Zac Efron Joins Blumhouse’s FIRESTARTER

Zac Efron

With a Firestarter remake in development at Blumhouse, that movie has landed its first cast member – and it’s a biggie!

Via Collider, Zac Efron has boarded this new take on Stephen King’s 1980 tale as Andy McGee.

Andy is the father of Charlie, a young girl who develops pyrokinetic abilities as a result of her parents being part of government experiments during their college days. Likewise, the Andy character has unique abilities of his own, with his particular forte being mind control. In Firestarter, Andy and Charlie find themselves on the run after the government attempt to weaponize the youngster.

Of course, Firestarter was previously given the movie treatment back in 1984 with Drew Barrymore taking centre-stage as Charlie McGee. Joining Barrymore in that picture were David Keith, Heather Locklear, George C. Scott, and Martin Sheen. A follow-up miniseries was served up by SYFY in 2002, with Firestarter: Rekindled focussing on Charlie as an adult.

To be directed by The Vigil’s Keith Thomas, this new Firestarter has yet to be given an official release date at this stage.

Video: Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds Buying Wrexham AFC

Wrexham

In slightly left-field news last week, it was revealed that Rob McElhenny and Ryan Reynolds are looking to purchase Wrexham AFC.

Making global news, this story of the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia creator and star McElhenny and Deadpool favourite Reynolds bidding for a fifth-tier football club has piqued the interest of many.

Given that we have a Wrexham fan of 25+ years within our ranks, we thought it might be worth putting together a video breaking down this most crazy of stories.

For those wondering, don’t worry, this doesn’t mean we’re going to be covering football in the future – we just thought, as a one-off, this warranted the spotlight.

Basil Eidenbenz is THE WITCHER’s Eskel

The Witcher

With Thue Rasmussen having previously pulled out of playing Eskel for The Witcher’s second season, now comes news on who’ll be replacing Rasmussen as Geralt’s long-time pal.

Via Deadline, Basil Eidenbenz – best known for roles in The Athena and Victoria – has signed on to take on the Eskel role after Rasmussen was forced to drop out of The Witcher due to scheduling conflicts.

The second season of The Witcher began filming in London earlier this year, but the ongoing global pandemic saw production on the show put on hold. From what we’re aware, the production picked up again last month.

At present, the plan is for The Witcher’s second season to premiere on Netflix at some point in 2021.

Horror-Driven PRETTY LITTLE LIARS Reboot in Development

Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin

It’s only three years ago since Pretty Little Liars was axed, and now the property is getting a horror-driven reboot over at HBO Max.

To be titled Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, this series is being developed by Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’s Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Lindsay Calhoon Bring.

The early word on Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin reads:

Twenty years ago, a series of tragic events almost ripped the blue-collar town of Millwood apart. Now, in the present day, a group of disparate teen girls – a brand-new set of Little Liars – find themselves tormented by an unknown Assailant and made to pay for the secret sin their parents committed two decades ago… as well as their own.

As ever, expect more on Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin as we get it.

CGI RESIDENT EVIL Series Happening at Netflix

Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness

As initially revealed by Netflix Portugal, a new CGI Resident Evil series is heading to Netflix.

Titled Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness, this episodic offering will centre on Claire Redfield and Leon S. Kennedy.

No major plot deals have been released for Infinite Darkness at this early juncture bar a promise to “reveal a Resident Evil world unlike anything seen before” – although we do know that the show should hit Netflix at some point in 2021. Also, a first glimpse at Infinite Darkness has been served up:

Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness is being executive produced by Capcom’s Hiroyuki Kobayashi, animated by 3D studio Quebico, and produced by TMS Entertainment for Netflix.

This, of course, is in all in addition to the live-action Resident Evil series in development that will focus on the daughters of Albert Wesker.

THE CRAFT to Get Digital Release This Halloween!

The Craft

With a new spin on The Craft having been announced earlier this year by Blumhouse, Sony Pictures, and Red Wagon, it looks as if we’ll be seeing this new take on an old favourite a little sooner than we expected.

In a nice surprise for horror hounds, The Craft will be officially released on October 27. And not just that, for the film will be going straight to VOD.

Previously, it was believed that the movie would get a full cinema release at some point in 2021, but the ongoing pandemic has hit cinema releases hard. So, hearing that The Craft will be getting a Digital release isn’t all that surprising – hearing that the film will be with us in time for Halloween, however, is quite the welcome surprise.

Zoe Lister-Jones is on directing duties for The Craft, with the cast made up of Cailee Spaeny, Lovie Simone, Zoey Luna, Gideon Adlon, Michelle Monaghan, Donald MacLean Jr., Nicholas Galitzine, Julian Grey, and a certain David Duchovny.

For those not familiar with the original ’96 movie, the Andrew Fleming-helmed effort centred on Robin Tunney as she makes friends with a trio of young witches played by Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell and Rachel True.

First Look at Javicia Leslie’s BATWOMAN

Batwoman

It was only yesterday that Leah Gibson and Nathan Owens were announced as joining The CW’s Batwoman, and now we’ve got our first look at the show’s new Scarlet Knight.

If you remember, Ruby Rose opted to leave Batwoman after the show’s debut year, meaning that the series had a Kate Kane-shaped hole to fill should it wish to continue.

Since then, God Friended Me’s Javicia Leslie has landed the role of Kate’s successor, Ryan Wilder, and now Leslie has taken to social media to reveal a first glimpse of her in the cape ‘n’ cowl.

From this first look, it appears that Ryan Wilder will be donning the exact same wig and mask as the Kate Kane version of Batwoman – although it has been previously promised how Wilder will put her own spin on the Batsuit.

It’s believed that a key part of Batwoman’s second season will be the mysterious disappearance of Kate Kane/Batwoman from Gotham City. In her place, a new hero is forced to step up to the plate and take on the Batwoman moniker.

Season Two of Batwoman will premiere at some point in 2021.

Aldis Hodge is BLACK ADAM’s Hawkman

Hawkman Aldis Hodge

With it now confirmed that the Justice Society will be playing a key part in the Dwayne Johnson-headlined Black Adam, we now know who’ll be taking on the role of the film’s Hawkman.

As initially reported by The Wrap, Aldis Hodge – who most recently appeared in The Invisible Man – will be playing Carter Hall, aka Hawkman, in the picture. Hodge joins the previously announced Noah Centineo’s Atom Smasher alongside Johnson’s Black Adam.

Debuting back in 1940’s Flash Comics #1, Carter Hall is an archaeologist who is the reincarnation of the Price Khufu of ancient Egypt. With Nth metal in his possession, Carter has the abilities of enhanced strength and regeneration to go along with his wings.

This won’t be the first time that Hawkman has appeared in a live-action setting, of course, with Michael Shanks playing the character in Smallville and then Falk Hentschel taking on the role in DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and the extended Arrowverse.

Following the news of Aldis Hodge’s casting in Black Adam, Dwayne Johnson took to social media to share the brilliant conversation he had with Hodge upon breaking the news to the actor that he’d landed the Hawkman role.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

THIS IS HAWKMAN 🦅 A pleasure to welcome @aldis_hodge to BLACK ADAM. HAWKMAN is a critical leading role for our movie, as he is the fiery leader of the JSA (Justice Society of America) and one of the most beloved and legendary characters in the DC UNIVERSE. I called Aldis personally as I wanted to surprise him that he got the role and it wound up being one of the greatest conversations I’ve ever had. Aldis: Hello? DJ: Hello, I’d like to speak to Aldis. Aldis: Who is this? DJ: This is Dwayne Johnson. * long pause Aldis: Whoever this is stop playing on my phone. DJ: This is Dwayne, is this Aldis? * longer pause Aldis: This shit ain’t funny, I said stop playing on my fucking phone. DJ: Aldis, this is DJ. I just called to say thank you so much for sending in your audition – it was great and I really appreciate the efforts you made. Just wanted to say thanks and best of luck in all you do. And one more thing — welcome to Black Adam. * longest pause Aldis: I’m sorry you’ll have to hold on for a one second. * he puts the phone down and walks away and all I hear is inaudible yells 😂 Aldis: DJAYYYY OHHHHH SHIT!!!!!! * Im laughing my ass off by now. DJ: You ok? You’re gonna crush this role! We went on to have an awesome conversation full of gratitude, love and motivation. Can’t wait to work with this very talented brother. The perfect HAWKMAN. Let’s get to work. #aldishodge #jsa #hawkman 🦅 #blackadam⚡️

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To be directed by The Shallows’ Jaume Collet-Serra, Black Adam is currently set for a December 2021 release.

NICK FURY Disney+ Series On the Way

Nick Fury

With certain other Marvel heroes getting their own Disney+ shows, now comes word on a certain eye-patched adorned fella getting his own series.

Courtesy of Variety, Samuel L. Jackson will be headlining his own Nick Fury show on Disney+. Mr. Robot’s Kyle Bradstreet will reportedly write and executive produce the series, while Jackson himself will also serve as an executive producer.

No plot details have been released just yet for this offering, although there are so many possibilities where the Nick Fury character is concerned. In terms of the current MCU landscape, Fury was last seen somewhere up in the stars during Spider-Man: Far From Home.

Nick Fury has been a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as long as anybody, with Jackson’s Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. turning up during the credits of the movie that launched the MCU, Iron Man, back in 2008. Since then, we’ve seen Fury turned up in 11 of the 23 MCU films to date.

Who knows, maybe this Nick Fury show will pick things up after the ‘90s-set Captain Marvel? One obvious story to tell would be how Fury worked his way up the ranks, although maybe the de-aging technology used in that movie might be a tad too costly to use across an entire TV series.

Other Disney+ MCU shows currently on the horizon are WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, She-Hulk, and a series centred on Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye and his apprentice Kate Bishop.

Expect more on Nick Fury as we get it.

CREEPSHOW Animated Special Arriving This Halloween

Creepshow

Horror hounds rejoice, for more Creepshow fun is on the way!

As announced by Shudder, a Creepshow animated special will launch on the on-demand service on October 26 – just in time for Halloween.

So, not just is Creepshow getting an animated offering, but Kiefer Sutherland and Joey King will be lending their vocals to the special, which will be based on shorts by Stephen King and Joe Hill, with Greg Nicotero on directing duties? That all sounds rather fantastic if you ask us.

In terms of what to expect from this animated Creepshow special, Shudder released the below information:

Though Greg Nicotero and his team are hard at work shooting season 2 (coming in 2021), they’ve crafted a fully animated Creepshow special for us just in time for Halloween, featuring two tales to die for: “Survivor Type,” based on the short story by Stephen King and adapted by Nicotero, stars Kiefer Sutherland (24, Designated Survivor) as a man determined to stay alive alone on a deserted island no matter what the cost. “Twittering from the Circus of the Dead,” based on the short story by Joe Hill and adapted by Melanie Dale, stars Joey King (The Kissing Booth, The Act) as a teen whose family road trip includes a visit to the gravest show on earth. (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK and Shudder ANZ).”

This, of course, is all part of Shudder’s 61 Days of Halloween celebration.