HOUSE OF SECRETS Series From Chris Columbus In The Works

House of Secrets by Chris Columbus

A live-action television series based on the 2013 adventure fantasy trilogy from Chris Columbus (director of Harry Potter films and Home Alone; Gremlins writer), House of Secrets, is in development. Popular filmmaker Columbus co-authored the book series with the late Ned Vizzini, telling the story of three kids lost in a fantasy world who are trying to find their way home.

Destined for Disney+, House of Secrets revolves around three siblings: Brendan, Eleanor, and Cordelia Walker, who aren’t happy when their family moves into a creepy Victorian mansion that was once the home of famed occult novelist Denver Kristoff. The Walkers soon become trapped in the magical house, traveling through the fantastical and intertwined universes of Kristoff’s works.

“Chris, Michael [Barnathan] and Mark [Radcliffe] tell stories that resonate with multiple audiences, across generations and genres that deliver a sense of magic and wonderment through definitional characters,” said Ayo Davis from Disney Branded Television, who is overseeing the project. “There is so much affinity for their acclaimed films, and we are delighted to be working with them to develop House of Secrets into a thrilling Disney+ series.”

Film rights to the House of Secrets novels had been picked up by Rise Entertainment, with principal photography due to begin in January 2014, but this fell through. Since launching the Harry Potter films by directing the first two entries, Columbus has gone on to direct the less successful Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, and executive produced Robert Eggers’ The Witch and The Lighthouse, as well as Scoob!. More details on the upcoming series as we get them.

THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH Is Serving All The Spooky Vibes

Denzel Washington as Macbeth in The Tragedy of Macbeth 2021 teaser trailer

The tragedy of Macbeth is a tale as old as time… or at least it feels like it, considering the million-and-one adaptations we’ve seen of Shakespeare’s 1606 stage play.

You probably know how it goes, but let’s recap anyway: a brave Scottish general named Macbeth encounters a trio of witches (“double, double toil and trouble”) who prophecy that he will one day become the King of Scotland. Consumed by his growing ambition and greed, and thanks to his wife’s not-so-gentle nudging, Macbeth comes to murder King Duncan and claim the throne for himself. Forced to commit one murder after another to protect his standing and eschew suspicion, the new king becomes a tyrant, leading to a civil war. The blood shed, guilt and paranoia push Macbeth and Lady Macbeth into the depths of madness.

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth embracing, played by Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand

Now this latest adaptation, which casts Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand as the murderous power (-hungry) couple, adapts the classic into an inky black and white film from Joel Coen – following in Lana Wachowski’s footsteps, The Tragedy of Macbeth marks the first time that one of the Coen brothers has directed without the other’s involvement.

It’s very much giving us Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse energy – and no, we’re not just saying that because it’s in black and white and from A24 – in the best possible way. The teaser shows off some darkly striking cinematography from Bruno Delbonnel, which looks gorgeous and haunting in equal measure.

Frances McDormand as Lady Macbeth in Joel Coen's A24 adaptation The Tragedy of Macbeth

We also catch glimpses of some of the main cast, including Washington, McDormand, Brendan Gleeson as King Duncan, Harry Melling as Malcolm, and Kathryn Hunter as the witches. Not shown but definitely cast are also Corey Hawkins as Macduff, Moses Ingram as Lady Macduff, Ralph Ineson as the Captain, and Sean Patrick Thomas as Monteith.

The Tragedy of Macbeth comes to select theatres on December 25th, and Apple TV+ on January 14, 2022. It will also close the BFI London Film Festival 2021. Check out the teaser: 

 

Scott Bakula Hints QUANTUM LEAP Return

quantum leap

In an era when most popular ‘80s and ‘90s properties have been rebooted or sequalised, it’s always been a mystery that in the 28-years since the show’s final, tear-inducing finale, Quantum Leap has remained untouched. But a recent interview with its star Scott Bakula hints that the beloved time-travel series may finally be heading back to our screens…

During a fun appearance on Bob Saget’s podcast, Bakula told the host that “there’s very significant conversations about it right now going on.” Exciting!

Although he was coy with the details, Bakula also went on the explain that Quantum Leap has remained in limbo due to some pesky rights issues, “the rights were a mess for years. That’s always been the biggest complication.”

So it seems that the only reason we haven’t seen a revisitation is down to boring ol’ legal reasons rather than short-sightedness on any studios’ part. As fans of the classic show will know all too well, the premise that saw physicist Dr. Sam Beckett ‘leaping’ through time righting-wrongs is rich enough to drive any number of approaches going forward, whether that be a straight reboot, or, much preferably, a continuation of some kind. Having seen his cheeky cameo in the Season 12 premiere of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia back in 2017, we’re pretty sure the ever-affable Bakula would be well up for reprising Beckett in a heartbeat…

We’ll be keeping our ears to the ground with this one…

Would you want a QUANTUM LEAP sequel or would you rather see it rebooted? Or should it just be left alone? Let us know on Twitter @STARBURST_MAG

Marvel’s HIT-MONKEY Promises Simian Mayhem

Marvel's Hit-Monkey stars Jason Sudeikis and George Takei

Marvel’s Hit-Monkey, a vestige from a since-discarded plan for a number of interconnected Marvel animated series outside the MCU (saved for M.O.D.O.K), will be coming to screens on November 17th, as revealed in the cartoon’s very first teaser.

Ted Lasso’s Jason Sudeikis plays Bryce, a formerly alive assassin whose ghost now mentors Hit-Monkey (Fred Tatascriore) – a Japanese snow monkey whose tribe was slaughtered by assassins, an event that left him with only one goal: to avenge this people by slashing and shooting his way through the Tokyo criminal underworld.

Marvel's Hit-Monkey television series for Hulu and Disney

George Takei, Olivia Munn, Nobi Nakanishi and Ally Maki round out the voice cast. The characters Fat Cobra and Lady Bullseye also appear over the show’s expected 10-episode run.

The little-known Marvel antihero first appeared in a Marvel Comics one-shot in 2010, created by writer Daniel Way and artist Dalibor Talajić, and later went on to feature in a three-issue arc in Deadpool #19-21. Now that Deadpool will be joining the MCU, and since Marvel Television has been folded into Marvel Studios, could this be setting up a Hit-Monkey/Deadpool face-off? Because, yes please.

Marvel’s Hit-Monkey will releases in the US on Hulu November 17th, while its UK release via Disney+ Star is yet to be announced.

 

Horror Channel Announce Bumper Premieres for October

horror october

As Halloween approaches, Horror Channel has announced a host of premieres to keep your spines’ chilled.

The films debuting on the channel are:

Saturday, October 2nd – Abattoir (2016)
Spiral director Darren Lynn Bousman’s mystery shocker starring Jessica Lowndes and Lin Shaye.

Saturday, October 8th – The Skeleton Key (2005)
Kate Hudson plays a care worker who discovers sinister secrets in the old New Orleans house she is working.

Saturday, October 15th – Mom and Dad (2017)
The always watchable Nicolas Cage stars alongside Selma Blair in the twisted comedy-horror.

Sunday, October 16th – Intruders (2011)
Clive Owen stars in the tale of a child-snatching demon that terrorises families in London and Madrid.

Saturday, October 23rd – Mama (2013)
It director Andy Muschietti expands on his short film with this creepy shocker. Stars Jessica Chastain.

Sunday, October 24th – Dead Ringers (1988)
David Cronenberg directs Jeremy Irons and Jeremy Irons as a pair of twisted gynaecologists.

Sunday, October 31st – Incarnate (2016)
Halloween night sees the UK TV premiere of this demonic possession film directed by Brad Peyton.

For more information, head over to http://www.horrorchannel.co.uk/ Tune in on Sky 317, Virgin 149, Freeview 68, Freesat 138.

 

She-Venom Looks To Return In VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE

She-Venom appears in Venom, played by Michelle Williams

Andy Serkis‘ much-anticipated sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, may well see Eddie Brock’s (Tom Hardy) ex-fiancée, Anne Weying (Michelle Williams) return as She-Venom after an all-too-brief appearance in Venom. 

Sony’s Columbia Pictures have today released four new character posters ahead of the film’s US release on October 1st. Each poster shows one of the film’s stars: Hardy as Eddie Brock/Venom, Woody Harrelson as notorious serial killer Cletus Kasady/Carnage, Naomie Harris as Frances Barrison/Shriek, Kasady’s love interest and – in the comics at least – a mutant with sound manipulation and flight abilities, and Williams as district attorney Weying.

So, since the casting is old news and we have already received a full trailer, why do we care about the release of some (admittedly unremarkable) character posters?

Michelle Williams as She-Venom in Venom: Let There be Carnage character poster

Well, it’s more about one of the posters in particular, which shows Williams’ Anne. Spy the bottom of the poster? Lest we be needing a Specsavers appointment, that is She-Venom’s silhouette! Anne Weying briefly became She-Venom in the first Venom, when she reluctantly bonded with Venom so that they could free Brock. The character poster therefore gives comic fans a glimmer of hope that the ‘Bride of Venom’ will return.

It makes sense, given that Venom director Ruben Fleischer had mentioned, back in 2018, that “there’s the potential for more of her down the road, whether it’s in a Venom movie, or a standalone movie. I think Michelle’s so amazing in this film, and the prospect of She-Venom having another appearance would be really exciting.”

Dare we hold out hope for a She-Venom film? Until then, Venom: Let There Be Carnage releases in US cinemas October 1st, and in UK cinemas October 14th. 

 

FINCH Trailer: Tom Hanks Buddies With Dog and Robot For The Apocalypse

finch trailer

Finch, a post-apocalyptic drama from Apple Studios which stars America’s sweetheart Tom Hanks, has just released its first trailer.

It is the story of an unlikely family: a man, a robot, and a dog, surviving together at the end of the world. The titular hero (Hanks) is a robotics engineer and a survivor of a cataclysmic event that has left the planet a wasteland.

“It all happened so fast,” explains Finch in this first trailer. “There was a solar flare. Goodbye crops and food, goodbye everything. So I hid, frightened and so alone… And I found you.” The “you” in question is none other than the world’s goodest boy, the trailer’s – and, one would anticipate, the film’s – scene-stealing presence: a dog called Goodyear. He becomes Finch’s whole life, as demonstrated through a series of domestic scenes.

Wanting to ensure his canine companion will be loved and cared for once Finch is no longer able to look after him, he builds a robot (played by 2021 Cannes Festival’s Best Actor winner Caleb Landry Jones) to watch over Goodyear.

When a storm hits however, the gang is forced to leave the bunker they called home and embark on a road trip into the desolated American West. On this journey, Finch hopes to show his creation – who has named himself Jeff – what it means to be alive.

Directed by Game of Thrones and True Detective’s Miguel Sapochnik from a screenplay by Ivor Powell and Craig Luck, Finch promises to be the most wholesome apocalyptic sci-fi we’ve ever come across.

The Apple TV+ original will release November 5th. In the meantime, you can watch the trailer below: 

Ready for More SHORT SHARP SHOCKS?

short shocks more

Following BFI Flipside’s best-selling Blu-ray Short Sharp Shocks last year, another volume of forgotten supporting featurettes is heading our way just in time for Halloween.

Short Sharp Shocks 2 features ten more eerie, strange, uncanny, nightmarish shorts and public information films. It’s released on October 25th, and the legendary Graham Humphries has painted the cover art once again; you can pre-order your copy from the BFI shop now.

Here’s a complete rundown on what you can expect on the disc:

QUIZ-CRIME NO 1 Ronald Haines (1943)

Can you beat master sleuth Detective Inspector Frost at his own game? Take his vintage whodunit test, in the case of the golfing-holiday murder and the affair of the slain showgirl.

QUIZ-CRIME NO 2 Ronald Haines (1944)

‘Everyone likes a detective story,’ chuckles the Detective Inspector. But can you crack the cases of kidnap in the Soho backstreets and a bloodily botched boarding house murder?

The Three Children

THE THREE CHILDREN (1946)

The public information film takes an eerie turn in this disquieting child-peril frightener crafted to unsettle neglectful post-war parents.

ESCAPE FROM BROADMOOR John Gilling (1948)

An insane killer is on the run (Dad’s Army’s John Le Mesurier in an edgy early role) in this weird, torn-from-the-headlines thriller by John Gilling (The Plague of the Zombies).

MINGOLOO Theodore Zichy (1958)

A clockwork dog with a sinister secret haunts the dreams of all who see it. What is the nightmarish answer to its riddle?

JACK THE RIPPER WITH SCREAMING LORD SUTCH (1963)

Joe Meek-produced rock ‘n’ roll and tasteless Hammer-inspired theatrics collide in a bloodcurdling proto-music video.

The Face of Darkness

THE FACE OF DARKNESS Ian F H Lloyd (1976)

A politician (Lennard Pearce, Only Fools and Horses) out to reinstate the death penalty stirs a malignant medieval spirit.

THE DUMB WAITER Robert Bierman (1979)

A woman (Geraldine James, Beast) receives a mysterious phone call, beginning a night of knife-edge terror in this debut shocker from the director of cult favourite Vampire’s Kiss.

Hangman

HANGMAN David Evans (1985)

Industrial accidents are presented with graphic glee by a mysterious masked executioner, who seems to enjoy his work in this video nasty-era public information film like no other.

THE MARK OF LILITH Bruna Fionda, Polly Gladwin, Zachary Nataf (1986)

Black lesbian filmmaker Zena becomes involved with Lillia, a white undead wraith in a radical dismantling of the cinematic vampire mythos.

Special features

Darkness Falls (2021, 43 mins): an interview with The Face of Darkness writer and director Ian FH Lloyd

Heads Will Roll (2021, 40 mins): an interview with The Dumb Waiter writer and director Robert Bierman

Making Their Mark (2021, 33 mins): an interview with The Mark of Lilith directors Bruna Fionda, Polly Biswas Gladwin and Zachary Nataf

Puttin on the Ritzy (2021, 13 mins): Ritzy alumnus Clare Binns celebrates the radical history of the legendary London cinema where The Mark of Lilith was shot

Image galleries for The Face of Darkness, The Dumb Waiter, and The Mark of Lilith.

Newly commissioned sleeve artwork by renowned illustrator Graham Humphreys

***First pressing only*** illustrated booklet with contributions from filmmakers Ian FH Lloyd and Robert Bierman and other writing from Vic Pratt, William Fowler, Josephine Botting, Jon Dear, Jonathan Rigby, and Caroline Champion; notes and credits on each film and notes on the special features.

BUFFALO WARRIOR Is The Newest Superhero To Watch

Buffalo Warrior artwork by Chaz Guest

Production company Meridian Pictures has acquired the rights to turn artist Chaz Guest’s paintings and graphic novel, Buffalo Warrior, into a feature film.

Guest’s artworks tells the story of a boy, Booker Cooper, born into slavery. He enlists in the army and soon becomes a member of the Buffalo soldiers, the historic all-African American regiments of the United States Army formed in 1866. When the young man dies in battle, riddled by arrows, he falls into an open grave of sacred buffalo. Three days later, Cooper awaken in the spirit world where meets the sacred buffalo, who in turn allows him to become the Buffalo Warrior – a superhero who fights evil in a subconscious realm. he is reborn as the superhero Buffalo Warrior.

Artworks by Chaz Guest, depicting The Buffalo Warrior

Explaining his ‘superhero series’, Guest mused that “we all need superheroes. I’d love for a generation of ‘other than white’ to be strong in their imaginations. So, I created Buffalo Warrior: the first superhero from the cotton fields of America who fought as a Buffalo Soldier.” In another interview with The National Portrait Gallery, the artist stated that “the series is an ongoing adventure on canvas.”

Guest is a highly respected artist, whose fans include President Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, COO of Netflix Ted Sarandos, Angelina Jolie, Tyler Perry, and more – all of whom are proud owners of Guest’s works.

Artwork ©2014 Chaz Guest. All rights reserved.

 

HALLOWEEN Actress Danielle Harris Cast In Supernatural Horror FLESH

Danielle Harris in Halloween franchise

Halloween actress Danielle Harris has signed on to star in the upcoming horror film Flesh, Deadline reports. Said to involve “a deranged individual who wants to sacrifice human flesh to a malevolent spirit,” Flesh will mark Chris McGowan’s sophomore film as director, following last year’s Chasing Nightmares which is currently in its post-production stage.

McGowan co-wrote the script with Reine Swart, and Harris is also on board to executive produce the film.

Best known for 1991’s Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead  and for her appearance in four entries of the Halloween franchise, Harris continues to take on roles that further cement her reputation as a bona fide scream queen – as if anyone still needed convincing. Some of her upcoming projects include 80’s style slasher Dr. Gift, The Host App, a horror about an app taking over the world (quite literally, it would seem), as well as Stream and Annie, With Love, to name but a few.

Details are still light, but stay tuned for more information on McGowan’s upcoming feature.