THE LAST OF US PART II Delayed

The Last of Us Part II

In some disappointing news for gamers, The Last of Us Part II has had its release date pushed back.

Given how so many projects across the entertainment industry have been delayed or outright cancelled lately, it’s not a huge surprise to hear that Naughty Dog has opted to pull the game from its May 29th release.

The full statement from Naughty Dog can be found below.

The Last of Us Part II is one of the most anticipated games of the year. Hell, we’d even argue it is the most anticipated game on most people’s radars right now.

Originally, Part II was pegged for a February release. That then was delayed until May 29th. And now, well now the sequel is seemingly on hold indefinitely.

Expect an update on The Last of Us Part II’s new release date as soon as we get it.

Disney+’s Kenobi Series Lands a New Writer

Obi-Wan Kenobi

While projects are being delayed, postponed, or outright cancelled left, right, and centre right now, there’s an update on Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi series.

If you remember, a live-action return for Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan has been on the cards in some shape or fashion for years now. At one point planned as a movie, the project is now moving forward as a Disney+ TV show – and now said show has found a new writer.

Via Variety, Joby Harold has been brought in to pen the small-screen offering. Harold is likely best known for his work on the likes of Edge of Tomorrow, King Arthur, and the Hayden Christensen-starring Awake.

Previously, there had been rumblings and rumours that this Kenobi show was having issues on the writing front. Star Ewan McGregor publicly downplayed any such talk, although writer Hossein Amini did depart the series back in January. Going forward, it’s believed that Joby Harold will start from scratch rather than pick up where Amini left off.

While this Obi-Wan series has yet to be given an official title, we do know that the action will be set eight years after the events of Revenge of the Sith and 11 years before A New Hope. Basically, that means that we’ll get a Kenobi who’s effectively in hiding on Tatooine, presumably going by the name of Ben Kenobi by now.

Originally, the plan was for this series to start shooting in January 2021. Given the uncertainty that currently washes over the world, let alone the entertainment industry at present, it remains to be seen whether that initial plans will be maintained.

As ever, expect more on this Obi-Wan Kenobi series as we get it.

 

Stephen Williams to Direct Monster Movie for Universal

Stephen Williams

Here at Moonbase Alpha, we’ve got a major soft sport of any sort of monster movie – and so, we’re all kinds of excited to hear that Stephen Williams is to tackle just such a film for Universal.

Courtesy of Variety, the Watchmen, Westworld, and Lost producer and director will be helming what’s been pegged as “a suspenseful monster movie” for Universal Pictures. Further plot specifics have yet to be revealed at this stage, although we do know that this will be an original tale.

Aaahh!!! Real Monsters’ Peter Gaffney has already penned the screenplay for this mystery movie, and Stranger Things’ Shawn Levy and Dan Levine are producing through 21 Laps Entertainment.

Expect more on all of this as we get it.

Masaaki Yuasa RETIRES as Science SARU President

Legendary Anime Director Masaaki Yuasa has announced today that on March 25th he retired from his position as President and Representative Director at anime studio Science SARU.

Yuasa-san took to Twitter to announce that, after working non-stop for seven years since he co-founded the studio with Eunyoung Choi, he wanted to take a step back and rest before his next work. He also confirmed that although he will stepping down from this major role at the company, he will still supervise the studio’s upcoming Anime film Inu-Oh, which premieres next year in 2021 and his last (for the foreseeable future) directing credit will be for the film Japan Sinks 2020, which has already wrapped production and is scheduled to be released on Netflix later in 2020.

His latest work as a director on a series was the critically acclaimed show, Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, which we here at STARBURST absolutely adored.

The reasoning behind the announcement on today is that in Japan the new financial year begins on April 1st and a lot of business announce major changes and re-building whilst also new laws come into effect.

Whatever comes next for Yuasa-san, he will always be remembered for co-founding Science SARU and being a genius of the medium, creating such incredible and inspiring films and shows such as Lu Over The Wall, Ping Pong: The Animation, DEVILMAN Crybaby amongst many, many others.

We here at STARBURST wish Yuasa-san a wonderfully refreshing rest that he utterly deserves and we patiently await his triumphant return, whenever that may be.

Thank you Masaaki Yuasa.

Horror Channel Has Such Sights to Show You in April

horror sights

For the first three Fridays in April, Horror Channel will be taking you into the darkest reaches of your nightmares with Clive Barker’s Hellraiser films.

Beginning on April 3rd with the 1987 classic – directed by the horror master himself – we can get reacquainted with the Cenobites and the Lament Configuration.

April 10th sees Hellraiser II: Hellbound (1989) screen, while on April 17th there’s Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1993).

A trilogy of terror not to be missed!

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

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

HOBBS & SHAW Sequel in Development

Hobbs & Shaw

Hobbs & Shaw was one of the most bonkers actioners to come along in a little while, and unsurprisingly the impressive box office haul of that movie has led to a sequel now being on the way.

It was Dwayne Johnson who revealed this news, with the wrestler-turned-actor partaking in an Instagram Q&A in which he confirmed that a second Hobbs & Shaw picture is in development.

Johnson explained how right now it’s a case of working out the creative direction for this sequel. And if that first Fast & Furious spin-off is anything to go by, expect plenty of explosions and jaw-dropping, completely illogical-yet-totally popcorn entertainment.

Hitting cinema screens worldwide last July, Hobbs & Show took in an impressive $760 million across the globe.

Netflix Cancels V WARS and OCTOBER FACTION

V Wars

In some disappointing news for genre fans, Netflix has moved to cancel two of its newest shows after just one solitary season a piece.

Via The Hollywood Reporter, the on-demand streaming service has swung the axe on V Wars and October Faction.

Starring names such as Ian Somerhalder, Adrian Holmes, Jacky Lai, and Laura Vandervoort, V Wars arrived this past December and is an adaptation of Jonathan Maberry’s IDW comics that see a vampiric disease running roughshod.

Based on Steve Niles’ IDW title, October Faction arrived on Netflix in January and centred on a pair of 17-year-old twins whose lives are thrown for a loop at the revelation that their bland and dull parents are actually a couple of monster-hunting assassins. Tamara Taylor, J.C. MacKenzie, Aurora Burghart, and Gabriel Daruka played the series’ main family unit.

US Return Dates Confirmed for the Arrowverse

The Flash

While each and every day right now brings word on certain movie and TV projects being delayed, this morning gives us an update on when The CW’s Arrowverse will be returning.

In the US, the Arrowverse is currently on hold as production has been suspended on this shared universe of shows due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that’s sweeping the globe.

Now, it’s been confirmed that The Flash will be returning to screens on April 21st, Batwoman and Supergirl will be airing new episodes on April 26th, and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow will finally debut its fifth season on April 21st, too.

One other thing we know, is that the finale of The Flash’s sixth season will not be airing as initially planned. Due to the current social distancing and isolation measures in place, that episode is still to be completed – although Season Six has enough episodes in the can to run through until May 19th. The season’s final episode will air later in the year, with production not expected to get back up and running until at least May.

In the UK, Arrow, The Flash, and Supergirl have all now begun to return for their mid-season premieres, which will look to tie up the stunning Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event. As for Batwoman, that Ruby Rose-headlined series finally made its UK bow this past Sunday on E4.

MORBIUS and GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTER LIFE Delayed

Morbius the Living Vampire

At present, the ever-changing landscape of the world is seeing more and more movie and TV projects delayed and indefinitely postponed. And today brings word on two other films to now be affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Via IGN, Sony Pictures has pushed both Morbius the Living Vampire and Ghostbusters: Afterlife back from their planned release dates.

Instead of its July 31st release, the Jared Leto-headlined vamp-tastic Morbius will hit the silver screen on March 19th, 2021. As for Jason Reitman’s hotly-anticipated Ghostbusters: Afterlife, that film has been pushed from July 10th of this year to March 5th of next year.

These films aren’t the first to be affected by the Coronavirus, and they will certainly not be the last.

In recent weeks, we’ve seen offerings such as Black Widow, A Quiet Place II, The New Mutants, and Wonder Woman 1984 all delayed due to the very real, very serious situation that is playing out in front of us.

Krzysztof Penderecki 1933 – 2020

Krzysztof Penderecki

In some sad news, composer Krzysztof Penderecki has passed away at the age of 86.

Penderecki and his work echoes across the history of all things genre, with his work earning him three Grammy Awards in a career that spanned over 60 years.

Most famously, Krzysztof provided the stunning compositions for offerings such as The Exorcist, The Shining, The People Under the Stairs, Twin Peaks, Wild at Heart, and more recently in Ready Player One.

The iconic composer had had a long battle with illness, and is survived by wife Elzbieta, his two daughters, and his son.

The thoughts of all here at STARBURST go out to the family, friends, and fans of the truly legendary Krzysztof Penderecki.