Folio Society Edition of The Lord of the Rings to launch

The Folio Society are famous for making utterly gorgeous books, and have launched a very limited edition of The Lord of The Rings, the classic  JRR Tolkien fantasy series.

Limited to a 1000 copies, getting one of these sets to put on your bookshelf will set you back £1000.  But if you’re going to splash out on a deluxe version of a book, we can’t imagine a better choice.

The three volume set comes in a silver-blocked slipcase, lined with a special illustration. The edition includes an Alan lee art print exclusive to this edition and a pair of maps drawn by Christopher Tolkien, presented in a cloth covered cover. Each volume is quarter-bound in burgundy calfskin leather, silver page tops, an illustrated inset label. The art throughout is by Alan Lee, a name that Tolkien fans will know very well, as he is famous for his ability to bring Middle Earth to life with his art.  The set includes 53 colour illustrations in total,  printed on Veltique paper tipped within printed borders with 57 illustrated chapter openers

The attention to detail at every level of the production will be exquisite; this is a Folio Society edition after all.

Available exclusively from The Folio Society – www.foliosociety.com

 

 

 

VOLTRON Live-Action Film Headed To Amazon Studios

1980s cult anime Voltron is likely heading to Amazon as a live-action feature adaptation, with Red Notice filmmaker Rawson Marshall Thurber attached to direct.

The streamer is in negotiations to pick up the project, reports Deadline, which was co-written by Thurber and Ellen Shanman and based on the former’s story; Todd Lieberman and David Hoberman are on board to produce with Bob Koplar, the head of the company that controls the Voltron property.

The animated series is based on the Japanese sci-fi series Beast King GoLion and Armored Fleet Dairugger XV, which were edited and dubbed as a syndicated show retitled Voltron: Defender of the Universe. 

The story centred on five young pilots in the Robot Lions battalion, who operate vehicles that, when joined together, form a mega-robot known as Voltron. There have been numerous attempts since the early 2000s to adapt the property as a live-action movie, animated feature, etc., but to no avail.

It’s unclear whether Voltron will be Thurber’s next project. The director, who previously helmed Skyscraper, Central Intelligence, and We’re the Millers, is planning and planning two back-to-back Red Notice sequels, though these are still in development. He is also working on an upcoming Dungeons & Dragons series for eOne as exec producer, writer, and director of the pilot episode.

 

MARVEL LEGENDS SPIDER-MAN TOYS UNLEASHED

The Amazing Spider-Man turns 60 this year, and premiere toy company HASBRO have decided to celebrate by releashing new Spidey themed toys into the mix.

 Marvel Legends Series 60th Anniversary Amazing Fantasy Spider-Man takes Spidey back to the classic mode with Spidey’s original black-and-red deco and underarm web wings, and web line accessory. This  6-inch figure features premium articulation for dynamic posing. It comes with a spectacular 6 alternate hands.The figure is inspired by Spider-Man’s legendary Marvel Comics premiere in Amazing Fantasy #15. 

Joining classic Spidey is Marvel’s Knull and Venom, available together in a single pack. Knull is the evil entity responsible for the creation of Venom’s entire race and appears in the controversial King in Black series. The box includes an alternate head and a weapon accessory inspired by his iconic blade, All-Black the Necrosword. We also get a winged version of Venom, which makes Spider-Man’s greatest foe even more deadly.

The release includes another two-pack; the black and white Spider-Man Noir, accompanied by Peter Porker, aka Spider-Ham. The heroes, best known via Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse are fan favourites. The 6-inch Spider-Man Noir figure features the character’s distinct shadowy deco and includes a pistol and alternate head accessories, while the 6-inch scale Spider-Ham figure features deco inspired by the character’s porcine appearance from the movie. In addition, the 2-pack features extensive articulation, offering dynamic posability with other Marvel Legends figures.

Additional Hasbro Marvel Legends Series figures are available, celebrating 60 amazing years of Spider-Man! (Additional figures each sold separately. Subject to availability.) Includes figure and 4 accessories. Available for pre-order from Hasbro Pulse UK and all good collector sites.

TWISTED METAL Series Taps Kitao Sakurai As Director

Twisted Metal series adaptation to be helmed by director and exec producer Kitao Sakurai

Kitao Sakurai (Bad Trip, The Eric Andre Show) has been tapped to executive produce and direct multiple episodes of Peacock’s Twisted Metal adaptation, reports Deadline.

Anthony Mackie stars in and exec produces the series, which is described as a half-hour live-action, high-octane action comedy adaptation of the popular video game. The Twisted Metal series hails from Cobra Kai writer Michael Jonathan Smith, based on an original take by Deadpool and Zombieland duo Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick.

It follows a motor-mouthed, fast-driving, amnesiac milkman (Mackie) as he’s offered a chance at a better life, but only if he can successfully deliver a mysterious package across a post-apocalyptic wasteland. With the help of a trigger-happy car thief, he’ll face savage marauders driving vehicles of destruction and other dangers of the open road, including a deranged clown who drives an all too familiar ice cream truck.

No further news on casting or a potential release date, so stay tuned to find out more.

 

Andy Serkis Directing Adaptation of ANIMAL FARM

Actor-director Andy Serkis (Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle) is helming an animated adaptation of George Orwell’s classic dystopian fable Animal Farm at Cinesite.

The VFX and Animation Studio will collaborate with production company Aniventure, and will be working through Serkis’ London-headquartered company The Imaginarium. The long-gestating project has been in the works since 2012 and was previously set up at Netflix in 2018, though the streamer is no longer attached.

Teaser poster by cinesite for Andy Serkis Animal Farm animation

Serkis directs Animal Farm from a screenplay by Nicholas Stoller (Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Zoolander 2). First published in 1945, the novella follows a group of farm animals who rebel against their human owner in hopes of creating a utopian society, only to be betrayed by one of their own. The satirical allegorical tale reflected the events leading up to the Russian Revolution and into the Stalinist period.

“The challenging journey to bring this extraordinary story to the screen has been finally rewarded by the opportunity to partner with the brilliant team at Aniventure and Cinesite,” wrote Serkis. “Together we hope to make our version of Orwell’s ever relevant masterpiece, emotionally powerful, humorous, and relatable for all ages. A tale not only for our times, but for generations to come.”

Production on Animal Farm is currently underway.

 

Karyn Kusama’s Dracula Film MINA HARKER Is DOA

Jennifer's Body director Karyn Kusama Dracula film Mina Harker has been axed ; still is Megan Fox as Jennifer

Jennifer’s Body director Karyn Kusama will no longer have the pleasure of sinking her teeth into the Dracula universe, with news that the Blumhouse and Miramax Films Mina Harker project has been staked – just weeks before it was due to go into production.

Miramax’s exit is to blame for the collapse, states Deadline, and was due to creative differences with the filmmaker. Mina Harker would have starred Blindspotting and Hamilton actress Jasmine Cephas Jones as the titular character, who meets Dracula in modern-day Los Angeles. Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi had penned the script.

Kusama is best known for having helmed the big budget sci-fi film Æon Flux, and gained further recognition with her work on The Invitation and the Nicole Kidman-starring Destroyer. Most recently, she served as executive producer and pilot director on the hit series Yellowjackets. 

Mina Harker was one of several Dracula-inspired projects currently in the works, including the Nicolas Cage and Nicholas Hoult-starring Renfield and Amblin Partners’ Last Voyage of the Demeter.

 

Jason Momoa To Star In MINECRAFT Live-Action Film

Minecraft film set to go ahead with Jason Momoa starring

It was only a matter of time until Minecraft got a movie, even if it got pretty close to being boxed up and placed in storage; The Hollywood Reporter confirms that the Warner Bros. live-action film is very much on the way, with Aquaman actor Jason Momoa in final negotiations to star and Napoleon Dynamite filmmaker Jared Hess to direct the Minecraft adaptation.

Shawn Levy (Free Guy, The Adam Project) was amongst a number of names previously attached to the project, as well as It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Rob McElhenney,  Steve Carell and Peter Sollett. Roy Lee and Dune‘s Mary Parent aboard to produce. Jill Messick will also receive a posthumous producers credit for her role in developing the film prior to her passing in 2018.

Very little is known about the project so far, though a probable synopsis floating around goes as follows: “The malevolent Ender Dragon sets out on a path of destruction, prompting a young girl and her group of unlikely adventurers to set out to save the Overworld.” No further casting has yet been announced.

Gaming films seem to be the big thing at the moment, so news of a Minecraft movie finally getting the greenlight comes as little surprise. The recent successes of the aforementioned Free Guy and Sonic films, as well as Uncharted and the excitement surrounding the upcoming The Ghost of Tsushima, have proven there’s a market hungry for this kind of adaptation.

 

 

2023 Eastercon Selected

Eastercon 2023 logo

2023’s Eastercon has been announced following a bid-session at Reclamation, The 72nd Eastercon which is currently being held at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Centre London Heathrow.

Eastercon is the UK’s longest running science fiction convention, and primarily focuses on science-fiction books as well as other media.

The event will be called Conversation, and it will be held over the Easter Bank Holiday in England. The site has not yet been confirmed, however the convention organisers are experienced convention runners and the site is expected to be announced in short order.

It will be a hybrid convention, with content and activities available both online and in-person. This will allow the convention to have an international range and improve the ‘Conversation’ in the science fiction community, hence the name.

The Guests of Honour for the convention are:

Zen Cho ( @zenaldehyde ) An award winning fantasy writer known for the Sorcerer to the Crown series.

Niall Harrison ( @niallharrison )- A science fiction editor and critic known for his work on Interzone, Vector and Foundation.

Jennel Jaquays – A TTRPG games designer and illustrator who’s work includes classic adventures for D&D such as Dark Tower and Caverns of Thracia. Jennel will attend virtually.

Karri Speering – One of the UK’s Most Valued Players in science fiction fandom.

Adrian Tchaivosky ( @aptshadow )– A multi-award winning science fiction author best known for the Shadows of The Apt and Children of Time novels.

Urusla Vernon ( @UrsulaV ) – A Hugo Award winning author and illustrator. Urusula will attend virtually.

You can find out more about the convention here:

https://www.conversation2023.org.uk/

 

2022 BFSA Award Winners Announced

The winners of 2022 British Science Fiction Award have been announced as part Reclamation, the 72nd Eastercon, a science fiction convention that is currently being ran duing the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend.

The Best Book for Younger Readers Award went to Xiran Jay Zhao for their book Iron Widow.

The winner of the Award for Best Shorter Fiction is Aliette de Bodard for Fireheart Tiger.

The Award for Best Non-Fiction went to Francesca T. Barbini for Worlds Apart: Worldbuilding in Fantasy and Science Fiction.

The Award for Best Artist went to Iain J Clark for Glasgow Green Woman.

And finally the Award for Best Novel Adrian Tchaikovsky for Shards of Earth.

Neil Gaiman’s DEAD BOY DETECTIVES Receives Series Order

Dead Boy Detectives DC and HBO Max series poster

Dead Boy Detectives, based on the DC Comics characters created by Neil Gaiman and Matt Wagner and existing in the same universe as Doom Patrol, has received a series order at HBO Max.

The eight-part series follows two boys who decide not to enter the afterlife, and to instead stay on earth to investigate crimes involving the supernatural. The ghost story series explores death, loss, and grief through the eyes of Edwin Payne and Charles Rowland (George Rexstrew and Jayden Revri, respectively), two dead British teenagers, and their very alive friend Crystal Palace (Kassius Nelson, Last Night in Soho).

The series also stars Briana Cuoco as Jenny the Butcher, Supernatural’s Ruth Connell as the Night Nurse (reprising her role from the “Dead Patrol” episode of HBO Max’s Doom Patrol) and Alexander Calvert as Thomas the Cat King, Yuyu Kitamura as Niko, and Jenn Lyon as Esther.

The Flight Attendant creator Steve Yockey wrote the pilot episode and serves as showrunner. He also executive produces alongside Doom Patrol‘s Jeremy Carver, Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter. Lee Toland Krieger (The Age of Adaline, Shadow and Bone, the upcoming Green Lantern series) directed the pilot.