MARIANNE Creator to Helm COBWEB for Lionsgate

Samuel Bodin Marianne

One of the most terrifying small screen offerings of recent years is easily Netflix’s Marianne, and now comes word on a new project for the show’s creator, Samuel Bodin.

As first reported by Bloody Disgusting, Bodin is on board to direct a Lionsgate film titled Cobweb.

The early word on this horror offering reads:

Cobweb tells the story of a boy whose parents have always told him the voices he hears in the walls of his house are just his imagination. But when he discovers they might be real, he goes on an unnerving quest to discover what’s real and what’s not.

Having been a standout in the Blacklist and Bloodlist circles of screenplays, Cobweb was penned by Chris Thomas Devlin. Already on board to produce are Vertigo Entertainment’s Roy Lee and Jon Berg, Point Grey’s Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg, and James Weaver.

Expect more on Cobweb as we get it.

Scott Derrickson to Direct LABYRINTH Sequel

Labyrinth

Well, this is pretty exciting news. Yes, as the headline suggests, Scott Derrickson is to tackle a Labyrinth sequel.

Via Deadline, the Sinister and Doctor Strange helmer has been tasked with helming a follow-up to Jim Henson’s iconic Jennifer Connelly and David Bowie-starring 1986 picture. Derrickson was originally attached to direct Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, before departing that project over creative differences.

This sequel has actually been in loose development four the past four years, with Detective Pikachu’s Nicole Perlman having previously put together a screenplay. Seemingly, that project – which had Evil Dead’s Fede Alvarez directing – has been pretty scrapped, with The Jim Henson Company opting to go in a different direction with this sequel.

Joining Derrickson on this Labyrinth sequel is Into the Dark and My Valentine’s Maggie Levin, who’ll be writing the film. Lisa Henson, Brian Henson, and longtime Derrickson collaborator C. Robert Cargill are all on board in a producer capacity.

That original ’86 movie is a huge favourite of so many a genre fan, with Connelly playing a 16-year-old on a mission to rescue her infant brother from the centre of a strange maze overseen by Jareth the Goblin King.

As ever, expect more on this Labyrinth sequel as we it continues to develop.

Sci-Fi Short HASHTAG to Launch Online

hashtag online

Hit sci-fi short Hashtag will be making its online debut on Thursday May 28th via the DUST channel.

STARBURST has followed the progress of this great short from announcement of crowdfunding and beyond and highly recommend you check it out. It stars Gigi Edgley (Farscape, Jim Henson’s Creature Shop) and was directed by Ben Alpi, who co-wrote the script with Kevin Rubio.

The official synopsis is: In a looming future where social media celebrities dominate our culture, ‘X’ (Gigi Edgley) is the world’s supreme online icon – but how far must she go to hold on to her popularity?

You can view the Dust content via their website, https://watchdust.com, as well as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Rokobox in the US. There will be a special watch-a-long with director Ben, Gigi, and producer Jyotika Virmani on YouTube at 6pm – 7pm (10am – 11am Pacific Standard Time).

Director Ben Alpi told us: “Science fiction has always been one of my favourite ways to unlock perspectives and provoke thought about important subjects. So, of course we were thrilled when DUST contacted us because their global reputation is built on that same concept of exploration. I intended Hashtag to be a conversation starter about social media and we knew that DUST would be the perfect place to expand that discussion. Their audience is an amazing, vibrant community and we’re delighted to be sharing Hashtag with them and the rest of the world.”

Lead actor Gigi Edgley was equally ecstatic: “Hashtag is very near and dear to my heart. Ben has put so much of himself into the film, as have so many others in the cast and crew, and it’s so great to see it getting the recognition it deserves, not only at film festivals but it’s just phenomenal that it’s going to be available on DUST for anyone to see. It was lovely to play beautiful ‘X’, such a complex and troubled soul, and I can’t wait for more people to meet her and the world of Hashtag.”

You can catch the short from Thursday May 28th from 6pm (7am PST) via Dust’s YouTube, Facebook, and IGTV. You can connect to them through through https://watchdust.com, a ‘premium sci-fi brand that presents thought-provoking visions of the future’.

Anime Limited launches Curated Online Festival SCREEN ANIME

Anime Limited, the company responsible for bringing many of Japan’s best animated films to the UK & Ireland, has unveiled its brand new monthly curated streaming service, Screen Anime.

Launching today, May 25th, this service acts as an online film festival that will each month offer four expertly curated films, one bingeable TV series and many more unique benefits for £3.98 a month, or a reduced £39.98 a year.

In an official statement from Anime Limited the company described the service as follows;

Open and welcome to all, Screen Anime will represent an ideal opportunity for those new to the medium to discover quality hand-picked anime, while committed fans can enhance their experience by exploring extra features and much more.

Screen Anime is the next evolution of Anime Limited’s vision to bring the best of Japanese animated films to audiences across the UK & Ireland, following years of experience leading the genre both in cinemas and at home.

Andrew Partridge, the CEO of Anime Limited also explained where the idea for the service came from in the official statement;

Ever since founding the annual Scotland Loves Anime Film Festival, showcasing the best in theatrical anime has been a passion for me but how to keep doing that during this ongoing global situation we find ourselves in? The answer was to take the film festival experience online and at the same time address a gap we recognise from fan feedback in how theatrical anime is released to date.”

Members who buy an annual pass will also receive a physical membership card that can unlock exclusive benefits like discounts on Anime Limited’s online store, at future conventions and more.

The service launches at 6pm on May 25th and will offer users a three day free trial before purchase. Anime Limited have also announced that the following titles are part of their first month’s lineup;

MAY LINEUP

(Available from launch until 21st June 2020)

PROMARE (PREMIERE) – CERT 12

Leave your brain at the door and get caught up in the wild ride of Galo Thymos in this over-the-top action fest of vibrant colours and giant robots – PROMARE has it all. 96% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

BONUS: Side Story Lio – a 10-minute prequel short about Lio Fotia, the leader of Mad Burnish.

PENGUIN HIGHWAY – CERT 12

When cute penguins start waddling into a rural Japanese town, it piques the interest of the ever-curious schoolkid Aoyama in this cute, Studio Ghibli-esque coming-of-age story with dashes of science fiction. 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

BONUS: Interview with the original author Tomihiko Morimi.

PATEMA INVERTED – CERT PG

Fall into the sky with the sheer escapism of a topsy-turvy fantasy that will challenge your perceptions. Winner of the 2013 Scotland Loves Anime Jury and Audience Awards.

BONUS: Alternate angles.

ROYAL SPACE FORCE: THE WINGS OF HONNÊAMISE – CERT 15

Blast off to new frontiers with this landmark feature in anime history, whose English dub features the voice of Bryan Cranston in this debut work of Gainax, the iconic studio behind Neon Genesis Evangelion.

BONUS: Bonus content TBC

TV SERIES – TBC

A full TV series will also be available as part of the festival – at time of going to press the title is TBC – details to follow.

Whether you are a new fan wanting a gateway into the world of anime, or a hardcore veteran wanting another way to get even more content into your eyeballs, Screen Anime is shaping up to be a wonderful tool for discovering new and classic anime to enjoy.

Help Get Female-Driven Horror Short 3RD FLOOR Kickstarted

floor female

3rd Floor is a new female-driven short film currently doing really well on Kickstarter, but still needs your help to get to its target.

The synopsis is: Jane is a washed-up model in her mid-forties who’s stuck in a troubled relationship with Jack, her live-in boyfriend. Shortly after she discovers more lies, she rushes off to Las Vegas to reignite her career, and regain her independence. Things don’t go exactly as planned and her life changes forever. Some people are haunted, and Jane discovers she has more in common with the people she meets at the hotel, than she ever imagined.

The short will be directed by Ama Lea, who has contributed to The ABCs of Death 2.5, Red Red and the brilliant anthology Deathcember, and is written and produced by Nancy O’Brien (In the Blood). Kira Reed Lorsch is also on board as a producer, as well as acting in the short. The cast also includes William McNamara (best known for Dario Argento’s Opera), Courtney Gains (Children of the Corn), Monique Parent (Chuck), Michael St. Michaels (The Greasy Strangler), Marian Aguilera (Paco’s Men), Robert Peters (Tremors), Sarah Nicklin (The Basement), and Heather Branch (Witchcraft XI). More performers will be announced in due course.

An evocative poster has already been designed by the legendary Graham Humphries, who was a guest of honour at this year’s STARBURST International Film Festival. One of the world’s best regarded poster artists, his work for the British releases of The Evil Dead, Poltergeist and A Nightmare on Elm Street are things of beauty and he regularly provides art for releases by Arrow Video and many more. Check out his 3rd Floor poster below:

There are lots of great perks to be had for donating, but the best reward is to know that you’re helping filmmakers realise their vision, of course!

The Kickstarter runs until June 12th, 2020 and is already so close to the funding total but every little helps. We can’t wait to see this on the festival circuit! Head over to https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/3rdfloor/3rd-floor-a-short-indie-horror-film?ref=project_link to pledge or for more information.

Peter Dinklage and Jason Momoa Teaming for Vampire Movie

Peter Dinklage and Jason Momoa

In some fantastic news, two Game of Thrones alum are teaming up for a new vampire movie.

Via Deadline, Peter Dinklage and Jason Momoa are coming together for an action-horror offering titled Good Bad & Undead.

In the Legendary Pictures’ production, Dinklage will play Van Helsing, while Momoa is vampire who has taken a vow to never again kill. The duo run a scam, going from town to town as Van Helsing takes a hefty payday to vanquish the vamp. Unfortunately for the tandem, things take a turn for the worse when a lofty bounty is put on the head of Momoa’s bloodsucker.

Freddy vs. Jason’s Damian Shannon and Mark Swift concocted this idea and put together the script, with Palm Springs’ Max Barbakow to direct.

Horror Channel Reveals Spine-Chiller Season for June

spine-chiller

Horror Channel has lined up a fantastic Spine-Chiller Season in June to make your Saturday nights even better.

Each Saturday in June you can catch a terrific star-studded shocker, starting with the channel premiere of Gothika (2003) starring Halle Berry, Robert Downey Jr, and Penelope Cruz on June 6th. This will be followed by Kevin Bacon in the terrifying Stir of Echoes (1999), Sarah Michelle Gellar in the American remake of The Grudge (2004), and Nicolas Cage in Pay the Ghost (2015).

That’s not all, as throughout the month there will be premieres aplenty including the UK TV premieres of Nails (2017) on June 5th and Viral (2016) on June 12th. Other channel premieres not to miss include Knuckleball (2018), From a House on Willow Street (2016), and the action-packed updating of Rollerball (2002).

For more information, head over to http://www.horrorchannel.co.uk/

Tune into Horror Channel on Sky 317, Virgin 149, Freeview 70, Freesat 138.

S.J. Clarkson to Direct Mystery Marvel Movie

Madame Web

As Sony continues to make plans for its shared Spider-Verse of movies that began with Venom, now comes an update on one of the plentiful Spidey-driven pictures in development.

Courtesy of Variety, Jessica Jones and The Defenders’ S.J. Clarkson has been brought in to helm a female-centred Marvel film. There’s no confirmation just who will be the focus of this movie, although speculation suggests that this could well be the Madame Web film that we’ve heard has long been in development.

Created by the legendary duo of Denny O’Neil and John Romita Jr., Madame Web debuted in 1980’s The Amazing Spider-Man #210. Born blind, Cassandra Webb developed psychic abilities during her younger years and ultimately ended up in a spider’s web-shaped life-support system after her central nervous system was affected by a disease.

Madame Web would occasionally dip in to help out Peter Parker, not to mention several incarnations of Spider-Woman. Most famously to most casual fans, Madame Web appeared in the iconic ‘90s Spider-Man cartoon from FOX – in which she was voiced by Joan Lee, the wife of a certain Stan the Man.

A Madame Web movie is just the latest project in development as part of Sony’s shared Spider-Verse of films. In addition to Morbius and Venom 2, Sony is at work on solo offerings for Nightwatch, Kraven the Hunter, Black Cat, Silver Sable, Silk, Jackpot, a Sinister Six movie, and even possibly a film based around Aunt May.

As ever, expect more on all of these projects as we get it.

JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE SNYDER CUT Heading to HBO Max

Justice League: The Snyder Cut

Well, after two years, the rampant fans demanding to see the famed ‘Snyder Cut’ of Justice League have got their way.

Three years after the big-screen release of Justice League, Warner Bros. has now confirmed that Zack Snyder will get to properly cut his own take of the film for HBO Max.

For those unfamiliar with the situation behind the Snyder Cut, Zack Snyder was the person tasked with directing Justice League. Tragically, Snyder had to step away from the movie midway through filming due to the death of his daughter. That led Warners to bring in Joss Whedon to finish the film.

All of this resulted in a mixed bag of a final product, which in turn led to fans taking to Twitter with #ReleaseTheSnyderCut for the past couple of years. And now, Snyder has been afforded the chance to have his Justice League vision be seen.

In a story by The Hollywood Reporter, it’s believed that Warner Bros. actually gave Snyder an added $25 to properly finish and edit his own personal cut of Justice League.

The current plan is for Snyder’s Justice League to head to the HBO Max streaming service at some point in 2021.