FrightFest Glasgow 2021 Line-Up Announced

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.

For full programme details head over to http://www.frightfest.co.uk/.

Henry Lennix Confirms Martian Manhunter for ZACK SNYDER’S JUSTICE LEAGUE

Martian Manhunter General Swanwick Henry Lennix

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.

Cover Art Revealed For THE ATOMIC VICTORY SQUAD #5

The Atomic Victory Squad #5

One of our absolute favourite comic book titles of the past several years is The Atomic Victory Squad.

From WolfCop creator Lowell Dean, AVS has proven to be a phenomenal read for its four-issue run so far – and now there’s the cover reveal for the fifth and final issue of this run for Dean’s ragtag team.

The Atomic Victory Squad #5

A thing of beauty from artist Javier Martin Caba, right?

The official press release on The Atomic Victory Squad #5 reads:

The Atomic Victory Squad returns for a fifth supersized issue! The origin story concludes with big reveals, friends becoming foes, an epic battle… and DEATH. With their archenemy finally revealed, can these oddball superheroes finally pull it together, put aside their differences and work as a team? Or will evil tear them apart? And what about Triangle Master, will he finally serve some kind of purpose? ANY purpose? 

Those answers – and much, much more – in chapter five of The Atomic Victory Squad, from the same creative team behind the first four issues.

To pre-order AVS#5, head to IndieGogo. And for those looking to catch up on the previous four-issue antics of this tale, be sure to take a trip to ComiXology.

All four issues of The Atomic Victory Squad have been great so far, but given how AVS#4 was the best of the bunch, anticipation is certainly high as to what Dean, Caba and Co. can bring to the table to give this fascinating team a fitting send-off.

Well, at least for now, for here’s hoping Invincibull, She-Girl, Bubble Myers, Zoozanna, Gary the Mine, and Triangle Master get to partake in further adventures once this five-issue run draws to a close.

New Details Drop on DEADPOOL 3!

In perhaps a surprisingly timed bit of news, Marvel main man, Kevin Feige, has confirmed what all Merc With a Mouth fans dared not believe; Deadpool 3 is coming to the MCU and will be the first R rated (or rated 15 in the UK) Marvel movie to be considered canon.

“It will be rated R and we are working on a script right now, and Ryan’s overseeing a script right now,” Feige said recently in an interview with Collider. “It will not be filming this year. Ryan is a very busy, very successful actor. We’ve got a number of things we’ve already announced that we now have to make, but it’s exciting for it to have begun. Again, a very different type of character in the MCU, and Ryan is a force of nature, which is just awesome to see him bring that character to life.”

Now, beyond these basic facts, any further information is purely up for rumour and conjecture.

Will Ryan Reynolds’ portrayal of Wade Wilson make his debut in a Phase 4 film? After all, both the Spider-Man threequel and Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness have potential opportunities for Deadpool to pop his head around the door.

Will previous characters from the first two films created under the FOX banner be joining the further adventures of the paid psychopath with no inner monologue? No one knows just yet.

It can probably be assumed that when the film comes to Disney’s streaming platform, it will enter under the Star section, which releases in February 2021 as a way for Disney to showcase the FOX properties that can’t be seen next to the Princesses and mice.

All we do know is that Reynolds will be donning the red and black suit again and that the film won’t begin production until 2022 at the earliest due to the fact that everyone’s favourite Canuck is kinda busy at the moment.

Captain America will be turning in his old people’s home bed when he hears the language coming out of his mouth.

We can also confirm that the Deadpool fandom will all be touching themselves tonight.

Andy Samberg Sci-Fi from BOJACK HORSEMAN Creator Picked up by Apple TV+

andy samberg

Andy Samberg, Andy Siara, Noah Hawley, and Ben Stiller are teaming up for a new, Apple TV+ sci-fi comedy-drama. Details of the untitled project remain under wraps, but we do know that it is based on an original idea from BoJack Horseman creator and author Raphael Bob-Waksberg.

Samberg and Siara have previously collaborated on time-travel romantic comedy Palm Springs, which is receiving significant awards buzz and recently topped the Critics Choice Super Awards. The movie’s success undoubtedly cemented Apple Studios’ interest in this new project, having finalised the deal this weekend. Stiller will produce alongside Nicky Weinstock, Dan Seligmann, and Noah Hawley – the latter of which has written and produced critically-acclaimed projects including Fargo and Legion. We may not know much yet but, with the talent attached, consider our curiosity spiked.

MCU Welcomes DEADPOOL 3 In All Its R-Rated Glory

deadpool 3 mcu

2021 may be off to a rocky start, but Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige comes bearing good news with a promising update on everyone’s favourite anti-superhero, Deadpool. More specifically Deadpool 3, which will see Ryan Reynolds reprise his role as the wisecracking, near-indestructible mutant mercenary.

Feige confirmed that Deadpool will finally be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as part of Phase Five and keeping his R-rating! This decision makes Deadpool 3 the first R-rated title of the MCU, which undoubtedly comes as a relief to fans were concerned that the foul-mouthed killer would be neutered by Disney’s acquisition of Fox.

Feige also said that sisters Lizzie Molyneux-Leoglin and Wendy Molyneux, best known for their work on Bob’s Burgers, were currently hard at work on the script. Though filming won’t begin until 2022 at the earliest, all signs point to another gory, curse-laden, and hilarious outing for Reynolds’ suited protagonist.

Beyond the Deadpool sequel, this decision to introduce an R-rated film into the MCU also sets an interesting precedent for upcoming MCU properties, including the possibility of an R-rated Blade starring Mahershala Ali.

 

Candlekeep Mysteries Announced for Dungeons and Dragons 5e

candlekeep-mysteries

Wizards of the Coast have officially announced the latest addition to their range of books for Fifth Edition Dungeons and Dragons, the world’s most popular roleplaying game. The new book with be called Candlekeep Mysteries.

The book will be bring together seventeen mystery themed adventures. The vast city-library of Candlekeep will form the background for the anthology,  with each mystery centered around one of the many weird books that can found in the famous fortress.

In addition to a whole load of new stories and adventures, we’ll also get some more information on Candlekeep itself. After all, a library is a great place to start an adventure and the bigger the library, the greater the opportunity.

The book will be out March 16 with a cover by Clint Cearley. There will be an alternate cover by Simen Meyer, which looks appropiately stunning and wll only be available in games stores.

Short adventures are great, especially as short pick-up games are becoming increasingly more popular as more and more gamers use services like Zoom and DNDBeyond. They’re also great to pop into established games, especially on those days when you’re missing a player or two.  These short adventures are also being used as a way to showcase both new and established talent in the industry. The list of contributors includes: Graeme Barber, Kelly Lynne D’Angelo, Alison Huang , Mark Hulmes, Jennifer Kretchmer, Daniel Kwan, Adam Lee, Ari Levitch, Chris Lindsay, Sarah Madsen, Christopher Perkins, Michael Polkinghorn , Taymoor Rehman, Hannah Rose, Derek Ruiz,Kienna Shaw,Brandes Stoddard,Amy Vorpahl,Toni Winslow-Brill.

It all looks like brilliant fun, keep your eyes on this website for a review when we can get our hands on the book.

 

UMBRELLA ACADEMY Casts Season 3’s Sparrows, Including a Telekinetic Cube

umbrella academy sparrows

Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy will begin production on season 3 next month, with cast members including Elliot Page, Tom Hooper, Robert Sheehan, and Aidan Gallagher all returning. The last moments of season 2 saw the Hargreeves siblings returned to the present day after preventing (yet another) apocalypse in the 1960s. However, it soon becomes clear that their adventures in the past – creating a sex cult, participating in the civil rights movement, and attempting to prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy, to name but a few – have once again disrupted their timeline.

And so, the Hargreeves siblings return to their present only to find that the Umbrella Academy never was. In its stead, they discover the Sparrow Academy, complete with its own set of gifted students; the only familiar face is their formerly dead sibling Ben’s (Justin H. Min), now sporting a facial scar, scene kid hair, and a mean attitude. Since the second season’s release in July of last year, fans have been left to speculate about the identities of the Sparrow Academy members.

But rejoice, for Netflix has now announced that the Sparrows have officially been cast! Joining Min and the original cast in The Umbrella Academy season 3 will be Justin Cornwell, Britne Oldford, Jake Epstein, Genesis Rodriguez, Cazzie David, as well as… a cube called Christopher. Here’s everything we know:

sparrow academy cast umbrella academy netflix

Justin Cornwell will play Marcus, a.k.a. Sparrow #1. A “charming, chiselled, colossus… as smart as he is strong. Marcus is disciplined, rational and in control.”

Britne Oldford, who you may recognise from The Flash, will play Fei a.k.a. Sparrow #3, “the smartest person in the room and willing to work things out”, despite also coming across “as a misanthrope”.

Jake Epstein is Alphonso, a.k.a. Sparrow #4. The announcement teases that “years of crime fighting have left his face and body with countless visual reminders of his battles. To compensate, Alphonso is armed with a caustic and biting sense of humour.”

Genesis Rodriguez is Sparrow #5, named Sloane, “a dreamer who feels a higher cosmic calling leaving her eager to see the world and experience a life beyond her upbringing.”

Cazzie David will play Jayme, Sparrow #6, “a loner hidden under a hoodie” with a “fear-inducing snarl”.

And lastly, season 3 will introduce newcomer Existential Dread Inducing Psykronium Cube as Sparrow #7, a.k.a. Christopher, a.k.a. that floating Tesseract-looking cube glimpsed briefly in the previous season finale. A “telekinetic cube of unknown origin” which serves as the Academy’s oracle, “can turn the room freezing cold and induce paralysing fear”, and “who hands out incredible advice and serves as the family mediator”.

No word yet on when to expect The Umbrella Academy season 3, so stay tuned.

First Images Released for Indie Film SENSELESS

images senseless

The lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic has inspired independent filmmakers to think outside the box and carry on their work. Director Sam Mason Bell (Toxic Schlock, Home Videos) has done just that with his upcoming film Senseless, co-produced with The Trash Arts, HB Films, and Guerilla Girl Productions. We have the first images from the film below.

From the press release:

With a specially chosen cast and crew, using individuals from the same households where possible, the plan is to start to shoot Senseless was filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The film tells the story of when Jason (Ryan Carter) storms out on his wife, Diane (Ella Palmer), one summer’s night, he seeks refuge in a nearby forest. Little does he know the forest is plagued with lost souls manifesting in his darkest desires and innermost fears. Lost and tormented in the forest, will Jason find his way home?

Sam Mason Bell and Jackson Batchelor are the creators of this very different, very arthouse, horror film and will be supporting cast as well Director and Cinematographer respectively. Assisted by Abbie Hills, Jack White, and Katie Johnson, the film will involve plenty of CGI visual effects as well as abundant gore and practical effects make-up.

Director Sam Mason Bell had the following to say about the film – “I feel very lucky to have been able to make Senseless, not only during a lockdown but with the support of everyone who helped our Indiegogo. It was a tough as hell challenge, shooting during nights mostly in the summer of 2020, with a crew of 4. But I am very proud of this surreal nightmare of a horror, which we are now in post-production on!”

Check out the first images below. Senseless will be released soon.

STAR WARS Movie From Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige Moving Forward…

On December 10th, Disney unveiled their grand plans for the future of Star Wars, providing details on four new live-action shows, three new animated projects, and two new theatrical releases. Just a week later and the finale of their mega-hit The Mandalorian also went on to audaciously add a third live-action show to that roster – The Book of Boba Fett. While this line-up was undoubtedly most impressive, conspicuous by their absence were two Star Wars projects that had been heavily teased over the last couple of years – namely the Rian Johnson trilogy and the movie being shepherded by Marvel Cinematic Universe head honcho and baseball cap connoisseur Kevin Feige. While the silence on the former will come as no real surprise to those who’ve been following the nuclear fallout caused by Johnson’s The Last Jedi, with half of Star Wars fandom idolising the entry and the other half wanting it struck from canon, the lack of Feige mention led most to believe that too had been put on the backburner. Happily, recent news suggests that this is not the case…

As per Hollywood trade Variety, Emmy-winning Rick and Morty veteran Michael Waldron has been revealed as the chosen screenwriter who will be penning the secret film for Feige, having worked with the Marvel Studios bossman on several upcoming MCU projects. First up from Waldron will be Loki, the eagerly-awaited Disney+ series due in May that will see Tom Hiddleston return as the God of Mischief as he’s recruited by a mysterious group and sent on a series of adventures through time. Following that will be Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness for director Sam Raimi, which is scheduled to arrive in cinemas sometime in 2022.

Michael Waldron

When it comes to details on Waldron’s Star Wars story, we’re bang out of luck outside of Feige’s original promise that it would “explore new people and new places in the universe”. But at least we now know that it’s still very much on the way, just in case The Mandalorian Season 3, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, The Bad Batch, Visions, Rogue Squadron, A Droid Story, Lando, Rangers of the New Republic, and Untitled Taika Waititi Film wasn’t quite enough to satiate your Star Wars fix!

Now if we could just get an update on the Johnson trilogy, we can rest easy. (Read that how you will.)

More as it develops…

For full details on those future STAR WARS projects, head HERE. For everything we know about the AHSOKA TV show, click HERE.