It’s been confirmed that a sequel to 2018 mystery thriller Searchingis in the works. Will Merrick and Nick Johnson have been tapped to make their directorial debut on Searching 2, having worked as editors on the first movie.
Though plot details are still under wraps, the sequel will have little to do with its predecessor. Searching starred Star Trek’s John Cho as a father looking for his missing 16-year-old daughter (Michelle La) through clues left on her laptop. Searching’s mystery is told entirely through computer and smartphone screens, using CCTV footage, social media, instant messaging, and online banking transactions to communicate events. Arguably the most successful movie shot in the so-called “Screenlife” format to date, one may even go so far as to say that Searching is to Screenlife what The Blair Witch Project is to found footage.
And while Searching 2 will of course employ the same format as its predecessor, it will tell a brand-new story and feature a new cast of characters. Aneesh Chaganty, who directed the first film, explained that “with such restrictive visual parameters, a movie like Searching 2 requires a fresh visual style to separate it from the original. I’ve contributed what I can to this growing sub-genre. But if there’s anyone on the planet with the potential to take it even further, it’s Nick and Will, who were there from the beginning.” Chaganty will be involved as producer.
John Wick writer Derek Kolstad is to develop a Dungeons & Dragons TV-series for eOne, the entertainment media wing of toy and game manufacturer Hasbro.
Kolstad’s other recent projects include The Falcon and the Winter Soldier TV mini-series for Disney+, and an adaptation of the Just Cause video game.
The tabletop game has enjoyed a huge revival in recent years thanks to shows such as Critical Role, Questing Time and Oxventure, as well as the game’s Fifth Edition, which has a far more accessible and inclusive rules-set. The game has many famous players including the likes of Joe Manganiello, Jon Favreau, Felicia Day, Mark Meer, Dan Harmon, Stephen Colbert and Rufus Hound.
Wizards of the Coast, the company that produces D&D for Hasbro, have been releasing a lot of content for the game recently, fleshing out the various worlds that players can visit. With mystery adventure setting Candlekeep slated to come out in March, the game already has fully realised settings that include things such as flying cities, draconic civil wars, dimension hopping wanderers, Hammer Horror style weirdness and much much more.
Time will tell if Kolstad will bring a world such as Dark Sun, Dragonlance or Eberron to life, or if he’ll invent something new. Given Kolstad’s previous work, STARBURST wonders if D&D’s very own bad-ass, the double scimitar wielding warrior Drizzt Do’Urden will feature.
The highly anticipated AmazonLord of the Rings series has finally, three years after it was announced, released its official synopsis!
“Amazon Studios’ forthcoming series brings to screens for the very first time the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth’s history. This epic drama is set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness.
“Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of the elf-capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the furthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone.”
The Second Age was when the Rings of Power came into existence, hence the mention of “great powers [being] forged”, and it’s more than likely that “the greatest villain” is a reference to Sauron, rather than Morgoth. Amazon’s upcoming show is currently planned as a minimum five-season series, with between 8 and 10 episodes per season.
The show has also amassed a massive cast, including Robert Aramayo (Game of Thrones), Nazanin Boniadi (Scandal, How I Met Your Mother), Morfydd Clark (Saint Maud), Ismael Cruz Cordova (The Mandalorian), Cynthia Addai-Robinson (Power, Arrow), Maxim Baldry (Years and Years), to name but a few recognisable names amidst a mostly unknown pool of talent. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom director J. A. Bayona will direct the first two episodes, but no word yet on when we might expect the show to premiere.
Once upon a time (14 years ago, to be precise) Patrick Dempsey and Amy Adams starred together in Disney’s live-action musical, Enchanted. Adams was Giselle, a fairy tale princess who was banished to New York City by her evil stepmother (Susan Sarandon) before she could marry our favourite himbo, Prince Edward (James Marsden).
After landing herself in Times Square, Giselle is reluctantly taken in by divorce lawyer Robert Philip (Dempsey), and the two eventually fall in love. After all, what woman can resist an Upper West Side apartment? And what man wouldn’t fall in love with someone with the power to summon a city’s worth of CGI pigeons, rats, flies, and cockroaches?
However, it would seem that ‘happily ever after’ was not quite the end of the story for the power couple, as Dempsey recently confirmed he will return for the ominously titled sequel, Disenchanted. McDreamy broke the news during an interview with Good Morning America, revealing he had “just got this script for the second movie.” With the film planned for Disney+, Dempsey hopes that, coronavirus guidelines permitting, “we’ll start shooting that in the spring, which is exciting.”
Amy Adams will also return (obviously), and the sequel will reportedly find Giselle “questioning her happily ever after and accidentally triggering events that make everyone’s lives turn upside down in both the real world and in the animated kingdom of Andalasia.”
Fingers crossed for more magical singing and dancing throughout Central Park (and no, the cockroaches’ choreography in Cats did not hit the spot). Amy Adams in a big poofy dress is our last hope to distract us from this Grimm reality.
US-based reissue soundtrack label Terror Vision just dropped a promo video for the 2021 instalment of their subscription service, the Unhappy Campers Club, which gets fans exclusive versions of every title the label releases over the course of the year, along with bonus swag like t-shirts, enamel pins, a slipmat, a tote bag, and more.
While a fun, retro commercial vibe permeates the 40-second spot, the split-second shot of coming attractions is what really makes the video worth noting. While label head Ryan Graveface had mentioned that the label would be releasing the soundtrack for Tibor Takács’ 1987 horror film, The Gate, during a Mondo panel during the 2020 San Diego Comicon, we now know that Terror Vision will be bringing us the vinyl debuts of Don Peake’s score for the 1991 Wes Craven urban horror of The People Under the Stairs, as well as Richard Band’s score for the 1982 sorority slasher from Mark Rosman, The House on Sorority Row (better known here in the UK as House of Evil).
No details as to whether or not The Gate finally brings those metal songs to the public for the first time or if The House on Sorority Row features the power-pop cuts from 4 Out of 5 Doctors, the band who plays the movie’s party sequence, but we have our fingers well-crossed in hope.
The popular video game is heading back to cinemas with 2021’s Mortal Kombat and we have the first look images for you. Directed by Simon McQuoid for New Line Cinema, the film stars Lewis Tan (Deadpool 2), Jessica McNamee (The Meg), Josh Lawson (Bombshell), and is produced by James Wan, Todd Garner, E. Bennett Walsh, and McQuoid. The film will be released worldwide by Warner Bros Entertainment and is based on Oren Uzeil’s Mortal Kombat: Rebirth and with a screenplay by Greg Russo and Dave Callaham.
The synopsis is as follows:
MMA fighter Cole Young, accustomed to taking a beating for money, is unaware of his heritage—or why Outworld’s Emperor Shang Tsung has sent his best warrior, Sub-Zero, an otherworldly Cryomancer, to hunt Cole down. Fearing for his family’s safety, Cole goes in search of Sonya Blade at the direction of Jax, a Special Forces Major who bears the same strange dragon marking Cole was born with. Soon, he finds himself at the temple of Lord Raiden, an Elder God and the protector of Earthrealm, who grants sanctuary to those who bear the mark. Here, Cole trains with experienced warriors Liu Kang, Kung Lao and rogue mercenary Kano, as he prepares to stand with Earth’s greatest champions against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe. But will Cole be pushed hard enough to unlock his arcana—the immense power from within his soul—in time to save not only his family, but to stop Outworld once and for all?
Freddy vs Jason. Alien vs Predator. Godzilla vs King Kong. Kramer vs Kramer. We love a good crossover here at STARBURST, and today brings news of one that we NEVER saw coming, an event designed to send the ‘80s kids amongst us into a nostalgia overload…
Later this year, the stars of gross-out ‘80s bubblegum card phenomenon the Garbage Pail Kids will go head-to-head with Madballs, the iconic ‘80s toy series that took your humble sports ball and gave it an equally grotesque spin. If you ever owned one, you’ll know that while they were indeed very cool-looking (to us weirdos at least), their function as an actual ‘ball’ was sorely lacking, useless for accurately bouncing or kicking. But look at that protruding, bleeding eye!!! Eww! Awesome!
Quite what Screamin’ Meemie, Wolf Breath, Skull Face and the rest of the Madballs gang have against the GPK remains unclear, but the beef will play out over a variety of merchandise ranges including Topps trading cards, action figures, vinyl collectables, clothing lines, pins, a mobile game, and comic books. (What, no movie?!)
After news that Captain Marvel’s Lashana Lynch (who, according to legends, will also star in the fabled No Time To Die) was joining Netflix’s musical feature adaptation of Matilda, the streaming giant also confirmed that two-time Academy Award winner Emma Thompson and newcomer Alisha Weir had been cast in their upcoming film.
After adapting Roald Dahl’s 1988 children’s novel into the stage musical back in 2010, Dennis Kelly will this time adapt the stage show book into the film’s screenplay. Joining him is fellow Matilda alum Matthew Warchus; Warchus directed the West End musical and will now direct this feature adaptation. Having raked in their fair share of Olivier’s and Tony’s during Matilda’s West End and Broadway runs, it’s safe to say Netflix’s project is in capable hands.
Warchus had previously said that, “Matilda will be an imaginative and fresh retelling of the award-winning musical, Matilda, featuring talented young newcomers, alongside established stars. I look forward to introducing this beloved and powerful story to a new generation of fans around the world.”
The story centres on an ultra-bright young girl (Weir) who discovers she has magical abilities and uses them to overcome bullies and protect her school friends. Miss Honey (Lynch) is the sweet teacher who encourages Matilda’s academic prowess and love of books while, in a perhaps unexpected casting decision, cruel headmistress and hammer throw champion Miss Trunchbull will be played by Thompson.
It was previously reported that Ralph Fiennes would be taking up Miss Trunchbull’s mantle, and reasons for the casting change are still unclear. Mara Wilson, who starred in the 1996 Danny DeVito movie as non-other than Matilda, has expressed interest in making a cameo appearance.
Arrow Video FrightFest has been a part of the Glasgow Film Festival for the last 16 years, and although the event will be online this year, they still present a strong line-up of genre films that should not be missed. There will be six features that will be available on-demand between March 5th and 7th. They will be geo-locked to the UK, but will be limited to 500 tickets, so don’t leave it too late to book yours.
Alan Jones, co-director of FrightFest commentated: “FrightFest might be presenting a more boutique line-up than usual, but our determined response has still been to showcase the bold and vital work artists have felt compelled to make under such unique conditions. We stay resolute in our continual mission to bring those must-see genre titles to their first UK audiences, especially our devoted Scottish community”.
The films are:
Run Hide Fight (UK Premiere)
Director: Kyle Rankin. Cast: Isabel May, Thomas Jane, Treat Williams.
A normal school day is brought to a brutal halt when invaded by armed students on a murderous mission. As the shooting starts and the blood starts to flow, Zoe is lucky to get out alive. But then she heads back inside the building to rescue as many staff and pupils as she can.
Out of the World (Hors Du Monde) (UK Premiere)
Director: Marc Fouchard. Cast: Kevin Mischel, Aurélia Poirier, June Assal.
The very private Leo has issues communicating with others due to past trauma and only lives for his music. For now, not able to have a career as a composer, he works as an Uber driver and lives in his car. When Leo picks up Amélie, a deaf dancer, he sees a like-minded spirit, connected to the same remote sound universe yet cut off from the world, just like him. But Leo is hiding a dark and dangerous secret.
Vicious Fun (UK Premiere)
Director: Cody Calahan. Cast: Evan Marsh, Amber Goldfarb, Ari Millen.
Joel, a caustic 1980s film critic for a national horror magazine, accidentally stumbles into a secret underground self-help group for serial killers. Can he match wits with five exterminators and make it through the night alive? Kill or be killed, Joel will have to find his inner assassin and muster hidden strengths to defeat the maniacs in his midst.
The Old Ways (UK Premiere)
Director: Christopher Alender. Cast: Brigitte Kali Canales, Andrea Cortés, Julia Vera.
Cristina, a journalist of Mexican origins, travels to the home of her ancestors in Veracruz to investigate a story involving sorcery, witchcraft and healers. Once there, she is kidnapped by a group of mysterious locals who claim that she’s possessed by the devil and that she needs to undergo an exorcism. But as she tries to escape her nightmarish situation, Cristina starts to believe that her secretive captors may actually be right…
American Badger (European Premiere)
Director: Kirk Caouette. Cast: Kirk Caouette, Andrea Stefancikova, Michael Kopsa.
Meet Badger, because his real name is Dean, and that’s the lamest ever for a hitman. Like all American Badgers, he prefers to be alone, and has hardly spoken a word to anyone except his Handler. But all that is about to change with his latest assignment – make friends with call girl Velvet, extract information about the criminal Albanian gang she works for, and then kill her. What he doesn’t know is that Velvet is like a daughter to the mob boss and all hell is about to break loose.
The Woman with Leopard Shoes/La Femme Aux Chaussures Leopard (Scottish Premiere)
Director: Alexis Bruchon. Cast: Paul Bruchon.
A thief is engaged by a mysterious woman to steal a box in a house. The job goes well but, as he’s escaping, dozens of people arrive for a party. The thief just has time to hide in a study. Confined in this little room, he tries to flee but things turn for the worse when he makes a shocking discovery.
After plentiful rumours, it’s been confirmed that not only will Martian Manhunter be appearing in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, but we’ve actually already seen J’onn J’onzz in the DC Extended Universe.
Via Collider, Harry Lennix has revealed how his General Swanwick character in Man of Steel was actually an incognito Martian Manhunter.
Originally, plans were afoot for Lennix’s J’onzz to appear in Justice League, although those scenes were pulled from the script before they could get filmed. That decision was made after director Snyder had stepped back from the picture following the tragic death of his daughter – with Joss Whedon brought in by Warner Bros. to get Justice League over the finish line.
Lennix got to bring those planned scenes to life during October’s reshoots for Zack Snyder’s Justice League – previously known as Justice League: The Snyder Cut – and also shot new scenes for this hotly anticipated four-hour spin on the 2017 movie.
During his chat with Collider, Lennix enthused, “It’s going to be great to be up there with Batman and Superman and my pals. Yeah, I’m once again like a kid at a candy store.”
The current plan is for Zack Snyder’s Justice League to air in four one-hour parts on HBO Max this March.
