ARKHAM HORROR: MOTHER’S EMBRACE Announced for 2021

ARKHAM HORROR: MOTHER'S EMBRACE

As we find ourselves fully in spooky season right now, Asmodee Digital and Luckhammers have moved to announce a new horror video game for next year.

Titled Arkham Horror: Mother’s Embrace, this Lovecraft-infused offering will be hitting PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC at some point in 2021. Previously, the game began life as Mansions of Madness and was initially due solely for a PC release.

The early word on Arkham Horror: Mother’s Embrace reads:

Arkham Horror: Mother’s Embrace is an investigation game mixed with turn-based combat, set in the haunted worlds of H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu mythos. Taking place in 1926, a professor of astronomy is found dead in her mansion and everything indicates that she has been the victim of murder. Choose from 12 investigators from the Arkham Horror games, each with a unique set of skills, and assemble your team to shed the light over her mysterious death.

As the investigators get closer to their goal, your quad will have to face curious science, living nightmares, and a sinister cult with plans to bring about the end of everything.

Expect more on Arkham Horror: Mother’s Embrace as we get it.

Joe Manganiello Returning for ZACK SNYDER’S JUSTICE LEAGUE

Joe Manganiello Deathstroke Justice League

Hot on the heels of this week’s news that Jared Leto’s Joker was to be a part of the ongoing reshoots for Zack Snyder’s Justice League, now comes word on another rogue who’ll be appearing in this new cut of the 2017 movie.

Via Collider, Joe Manganiello will be turning up in Zack Snyder’s Justice League as Slade Wilson, aka Deathstroke.

Manganiello actually did make a super brief appearance in the original theatrical cut of Justice League, with this Deathstroke featured in a post-credits scene alongside Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor.

Previously, there had been rumours that this post-credits scene was actually to be moved to the main cut of the film in Zack Snyder’s Justice League – and that the scene may even be added to. Now we know that we’ll be seeing at least a little more of this iteration of the infamous Deathstroke the Terminator.

Of course, this then throws up questions around whether Eisenberg will be joining Zack Snyder’s reshoots to give his Luthor a meatier presence in this upcoming release.

For Joe Manganiello’s Deathstroke, he was originally meant to have a slightly more substantial role in Justice League before then being positioned as the main villain in Ben Affleck’s The Batman. With Affleck to write and direct The Batman, that film ended up ultimately falling apart and then being transitioned into Matt Reeves’ The Batman – complete with Robert Pattinson donning the cape ‘n’ cowl as the Dark Knight.

As part of the reshoots for Zack Snyder’s Justice League – previously referred to as Justice League: The Snyder Cut – Ben Affleck, Ray Fisher, Amber Heard, and Jared Leto are all filming additional content for Snyder’s vision of Justice League.

If you remember, director Snyder had to step away from Justice League midway through production due to the tragic death of his daughter. From there, Warner Bros. brought in Joss Whedon to oversee the film – although Snyder and Warners were not entirely happy with the final Justice League picture that hit the silver screen in 2017.

Now, Zack Snyder is getting to put the Justice League movie together how he’d originally envisioned it, with Zack Snyder’s Justice League to air on HBO Max next year as four one-hour episodes.

Ben Wheatley to Direct THE MEG 2

Given the success of The Meg, we’ve known for a little while that a sequel was on the way – and now that sequel has laned a director!

Via The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. has brought in Ben Wheatley to helm The Meg 2. Wheatley is likely best known for directing A Field in England, High-Rise, Kill List, and Sightseers.

It’s expected Jason Statham to return on headlining duties for The Meg 2, with Dean Georgaris and Jon and Erich Hoeber putting the screenplay together.

Having cost a reported $170 million, the Jon Turteltaub-directed The Meg brought home over $500 million at the global box office. Given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the industry, it seems highly unlikely that The Meg 2 will be afforded a budget of anywhere even close to its 2018 predecessor.

As ever, expect more on The Meg 2 as we get it.

Stacey Farber Joins SUPERMAN AND LOIS

Stacey Farber

With The CW’s Arrowverse to expand next year with Superman and Lois, now comes word of another new addition for that show.

Via The Wrap, Degrassi: The Next Generation’s Stacey Farber has landed the recurring role of Leslie Larr.

In Superman and Lois, the character of Leslie is described as “the right hand to one of the most influential people on the planet, she’s gone from a young, idealistic dreamer to a hardened, world-worn dream killer. Athletic, strong… and oftentimes heartless.”

Already, speculation suggests that this “most influential” of people may end up being Lex Luthor – who, of course, has been played by Jon Cryer in Supergirl and the greater Arrowverse.

Farber joins a Superman and Lois cast that includes Tyler Hoechlin’s Man of Steel, Bitsie Tulloch’s Lois Lane, Jordan Elsass and Alexander Garfin as Clark and Lois’ twin sons, Emmanuelle Chriqui as Lana Lang, Erik Valdez as Lana’s husband Kyle, and Dylan Walsh as General Sam Lane.

Originally planned to premiere before the end of 2020, Superman and Lois will now arrive at some point in 2021 due to having ran into plentiful delays as a result of the ongoing global pandemic.

Simon Kinberg to Write BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Movie

Battlestar Galactica

The last we’d heard about anything to do with Battlestar Galactica was this past May – with Michael Lesslie then being brought in to serve as showrunner on a new TV series – but now comes a major update on the property returning to the big screen.

From The Hollywood Reporter, Simon Kinberg has been tapped to write a new Battlestar Galactica movie for Universal Pictures. Having most recently popped his directorial cherry with the so-so X-Men: Dark Phoenix, Kinberg will also produce Battlestar Galactica with the Planet of the Apes franchise’s Dylan Clark.

This new movie will reportedly be a fresh start for the Battlestar Galactica property, meaning that it will not be tied to the two much-loved TV shows. The premise of humans in the stars, trying to outrun Cylons will still be maintained, of course.

As alluded to this, this Battlestar Galactica film is in addition to Peacock currently at work developing a new TV show for the IP.

New Live-Action ADDAMS FAMILY Show in the Works

The Addams Family

With spooky season now upon us, there’s the welcome news that those Addams look to be returning to our TV screens.

Via Deadline, MGM TV is currently pitching a new live-action Addams Family TV series to cable networks and streaming services. Tim Burton is in talks to executive produce and possibly direct the series, while Smallville showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar are already on board as the head writers for this new Addams Family.

The current word is that The Addams Family will be set in the present day and will largely be framed from the point of view of Wednesday Addams.

Created in 1938 by Charles Addams, the iconic Addams clan have become a huge favourite of so many different generations over the decade. Several different incarnations of the creepy ‘n’ cooky clan have made it to TV, to the silver screen, to comics, to video games, and beyond – most famously with the original 1964 The Addams Family show and the ‘90s The Addams Family and Addams Family Values films.

Most recently, the Addams were given an animated movie outing in last year’s The Addams Family, with Oscar Isaac and Charlize Theron heading up the voice cast of that picture.

As ever, expect more on this new Addams Family TV series as it continues to develop.

Scarlett Johansson to Headline A24’s BRIDE

Under the Skin

Well, consider us intrigued. Yes, as the headline suggests, Scarlett Johansson has signed on to star in a new A24 feature called Bride.

Via Deadline, Bride sounds an awful lot like a sci-fi reimagining of the famed Bride of Frankenstein tale. From director Sebastian Lelio – who nabbed an Oscar in 2017 for A Fantastic Woman – Johansson will star as “A woman created to be an ideal wife the singular obsession of a brilliant entrepreneur. When she rejects her creator, she’s forced to flee her confined existence, confronting a world that sees her as a monster. It is on the run that she finds her true identity, her surprising power, and the strength to remake herself as own creation.”

Lelio will write Bride along with Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo, with Johansson producing through her These Pictures banner. At this stage, it looks as if Bride will debut on Apple TV+ as part of the first-look agreement between A24 and Apple TV+.

Expect more on Bride as we get it.

Truth Seekers Launches Free Escape Room Experiences

Amazon Prime’s new show Truth Seekers has a treat in store for fans of escape rooms. The team behind the new Pegg & Frost horror comedy are providing online escape room experiences for a limited time, totally free of charge, thanks to a collaboration between Amazon Prime Video and games creators The Escape Game.

You and your team guide a single Smyle Employee as they navigate a series of fiendish puzzles. It’s an escape room, but it’s virtual.

The Truth Seekers Remote Adventure runs from  October 23rd through November 18th.    This virtual escape room game will be available to everyone everywhere, but be aware that all the times given are in Eastern Standard Time, so remember to adjust for that.
You can go online to truthseekersexperience.com and book your slot today.

Starburst got to preview the experience, and we can confirm that it’s a fun 45 minute game. It’s nice combination of traditional puzzle style mind-twisters with loads of references to the new show, so if you’re after a brain-teaser or you’re just really hyped for the show, book now before the slots run out. Just keep an eye out for creepy things whilst playing. Trust us on this.

Truth Seekers comes to Amazon Prime on October 30th.   

DON’T BREATHE 2 Set for August 2021

Don't Breathe

While so many films are being delayed or even completely cancelled, we now have a release date for the hotly anticipated Don’t Breathe 2.

As first reported by Bloody Disgusting, the Stephen Lang-fronted Don’t Breathe sequel has been booked in by Sony’s Screen Gems for an August 13, 2021 release.

Filming on Don’t Breathe 2 actually finished earlier this month, and now we finally know when Lang’s Blind Man will be back in action. Don’t Breathe co-writer Rodo Sayagues is on directing duties this time out, with Sayagues teaming with Don’t Breathe co-writer and director Fede Alvarez in writing the movie.

The early word on Don’t Breathe 2 reads:

Don’t Breathe 2 is set several years after the home invasion of the first movie, with the Blind Man living in quiet solace… until his past sins catch up to him.

In Don’t Breathe 2, the Blind Man has been hiding out for years in an isolated cabin and has taken in and raised a young girl orphaned from a house fire. Their quiet existence is shattered when a group of kidnappers show up and take the girl, forcing the Blind Man to leave his safe haven to save her.

Sony Again Delays GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE

afterlife

With barely a week going by right now where a major movie doesn’t get pushed back, now it’s the turn of Ghosbuters: Afterlife to run into further delays.

Via Deadline, Ghostbuster: Afterlife has once again seen its release date moved back by Sony Pictures. Originally, Afterlife was set for a July 10, 2020 release, then it was shunted to March 5, 2021 – and now the movie has been pushed back to June 11, 2021.

The official word on Ghostbusters: Afterlife reads:

From director Jason Reitman and producer Ivan Reitman, comes the next chapter in the original Ghostbusters universe. In Ghostbusters: Afterlife, when a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.

In terms of the cast, Ghostbusters: Afterlife has quite the impressive ensemble. Joining original franchise stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Sigourney Weaver are Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Paul Rudd, and Mckenna Grace.

Of course, Ghostbusters: Afterlife isn’t the first movie to be delayed this year, and sadly the film will not be the last.

Right now, it’s a tough time for all involved in the film industry. Just yesterday, we saw Cineworld and Picturehouse cinemas all close indefinitely. With people hesitant to visit the cinema at the moment, that in turn has seen studios hold off on releasing their big-budget movies due to having no way of making any semblance of profit. And, in an egg and chicken situation, with no big-budget movies in cinemas, people are not visiting said cinemas.

MGM’s No Time to Die is one of the many heavy hitters to be delayed until at least next year, and this follows the likes of Black Widow, Wonder Woman: 1984, Top Gun: Maverick, Venom: Let There be Carnage, The Batman, The Flash, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and Black Adam as just a select few films pulled from 2020 silver screen releases.

With recent offerings such as Mulan and Bill & Ted Face the Music, we’ve seen some studios opt to release films direct to digital, although this again realistically means that these pictures aren’t able to make anywhere near the money that they would’ve with a full cinema release in usual times.

Christopher Nolan’s Tenet is the example that all are seemingly looking at right now, with that $200 million+ movie getting a cinema release earlier this year. While many had initially predicted that film to be pushing the $1 billion mark at the box office, the times we’re in at the moment saw Tenet struggle to a global box office haul in the region of $300 million.

As mentioned, the very future of cinema and the concept of big-budget movies is up in the air right now – whether that’s from money rich studios, to international cinema chains, to small arthouse cinemas, to the staff working in those venues.