Jason Bateman to Direct SUPERWORLD Adaptation

Superworld Jason Bateman

In some intriguing news, Warner Bros. has moved to bring in Jason Bateman to direct their Superworld adaptation.

The Hollywood Reporter broke the news, with Bateman reuniting with Game Night writer Mark Perez on the project.

Superworld is an Audible production from Gus Krieger, and the official blurb on the property can be found below:

Earth, 2038. Every single man, woman, and child on the planet has a unique gift: an extraordinary, superhuman ability.

All except one.

And he may be civilization’s only hope.

Ignatius Lohman longs to make his mark, to be someone. But in a world populated entirely by superpowered beings, he’s nothing but a powerless white-collar civilian. Iggy’s plight is not helped by the fact that his father, General Lancelot Lohman of the defense agency PEERLESS, is one of the most powerful men on the planet.

Then, suddenly and unexpectedly, Iggy finds himself in the crosshairs of Erle P. Van Owen, a megalomaniacal corporate overlord with the astonishing ability to neutralize any superpower.

Van Owen is seemingly invincible. But he didn’t count on this: If he can effortlessly defeat anyone with superhuman abilities, how will he fare against the one person with no powers at all?

Teaming up with his father and their PEERLESS allies, Iggy must find a way to save the United Nations of Earth. And maybe, with a bit of luck, find himself along the way.

Whilst Jason Bateman is best known for starring in the likes of Arrested Development, Ozark, and Horrible Bosses, he’s also been impressing many with his directorial work on offerings such as The Family Fang, Bad Words, and the aforementioned Ozark.

As ever, expect more on Superworld as it develops.

Christopher Eccleston Returning as the Ninth Doctor

Christopher Eccleston

In some huge news for Doctor Who fans, Christopher Eccleston is reprising his Ninth Doctor role for a new Big Finish production titled Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor Adventures.

Eccleston famously took on the role of the iconic Time Lord for Doctor Who’s revival in 2005. Despite receiving praise from both fans and critics alike, Eccleston decided to depart the series after one solitary season – citing a fear of being typecast as the driving factor behind his decision.

Since then, Doctor Who has been fronted for three seasons a piece by David Tennant, Matt Smith, and Peter Capaldi, and Jodie Whittaker has wrapped up two seasons as the Doctor.

Confirming the news of Eccleston’s return to the franchise, Big Finish put out the below video:

As to how Eccleston’s return came about, Big Finish’s Jason Haigh-Ellery revealed that he had tentative talks with the star at this past February’s Gallifrey One convention. Having enjoyed the experience and seeing how positively his Doctor was remembered, Eccleston indicated that he’d be open to discussing a Big Finish outing for the Ninth Doctor.

Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor Adventures will consist of four three-story volumes which are currently pegged to be released in May 2021, August 2021, November 2021, and February 2022.

Jonás Cuarón to Direct Chupacabra Movie

Super Furry Animals Radiator

Well, this sounds all kinds of fun. Jonás Cuarón is set to tackle a Chupacabra movie over at Netflix.

Via Deadline, the Gravity co-writer and Desierto director will seemingly be a family-friendly affair, with the to-be-titled picture based around a teenager who befriends a Chupacabra and embarks on a life-changing adventure.

For those unaware, the Chupacabra is a creature pulled from folklore. Said to resemble a small bear that has a spiked spine, this mythical beast has a penchant for draining the blood from livestock.

Chris Columbus and his 26th Street Pictures production banner are producing this movie for Netflix as part of the first-look deal the company signed with the streaming service back in 2018. That agreement coming after Netflix was hugely impressed (and rightly so!) with the Kurt Russell-fronted The Christmas Chronicles.

This Chupacabra project comes after Jonás Cuarón’s Zorro reboot starring Gael Garcia Bernal and Kiersey Clemons appears to have stalled a tad.

Bek Smith to Pen Netflix’s REBORN Adaptation

Reborn

With Netflix long having had plans to give Mark Millar and Greg Capullo’s Reborn the feature-film treatment, now comes a big update on that project.

Courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter, Reborn has now brought in Bek Smith on writing duties. Smith is likely best known for her work on Captain Marvel and is currently at work helping to put together Sony’s female-driven Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse spin-off. Already on board to direct Reborn is The LEGO Batman Movie’s Chris McKay.

As a comic book, Reborn debuted over at Image Comics in 2016. The tale centres on an 80-year-old woman who dies and is reborn as a younger version of herself. Reuniting with old friends and family who have died before her, it soon becomes apparent that this woman and her nearest and dearest have been transported to a mysterious world filled with mystical and magical creatures. Unable to find her late husband, the woman sets on a journey with her father and childhood dog to try and find her beau.

Of course, Reborn is just one of a multitude of Mark Millar-created properties in various stages of being adapted for film or TV.

After Netflix picked up Millar’s Millarworld company in 2017, the streaming service is at work on developing a slew of projects based around Millar’s Jupiter’s Legacy, The Magic Order, Space Bandits, and Sharkey the Bounty Hunter.

At this stage, Reborn has yet to be given an official release date.

Ben Affleck to Direct CHINATOWN-Based Movie

Chinatown

As major fans of Ben Affleck and huge fans of Chinatown, this new project sounds absolutely bang up our street.

Via Deadline, Affleck has signed on to writer and direct Paramount Pictures’ The Big Goodbye. That film will be based on Sam Wasson’s novel of the same name, which tells the behind-the-scenes story of the making of the iconic Chinatown.

At the time of its filming, Chinatown had to deal with the erratic behaviour of star Jack Nicholson and director Roman Polanski, yet the movie had a script in place that’s viewed as one of the greatest in cinema history.

It’s believed that both Paramount and Affleck are treating The Big Goodbye as a priority picture.

At this stage, it’s not been revealed whether Affleck will end up having a role in the film, although he has starred in three of the four movies he’s directed to date.

Expect more on The Big Goodbye as we get it.

Shudder Confirms a Second Season for CURSED FILMS

Cursed Films

With Cursed Films, Shudder pulled off a masterstroke by examining some of the most notorious film productions in cinema history. And thanks to the hugely positive response to the show, a second series has now been confirmed.

Straight from the streaming platform, it’s been announced Cursed Films is already in production for a return in 2021. At this early juncture, it’s yet to be revealed which particularly titles will be examined in this second season – but it’s not like there’s a shortage of troubled, tragic productions to pull from.

In the first season of Jay Cheel’s Cursed Films, the spotlight was shone on the real-life horrors and eerie happenings seen on the sets of The Omen, Poltergeist, The Exorcist, The Crow, and Twilight Zone: The Movie.

Expect more on Season Two of Cursed Films as we get it. And seriously, if you’ve got access to Shudder (available on Prime Video here in the UK) and have not seen Cursed Films yet, we’d highly recommended checking it out.

James Wan Developing New KNIGHT RIDER Movie

Knight Rider

Ready to have the Knight Rider theme embedded into your head for the next couple of hours? Good, for we’ve got word that James Wan is developing a new movie based around the much-loved property.

Via Deadline, Wan is teaming with Spyglass Media for a Knight Rider picture pegged for a big-screen release. Already, Spyglass has brought in Ratchet & Clank’s T.J. Fixman to pen the film, and the plan is to deliver a present-day spin on Knight Rider – all while reportedly keeping the anti-establishment tone of the original series.

That series, of course, was fronted by David Hasselhoff and first aired back in 1982. As former LAPD detective Michael Knight, Hoff’s facially-reconstructed badass embarks on a life of crimefighting alongside his supersmart Firebird Trans Am known as the Knight Industries Two Thousand. Or to millions over us across the globe, KITT.

The original Knight Rider show ran for four seasons, before then having several direct-to-TV movies and spin-offs. In 2008, NBC had Justin Bruening headline a new Knight Rider show, but that was axed after just one season.

Since then, there have been plentiful rumblings of Knight Rider getting to ride once more – and the last we’d heard on anything Knight Rider was back in 2017 when Kevin Hart and John Cena were mooted to be starring in a reboot.

At this stage, this James Wan and Spyglass Knight Rider has yet to be given an official release date, but expect more on the film as we get it.

FrightFest Announce Shorts Line-Up

frightfest shorts

This year’s Arrow Video FrightFest short films have been announced.

Spread over two programmes, the shorts will be available to stream between 6pm, Thursday 27th to 9pm 31st of August. For the online digital version of the festival, every pass holder will get a chance to see the films for the first time, rather than the mad rush to reserve tickets that usually happens.

The line-up is:

SHORT FILM SHOWCASE ONE

Bark (European Premiere)

Director: Ryan Irving. Cast: Ryan Irving, Alexia Lavigne, Anna Barker. Canada 2019. 6 min.

It’s a beautiful day in the park, one that our hero usually enjoys. And he could, except for the terrible event he will have to witness, helpless to intervene.

A Bit of Fun (World Premiere)

Director: Florence Kosky. Cast: Elizabeth McCafferty, Roxana Chakrabarti, Tess Annan, Tallulah Bond. UK 2020. 9 min.

It’s just another fun girls’ night in, to talk about school, sex, and raising the dead. You know, the usual.

Breakfast (European)

Directors: Paul Beattie, Melanie Rios. Cast: Rebecca Smee, Brendan Donoghue, Jaxson Dimitrov. Australia 2019. 11 min.

After being bedridden for months, Katherine is finally awake. And she’s hungry. And not just for bacon and eggs.

FLESH Control (European Premiere)

Director: Christopher McSherry. Cast: Clark Chambers, Joseph O’Hagan. UK 2019. 9 min.

It’s a typical day of fumigation for these two exterminators. But who is being exterminated and what is doing the job?

Subject 3 (International Premiere)

Director: Teresa Decher. Cast: Teresa Decher, Steven Cox, Paul Greene. USA 2019. 12 min.

A young woman needs to say her last goodbye to an old friend, as she traverses a world in the midst of a pandemic.

Jeff Drives You (UK Premiere)

Director: Aidan Brezonick. Cast: Addison Heimann, Tanner Rittenhouse. USA 2019. 17 min.

David thinks he just got lucky when he gets to take a fancy driverless car to a wedding. But the AI has more to offer than just a smooth ride.

Ouzo and Blackcurrant (UK Premiere)

Director: Nat Luurtsema. Cast: Cherelle Skeete, Sara Huxley. UK 2020. 7 min.

Esta and Jeanie just want to reminisce about the good old days; but they weren’t all good, as something wants them to remember.

Tarrare (World Premiere)

Director: Brian Gillespie. Cast: Ian Lassiter. USA 2020. 6 min.

Based on the terrifyingly true story of a man afflicted with unceasing hunger…

Guest (European Premiere)

Director: Finn Callan. Cast: Melania Crisan, Jessica Munna, Anna Fraser. UK 2020. 12 min.

Something just won’t leave Mary alone, no matter how long she keeps her eyes closed. Drastic measures must be taken.

The Beholder (World Premiere)

Director: Shaun Clark. Cast: Melvyn Ternan. UK 2020. 1 min.

The eye is the window to the soul. That is why it terrifies us.

SHORT FILMS SHOWCASE TWO

Werewolf (World Premiere)

Director: Markus Meedt. Cast: Will Seaward, Katie Redford. UK 2020. 10 min.

It’s game night for a group of friends, and while the rivalry is light, the dangers are increasing.

The Motorist (London Premiere)

Director: Ciaran Lyons. Cast: Douglas Russell, John Cooke. UK 2019. 10 min.

After a man accidently hits someone on a lonely country road, a group forms to exact an odd form of justice.

Love Bite (UK Premiere)

Director: Charles de Lauzirika. Cast: Carlee Baker, Cuyle Carvin, Bella. USA 2019. 16 min.

A weary couple bickers over how to survive the zombie apocalypse. Not everyone is surviving the night.

The Gift (UK Premiere)

Director: Laura-Beth Cowley. Cast: Rowan Carmichael. UK 2019. 3 min.

Monthly cycles may be a literal and metaphorical pain, but through that comes power.

Wash (UK Premiere)

Director: Kristofer Kiggs Carlsson. Cast: Amelia Clay, Ida Lungqvist. Sweden 2019. 7 min.

It’s laundry day for this single mother. But this might be a far more dangerous activity than she fully realizes.

Fuel (International Premiere)

Director: Hermione Sylvester. Cast: Olivia Vinall, Angus Wright. UK 2019. 9 min.

The lines between art and reality are blurred as a woman copes with an uninvited man from her past, and dangerous strangers in the present.

Polvotron 500 (London Premiere)

Director: Silvia Conesa. Cast: Nuria Deulofeu, Gerard Matarí. Spain 2019. 11 min.

Charly just wants a quiet night’s sleep. Maybe he shouldn’t have chosen a holographic booth that provides intimate services.

Keith (International Premiere)

Director: Alex Baro-Cayetano. Cast: Bear Winter-Perreau, Mia Hemerling. UK 2019. 3 min.

A little girl is about to discover more than she dreamed about the monster under her bed.

Death Walks on Nitrate (European Premiere)

Director: Kevin Fermini. Cast: Katie Carpenter, Sasha Friedman, Anna Bishop. USA 2020. 8 min.

A photographer is about to enter a giallo-esque world where nothing is as it seems.

The Afterlife Bureau (London Premiere)

Director: Dimiter Dimiroff. Cast: Sue Appleby, Gordon Peaston, Richard Cunningham. UK 20219. 13 min.

No one appreciates how hard it is to be a civil servant. Especially on the other side.

Passes and individual tickets are on sale now from https://frightfest2020.eventive.org/welcome

The online screenings are geo-locked and are only available to residents of the UK.

Comedy Central Bringing Back REN & STIMPY

The Ren & Stimpy Show

Hot on the heels of the news that Beavis and Butt-Head was being brought back to life, now comes word that The Ren & Stimpy Show is returning.

Courtesy of Deadline, Comedy Central is bringing back The Ren & Stimpy Show 25 years after the show was axed.

This is the latest move in Comedy Central’s push to showcase more adult-orientated animated offerings – with Beavis and Butt-Head’s return likewise happening at the network.

The Ren & Stimpy Show first aired in 1991, going on to run for a total of 52 episodes across five seasons up until airing its last episode in December 1995. Dripping in dark humour and humour that was extremely adult for its time, the series became a huge favourite of so many and went on to achieve a true cult status.

For those younger readers out there who may not be all that familiar with The Ren & Stimpy Show, the show centred on erratic, unstable chihuahua Ren and happy, dopey cat Stimpy.

It goes without saying that The Ren & Stimpy Show creator John Kricfalusi will not be a part of this return. And on that front, Google is your friend.

Ryan Reynolds to Headline EVERYDAY PARENTING TIPS Movie

Everyday Parenting Tips

After garnering quite the buzz, it appears that Simon Rich’s Everyday Parenting Tips short shorty is getting the movie treatment.

Via Deadline, Universal Pictures is planning to spin the short tale into a full feature film with Ryan Reynolds on headlining duties. Paddington’s Paul King is already on board to direct, with Reynolds producing alongside Phil Lord, Chris Miller, and Aditya Sood.

Published by The New Yorker this past May, the official blurb on Everyday Parenting Tips reads:

We’ve all been there. The teeth are brushed, the p.j.’s are on, and the blankie is in place. You’re tiptoeing out of the nursery, when suddenly you hear, “Mommy, Mommy, there’s a monster under my bed!” You sigh. Looks like that new episode of “The Bachelorette” is going to have to wait. 🙁 Lucky for you, our experts are up to the challenge!

A self-help story of sorts laced in comedy, Everyday Parenting Tips is set during the Great Monster Uprising as parents are having to come up with ways to deal with this pressing issue for their children.

In terms of this Everyday Parenting Tips movie, it’s already being pegged as a large-scale family action comedy – which sounds right up Ryan Renyolds’ street!