THE MATRIX 4 Adds SENSE8’s Toby Onwumere

Toby Onwumere

Hot on the heels of Mindhunter’s Jonathan Groff joining The Matrix 4, now comes word on another new addition for the movie.

Courtesy of Deadline, Sense8’s Toby Onwumere has signed on to join this return for the fan favourite genre franchise. Onwumere has previously worked with The Matrix 4 director Lana Wachowski on the aforementioned Sense8.

The actor joins a cast that includes the returning Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss, and fellow new additions in the shape of Jonathan Groff, Yahya-Abdul Mateen II, Neil Patrick Harris, and Jessica Henwick.

At present, production on The Matrix 4 is due to start early next year.

Thomas Lennon is SUPERGIRL’s New Mr. Mxyzptlk…

Thomas Lennon Mr. Mxyzptlk

In some fun news for Supergirl fans, Mr. Mxyzptlk is returning to the Melissa Benoist-headlined series.

Via Deadline, Reno 911!’s Thomas Lennon is  set to play a tweaked version of a character who has already appeared in two episodes of Supergirl.

If you remember, Peter Gadiot played the mischievous rogue in Mxyzptlk’s previous appearances. The last time we saw the villain, the Girl of Steel convinced him to spell his name backwards – thus sending him back to his home dimension.

How will Supergirl get round Mr. Mxyzptlk having a vastly different appearance? Why, the show will simply remind audiences that this villain is a shapeshifter.

This won’t actually be Thomas Lennon’s first venture into the world of capes ‘n’ tights. In the relatively recent animated adventures for Adam West’s Batman and Burt Ward’s Robin, Lennon lent his vocals to the role of Chief O’Hara. Likewise, he actually had a small role to play in The Dark Knight Rises, where he appeared as Bruce Wayne’s doctor.

Horror Channel Announces Stranger Fears Season for January

horror stranger

As we reach a new year, things are getting retro on Horror Channel with the Stranger Fears season, consisting of four modern films with a very ‘80s flair.

The films included in the season are: The Void (2016), Beyond the Gates (2016) – both being shown for the first time on British television, The Final Girls (2015), and Wolf Cop (2014). All of which are highly recommended and are destined to be cult classics in the future.

Also screening in January are the UK TV premiere of Hostile (2017), Barry Levinson’s The Bay (2012), Kevin Bacon in Paul Verhoven’s Hollow Man (2000), Kenneth Branagh’s big budget adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994), starring Robert De Niro as the creature, and slasher sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998). A line-up not to be missed, you can be sure.

Find out more by heading to the Horror Channel website. Tune in on Sky 317, Virgin 149, Freeview 70, Freesat 138.

BIOSHOCK 4 in Development

BioShock

In some great news for BioShock fans, a fourth installment of this much-loved video game franchise is on the way.

Courtesy of Collider, fourth BioShock offering is being put together by 2K Games and new in-house studio Cloud Chamber. This comes after the series seemed finished after Ken Levine and Irrational Games exited the BioShock franchise after Infinite.

Plot details for this new BioShock game are unknown at this early stage, and the current plan is for 2K Games and Cloud Chamber to spend the next couple of years developing the title.

On this news, 2K President David Ismailer enthused, “BioShock is one of the most beloved, critically praised and highest rated franchises of the last console generation. We can’t wait to see where its powerful narrative and iconic, first-person shooter gameplay head in the future with our new studio team at Cloud Chamber leading the charge.”

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

Title and Release Date Set for THE CONJURING 3

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It

Not only do we now have a release date for the third main Conjuring movie, but the film’s title has also been announced.

Straight from New Line Cinema, The Conjuring 3 is now known as The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. This will be the third standard Conjuring offering in the ever-expanding Conjuring Universe of pictures that also includes three Annabelle films, The Nun and The Curse of La Llorona.

Rather than James Wan on directing duties, it will actually be The Curse of La Llorona’s Michael Chaves in the director’s chair for The Devil Made Me Do It. Franchise faves Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga will be reprising their roles of Ed and Lorraine Warren, with Ruth O’Connor, Sarah Catherine Hook and Julian Hilliard other names confirmed for the threequel.

The early word on The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do it reads:

The Devil Made Me Do It reveals a chilling story of terror, murder and unknown evil that shocked even experienced real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. One of the most sensational cases from their files, it starts with a fight for the soul of a young boy, then takes them beyond anything they’d ever seen before, to mark the first time in US history that a murder suspect would claim demonic possession as a defense.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It is set for a September 11th, 2020 release.

Matt Reeves’ THE BATMAN Adds Peter Sarsgaard

Peter Sarsgaard

Director Matt Reeves has once again taken to Twitter to confirm a piece of casting news for the Robert Pattinson-headlined The Batman.

As per Reeves himself, The Sound of Silence and Shattered Glass’ Peter Sarsgaard is the latest name to be added to the June 2021 release.

This won’t be Sarsgaard’s first foray into the world of superheroes, for he played the nefarious Hector Hammond opposite Ryan Reynolds’ Emerald Knight in 2011’s Green Lantern.

At this stage, there’s no word on just which role Sarsgaard will be playing in The Batman, although he’ll be joining Pattinson’s Caped Crusader, Zoe Kravitz’s Catwoman, Paul Dano’s Riddler, Colin Farrell’s Penguin, John Turturro’s Carmine Falcone, Andy Serkis’ Alfred, and Jeffrey Wright’s Jim Gordon in the picture.

Production on The Batman will start early next year.

Jonathan Groff Joins THE MATRIX 4

Jonathan Groff

With The Matrix 4 now officially ‘a thing’, the movie has moved to add Jonathan Groff to its ranks.

Via Collider, the Mindhunter and Frozen actor has joined this fourth Matrix offering in a to-be-revealed role. Groff joins a cast that includes the franchise faves Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss, and the recent new additions of Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Neil Patrick Harris and Jessica Henwick.

With Lana Wachowski on directing duties, The Matrix 4 is due to start production early next year, with plot details being kept hush-hush at this early stage.

As ever, expect more on The Matrix 4 as it continues to develop.

René Auberjonois 1940 – 2019

rene

STARBURST was sad to learn of the passing of actor René Auberjonois, best known to genre fans as Odo in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Colonel West in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) at age 79.

Auberjonois was a familiar face in films, TV, and on the stage, having appeared in the feature version of M*A*S*H as Father Mulcahy in 1970, King Kong (1976), Eyes of Laura Mars (1978), as well as a cameo in Batman Forever (1995). He also provided the voice of Chef Louis in The Little Mermaid (1989).

On TV, as well as the popular character Odo, he starred in hit sitcom Benson, and Boston Legal, opposite fellow Trek alumni William Shatner, as well as numerous guest slots. He also voiced characters on shows such as Batman: The Animated Series, Avatar the Last Airbender, Archer, and Avengers Assemble.

He was much loved off-screen as well as on, and a fan favourite at conventions all over the world. STARBURST sends our thoughts to his family and friends.

David Tennant to Headline AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

David Tenant

David Tennant? As Phileas Fogg? Consider us sold!

It’s today been announced that Doctor Who star Tennant will be headlining a new take on Jules Verne’s beloved Around the World in 80 Days.

In this new take on an old favourite, Tennant will be joined by Je Suis Daddy’s Ibrahim Koma as Passepartout and The Crown’s Leonie Benesch as Abigal Fix in this Slim Film + Television and Federation co-production.

The early word on this show has it pegged as:

Following an outrageous bet, Fogg and his valet, Passepartout, take on the legendary journey of circumnavigating the globe in just 80 days, swiftly joined by aspiring journalist Abigail Fix, who seizes the chance to report on this extraordinary story. 

On writing duties, Around the World in 80 Days will be penned by Life on Mars’ Ashley Pharoah and Child of Mine’s Caleb Ranson, with The Durrells’ Steve Barron and The Mentalist’s Charles Beeson the first two confirmed directors for the series.

The current plan is for Around the World in 80 Days to begin production in February, ahead of them airing towards the end of 2020.

Expect more on this hugely intriguing series as we get it.

Ahmed Best to Host STAR WARS Game Show

As more and more Disney+ shows continue to be announced, now comes word on a new Star Wars show that sounds all kinds of fun.

Straight from Disney, Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge will debut on the Disney+ streaming service at a TBC 2020 date.

Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge

This series will be a game show designed to test the skills and knowledge of young Star Wars fans as they look to achieve the status of Jedi Knight. Not just that, but Jedi Temple Challenge will be hosted by Ahmed Best and his robotic sidekick voiced by Mary Holland.

In terms of the Star Wars franchise, few have had as rough a ride of it as Ahmed, and it’s absolutely great to hear he’s back involved in the saga after the troubles that he’s had. Best, of course, famously played Jar Jar Banks in the prequel trilogy of Star Wars movies – that role earning the actor some hateful abuse over the years.

At present, Disney+ houses the classic Star Wars movies, several animated Star Wars series, and the utterly stunning The Mandalorian.