Disney+’s HAWKEYE Adds Writing Duo

Hawkeye

With Marvel pushing forward with a Hawkeye series that’s currently due to land on Disney+ next year, that show has now found its writing team.

Via Screen Rant, the tandem of Katie Mathewson and Tanner Bean have been tasked with penning Hawkeye. The pair join Jonathan Igla on writing duties – with all three having previously worked together on Pitch and Versus.

For what we know so far about Hawkeye, Jeremy Renner’s Clint Barton will be joined in the show by the character of Kate Bishop. In the comics, Kate is the protégé of Barton and ends up taking over the Hawkeye mantle after Clint’s apparent death.

The last we’d heard on Kate Bishop, Bumblebee’s Hailee Steinfeld was the name rumoured to be playing her – although that was far from official at this stage.

Right now, the plan is for Hawkeye to premiere on Disney+ in 2021.

Rose McIver to Headline US Version of GHOSTS

Rose McIver

CBS’ upcoming horror-comedy series Ghosts has found its lead in the form of Rose McIver.

Courtesy of Deadline, the iZombie favourite has signed on to headline the pilot offering for Ghosts, with the series being a US take on the British sitcom of the same name which debuted last year.

The official blurb on CBS’ Ghosts reads:

Ghosts follows a young couple, Samantha (Rose McIver) and Ryan, whose dreams come true when they inherit a beautiful country house, only to find it’s both falling apart and inhabited by many of the deceased previous residents.

McIver’s Samantha is a put together, Type A personality who loves fun, but not as much as she loves planning fun. A freelance journalist, Sam and her sous chef husband, Ryan, spend so much time trying to make ends meet that they barely have time for each other. So when she inherits a massive country estate, she’s eager to move there, rent free. A great listener and a genuinely good person, Sam strives to help the ghosts, even while being driven a bit crazy by their constant clamouring for her attention.

CBS and Lionsgate Television are teaming with BBC Studios for this new take on the IP.

HOCUS POCUS 2 Finds its Director

Hocus Pocus

With a Hocus Pocus 2 now confirmed to be heading to Disney+, said sequel has find its director.

Courtesy of Variety, Hairspray’s Adam Shankman has been tasked with this long-awaited follow-up offering to the 1993 favourite.

At this stage, the last we’d heard is that the original cast of the first Hocus Pocus – as in Omri Katz, Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, and Thora Birch – were not signed on to return for Hocus Pocus 2, although Disney remains hopeful of having those names return in some capacity.

Expect more on Hocus Pocus 2 as it continues to develop.

Premiere Date Set for STARGIRL

Stargirl

After what feels like an age, a premiere date has finally been set for Stargirl.

Via Variety, this latest DC Comics-driven series will premiere on the DC Universe streaming platform on May 11th, before then airing on The CW on May 12th. If you remember, despite originally being a DC Universe exclusive, a deal was later agreed for Stargirl to also air on The CW.

The official blurb on Stargirl reads:

Brec Bassinger headlines the series as Courtney Whitmore, a teenage girl who discovers that her stepfather, Pat Dugan (Luke Wilson), has links to the late hero, Starman (Joel McHale). When Starman’s Cosmic Rod chooses Courtney, she embraces her destiny to become a superheroine. Pat also rejoins the superhero ranks with his S.T.R.I.P.E. armour, so he can help keep his stepdaughter safe.

Legendary writer Geoff Johns – who created the Courtney Whitmore character – is serving as showrunner on Stargirl.

At this stage, there’s no word on when or where the series will air in the UK.

Scott Derrickson to Direct BERMUDA

Scott Derrickson

Following his departure from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, director Scott Derrickson has lined up his next project.

In a coincidental twist of fate, Derrickson is to replace Sam Raimi as the director of Skydance’s Bermuda. If you remember, it was Raimi who has since been tasked with helming the Doctor Strange follow-up following Derrickson leaving the project over creative differences with Disney.

Variety first broke this news, with Bermuda to be centred on the mysterious area of the Caribbean where so many vessels have gone missing over the decades.

Derrickson will also be refreshing the Bermuda script along with longtime collaborator C. Robert Cargill.

At this stage, Captain America himself, Chris Evans, is said to be the frontrunner to headline Bermuda.

Expect more on Bermuda as it continues to develop.

CHERNOBYL Creator Working on THE LAST OF US TV Series

The Last of Us

Well, this is certainly going to be welcome news to so many of you out there. Yes, as the headline suggests, a Last of Us TV series is finally a reality.

Via The Hollywood Reporter, HBO is developing this show, with the game’s creator Neil Druckmann to oversee the series along with Chernobyl’s Craig Mazin. The early word indicates that the show will be a straight-up adaptation of the iconic 2013 video game.

For those not familiar with The Last of Us, the Naught Dog offering was set 20 years after a global pandemic has completely changed the planet. With infection still running wild, and with the grim realities of the human instinct left to run rampant, it’s a battle to stay alive for Joel and the 14-year-old Ellie who he’s been tasked with protecting.

PlayStation Productions and Sony Pictures Television are teaming on this The Last of Us show.

Coincidentally, the hugely anticipated The Last of Us Part II is set to hit PlayStation 4 this May.

Taika Waititi Developing TWO Roald Dahl Series

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

It was only a matter of days ago we were yet again singing the praises of Taika Waititi as he boarded Showtime’s adaptation of The Auteur, and now there’s word that the ridiculously talented filmmaker is to turn his attention to the world of Roald Dahl.

To be precise, the Jojo Rabbit helmer is getting set to tackle Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

In a new press release, Netflix has confirmed that Waititi will be developing two Charlie animated shows for the on-demand streaming service. One of these shows will centre on the standard visit of Charlie Bucket to Willy Wonka’s iconic factory, while the other series will serve as a showcase for the world of the Oompa-Loompas.

From what we’re hearing, Taika will be in full creative control for both of these offerings – which is nothing but a marvellous thing to hear!

These shows are part of the deal Netflix penned last year with The Roald Dahl Story Company, with new takes on several other Dahl favourites to land on the streaming juggernaut over the next couple of years.

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

The STARBURST Fantasy Award Categories Announced

awards announced

We’re delighted to announce the award categories for the 2020 STARBURST International Film Festival. The awards are the culmination of the two-day event and see filmmakers and actors receive the coveted Roboto statue. All the films and shorts screened throughout the festival are eligible for the awards and this year the competition is a tough as it has ever been.

The categories this year are:

Best Feature – sponsored by Horror Channel

Best Director – sponsored by Fabulous Films

Best Short

Best Performance

Best Cinematography

Best Art and Design

Best Screenplay

Distinction in Sound

Independents Day Award

The Charlie Allbright Award

The last award is a new category named after the late writer and academic, who we not only counted as a colleague but a friend. This will be presented to the film or individual that we feel best promotes LGBTQ+ values.

The STARBURST International Film Festival takes place on March 13th and 14th at Social7 at the Landing, MediaCityUK, Salford, Manchester. Check out www.starburstfilmfest.co.uk for information on the films and guests and book tickets.

Lance Henriksen and Tobin Bell Board Indie Thriller AWAKEN

Remove term: Lance Henriksen Lance Henriksen

Indie thriller Awaken has moved to make itself stand out from the pack by adding two modern genre icons to its ranks.

Via Deadline, the picture has brought in Aliens’ Lance Henriksen and the Saw franchise’s Tobin Bell to amp up its star power. The duo join Up’s Ed Asner, Ford v Ferrari’s Alyona Khmara, Monday at 11:01am’s Charles Agron and The Caregiver’s Krista Dane Hoffman in Awaken.

The official word on Awaken reads:

Awaken follows Oliver Cook (Agron), a wealthy businessman dealing with the loss of his only child. It is a mystery whether she was murdered or kidnapped. No one has a clue in this tale of murder and revenge that involves Oliver’s wife (Khmara), his lawyer (Bell), a person from the past (Henriksen), a stripper (Adams), a recluse (Asner) and a mysterious woman (Hoffman). As Oliver begins to unravel the mystery, he learns that events of the deep past have a direct bearing on his family’s survival.

Gates of Darkness’ Dan FauntLeRoy is on directing duties for Awaken.

SESAME STREET Adds Chance the Rapper

Chance the Rapper

With a new Sesame Street movie currently in development, the picture has moved to add Chance the Rapper.

Courtesy of Collider, Chance – real name Chance Bennett – will join Anne Hathaway in what’s being pegged as a musical take on the iconic TV series. Chance will play an assistant to the Mayor in the movie.

This isn’t the first time that the rapper-turned-actor has taken a trip to Sesame Street, for he appeared in the show in January 2019. In addition to this, Chance lent his vocals to Baby Bush in last year’s The Lion King.

From what we know, this project will centre on Bird Bird and pals as they get mysteriously transported to Manhattan. Once there, this group of chums are tasked with helping a history show host save her own series from cancellation – all while a nefarious Mayor looms large over proceedings.

Portlandia’s Jonathan Krisel is on directing duties for Sesame Street, with a January 2022 pencilled in.