DOC SAVAGE TV Series in Development

Doc Savage

While the past few years have seen a big-screen Doc Savage outing spinning its wheels in developmental hell, now comes news that the famed Man of Bronze is heading to the small screen as well.

Via Deadline, Sony Pictures Television is at work on a Doc Savage TV series. Neal H. Mortiz’s Original Film and Conde Nast Entertainment will be producing the show for Sony.

As alluded to, Dwayne Johnson has been attached to star in a Doc Strange movie for over three years now. Moritz and Sony were working on that picture, with Iron Man 3’s Shane Black due to direct. Now though, it appears that the silver screen Doc Strange project is dead in the water – hence why the character is to instead to get his own TV series.

Doc Savage is somebody who debuted way, way back in 1933 as a creation of Henry W. Ralston, John L. Nanovic and Lester Dent. Savage was trained from birth to be the perfect physical and mental specimen, with him being a master surgeon, scientist, physician, inventor, musician and explorer with superhuman powers and who is a master of many martial arts. So yeah, Doc Savage is basically perfect at every single thing you can imagine.

Expect more on this Doc Savage show as it continues to develop.

Creature Features Come to Horror Channel in March

horror march

Horror Channel has announced their March season and it’s something that will really get your skin crawling as they screen four classic Creature Features!

It all kicks off on March 6th with the ever-popular Tremors (1990) starring Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward, then continues with the UK TV Premiere of the spider-god shocker Itsy Bitsy (2018) on March 13th. There’s another UK TV first on March 20th when the video game adaptation It Came From the Desert (2012) debuts, while on March 27th, things get slithery as Jon Voight and Jennifer Lopez get under the grip of Anaconda (1997).

You can catch the Creature Feature season by tuning into Horror Channel via Sky 317, Virgin 149, Freeview 70, Freesat 138. For more information, head over to http://www.horrorchannel.co.uk/.

Out Now – Issue 470!

In the new issue of STARBURST we look forward the return of James Bond in his latest adventure No Time to Die. As well as previewing the movie, we chat to the actor who has played Felix Leiter the most, Westworld’s Jeffrey Wright. If that’s not enough, we lend an ear to the music of the franchise and look at Bond in comics and who we think should step into the tux when Daniel Craig hands in his licence to kill once and for all.

We also talk to director Leigh Whannell about helming The Invisible Man for Universal, Lorcan Finnegan opens up on directing Vivarium, and LaMonica Garrett talks Primal and playing The Monitor in DC’s Crisis on Infinite Earths.

If that’s not enough, we celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Crystal Maze by looking at some of the best TV adventure game shows. Horror Obscura looks at some creepy-crawly films, plus much more…

Plus all your favourite COLUMNS, NEWS, REVIEWS and much MORE from the worlds of SCI-FI, HORROR and FANTASY!

More Indie Features Added to STARBURST Film Fest Line-up

film festival

The latest set of films to be screened at the STARBURST International Film Festival have been announced. Taking place on Friday March 13th and Saturday March 14th, the festival will screen 15 independent features (with some retro classics still to be announced) and no fewer than 30 shorts.

Newly announced are:

An English Haunting – we’re delighted to be hosting the world premiere of Charlie Steed’s new film. This is a gloriously creepy Gothic horror tale.

I Scream on the Beach! – a fun, retro-looking shocker that features a cameo from last year’s festival guest Lloyd Kaufman and stars genre star Dani Thompson. Written and directed by Alex Churchyard and Michael Holiday, it’ll delight fans of old VHS horror flicks.

Nefarious – directed and co-written by Richard Rowntree, this is a Tarrantino-esque horror thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The film is due for US release soon, so this is a great chance to see it before the buzz starts.

The Good Neighbour – Jonathan Reid-Edwards’ enigmatic sci-fi tinged emotional drama will enthral everyone.

Those Who Deserve To Die – Bret Wood’s gripping neo-giallo based on Thomas de Quincey’s Confessions of an Opium Eater.

Surprise – a creepy anthology that takes place at a writers’ group meeting. Written and directed by David Green and Dan McGee, it’s one for Amicus fans.

These films join the already packed schedule that includes the world premieres of A Little More Flesh, Chestersberg and the English Premiere of Sea Fever. Many of the filmmakers and actors will be attending, alongside our guests Laurence R. Harvey and Graham Humphreys.

Watch this space as we’ll be announcing the retro strand feature films and news about the STARBURST Fantasy Awards soon.

The STARBURST International Film Festival takes place on March 13th and 14th at Social7 at MediaCityUK, Salford, Manchester. For more information on the films, and to book tickets for the STARBURST International Film Festival, head over to starburstfilmfest.co.uk. Early Bird tickets will go off sale soon!

SOMETHING IN THE WATER Shark Thriller in Development

Something in the Water

Here at Starburst, we love nothing more than a good shark movie. Hell, we even love a bad shark movie. And so it’s great to hear that Studiocanal is putting together a new shark offering titled Something in the Water.

Via Deadline, this UK offering will focus on five female friends who find themselves in a remote location to celebrate a wedding. Of course, things soon take a turn for the worse when a boat trip goes array.

3 Generations’ Gaby Dellal is on directing duties, with novelist Cat Clarke working on a script from one of her own original ideas. Noel Clarke and Jason Maza’s Unstoppable production company is overseeing the film.

Casting is currently underway for the picture’s central five characters – with four British and one American actresses sought for these roles.

The current plan is for Something in the Water to start filming towards the end of the year.

Taika Waititi Developing THE AUTEUR Adaptation for Showtime

The Auteur

Right now, Taika Waititi is rightly one of the hottest names in the entertainment history. And now, the Academy Award winner is getting set to tackle The Auteur.

Courtesy of Deadline, Waititi will co-write a TV take on Rick Spears, James Callahan and Luigi Anderson’s The Auteur graphic novel. The Jojo Rabbit helmer will also direct the pilot episode of this show. Joining Waititi in penning this horror-comedy series is Ghost Team’s Peter Warren – and the early word is that Jude Law will be headlining the show.

For those unfamiliar with The Auteur, the graphic novel centres on a film producer who accidentally traps his production on a backlot locale with a very real serial killer.

Showtime will house this live-action adaptation of The Auteur.

Dichen Lachman Joins JURASSIC WORLD 3

Dichen Lachman

With the next installment in the Jurassic franchise currently in development, now comes word on a new casting addition for the movie.

Via Deadline, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Altered Carbon’s Dichen Lachman is the latest name to what’s being pegged as Jurassic World 3. At this early stage, there’s no news on what role the actress will be playing in the picture. This will of course be the sixth outing for the Jurassic Park/World franchise.

Lachman joins fellow new additions DeWanda Wise and Mamoudou Athie, as well as the returning faces of Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Jake Johnson, Omar Sy, Justice Smith, BD Wong, and Daniella Pineda.

Colin Trevorrow will once more be writing and directing, with Jurassic World 3 currently due to start filming later this year ahead of a June 11th, 2021 release.

List of WINNERS at CRUNCHYROLL ANIME AWARDS 2020

This past weekend at Crunchyroll HQ, fans and industry members alike gathered to celebrate the best of the wonderful medium of Anime in 2019 at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2020. A plethora of stunning shows and talented cast and crew were up for 19 awards from Best Animation to Best Opening Sequence and beyond.

The show was hosted by huge anime fan and WWE Superstar Xavier Woods (Austin Creed) along with a host of YouTube personalities, industry professionals and anime consultants that presented the awards whilst giving their insight and predictions.

Here is a list of the nominees and winners for each of the 19 categories from the ceremony:

INDUSTRY ICON

  • WINNER: George Wada (President of WIT Studio)

BEST ENDING SEQUENCE

  • “Torches” by Aimer (from Vinland Saga)
  • “Stand by Me” by The Peggies (from Sarazanmai)
  • “veil” by Keina Suda (from Fire Force)
  • “Sayonara Gokko” by Amazarashi (from Dororo)
  • “Hold Me Now” by Nai Br.XX & Celeina Ann (from Carole & Tuesday)
  • WINNER: “Chikatto Chika Chikaa♡” by Konomi Kohara (from KAGUYA-SAMA: LOVE IS WAR)

BEST OPENING SEQUENCE

  • “Mukanjyo” by Survive Said the Prophet (from Vinland Saga)
  • “Touch Off” by UVERworld (from The Promised Neverland)
  • “Inferno” by Mrs.GREEN APPLE (from Fire Force)
  • “Kawaki wo Ameku” by Minami (from Domestic Girlfriend)
  • “Kiss Me” by Nai Br.XX & Celeina Ann (from Carole & Tuesday)
  • WINNER: “99.9” by MOB CHOIR feat. sajou no hana (from Mob Psycho 100 II)

BEST DRAMA

  • The Promised Neverland
  • Stars Align
  • Fruits Basket
  • Carole & Tuesday
  • BABYLON
  • WINNER: Vinland Saga

BEST FANTASY

  • Sarazanmai
  • Demon Slayer: Kimestu no Yaiba
  • Attack on Titan Season 3
  • ASTRA LOST IN SPACE
  • Ascendance of a Bookworm
  • WINNER: The Promised Neverland

BEST COMEDY

  • Sarazanmai
  • My Roommate is a Cat
  • Isekai Quartet
  • How Heavy are the Dumbbells You Lift?
  • Aggretsuko Season 2
  • WINNER: KAGUYA-SAMA: LOVE IS WAR

BEST VA PERFORMANCE (EN)

  • Casey Mongillo as Shinji (from Neon Genesis Evangelion)
  • Faye Mata as Aqua (from KONOSUBA -God’s blessing on this wonderful world!)
  • Erica Mendez as Retsuko (from Aggretsuko Season 2)
  • Laura Bailey as Tohru Honda (from Fruits Basket)
  • Kyle McCarley as Shigeo “Mob” Kageyama (from Mob Psycho 100 II)
  • WINNER: Billy Kametz as Naofumi (from The Rising of the Shield Hero)

BEST VA PERFORMANCE (JP)

  • Yusuke Kobayashi as Senku (from Dr. STONE)
  • Yuuko Kaida as Isabella (from The Promised Neverland)
  • Yukino Satsuki as Ai Magase (from BABYLON)
  • Saori Hayami as Shinobu Kocho (from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
  • Mamoru Miyano as Reo Niiboshi (from Sarazanmai)
  • WINNER: Yuichi Nakamura as Bruno Bucciarati (from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind)

BEST COUPLE

  • Ymir & Historia (from Attack on Titan Season 3)
  • Rika Zonazaki & Shun Amagi (from O Maidens In Your Savage Season)
  • Reo & Mabu (from Sarazanmai)
  • Mafuyu Sato & Ritsuka Uenoyama (from given)
  • Baki Hanma & Kozue Matsumoto (from Baki)
  • WINNER: Kaguya Shinomiya & Miyuki Shirogane (from KAGUYA-SAMA: LOVE IS WAR)

BEST FIGHT SCENE

  • Ushiwakamaru vs. Tiamat (from Fate/Grand Order Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia)
  • Thorfinn vs. Thorkell (from Vinland Saga)
  • Mob vs. Toichiro (from Mob Psycho 100 II)
  • Levi vs. Beast Titan (from Attack on Titan Season 3)
  • Emperor Crimson vs. Metallic (from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind)
  • WINNER: Tanjiro & Nezuko vs. Rui (from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba)

BEST SCORE

  • The Rising of the Shield Hero by Kevin Penkin
  • JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind by Yugo Kanno
  • Dr. STONE by Tatsuya Kato, Hiroaki Tatsumi and YUKI KANESAKA
  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba by Go Shiina and Yuki Kajiura
  • Attack on Titan Season 3 by Hiroyuki Sawano
  • WINNER: Carole & Tuesday by Mocky

BEST CHARACTER DESIGN

  • Vinland Saga
  • Sarazanmai
  • KAGUYA-SAMA: LOVE IS WAR
  • Dr. STONE
  • Carole & Tuesday
  • WINNER: Dororo

BEST ANIMATION

  • Vinland Saga
  • Sarazanmai
  • Fate/Grand Order Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia
  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
  • Attack on Titan Season 3
  • WINNER: Mob Psycho 100 II

BEST DIRECTOR

  • Shuhei Yabuta (Vinland Saga)
  • Kunihiko Ikuhara (Sarazanmai)
  • Yuzuru Tachikawa (Mob Psycho 100 II)
  • Shinichiro Watanabe & Motonobu Hori (Carole & Tuesday)
  • Kiyotaka Suzuki (BABYLON)
  • WINNER: Tetsuro Araki & Masashi Koizuka (Attack on Titan Season 3)

BEST GIRL

  • Nezuko Kamado (from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba)
  • Kohaku (from Dr. STONE)
  • Emma (from The Promised Neverland)
  • Chika Fujiwara (from KAGUYA-SAMA: LOVE IS WAR)
  • Carole (from Carole & Tuesday)
  • WINNER: Raphtalia (from The Rising of the Shield Hero)

BEST BOY

  • Shigeo “Mob” Kageyama (from Mob Psycho 100 II)
  • Naruzou Machio (from How Heavy are the Dumbbells You Lift?)
  • Kanata Hoshijima (from ASTRA LOST IN SPACE)
  • Hyakkimaru (from Dororo)
  • Bruno Bucciaratti (from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind)
  • WINNER: Tanjiro Kamado (from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba)

BEST ANTAGONIST

  • Overhaul (from My Hero Academia Season 4)
  • Garou (from One-Punch Man Season 2)
  • Askeladd (from Vinland Saga)
  • Angela (from Carole & Tuesday)
  • Ai Magase (from BABYLON)
  • WINNER: Isabella (from The Promsied Neverland)

BEST PROTAGONIST

  • Tohru Honda (from Fruits Basket)
  • Tanjiro Kamado (from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba)
  • Saitama (from One-Punch Man Season 2
  • Hyakkimaru (from Dororo)
  • Emma (from The Promised Neverland)
  • WINNER: Senku (from Dr. STONE)

ANIME OF THE YEAR

  • Vinland Saga
  • The Promised Neverland
  • O Maidens In Your Savage Season
  • Mob Psycho 100 II
  • Carole & Tuesday
  • WINNER: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

Noomi Rapace to Headline Alexandre Aja Thriller O2

Noomi Rapace

On the heels of directing awesome alligator movie Crawl, Alexandre Aja is turning his attention to a thriller titled O2. And now, said offering has found its lead.

Courtesy of Deadline, The Girl trilogy and Prometheus’ Noomi Rapace will be headlining O2.

Aja won’t be in the director’s chair for this new film, for he’s on board to serve as a producer. On the directing front, P2 and Maniac director Franck Khalfound will be helming the picture. How to Make a Reality Star’s Christie LeBlanc is on writing duties.

The early word on O2 has the movie pegged as a thriller centres on a memoryless woman who wakes up trapped in a cryogenic medical pod. With just 90 minutes of oxygen, she has to find out how to get out of there and discover just who she is.

Expect more on O2 as it continues to develop.

LUCIFER to Continue After Season Five?

Tom Ellis Lucifer

Ahead of Lucifer’s fifth season arriving on Netflix later this year, we’ve long heard how this fifth season would bring the series to a close. But now, there’s rumblings of some potentially great news for fans of Tom Ellis’ Lucifer Morningstar.

Via TVLine, Netflix is now having second thoughts about having this fifth season be the final outing for Lucifer. In fact, the on-demand streaming service has had recent conversations with Warner Bros. Television over continuing this fan favourite show.

The current plan was for Lucifer’s fifth season to be split into two eight-episode parts that will be used to bring the series to a close. Now though, it looks as if there’s at least a chance that Lucifer may carry on past its fifth season.

As ever, expect more on all of this as it continues to develop further.