOST TAPES hit cinemas next year. And Poundland shelves six months later.

*Yep, you read it right – four theatrical releases, four straight-to-DVD productions, and one made-for-TV movie. Crikey, that’s a whole lotta dull.

**Since Amityville refers to a place, it cannot therefore be copyrighted. Only Dimension owns the title THE AMITYVILLE HORROR.

Intrigued by the found footage angle, or is it now played out? Let us know with your comments below!{jcomments on}

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Bits n’ Bobs From The Week Ending 15/05/11

* The poster for the eagerly-awaited new MUPPET movie has been leaked. Anybody know what that weird tagline could mean?

* Despite mediocre box office Dimension Films teases the possibility of SCREAM 5 on Twitter.

* SNL star Bill Hader confirmed to appear in MEN IN BLACK III as Andy Warhol. Script leaks indicate a time travel-heavy plot, with Agents J and K journeying back to 1969. Here’s hoping Hader’s considerable comedy-chops won’t be as wasted as they were in PAUL.

* Creator/writer/director Shawn Ryan hopeful for THE SHEILD movie. Vic Mackey, not Nick Fury (though MARVEL STUDIOS are developing that too.)

* Andrew Nicol (GATTACA) to direct adaptation of (our Editor’s favourite author) Stephanie Myers’ latest novel, the originally titled THE HOST. Saorise Ronan turns down THE HOBBIT to star.

* Neca Toys to release series of action figures based on Sam Raimi’s horror classic EVIL DEAD 2. Groovy!

* Ashton Kutcher replaces Charlie Sheen on TWO AND A HALF MEN. (Ok, so not technically genre news, but Sheen did star in the 1996 sci-fi masterpiece THE ARRIVAL so….)

* Check out the poster for the Marti Noxon (BUFFY) penned FRIGHT NIGHT remake featuring David Tennant as Peter Vincent. Can it possibly live up to Tom Holland’s horror classic? Unlikely… but credit where credit’s due, this is starting to look pretty darn cool.

* More EVIL DEAD news! Backflip Studios release ARMY OF DARKNESS for iPhone/iPad (available for 59p, limited time only!)

* Vertigo Films announce sequel to Gareth Edwards’ excellent MONSTERS. Producers promise: “there will be a lot more creatures this time around”, completely missing the point of the original. Meanwhile, Edwards is currently at work on Legendary Pictures’ GODZILLA re-reboot.

* Cancelled: THE EVENT; NO ORDINARY FAMILY; HUMAN TARGET.

* Production on Ron Howard’s ambitious adaptation of Stephen King’s DARK TOWER (3 movies + 2 TV series!) has been stalled. Universal getting cold feet?

* Renewed: CHUCK; FRINGE.

* Hot on the heels of J.J. Abrams’ ALCATRAZ being picked up for a full season, comes the news that PERSONS OF INTEREST (starring another LOST alum, the awesome Michael Emerson) has also been commissioned.

* New CHARLIE’S ANGELS TV show is a go! Sadly, McG will have limited involvement.

* 20th Century Fox developing movie adaptation of the Brothers Grimm story THE PIED PIPER.

* This news week alone we’ve had DINOSAURS VS. ALIENS; aliens vs. robots in PACIFIC RIM; robots vs. robots in REAL STEEL; and robots vs. samurai in ZANBATO. And now… brace yourself for STRIPPERS VS. WEREWOLVES, a new horror comedy currently shooting in the UK with genre favourite Robert Englund.

* Saorise Ronan (again?! does this woman not sleep?!) to star in vampire film BYZANTIUM for Neil Jordan.

That’s all, folks! Check back every day for all the latest genre news!{jcomments on}

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Now this sounds very cool indeed! Drafthouse Films have just announced that work has begun on a new horror anthology flick that will feature the work of 25 established genre directors (+ one contest winner!)

“Each director is assigned a letter and every letter represents a word that acts as a springboard to tell a short story about death”, reads the official statement, “a linking device will open, connect and close. This unique anthology will be a celebration of death in all its forms, from the shocking and exotic to the humorously droll. It’s up to each director to interpret the letter they are assigned as creatively and outrageously as they see fit.”

Producer Ant Timpson adds: “This project was inspired by my young sons being introduced to the world through their ABC’s books. The idea of subverting that format to reveal a study in all the dastardly and humorous ways a person can leave this world appealed on multiple levels. And it was somewhat fitting to learn that the earliest forms of the ABCs books actually did use fear of punishment to teach the young.”

Here’s a roll call of all involved:

Banjong Pisanthanakun (Shutter)

Angela Bettis (Roman)

Adrian Garcia Bogliano (Cold Sweat)

Jason Eisener (Hobo With A Shotgun)

Ernesto Diaz Espinoza (Mirageman)

Bruno Forzani and Héléne Cattet (Amer)

Gadi Harel (DeadGirl)

Thomas Malling (Norwegian Ninja)

Yoshihiro Nishimura (Tokyo Gore Police)

Simon Rumley (Red, White and Blue)

Tak Sakaguchi and Yuji Shimomura (Yakuza Weapon)

Marcel Sarmiento (DeadGirl)

Srdjan Spasojevic (A Serbian Film)

Timo Tjahjanto (Macabre)

Andrew Traucki (Black Water)

Nacho Vigalando (TimeCrimes)

Jake West (Evil Aliens)

Ti West (The House of the Devil)

Ben Wheatley (Down Terrace)

Adam Wingard (A Horrible Way To Die)

All aspiring filmmakers out there interested in being the 26th director should bookmark the official website where they will be announcing the full competition deets shortly.

Expect THE ABC’S OF DEATH to hit sometime in 2012.

Got a favourite director on the list? Thinking of going for that 26th spot? Let us know with your comments below!{jcomments on}

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After the huge box office takings* of the mind-bogglingly dull RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE 3D, production marches forward on yet another installment.

Milla Jovovich revealed on Twitter that the plans are to shoot the fifth entry in Japan, an odd decision considering, y’know, the catastrophic earthquakes and stuff?

Milla tweeted: “I pray 4 Japan everyday and I can’t wait 2 go there and shoot the next Re!”

I’m sure they’ll be ecstatic to see you too, Milla.

I can hardly believe I’m about to type this, but I’m actually saddened they aren’t going with the previously rumoured reboot route. Paul W. S. Anderson’s franchise is now so unrecognizable compared to the original source material that it’s surely time for somebody else to have a go and return the story to its roots. 90 minutes of Milla performing sub-par MATRIX action-riffs doesn’t hold a candle to the horror aesthetic of even the first RE videogame in 1996.

*an astounding $290 million worldwide!{jcomments on}

Still a fan of this franchise, or would you rather see somebody else take the RESIDENT EVIL reigns? Let us know in the comments below!

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The cheekily monikered sequel to last years horror hit PIRANHA 3-DD (huh-huh-huh, booobs!) adds another cast member to its roster with the announcement The Hoff will now join in the fun with a cameo appearance. Hmmm… wonder if he’ll be playing himself?

After terrorizing “Spring Breeeeak!” last time out, those bloodthirsty Piranha are now pulling a JAWS 3 and heading to a Water Park in search of new bikini-clad victims (huh-huh-huh, booobs!)

Shooting is currently underway with FEAST director John Culager replacing Alexandre Aja at the helm, working from a screenplay by long-time collaborators Patrick Melton & Marcus Dunstan (SAW IV; V; VI; VII)*.

In keeping with the last entry, the cast is once again an eclectic bunch with a collection of character actors, comedians, loose canons (Gary Busey anyone?) and porn stars (huh-huh-huh, booobs!) destined to be end up as fish fodder. Having been among the extremely lucky few to survive last time around, Christopher Lloyd, Ving Rhames, and Paul Sheer also return for round two.

Dimension Films is unleashing PIRAHNA 3-DD in cinemas this September.

* At least we know now who to blame for the death of that franchise!

Looking forward to a second helping of the bikini-based gore-fest? Still nauseated by the sight of Jerry O’ Connell’s severed junk? Will Hoff’s cameo top his appearance in SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: THE MOVIE? Let us know with your comments below!{jcomments on}

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Sarah Michelle Gellar has today finally opened up on the subject of the proposed BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER remake calling it a “horrible idea” in an interview with CNN. The actress goes on, “It was a movie. It’s been made. They made it. They don’t need to make another one. [It’s] the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard!”

You tell ‘em, Summers!

In case you’re unfamiliar with the apocalyptically bad idea, Warner Bros are planning a new Buffy movie that will reboot the entire franchise, without creator Joss Whedon’s involvement OR any of the principal actors, essentially wiping out eight years of canon from the public consciousness.

Told you it was a bad idea.

Most people involved in the classic series have been tight-lipped on the subject so far, the most outspoken of anyone being Whedon himself – issuing a hilariously barbed statement on the matter – but has chosen to stay tight-lipped on the subject ever since.

In this writer’s opinion, the saddest part of all this is the fact that if it goes ahead we can give up all hope of EVER seeing a continuation of the original Bufferverse. As fantastic as the Season Eight comic series is, I always held out hope that post-AVENGERS Whedon will have garnered enough clout in the industry to successfully resurrect his beloved characters either on TV or (gotta dream big) the silver screen.

In fact, the only positive reaction to this project seems to come from Kristy Swanson, star of the 1992 movie… that the subsequent series reboot successfully wiped from the public consciousness (told ya!). Talking with Entertainment Weekly last year, the actress said, “Let Buffy live, why not! If they wanted me to be a part of it, I think that would be fantastic and that it would be a blast.”

News, Swanson – they don’t, so zip it.

Are you as upset about this project as I am? Or do you side with Swanson? Let us know with your comments below!{jcomments on}

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