Scott Bakula Joins Steven Soderbergh-Produced DIVINITY

Scott Bakula to star in Steven Soderbergh-produced Divinity; still from NCIS: New Orleans

Steven Soderbergh and Eddie Alcazar’s upcoming indie Divinity has topped off its cast, announcing that Scott Bakula (Quantum Leap, Star Trek: Enterprise) and Bella Thorne (The Babysitter) were joining the production.

Deadline also confirms that Chris Santos, Danielia Maximillian, Lydia Bielen, and Emily Willis, will join the previously announced Stephen Dorff (1998’s Blade), Jason Genao (Logan, The Get Down), Moises Arias (Ender’s Game), Karrueche Tran (The Nice Guys), and Mike O’Hearn (World’s Finest).

Divinity follows two mysterious brothers (Genao and Arias) hellbent on stopping a mogul (Dorff) who is close to unravelling the secrets behind immortality. Meanwhile, a seductive woman (Tran) helps them launch a journey of self-discovery.

Little else is yet known about the sci-fi thriller, nor do the casting announcements come with any news on who the newcomers will be playing. However, sources report that Divinity is aiming to wrap production ahead of the film festival circuit, so we should have updates for you soon enough.

This marks Soderbergh and Alcaraz’s second collaboration, having previously partnered on the latter’s sci-fi feature debut Perfect; for Divinity, Alcaraz will once again be in the director’s seat, with Soderbergh in a producing role.

 

Alma Har’el To Direct Adaptation of Walter Tevis’ MOCKINGBIRD

Mockingbird sci fi novel cover

Honey Boy filmmaker Alma Har’el has found her next feature project, an adaptation of Walter Tevis’ seminal science fiction novel, Mockingbird. 

The novel, which was first published in 1980 and nominated for the prestigious literary Nebula Award, paints a post-apocalyptic future in which the human population is in dramatic decline – those who survive spend their days in narcotic bliss or choose a quick suicide over slow extinction. Setting in which art, children, and books are a thing of the past, humanity’s future hinges on a love triangle between a suicidal android, a man, and a woman.

Walter Tevis is also known for having penned The Man Who Fell to Earth, which has recently been adapted to series starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Naomie Harris; the show premieres later this week, April 24th.

Mockingbird book cover by Walter Tevis

The Searchlight Pictures film will be produced by Oscar-winner J. Miles Dale (Nightmare Alley, The Shape of Water) and Robert Schwartz (Iron Will), alongside Har’el and her partner Christopher Leggett. Alejandro Laguette and Rafael Marmor are also on board to exec produce.

“I’ll never forget the first time I read Mockingbird on the shore of the Sinai peninsula in Egypt when I was 24 years old,” said Har’el. “This book has changed my life and I’ve been pursuing it for over a decade. I knew that Searchlight was the perfect home for it and I’m thrilled they are partnering with me to bring this to the big screen.  Walter Tevis wrote a novel that refuses genre and time, choosing instead to awaken every fibre of your being.”

Har’el is additionally in production on Apple TV+’s Lady in the Lake, itself based on the mystery novel by Laura Lippman, and which stars Natalie Portman and Lupita Nyong’o. Har’el created the series, serves as executive producer and directs all the episodes.

 

SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE Delayed, MADAME WEB Sets Date

Miles Morales, Peter B. Parker and Gwen-Stacy in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Sony Pictures has announced that the theatrical release of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is being pushed back from October 7th of this year to June 2nd, 2023. Its prior release slot will instead be filled by the live-action/CGI musical comedy Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile.

Across the Spider-Verse is the first of a two-part sequel to 2018’s Into the Spider-Verse, coming from Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Meanwhile, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse II has been confirmed for a March 29th, 2024 release.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Part One teaser

Shameik Moore returns as the voice of Miles Morales, a teenage Spider-Man who is transported to another universe where he comes into contact with Spider-Man 2099 (aka Miguel O’Hara), voiced by Oscar Isaac. They will join forces with a new team of Spider-People to face off against a villain more powerful than anything they have ever encountered.

The returning cast also includes Hailee Steinfeld as Gwen Stacy/Spider-Gwen and Jake Johnson as Peter B. Parker/older Spider-Man, with Issa Rae joining the sequel as Jessica Drew/Spider-Woman.

Though fans are likely disappointed about the added eight-month wait, the new June 2023 release date promises an exciting summer for Spider fans. Also announced is Madame Web’s premiere date, which has been set for July 7th, 2023, and will star Dakota Johnson and Sydney Sweeney.

 

 

 

Horror Channel Celebrates Genre History with Vintage Vault

horror channel vintage vault

Sundays nights throughout May will be the time to celebrate the history of genre cinema as Horror Channel presents The Vintage Vault, a season of double bills of horror and sci-fi classics. These films include the cream of the Universal Horror cycle and the best of the Atomic Terror and Creature Features from the ‘50s.

The full line-up is:

May 1st

9pm – The Invisible Man (1933)

10.25pm – Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

May 8th

9pm – The Mummy’s Hand (1940)

10.20pm – Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman (1943)

May 15th

9pm – It Came From Outer Space (1953)

10.35pm – Tarantula (1955)

May 22nd

9pm – Revenge of the Creature (1954)

10.35pm – It Came From Beneath the Sea (1956)

May 29th

9pm – Earth vs the Flying Saucers (1956)

10.40pm – The Mole People (1957)

For more information, head over to http://www.horrorchannel.co.uk

Tune in on Sky 317, Virgin 149, Freeview 69, Freesat 138.

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.